negative temp, positive bike

I saw only 1 cyclist this morning, walking his/her bike over the Wells bridge sidewalk. No shame in that. (The plates are rideable, but I'm on 35mm tires.)

Anyway, the conditions to me were entirely tolerable! Lincoln to Wells to the loop was quite clear and not icy. I did change up what I wore in that I added another layer top & bottom (didn't need the add'l top), and I used a neck gaiter & goggles. I pulled the gaiter up over the lower rim of the goggles slightly in order to cover the tip of my nose. There was no exposure, and I did wear rain pants and jacket (just some kind of shell material, no liner).

One thing that was somewhat disconcerting was the fact that the gaiter really seemed to "remove" me from the environment. I couldn't hear as well, and I couldn't get any downward peripheral input - I couldn't see my front wheel - which added an element of faith to my steering and tracking around potholes, for instance.

Hats off to my work and riding colleague - he came in to the loop from Oak Park! We're starting the WTB 6-week maintenance class tonight, we need our bikes for it.

Finally, I was told this nugget once, and I think it's true: "there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing choices."

Have fun out there!

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Permalink Reply by BalloonBiker on January 15, 2009 at 4:54am
Plus when I walked into work, I got some positive reinforcement.

I felt a little colder than I have other times and I really felt slow today. I think it was the extra layer. Today I wore my usual balaclava and goggles and then also a small fleece nose guard, safety glasses, hat and then an additional scarf wrapped around the lower part of my face. It definitely made me feel kind of stiff and made it had to see.

Autos weren't really jerks though, so that helped.
Permalink Reply by terryg on January 15, 2009 at 5:31am
I've noticed that "slow" feeling as well. I don't know what that's all about, I don't feel sick or anything like that. Must be the layers and not having the same freedom of motion that we have in the summer or something.
Permalink Reply by BalloonBiker on January 15, 2009 at 5:40am
terryg said:
I've noticed that "slow" feeling as well. I don't know what that's all about, I don't feel sick or anything like that. Must be the layers and not having the same freedom of motion that we have in the summer or something.

On ice bike they did an article on why bikers are slower in the winter. They attribute a lot of it to the fact that cold air is denser than warm air:

http://www.icebike.org/Articles/SlowerWinter.htm">
Permalink Reply by heather s on January 15, 2009 at 6:39am
Interesting. I always thought it was because your muscles have to work harder to keep up a regular pace when it's cold out.

jamimaria said:
terryg said:

On ice bike they did an article on why bikers are slower in the winter. They attribute a lot of it to the fact that cold air is denser than warm air:

http://www.icebike.org/Articles/SlowerWinter.htm">
Permalink Reply by heather s on January 15, 2009 at 6:45am
Also, I thought autos were terrible this morning! And I don't fully understand why, because there wasn't much snow left on the street (Milwaukee). I kept thinking to myself, 'I don't forget how to bike when it's cold out, why do they forget how to drive?' It was as if people decided that those lines in the street were no longer lane dividers, but abstract art or something.
Permalink Reply by E A on January 15, 2009 at 6:50am
It is slower going in the colder temps.

But I also find that with my face mostly covered, I tend to overheat quickly. I prefer this to my nose getting frost bite, though. So, I try not to push it too much. Nice and steady.

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