Monday, December 14, 2009

I know I posted this last year but its so cool that I thought I'd pass it along again this year.  Merry Christmas!


Click on the picture to see the animated Specialized Christmas Card.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Nothing like a brisk morning ride to wake you up!

7.5 miles

Ok, so I didn't really go out for a joy ride this morning but I did get on the bike and pedal more than my usual 3 mile commute to and from work.  I was asked to help out with the Cub Scout Construction City issuing utility permits for their cardboard castles that they built later in the afternoon.  I didn't want to stick Sarah at home without a car all day so I rode out to the event, although she didn't leave the house while I was gone.

The riding wasn't too bad today.  It was warmer than it has been all week, somewhere between 25 and 30 degrees, which just means I wasn't risking frostbite.  The only difficult part of the ride was that the snow pack started to loosen up in the afternoon and turn into mashed potatoes on the road, a really dry, slushy mess.  When your front tire hits that stuff there is no telling where your bike will go.  You just hold on and hope you can ride it out.  I made it back without incident so it was a successful ride in my book.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Crazy Cold!



This is what I looked like as I got home from work tonight.  I stayed pretty warm except my eyebrows and that strip of skin on my neck that I couldn't seem to cover up.  And so it begins...

Sub-zero

I usually don't comment on my ride to or from work unless it is an exceptional ride.  This morning was exceptionaly cold.
-7 degrees
My first sub-zero ride of the season but definately not my last.  I am rather surprised that its started this early in the season.  Come January, sub-zero rides will become mundane although I'll still look forward to the occasional break in the weather when it peaks above 20 degrees.  But for now, I'm still wishing it were 50 degrees. 

It was quite the ordeal getting ready for work this morning.  On top of taking the kids to the bus stop at 7:15 then coming back home to make my lunch, eat breakfast, and gather my stuff scattered around the house from this weekend, I had to prepare for a winter ride.  I dug out the ski mask and donned my new water-proof pants and high-top work boots.  Then I threw on my coat, gloves, and somehow squeezed my helmet on over the ski mask.  Then I was off to fight the hardpack snow and the cold.  My breathe fogged up my glasses which then froze in the cold.  I had to take them off and rub the ice off at one point.  I really couldn't see much the whole way to work.  I just trusted that everyone else saw this idiot on a bicycle and gave me plenty of room, and they did.  I stayed relatively warm except for the opening in the ski mask.  My cheeks and forehead stung with the cold all the way to work.  Although I couldn't see through my glasses, I didn't dare take them off because I knew how bad that cold wind would sting my already sensitive eyes. 

I survived my ride in and get to look forward to doing it all over again tonight!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Lacking motivation

9 degrees

Right!  It was 9 degrees on my way to work this morning.  Yesterday it snowed about two inches on the roads.  I finally broke out my winter coat, winter gloves, and stocking cap (which doesn't work very well with my helmet).  To tell you the truth, I don't mind riding in 30 to 40 degree weather if I'm properly dressed for it, but when it gets below 20, its just downright miserable.  My beard freezes, my nose runs, my fingers, ears, and cheeks become numb and I shiver all day long in the office.  Sure, come January and February I will gladly welcome 0 to 10 degree weather and maybe even go back to my jacket, but for now it's just plain cold, frigid actually.  I think I'll be suspending my joy rides for awhile and sticking with just commuting.  I don't trust my road bike on ice and I'm sure the mountain bike trails are just a muddy, icy mess right now.  So don't be surprised if I don't post for awhile.  I don't see a break in this cold streak in the forecast.

Don't worry, this will in no way affect my image at work.  The people that think I'm a Bad A** for riding during lunch in 30 mph winds and 30 degree weather will still think I'm a Bad A** as I show up to work in -20 degree weather or on slushy roads this winter and the people who think I am freakin' nuts will be reassured that I am by doing the same.

I will miss it though.  I've ridden over 10 miles a day, almost everyday (excluding Sundays) for the past 6 months.  Well, there's always spin class.  My legs hurt just thinking about it.