Yesterday I was planning my day today and checked the weather before I went to bed. I looked at the hourly forcast for all of Wednesday and it said that 8AM would be about 14 degrees and would feel like 3.
I admit I balked real hard. I went to bed thinking, I've got a cold. I just got over a cold. I might be catching Tuber's cold which he just got again. I don't want to get sick. I don't want to feel miserable. I'll wear this outfit and should be fine. If I wear that I will overheat. I'll ride the public and be zippy and make heat on that hill. I'll ride the Boxbike and just zoom through that way I can overdress and not overheat. My final thought was- eh I deserve a pass. I'll drive.
This morning walking back from the bus stop with my face tucked into my scarf I looked up and saw a cyclist ride by. It was not the cyclist who is a parent of a bus rider who cycles 365 rain, sleet or shine whom I had seen taking off on his bike with full Face mask on. ( When I waved there was no way for me to notice recognition as his face was covered and his hands were busy.) No this was my neighbor who was clearly riding back from accompanying his daughter by bike to the school. We stopped to chat and he admitted it was mighty cold. None of the other 5th graders wanted to ride so he partnered up with his daughter to school. ( I think the rest of the crew walked? which was a warmer choice actually)
Well after seeing my neighbor riding I knew I had to as well. Went home, showered and then fully dried my hair and pulled it back. Layered long underwear under a loose fitting pair of cords. wore my ibex half zip mock Turtleneck and layered a fleece zip up over that. Wore socks AND Uggs and two pair of gloves.
I did choose the Boxbike so I could move without effort and dress warmly without fear of being too bulky or overheating. It worked just fine although the cold air did effect the motor and it did not have the same pick up and go as it usually does. I will be storing the battery indoors as well as charging it indoors.
It was a cold ride. But worth it. The long underwear did it's charm and the only place I felt the pain of cold was my temples and tops of ears as the wind blew right into my helmet.
An hour later walking around under the full sun it felt almost warm. Although hit a downhill and boy the wind hurts so bad. While all the warm days we have been having this winter is slowing freaking me out, I will appreciate tomorrow's proposed 40 degree weather nicely.
Your yesterday had much in common with MY yesterday, though all the details were different.
ReplyDelete[hyper]
Nice, MamaVee! I love seeing the inner dialogue of another busy bicycle mama. And it's interesting, too, to read about winter in a much colder climate. I find I'm able to bundle up well enough to stay cozy in almost any type of weather, but I'm mostly on quiet streets with lots of trees -- where the wind isn't quite as fierce. I grew up in a suburb where I remember freezing gusts of wind in the winter along big, busy streets without trees to serve as a windbreak. Do you think that your neighborhood has much to do with the quality of your winter ride?
ReplyDelete@Steve- ha!
ReplyDelete@ Emily- Thanks! Interesting questions. I don't think my neighborhood has too much to do with my winter ride. Although I think the suburban nature does help me. It's not too stressful and for me I tend to more more slowly and less freely with boots and layers on that I feel more vulnerable in the winter. So having side streets and not major city traffic does help me. The trees don't help too much- although my block and the one next to us are completely diff cold wise. I can walk on my block and feel the warm sun ad then turn the corner and the sun is blocked by trees and the wind seems to whip down it and it is a noticible difference. So there is that!