Every Time

I did not want to go out in this. Temps descending like a tour cyclist with a stage to win and nothing to lose, winds unabatedly screaming. I packed on all the layers needed for a below zero ride, while giving a pep talk to the Beast.
Goggles in place and no layer leaks letting fridged farenheit find any access. Sun was out, but it was just pretending.
In these temps, I wear those tights (Pearl Izumi) with the heavy wind stopper panels in front. The back of the tights are pretty basic so, when you have a significant tail wind....
Once out I felt good, everything stayed protected. I even needed to open the vents in my ski helmet. That thing is worth its weight in gold.
As usual when I don't want to go out I was glad I did. 20/12.8

Enough

January has had its fun, and proven that winter does still exist. Point taken, now let's be done with it. Another below zero wind chill ride, and the Twin Cities only had half as much temperature as yesterday.
Because all of yesterday's thawing is now as hard as, and is ice, I took the Beast out today. Its two inch wide tires full of studs were hard for the old hairy legs to push, but it was like the ice wasn't even there. I also felt safe and secure with its lower center of gravity on the 26ers.
Power is out here now, so I'm using my bike light, which is still hooked up to the Beast, to light up my place. Kind of a two-for. 20/12.9
The Beast Is Great

Let's Just Keep It Warm

Another day of wet and sloppy. Lots of puddles and slush will be getting crunchy tonight. The cold is coming again. oh yippee. 20/13.9

keep It Warm

Hazy and foggy... typical for me on a Monday, but that was the weather today. I'm not complaining, I prefer the warmth. Just Evil and me. Didn't want to take any chances after the 3 inches of snow yesterday. Trails were clear...temps above freezing and plows made sure of that. 20/12.8

Well Timed

Green Blobs, and rain, and ice. We had to act fast to avoid the peril lurking to the south. I took Evil with me, no one messes with Evil, and it worked, because the blobs waited to pounce, until Evil was parked and locked up in my garage. Only sprinkles dared appear as I approached my humble, but safe, abode. There is now a "tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my" window pane. No Raven, but ice pellets from the green blobs.
Amy and I have finished our Sunday ride and the weather can have its tantrum now. 31/14.0

Colder Than It Looks

You know you're just riding along, on a cold January day, feelin' pretty good. The idea pops into your head to pull the face mask down, get a little more air, enjoy the sunshine... Damn! It's cold out there! Whip that face mask back in place and make a note to self...15 degrees IS cold.
Three of us today.
Amy and I are creatures of habit. New? Different Route? does not sit well with either of us. We've established a nice consistent 50 mile route, for the winter, that is working out quite well. It's along fairly well travelled roads, that have wide shoulders. The well travelled roads have less ice, snow and debris, allowing us to, like today, ride road bikes without studded tires. I like bare asphalt.
During the winter, here in Minnesota, our black asphalt roads turn white; not with snow and not because of the cold, but because of all the road salt that is laid down to keep the roads clear of ice and snow. I'm not willing to take my fast good looking bike or even my "b" road bike out on these roads. I've got a "c" road bike, my Frankenbike, that I use for the salty clear roads. Don't want that salt eating away at my carbon Orca, or my aluminum C...dale. And besides, they deserve the winter off.
95% of today's route was on roads. Just a few miles along the greenway. 50/15.5

Finishing Up A 50 Miler With Amy and Ryan

Un-Ride

We all need a day off now and then. Talk to you Saturday, after the ride.