21miles

This is the coldest weather that I have ever ridden in. It was approximately 23 degrees and overcast. There was also a very light snow throughout the day that was just tapering off at the beginning of the ride. The snow didn't seem to pose any problem at all. It was just enough of a dusting to cover the ground, but not enough to get packed down.

I stayed reasonably warm. I actually should have taken off one shirt under my jacket. My legs felt fine, but my toes were cold again. I was wearing three pairs of socks, shoes, and shoe covers. My feet were fine; it was just the toes that were cold. I wonder if I have too many layers on and my feet can't breath. Maybe it is also affecting circulation. My hands were just fine although at different times my thumbs got cold.

My bicycle seems to get stiff in the cold. There is a lot more resistance somewhere and I don't think it is just the extra weight of the clothes I'm wearing. I noticed I was riding in lower gears and it feels like everything has been greased with molasses. I'm not sure if this will get worse as it gets colder and I'm not sure what to do about it.

24miles

Today's ride was not warm but it was dark. I didn't leave until 4:30 and I had to have my lights on from the very beginning. The temperature was somewhere around the freezing point and not surprisingly, it got colder as it got dark. I'm not sure of the exact temperature, but my water bottle was starting to ice over by the time I got back.

I received my new evap jacket from Foxwear. It worked great. It was actually a little too warm. I rode almost the entire way with it unzipped and my arms were too hot. I think that with this jacket and the other layers that I can put on I will be able to ride in much colder weather.

Unfortunately, my toes got really cold. They were numb by the time I got back. Two pairs of socks and shoe covers were not enough. I am going to have to find a way to remedy this because I hope to ride in much colder weather. My hands were ok, but they were on the edge of getting cold.

I am hooked on biking in the winter though. It is an amazing feeling to take on the cold and the dark. I am committed to doing what it takes to ride no matter what the weather.

20miles

I rode down the Greenway past Lake Calhoun. I haven't ridden in a while and I have been tired the last two days and I could feel it. I'm sure that a week of consistent riding will bring me back pretty quickly.

I think this is going to be the last day that I can ride without shoe covers. I thought about stopping to put them on when I turned around, but I decided to tough it out. My toes were pretty cold when I got back.