4luvandlife

Woke up this morning and turned on channel 11. The little number in the lower right hand corner was 37! Could not believe my eyes. This must be what it is like when surfers hear about "sweet swells" up on the north shore. I couldn't wait to grab my board bike and hit the waves street. Great ride in what felt like 60 degrees and starting to feel the legs come back. MGMT, Solid Gold, The Killers, and Modest Mouse were along for the ride.

Riding about twice a week right now. Usually go for about an hour and a quarter before work. Been fun but riding in this weather is definately a whole new ball of wax. I have found that riding gets to be more of a challenge below about 12 degrees. It is interesting how different a morning can feel from another morning that looks the same on paper. I had a comfortable ride on a morning of 12 degrees and another morning at 14 degrees was stinging a little. Wind was about the same (very little) but the difference was felt. I got the item below to take out the sting on the face. Also got fenders in hopes that a melt-down will happen soon. Man, my bike is going to look sweet with these fenders and the baby seat that is on my beater bike.

This is the earliest I have started riding ever. Yeah, it's cold out there. It is not fun to be uncomfortable and it is worse to be in pain. Right now the biggest challenge is being warm but not too warm. Technology can be very cool and make life better and that includes clothes. I found a Gore-Tex jacket and decided to try it even though the price was a little intimidating. If it makes an early morning ride in Febuary, March, and April more fun it is worth it. It was good but I couldn't make myself forget the price. I decided to stick to a long sleeve t-shirt base, long sleeve jersey, fleece, and thin windbreaker outer layer. It is less money and the ride will still be fun.

I am headin' down the icy track toward a fun season. Training body and spirit while Old Man Winter blows.

Yesterday was the first ride of the year. A beautiful morning before work. 12 degrees. Felt good on the spirit but could definately hear my legs complaining about it being the first ride in months. Kept it pretty low key. About 45 minute ride at an easy pace. The pace has to be easy when the glare ice is about every 5 or 10 minutes on the path. The first rides are the toughest but it's better than a snake bite. Look out!