A bit chilly today

[johnridley]

The thermometer on my bike computer read -19*F the whole way in. That can only mean one thing, and I just confirmed it. That's as low as it goes, so who knows how cold it really was. It usually is about 5 to 10 degrees colder at mid-ride in the middle of the lowland farm fields. -19 is probably about right for home, judging by the other thermometers on the house (-9 on the thermometer against the house, -13 on the one 10 feet away, the bike was in the garage 30 feet upwind)

I was slightly overdressed. My nose got a bit cold for the first 5 minutes or so until I warmed up, but that was it. The limiting factor on days like this is that I can't get all that much air through the balaclava, and I can't ride with it off my face for too long at a time. This balaclava has a heat exchanger insert, but I've given up on it.

Comments

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Wow. I'm impressed.

B

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

I did get a comment from a sales droid I held the door open for (with my bike in my other hand) - he said "That strikes me as a little bit crazy." I said "Well, everyone needs a little crazy." Personally, I don't seem to have been born with any so I'm making my own.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I have a friend who says: "There's no such thing as bad biking weather, just bad biking clothing."

B

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

What's on your feet?

K.

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

Up until last week (0*F min) I'd been running with Shimano mountain shoes with a thin poly tour sock and a single layer of wool sock over that. That wasn't cutting it but there was no more room in those shoes for any more socks. The rest of me was pretty much OK, but the toes were not happy.

Last Thursday I swapped out my clipless pedals and put on some regular old platforms with Power Grip straps, and I'm now wearing some Winchester leather+thinsulate high top hunting boots, with the same socks. That works out fine.

If I had an unlimited budget I'd get some Lake winter clipless cycling boots, but even at deep internet discount they cost something like $180.

I also need a longer Power Grip strap to fit over these boots properly. Unfortunately they don't sell the pedal+long strap combo, just the pedal+short strap or long strap + hardware.