Snow Good for Pedaling…
The sledding was a blast. This picture displays the Joneses in Triple Decker form making for a much faster ride.
But consider this: The first significant snow of the winter… a new cyclocross bike… and the urge to pedal.
You already know the result. I was out the door as quickly as I could layer on the lycra.
It was 22*, sleeting and the wind was making it feel like 12*. But my Canadian cycling buddies would call that comfy.
Still, being a “southerner”, I think they would give me a few points for giving it a go.
I was also looking forward to getting a feel for some new Pearl Izumi Cyclone Gloves and Shimano MTB shoes.
There was something about maneuvering through these snowy conditions… testing handling skills… and getting a feel for the balance of the new bike.
Just the feel and the sound of the snow crunching under my tires had me craving for more.
The shoes were just what I wanted and the gloves worked well for a while. Then the cold got to my fingertips… frozen fingertips. The gloves are really nice. I just don’t think they’re rated for temps in the teens.
The good news is the forecast is calling for full sun and a high in the 30’s. That’s down right balmy for my Canadian pals. They’ll be glad to know I’m heading back out. I need to feel the snow under my tires.
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Comments
IAN– Wish you were here to ride and lend some pointers on winter/snow cycling. I’m sorry it would be so warm though for you. I was thinking as well that the liners would be something to try with my new gloves.
Chrissy– It really was a nice change from the road.
Thanks for stopping by the blog. I especially appreciate it because you already have your fill of cycling talk from your husband. Cheers!
Winter cycling is actually more fun than I thought it would be, particularly when you have nice fresh snow. With my studded tires, I can ride almost as fast as on dry pavement. It was a pretty cold weekend, and I have to say that my ride in to work today was something of a challenge, with a bit of wind, -22C, or -8F. I am using thin undergloves under my winter gloves but my finger tips still get cold. The alternative would be mittens, particularly the “lobster” style and I might look into these before getting frostbite. Of course, in North Carolina after you come back from the ride you can warm up with a big ol’ pot of moonshine.
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Glad to hear that a little snow and moderate temperatures aren’t keeping you off the bike. Winter cycling is some of the best there is, there’s nothing like riding and only hearing your breathing and the snow under your tires. Try a thin liner under your new gloves, that may help the fingertips, unless it’s the wind that’s causing the freezing. Then you may want something that breaks the wind a bit better.
I wish I was there to ride in the snow! Especially since the temp is high 30’s, I rode yesterday and it was 4, without the wind.