Cold Thoughts
I get cold thoughts as soon as the temperature starts to edge below 70 degrees. It’s no wonder: I don’t have central climate control; and it gets chilly in here! I spend a lot of time parked in front of my electric heater.
Unfortunately that hikes up my power bill! The chill makes me sluggish; and it seems to take much longer to get ready for a ride on such mornings. Perhaps it does! When it’s hot, I don’t have to pull on leg warmers, double socks, and so on.
But if running in cold weather has its upside, so does cycling. If nothing else, I feel good that I rode when I get home after a frigid trip.
Of course we cold-weather cyclists have to be mindful of layering; and don’t forget the individual cold-tolerance factor. What some people think “isn’t that cold” is too cold for me!
If you’ll be riding for hours in freezing temperatures, some special gear is in order. You can get insulating covers for your Camel-Bak drinking tube; and if insulated bottles keep liquids cool longer on hot days, I expect they’d keep liquids warm for longer in the cold.
Cold thoughts for me include those warming packs. How did I get along before I had them? Maybe I should tuck some of them into my socks, just above my shoes; then my feet might not get as cold. To give my arms extra warmth, I use the sleeve part of an old cycling jacket. (The zipper went bad, so the jacket itself was useless).
No matter how I dress for a cold ride, though, nothing keeps my nose from running like crazy. Would a balaclava help? Or would it be a glorified handkerchief?
I Felt the Chill
I had more cold thoughts this morning when I went out to ride. It was slightly warmer than the previous few days; and I decided I didn’t need an additional layer over my leg warmers.
Wrong decision. As soon as I got outside, my legs felt cold. They didn’t warm up until I had ridden 8 miles or so; and I was chilly in general. There was some fog here and there; and dampness doesn’t help to keep me warm. Maybe the reason I feel tired and sluggish this time of year is that it’s chilly indoors, too. I guess I’m cold-blooded!