Coldest ride of the season
Coldest ride of the year today. It was either 2°F or 4°F depending on which weather report you pick.
When I got the bike down off its hook this morning, some water that had collected in the tread of the rear tire or in the fender dribbled out on to my foot. It’s a common occurance so I didn’t think anything of it.
The first half-mile is a side street which was shiny glazed hardpack, so I took it slow, spinning light and easy in the granny ring. Stopped for traffic at the intersection, then headed into the wind down a cleared road.
I was thinking the wind seemed especially stiff this morning, as I descended into the tunnel under the railroad freight yards. In the tunnel I thought, no, maybe I’m really weak this morning. It was a bear to turn the crank. I usually fly out of the tunnel and up to grade, but I could only manage middle ring/big cog.
Later, on a modest descent where the bike wouldn’t coast at all, I figured it out. The water that had dripped when I took the bike down, had splashed on the rear brake cable or into the rear disk brake caliper and froze when I first applied the brakes to stop for traffic. I’d been pushing against the rear brake!
But, since the extra effort was keeping me warm, I let it drag until after I stopped at the bank, where I futzed with it before continuing to work. Wowee the spinning was easy after that!
Coming home tonight, there were no such theatrics, which was good since it had warmed-up to just below freezing and had been snowing an inch-an-hour for a couple of hours before I left. Riding fresh snow is the best!
Adding up the numbers at home tonight, I have 525.26 miles on the year so far. That’s exactly 150 miles more than last year at the end of February. I’m also 75¼ miles ahead of goal for the year. So far, so good.
Flipping the calendar to March, I see that the first club ride of the year is two weeks from tomorrow at 2:30. It’s map 194, 14 hilly miles of the Tour of Ellison Park. That’s followed by the annual swap meet, pot luck dinner and the awards from the 2007 season. After today’s weather, it’s hard to believe it’s only two weeks to the new season.
