Biking in Louisville's Winter

Approximately 1 inch of snow ended many students' and teachers' dreams of Monday at school. This gave me a chance to pick up my new glasses (HD!! it's like I have bionic eyes). The temperature was a brisk 20F and the clothes were layered . . . and layered . . . and then layered. While the details of my little journey are mundane (unless you enjoy reading books like Cod or Salt), the issue of Winter Cycling looms large. We have rather mild winters compared to our brethren above the Mason-Dixon Line, but it can still get wicked cold.

If you want to ride your bike in Minneapolis, New York City, Chicago, Boston, or Pierre you settle in for months of frigid snowiness. You can be assured that the multiple layers and specialized clothes will be a mainstay of your cycling wardrobe. In Louisville, though, you might be riding in 40F sun on Tuesday, 50F rain on Wednesday, and 20F snow on the following Monday. One must become adept at understanding the differences between being cold in the 30s versus the 20s. In January we will have 1-3 days of temps in the 60s and 70s, so don't put away those short-sleeves yet! You never step into the same weather twice.

Today's short trip will be a study in Winter Cycling. I will not address training rides, mountain biking, or cyclocross; just going down to the eye shop for some new glasses.

Let's talk about clothes.

Unless you are a sheep rancher or operate a dude ranch, my clothing choices aren't very fashionable. But my clothier is the owner/operator of Dude, Really ranch. Thus the key pieces of my ensemble are: boots (no exposed ankles and extra shin/calf warmth), convertible wool mittens with cotton stretchy gloves underneath, and my bright blue buff-like thing (it covers neck, face, ears and the back of my head). Long johns under the jeans, a waffle-ish thermal shirt, and sunglasses (blocks wind, reduces snowy glare) complete the look. I have a water/wind proof helmet cover, too.

Like someone on a motorcycle, you want to be a little cold when you start out. Soon you'll generate body heat and warm up. If this doesn't happen within 10 minutes go home - you're underdressed.

Perhaps you would like to look more fashionable when you venture out for a wintry romp on your Magna? If so, I highly recommend: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i7vcboSje0

Louisville rarely has much accumulation of snow. I know, it does happen, but let's be honest here - slush is our wintry treasure. [btw, I can't figure out why this is bolded and underlined]

Fenders are a good idea when biking in slush. I have fenders on my Jamis, but today I pulled the Niner out of my quiver (for climbing dangerous, icy clumps of snow, like what you see in the lower right corner.

On my way to Bionic Eyes I thought, "Hey, this isn't so bad! Cold is so relative. Sure, the house is warmer, but this is just fine. Tra la la, fa la la, tra fa la."

What a lovely day! And once again I scored an excellent parking spot.

I get my new glasses, check out the fine print on a legal document 5 blocks away, and head home. Tra la la . . . .

Turning North onto 3rd Street I remember something, a very important something - headwinds.

AUGGHH! Wind whips through my buff-y, through my two/three/four layers, and, most critically, through the leather toes of my boots and swirls around my own delicate-like-a-tea-rose-toes. Gugugugugu. A lovely tailwind had escorted me away from home, but a vicious headwind is fighting to keep me from going back.

I briefly entertain the idea of going to the Moving Sale (ha! would a car driver have noticed this sign?! and been able to quickly turn and head towards it! ha!)

Walking makes my toes scream obscenities to my brain. I decide to go home instead.

I was so focused on avoiding dangerous slush and keeping warm I almost hit another cyclist. Silly me, not expecting to see a bike COMING RIGHT AT ME GOING THE WRONG WAY ON A LEGAL THOROUGHFARE.

(Remember, ride with traffic, not against traffic. Not only is it safer, it's the freaking law (which I do have an ambivalent with, though that's another post). It's as dangerous as the time I was so busy looking out for broken glass I accidentally headed up the on-ramp for the Watterson (who would've thought Hale Avenue would suddenly become one-way?!).

Once home I frantically administered first aid to my w/ailing toes. Whew, everything was going to be okay.

Lessons learned:

1) I know how to keep my hands, neck, torso, and head reasonably warm when it's 20F

2)Not even my new sheepskin liners will keep my toes warm when it's 20F. Maybe those charcoal feet warmers would work?

3)Headwinds blow