December 8, 2021
A Sudden Inspiration
Bragging and Showing Off
After an unusually warm and dry November, winter has finally arrived here in Minnesota. Three days ago we got some freezing rain that left a layer of ice on the roads. Yesterday we got three inches of fresh snow. Today I woke up to a temperature of -7 degrees (F.) Sounds like a great time to head south for a bike tour, right?
Wrong! I'm a Tough Guy, remember? I ride my bike at least a few miles every day. For 25 years I did so while commuting to work. It was a matter of pride. I'm retired now, but I still ride in ice, snow and frigid temperatures. These days it's a matter of showing off.
Heart | 6 | Comment | 0 | Link |
It was on today's cold weather ride that an interesting thought came to me: I've never loaded up my bike and ridden to an overnight destination in such conditions. Maybe I could remedy that by conducting a short bike tour. Maybe I could show off my winter riding skills in a Cycleblaze journal. Maybe I could showcase the beauty of a Minnesota winter. And most importantly, maybe it would be FUN.
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I've always bragged about my minimal pre-tour planning regimen, but this little venture will exceed all of the minimal pre-tour planning I've ever minimally pre-tour planned before. I'm giving myself one day to get ready. I leave tomorrow.
I've got the clothing and the determination to conduct such a tour, but I'm not a fool. I won't be doing any 50-mile days; they'll be more like 20-mile days.
I won't be camping. I've shivered through a couple nights of winter camping in the past and I hated it. Once, my son and I even built a quinzee and spent a night in it. The temperature only got down to 10-degrees (F), but it felt like Absolute Zero to me. Therefore, this will be my very first credit card tour.
I won't be taking any chances. (A few days ago I set a goal of ZERO crashes for the 2021-2022 season. If I achieve that goal, it will be the first time in, like, 20 years.) There will be no sudden sharp turns. No racing to get through a yellow light. No pedaling through stop signs. No shenanigans like riding with only one hand (or no hands) on the handlebars. I'll be riding very, very slowly.
The packing should be real easy. I won't need a tent or sleeping bag. I won't need a stove or any other cooking stuff. No bug spray. No sunscreen. I won't even need much in the way of extra clothing because I'll be wearing almost all of the clothing I'll need. I think the only reason I'll need more than one pannier is to have a place to put my extra clothes as the day warms up and I shed a layer or two.
I will bring a multi-tool, tire irons and a spare inner tube, but I sure hope I don't have to use them. Changing a tube in sub-freezing temperatures is not fun. For some reason, finger contact with cold metal is infinitely more painful than finger contact with cold air.
As for electronics, I'll bring my cell phone and small laptop and their chargers. I will also have my little Bluetooth speaker so I can rock out while typing my journal each evening.
Heart | 12 | Comment | 3 | Link |
3 years ago
3 years ago
However, I do have really warm riding gear and will often ride my single if the roads and trails are dry. Denver has pretty mild winters and I can ride all winter - even into the 30's. But Tuesday's forecast here is for 64 degrees!! I'm ridin' (but only if the snow we're getting now melts:)
3 years ago
Rate this entry's writing | Heart | 14 |
Comment on this entry | Comment | 19 |
I used to commute in the winter. I found studded tires essential. Do you use them?
Now I am soft and head to Tucson in the winter!
Don't forget to take along your medicinal Whiskey - it won't freeze in the cold the way water does!
Keep your snacks that can become too solid inside of your jacket, next to your body. I learned that one the hard way.
I look forward to following along!
3 years ago
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Greg had one final challenge to score,
He began to pedal
To prove his mettle
On his sub-zero cycling tour
Enjoy it,Greg!
3 years ago
Looking forward to the tour, but I don't expect to see much in the way of nature.
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I enjoy a medicinal whiskey now and then, but I'm more of a beer guy. I pick up some beer before every overnight stop on all my tours. I just got some here in Cottage Grove a few blocks from my motel.
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I must say, it's really slick,
Keep reading this thing,
Winter riding is king,
That, my friend, is my schtick.
3 years ago
Nice to see you are a comrade in year-round cycling.
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https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10224648793063365&set=a.10224319116661661
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