Hot Blooded

"I'm hot blooded, check it and see." While the song then diverges from the point I want to make, this phrase applies very directly.

I went out for one evening commute with the following morning back to work. The evening was very pleasant with temps above 60° F, but the morning was down around 40° F. So, being the prepared cyclist that I am, I put on my cold weather bibs with the long pants, by warmest jersey, a skull cap, and a wind-proof vest. I figured that I didn't want to get too cold.

That combination was great for the first three miles, then I started to doubt the wisdom of the vest and skull cap. While I would have been a little chilly without one or the other, I quickly became too warm with both. I think that I could have skipped the vest and relied on the wind resisting properties of the jersey to regulate my core temperature. It had just been so long since I'd ridden in the cold that I had forgotten.

And this week I've not helped my learning curve since I blamed bad weather for my lack of motivation to get back out on two wheels. Instead, I've been putting in time on my NordicTrac in the mornings. It's a good cross-training workout, and perhaps heralds the end of this cycling season.

But how can the season be over while I have my bike at the office waiting to be ridden? I guess I'll have to ignobly haul it home in the bed of my truck. Poor bike. Poor me.

But I will get through another off-season and look forward to another great year of biking. In the mean time I'll listen to The FredCast to regularly remind myself that I am a  cyclist, and work to not get too fat during the sedentary season.

We're Ready

Ah, some Boston this morning.

I am a cyclist. I have to remind myself of that. I think that's one reason why I've left my Cervélo by my desk at the office. The poor thing's just sat there for weeks now as I've, for one reason after another, failed to ride at all. Now, does this mean that I've have not exercise whatsoever? Why, yes. Yes it does. I finally at least got on the NordicTrack this morning for the first time since last Winter. Pathetic. However, I am a cyclist.

So, now that the weather has finally turned for the worse and temperatures have finally dropped, I've gotten myself ready to ride. I have a bike, clothes, meals, and hope. These will all be with me at the office in mere minutes.

Now, I just have to get days when I will not be soaked by rain during either the ride home or to work. It looks like that will be Wednesday. No matter, I will be ready when the weather is. I guess that I'm kind of a fair weather cyclist, but that is what I am. I can take cold; I can take hot. I can take dry; but I don't do well with rain. I guess I've just gotten out of the routine of it since living in Miami and Houston where I would often have to hang my shoes in front of a fan to dry them overnight after a commute home in the torrential rain. I look back on those days with fondness, but don't necessarily want to relive them right now. Especially if the rain is combined with cold and I get all hypothermic during a ride. I'm okay with dry.

Well, I'm off to work in my motorized vehicle. I'll watch for you all out there on the roads until I can join you on my bicycle.