The first really cold ride of the year. It was around freezing when four hardy souls left on our 40-mile adventure. Temps climbed into the low 50s toward the end, but for the most part it was full-out winter riding.
A lot of climbing on this route: 3,700 feet in about 40 miles. That’s more than 90 feet per mile, which is a lot for me. It’s the second-most amount of climbing I’ve ever done, topped only by a brutal gravel ride in Michaux State Forest in September. But when it’s cold like this, the hills are a good thing, as they warm me up.
I don’t ride with a group very often, so this was extra-fun. I went with three other really strong cyclists: Ted, John, and Drew. We were working up those hills, but the cold air helped there too, since it’s denser and there’s more oxygen in it.
I’m always a bit unsure of how to dress when there’s a big temperature spread during a ride, like there was today. I decided to go with a single thermal base layer, heavy-ish jacket, thermal cap under my helmet, thick gloves, wool socks and shoe covers. (I wrote at length about my cold-weather gear last year.)
For the most part, it worked out well. My feet were cold the whole time, but not frozen. When it warmed up, I unzipped the jacket to regulate the heat. I considered bringing a pair of full-fingered but lighter gloves, and wish I had. Note to self for next time.
For cold-weather riding, the key for me is to keep my hands and feet warm. If those are taken care of, the rest of my body is pretty easy to keep comfortable. Don’t know why that is, but it probably has something to do with the fact that I ain’t young.
We had lots of encounters with animals. That’s part of the package when you ride with me: I’m an animal magnet. And during one particularly interesting segment, I spotted a German Shepherd. If you know my history with that breed, you can imagine my reaction. There was a report that someone screamed—I’m not sure who it was. It’s all a blur...
We were also chased by a dog early on, but were far enough ahead that it didn’t get to close to us (Drew noted that I suddenly sped up and bolted ahead at that point.)
There was more than just dogs, though. As Ted noted in his Strava recap, we saw “dogs, squirrels, goats, horses, cows, pheasants, and one cat having a REAL bad day.” The cat was around the same place as the German Shepherd. Unlike most cats, it stayed in the road and stared us down. I don’t see that too often. That feline was spoiling for a fight. (Find me here on Strava).
Riding with others is something I need to do more often. The miles go by so much more quickly. The ride was less than three hours, but it felt to me like less than that. Thanks, guys, for making the miles easier on me.
Some numbers: 40.5 miles; weighted power 198; average speed 14.0; average cadence 88. That cadence surprises me a bit, considering how much climbing we were doing. I’m more of a spinner than a masher, but some of those hills were intimidating. I thought my cadence would be more in the mid-80s.
All in all, a great ride with great people.
It was impressive Keith. “Activate Animal Afterburners!”
You are just an animal magnet 👍