Pilots (of which I’m one, although I’m in my dormant phase) have a concept of “personal minimums.” This is a set of standards that must be met for them to fly. For instance, a common one is that there must be a certain amount of visibility—a mile, perhaps—or the clouds must be high enough in the air to enable a safe landing. These minimums may be stricter than what the FAA says is acceptable for pilots to fly in, hence the “personal” aspect.
Well, today I passed on an outdoor ride due to my cycling personal minimums. When I was scheduled to start a 45-mile ride with a group of friends, temperatures were below freezing, and the windchill made it feel like less than 20 degrees (Fahrenheit). Here’s the current temperature, with windchill, a half-hour into their 9 a.m. ride:
Yikes. That be cold. At that point, it’s simply impossible for me to get warm on the bike. It doesn’t matter how much I layer up or how many watts I push. My hands and feet will still be numb, and stay numb throughout the entire ride. This I know from long experience.
So although I was very much looking forward to the ride, when I saw the conditions, I had to pass. (My wife’s been sick as well, and I’m taking care of her. But I would have passed anyway). It’s not worth hours of wishing I was in my warm home.
I would have probably given it a go if the wind was calm or nearly calm. I can ride when it’s near freezing, but when the wind is whipping, it adds a moldy cherry to the top of the misery cake. I ain’t that hungry.
I try not to feel guilty in these situations, but it can be hard. I’ve begged off of several rides this winter, due to various reasons. That can be frustrating, but I don’t want to be so focused on getting a ride in that I’ll ignore other factors. That’s called obsession, and it’s not healthy.
I hope the guys have a great ride without me. I’ll miss them, but not the arctic chill.
What are your personal minimums? Do you ever skip rides? Let’s chat about it in the comments below.
My minimum during this time of year is about 40°F with sun. I can fress warm and get warm by sun and exertion should the wind chill be a factor. But like you, I think it's sometimes better to indoors instead.