TODAY'S WEATHER... NICE DAY FOR A BIKE RIDE?

from the Burlington Free Press online:
Current Conditions (8:10am): 10°F, Snow
Real Feel: -13°F (-25°C)
Relative Humidity: 85%
Barometer: 29.91"Hg (F)
Wind: N at 16 mph (26 kph)
Visibility: 1 miles (2 km)
Sunrise: 7:29am
Sunset: 4:24pm

This was definitely one of my toughest rides. It's been snowing on and off for a few days. Yesterday, we got several inches of wet snow (it was about 30 degrees F). Overnight, the temperature plummeted into the single digits - and we got a few inches more of fluffy snow on top. This kind of mix is BRUTAL to ride in. The snow keeps the studs on my tires from reaching the asphalt, so the tires spin, kick out to the side, or bog down on unplowed roads/paths.

Fortunately, I was on the road early this morning for swim practice, so there wasn't a lot of motorized traffic. That meant that I was able to ride on the right side of the travel lane (the bike paths/bike lane weren't plowed yet) where car tires had beaten a path down to ice/pavement.

I was so focused on the difficult road conditions that it kept my mind off the first signs of frostbite on my fingers and toes. Usually, I'm able to wiggle my fingers and alternately make fists inside my gloves to warm up, but this morning - I had a death grip on the handlebars. I'm sure that reduced circulation, and the result was some pretty painful fingertips. I have no excuse for my feet/toes. I wore my day hikers (little or no insulation) instead of wearing my toasty warm/dry duck boots. I won't repeat that mistake.

Tommorow, we head off to the Florida Keys for a much-needed vacation, so today will be my last day of riding for a week.