I let Bernie replace the bent axle on my rear wheel rather than handle it myself. I'm glad I did. Bernie ran into some problems obtaining the right part. It was a minor annoyance for him but I would have been pulling my hair out. I picked up my wheel yesterday, this morning I was out riding for the first time in a month.
It was cold, dark, and gloomy today. When I say it was cold, I mean it was cold for me. It was 50 degrees (10 Celsius).
Somebody has been decorating this little tree along the Trinity Trails for the past few years. It's always nice to see.
I really don't have much in the way of winter riding gear. I've taken to wearing pants (usually jeans), a fleece pullover, and my old yellow, waterproof-breathable Helly Hansen shell. I look rather pensive in this photo.
A birdhouse along the trail. That's the railyard in the background. This isn't the most scenic spot.
Glad you got the bike fixed, and got out on a ride. It's seriously weird to read about my Texas friends riding in 50-80 degree temps while I'm trudging through snow. It's amazing how hard a bar like that can get when it's, say, 20 degrees ...
ReplyDeleteI don't like to ride in jeans. I know it works for some people, but it really doesn't work for me. I usually find khakis or cargo pants work well. I do have bike-specific gear too, but I don't wear it for commuting, for the most part.
Here's another thing you can try. Cheap nylon jogging pants cut the wind pretty well. If I layer them over khakis, I'm good down to single-digits.
We're pretty fortunate that we don't have to deal with the conditions that you guys up north deal with every year. Of course we have the blazing heat to contend with when summer rolls around. It's a trade off.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to dig up my old nylon jogging pants. Thanks for the tip.
We had a taste of Texas summer heat last summer here in Indiana (well, maybe Texas spring). Highs in the 90's for days on end, it was HOT.
ReplyDeleteI'll take the cold over the hot weather - especially what you folks endure in July & August. I don't know how people survive that kind of weather.
Happy Holidays!
Big Oak-I've never lived anywhere other than Texas. I don't think I could deal with the ice and snow. I look at the photos you guys post and I'm always amazed that you're out riding in that stuff.
ReplyDeleteIt's really good to see you back on the bike and reporting in from Fort Worth. I'm happy to see the bike and body ready for action. The hard as a brick bar comment and photo made me chuckle. Of course, I understand exactly what you're talking about. I guess the photo just struck the funny bone somehow.
ReplyDeletePondero-It's good to be out riding again.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what you do about food stuff when you ride in cold, real up-north kind of cold? I'm sure energy gels would thicken to the consistency of peanut butter. I guess you would place these items somewhere against your body for warmth.