Fooled by Sunshine
After carefully checking the road in front of the house this morning I decided it was safe to ride — even without the snow tires on the Vespa scooter. That approach is a decidedly small sampling of the roads in central Pennsylvania so I have to engage a bit of imagination for evaluation of roads not seen along with a look at the weather forecast on my iPhone. It is, at best, a guess.
The temperature was hovering at 9F with a light wind. Sunshine has a way of making everything seem ok. Must be why the eye of a hurricane is so deceptively dangerous. With sun in my eyes and joy in my heart off I went for a Saturday morning Vespa ride.
Cold Hands
My hands have always been the weak link in my winter riding dreams. They chill quickly despite neoprene guards on the heated grips. If I was just riding and not always stopping to make photographs the problem would be reduced significantly. But I’m driven by the camera, or my eyes, or both and hands be damned. It only takes a few minutes of handling a cold camera for my fingers to start to scream, “Hey Bozo, remember, we all had frostbite!”.
And my cardiologist warned I would not tolerate cold as well. He’s right. Seems my old limit somewhere below zero has moved up to around 20F. Just five miles from home I could sense the cold creeping through my body. More layers may have helped — I wasn’t at my full gear level — but I think the really cold riding might be in danger.
Vespa Winter Performance
Even without the winter tires the scooter performed well on the constantly changing road surface from bare to snow covered to something in between. Speed is reduced to allow extra time and space to negotiate the unexpected but this morning the extreme cold provided more traction than there would have been twenty degrees warmer.
The engine has always purred like a kitten in the cold and despite my irrational fear that it won’t start when I’m miles from home it jumped to life each time I pressed the starter.
After less than an hour on the road I pushed the scooter back into the garage and moved on to plan B. The dogs were happy to see me home so soon. They’re far more cold tolerant than I am. You won’t find me lying on the deck licking my bare feet or rolling around in the snow just because it’s there.
I’m a reserved Vespa scooter rider.
Do you think perhaps the meds you’re on to stave off another heart attack contribute to the lessening of how much cold you can withstand?
Thought you had heated grips? Or was it battery powered gloves?
I’m not sure if the medicine has had an effect or the heart attack itself but the cardiologist said I would likely be less cold tolerant. Today I was cold to the core and could not warm up. The heated grips are powered by the Vespa and are hot but even with that my fingers went south.
Haven’t given up yet but perhaps I was just not ready to ride this morning. Tomorrow will be close to zero in the morning but I may just pull the covers over my head and go back to sleep.
I’ve been told that blood thinners really impact your ability to stay warm as the normal method of decreasing flow in your extremities to keep the core warm is defeated. You could add more heated gear or maybe start using chemical heat packs to keep your extremities nice and toasty. I tried some chemical toe warmers but they are too warm for me unless it’s really cold and I’m outside for more than a few hours.
That road looks pretty slick to me…
I’m going to first try running the electric gloves AND the heated grips. See where that takes me. Then electric socks. If I can keep my hands and feet warm I think I can manage the rest.
The road definitely was slick in places. You just have to pick your way along and not start daydreaming…
I thought about you, I had a chance to ride up in the local mountains today. It was relatively warm but in a couple of the deep corners there was some pretty large ice patches.
Feels like wilderness when you run into dark corners with ice!
Steve, you are suffering for your art. It’s very noble. We your readers, the consumers of your art, are appreciative.
Not sure about art but I was suffering. Not sure why exactly and even less sure if I want to anymore. Doesn’t take long for me to want to ride again though.
Its probably the blood thinners you’re on that are messing you up. Add a base layer of silk or merino wool next to your skin it may help. Silk glove liners are awesome, they keep your hands a little warmer and wick moisture away. I to find myself a little less cold tolerant as I’m getting older, When I come home from a foray out into the cold I usually heat up the rice bag I have an then rest it against my tummy, that is where all your core is and if you heat your core up your arms and legs will follow quickly at being warm. Then you have to watch for core temp after drop, people think they are warmed ul and aren’t as the blood circulates it still moves the cold stuff through your veins, so sit & nest a little more. Stay warm my friend!
Thanks for the suggestions. I have some base layers of polypropylene but have not tried wool or silk. Silk gloves — should try that.
Next trip to the doctor I’ll inquire more directly about the medication.
I like the rice bag idea Dar. Like you I’m less tolerant of the cold these days.
Man it’s cold this morning! I am just looking out the windows.
The best way to experience cold — through a window from a warm place!
I talked with Sig. Other about cold tolerances (yours and hers – she had knee surgery in November). She’s had these issues as well, and my thinking more or less aligns with Dar regarding blood-thinning meds, which happens to include ibuprofen. (My post-crash motto during the peak of my bicycling years was “Advil is my co-pilot.”)
I believe I mentioned it before, but I’ve recently rediscovered the power of thermal long underwear – it’s almost singlehandedly made my cold-weather rides on Melody so much more comfy I could kick myself for ignoring this for so long. The FF helmet and decent socks handle two of my three extremeties with aplomb; as fars as my hands are concerned, the $32 Joe Rocket Thinsulate-lined gauntlets do a decent job for a good distance down to, say, 35º F, whereas below that they’re good for about fifteen minutes or so at a stretch before the fingertips start to tingle…and I wish I had the neoprene guard-thingies you have. (Saw a new GTS Super parked in lower Manhattan about two weeks ago with those – wanted to know who made ’em.)
Of course, we’re halfway through February…right?
Before you know it the cold weather will be behind us and thoughts of battling the cold will be as well. But next winter I”ll be whining again…
I want to at least try the electric gloves with the heated grips.
Loved the pictures of the roads Steve. They looked nearly deserted. Nothing even close to that empty where I am in Florida. I’m not sure I could adjust to the ice in corners. The cold maybe – the ice? Stay warm and yes, any blood thinners will have you colder sooner. Take it from a guy with stents. Stay warm and ride safe!
Riding below freezing means there is always a chance of ice. Even if it’s only a discarded coffee that icy spot can spell trouble. You have to manage corners differently.
I’ve started to wonder if I need to take blood thinners forever…
In my particular case Steve it is “recommended” that I take them from now on but frankly I cheat a bit and instead take a baby aspirin instead once in awhile. Ride safely and more country road pictures please!
I take a baby aspirin everyday as well. I’ll be seeing the cardiologist again in August. I’ll ask then if after two years and three months I can stop.