Coldest morning yet — 23F. Frost and ice. Perfect for riding to work. And not. The walk with Junior in the early morning sun felt great with only a hint of icy sharpness creeping into my hands and feet. Sunshine can generate a lot of denial in addition to warmth.
When I look in the mirror I still see a young man. Decisions are driven by appraisals of ability and stamina that vanished a long time ago. I become aware of who I am after three flights of stairs, or carrying a few 80 pound bags of concrete. It’s that man who is approaching his sixth decade who finds it more difficult to pull on the gear and ride off in the cold.
The Vespa did leave the garage this morning and despite some initial doubt I was glad I rode off into the glow of falling maple leaves. By this time the thermometer climbed to a comfortable 30F.
Concerns about the cold faded into searches for patches of ice and other frozen things like coffee, soda and various waste tossed from vehicles.
In the short time it took to make a photo of the scooter the leaves had begun to pile up. In another week the landscape will almost look like winter. Time is flying…
The nearby free motorcycle parking was full which surprised me on a cold day. So I opted for a fine space along Allen Street with time on the meter.
I’m in town for lunch with Hannah. She tells me about the Inaugural Pittsburgh EQT 10-miler she and her husband competed in. He finished in 1:04:33 (6:27 min/mile pace) – 78th overall out of just short of 4,000 runners and 7th in his division. She finished in 1:46:05 (10:36 min/mile pace) – which for her (she says) is pretty fantastic. My feet burn and tingle as she talks about it. My running days are over.
But it seems I can still ride in the cold. For now.
Good. I had a similar experience yesterday. Not sure I wanted to bike to work in the predawn chill (-6 C) but really really glad I did. Had to dig up the “ninja mask” though to keep my face from freezing off!
Cheers and keep riding.
Steve I commuted yesterday with the thermometer essentially at 32F. After 45 minutes or so, without heated gloves or grips it’s no longer comfortable for me and the cold becomes distracting. I’ll soon pack it in for another year. I admire your grit.
Commutes to work will end for me soon too. Fortunately there still will be short grocery runs and errands to run on smaller members of the fleet. Also voting today will take place after a short run on something.
No doubt now that winter is on the way. I’ve never been much of a cold weather rider – 40F is about my limit. With appropriate riding gear I could push it lower but generally I just find it too uncomfortable to be bundled up and, as David says, the cold becomes a distraction in and of itself. So I’ll put her away today and wait for warmer weather in the spring.
I’ve had to stop riding – the chill goes to my bones when it gets in the low 40s in the morning and its too hard to get warm. Like Canajun said, with the proper gear I probably could make it colder, but it just isn’t practical for me most of the time.
My husband, on the other hand, rides until there’s ice on the ground (usually into the low 30s). He’s ridden before in colder weather, though – down to about 17 was his record when he checked his journal! He’s got a heated vest and such though.
I’m a new fan of your blog – I love your photography!
Woke to 30 degrees (warmer than you!) temperature and no snow on the ground….weather guessers had predicted some….rode to work dissapointed.
I have faith in you Steve, you and I will be riding in the cold for years to come….
dom
So glad to see you’re still writing, my friend. I’ve decided the absense from the blogsphere has been too long. Time to start haunting you, again. 🙂
Your photos are still something special. I’m getting better but not there, yet. One of these days. Sigh……
I like the photo showing the leaves on the floor boards of the Vespa. Do you regularly hang a water bottle on the hood? I’d think that it was scratch the paint…
14F and snowing this morning. Not enough snow to be a hassle but enough to dampen sounds for a pleasant commute (plus errands).
Steve:
You’re making me feel sorry for this “OLD Man” in his 6th decade.
I know what you mean about feeling young when the rest of you thinks otherwise. I generally don’t ride below 4°c as our humid air deposits moisture which turns to ice/frost every evening, not like the dry cold of the East. You can feel it just by shuffling the soles of your shoe on the asphalt. I have come to realize that it just isn’t worth the risk to ride as you age because when things go wrong, it will take longer to heal, if ever . . .
I know many will try to ride all year and I did try it for a while but it just didn’t make sense when I had another vehicle prepared for winter conditions.
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
PS: I wished I was in my 6th decade, enjoy it before you reach the next one
Love the crystals of frost on the grass … but just because there is frost on the grass doesn’t mean there is dust on the bottle. 60 is truly the new 40. Embrace it and give it hell – what else can you do? (I also love how well you put into words and pictures what we, of this generation, all feel – TWENTY STILL ;o)
However, that being said – even when I was 20 I did not like being cold. I do not feel older because I put it away for the winter, I just feel warmer.
Chris Underwood: I need to find my ninja mask. Without it the freezing air cuts into my neck like a knife!
David Masse: 45 minutes in freezing air is a lot of time to get cold. Since I stop a lot to make pictures I have many little moments to warm up. If you are doing a commute it can be really uncomfortable.
My grit is getting sort of pulverized into dust.
kz1000st: Be careful on those errands and store runs when things begin to freeze!
Canajun: Riding cold is definitely a distraction. As long as I can stay comfortable I’ll keep riding.
Concetta Phillipps: Hang in there. Maybe the weather gods will keep things unseasonably warm for awhile.
Wish I could use more electrics on my Vespa. It just won’t handle electric gloves AND a vest.
Thanks for the kind words about the photos!
Charlie6 (dom): I’ll try to make sure your faith in my cold weather riding isn’t misplaced!
irondad: Long time no see. Hope things are going well with your motorcycle training position.
Your experience and expertise is always welcome here. Good to know you will be making more appearances in the blogosphere.
My photo making has been much curtailed due to work but I still enjoy doing what i can with my little pocket camera.
RichardM: I thought the same as you that the waterbottle would scuff the paint but amazingly it doesn’t hurt the finish at all.
Snow…. ugh. I can’t even think about it right now.
bob skoot: Depending on the day I can really feel the looming 6th decade. Really. Most of the time it means some kind of nap is involved….
VStar Lady: I plan to do the best I can to embrace whatever the passing years brings my way. And to keep riding as it comes!