Slushy Winter Cycling

Post-ride radar. The red band hit while I was in Freeville.

 I hit the road yesterday, in spite of the fact that a band of mixed precipitation was heading our way. It was in the mid-30s, so I was achin' to get out there. I've developed a full-fledged allergy to the trainer. I though I could get my ride in before snow started to accumulate on the roads, but my desire to tack on some extra miles, combined with the intensity of the slushy, icy wintry wet stuff led to a tricky situation.

I should have worn goggles, and more importantly, I really should have put the studded tire on, but no, I wanted the road wheel to take on the hills faster. I won't make that mistake again! By the time I reached Lower Creek Road, the snow was really starting to stick, and as I neared Hanshaw Rd., it really got dicey. Fortunately there was almost no traffic and drivers knew to give me lots of room.

Grit and grime, but I beat the salt trucks!

By the time I reached Bush Lane in Lansing I was officially waterlogged and started to get the chills. Boosting the RPMs really helped to warm me up, and then it was time to face the tricky descent down Sunset and Remington. Talk about an adrenaline rush!

On Hanshaw Rd., wondering what the hell I'm doing.

Better than a spa!

Groundhog Reminder

If Punxsutawney Phil is correct (let's call him P-Phil to give him some more street cred.), we only have two more weeks of winter! Even if he's off by a few weeks, our chubby little lowland marmot friend has me all fired up about endless days of spring cycling. So let's welcome all the snow, sleet and freezing rain and bide our time, as we notice the days getting longer and sooner than we can imagine, the local roads will be filled with beaming cyclists breathing in large gulps of warmish air, taking in the beautiful roadways of the finger lakes yet again. 


My trainer isn't quite gathering dust, but it's seeing a lot less use than last season, thanks to inspiration from Keith T. and Andy G., who remind me via Facebook that winter cycling is a viable option. I somehow managed to log 170 road miles in January, and those short hill climbs have me feeling so great. I find it so challenging to get motivated for a cold weather ride, but the payoff is always huge. 


So thanks to P-Phil for the boost...time to take stock of the spring cycling wardrobe!