Northern Cold, Southern Chill

When I went outside to start up the car Saturday morning, I was surprised. For one, I was surprised to see a number like -14º F on the car thermometer. For another, I was surprised that cars actually start in those kinds of temperatures. Over the prior couple of days in IC, I'd already learned that car heaters take at least fifteen minutes to actually start generating heat when the thermometer is near zero, so I let it run while we loaded up for the fifteen hour drive back South. I have to admit I was rather looking forward to some warmer temperatures. As it would turn out, though, they wouldn't really be quite as warm as I'd hoped.

After driving for a couple of hours due South, the outside temperature was still below zero, and it wasn't until we were into Louisiana before it rose above freezing -- just barely. The windshield washer, which had been frozen up since we arrived in IC, didn't thaw out until the day after we got back to New Orleans. Otherwise, the return trip was uneventful and we arrived back home around 10 pm. By then I was feeling quite acutely that familiar anxiety that we all feel when we've been off the bike and inactive for so long. I was determined to make the Sunday morning ride on the northshore.

It was in the upper 30s in New Orleans on Sunday morning, and I knew that meant low 30s for the northshore. Fortunately, I already had practically everything I owned, clothing-wise, in my bag from the prior week. I pulled on my long tights over my shorts and knee-warmers and headed out at 6:30 to meet Mario and Mignon at Puccino's. I really wish I liked their coffee better, but at least they're open and conveniently located. We had thirteen riders when we pushed off into the 32 degree headwind at bit after 8 am for the usual 65-mile training ride. Two of the guys were planning on turning back early, so when they came off the back as the pace started to ramp up on the way to Highway 10, we didn't wait around for them. Despite the cold, the pace was brisk, and since it's now January there were sprints at the usual spots. Personally, I find it hard to sprint when it's so cold and so early in the year, and since there were usually only three or four who went for the sprints, I guess I'm not the only one. Still, they did force a bit of badly needed intensity. As usual, a few riders came off the back when the attacks started coming on the rollers along the backside of the loop, but I don't think the front group ever got more than a minute or two on them before the next intersection. I was a little unsure how I'd handle jumping into the deep end after being off the bike so much, but toward the end of the ride I realized that it wasn't really as bad as I'd feared. So the ride was a little harder and a little colder than usual for this time of year, but I was really glad I'd made the effort to get there. I was also glad I'd missed the Saturday Giro Ride because there had been a big crash that sent Rusty to the ER with (another) broken collarbone. Good excuse for staying inside until the weather is warmer, though.

The forecast for the next few days is looking really chilly. The warmest morning between today and next Sunday will be around 41 F and the lowest will be 27, the latter of which will be pushing the limits of my winter cycling wardrobe. Next weekend's Saturday Giro and Sunday northshore rides will probably both start out below freezing.