I never thought I'd like to bike ride, period, let alone ride a bike in mid-November. But, I just got back from an hour-long/10.5 mile ride. When I checked the weather this morning, it was 38 degrees, with a predicted high of 45. That wasn't thrilling. I haven't quite prepared myself for cold-weather riding. I started riding in mid-May, when we bought my Electra "Boney Finger" for me and Electra's "Eight Ball" for John. Before the snow hit this week, I had about 1,050 miles on it. My bike-riding friends have been giving me advice on cold weather gear, but there is one difference. They ride road or mountain bikes, not cruisers. My vanity gets in the way of me wearing the same gear they wear on their bikes on a cruiser. Today, I donned my jeggings, tennis shoes, long-sleeved shirt and hoodie, as well as this goofy looking "martial arts" cap I bought at Wal-Mart, thinking it might work. I don't have gloves yet, but my hands really didn't get cold. Just my face did. I went on the Little Dry Creek Trail a short ways and then got off and rode around Lake Arbor. I only saw one other biker out, but plenty of people were walking their dogs. I made a new Pandora station: Teenage Dream by Katy Perry. It was a good choice; nice mix, from Katy to Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga to Kesha and Rihanna. Overall, I was surprised at how pleasant riding in 45-degree weather can be--especially since there was no wind. I still plan on looking for an indoor alternative for the coldest days, but I have hope that I can get some more outdoor days in for a while.
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