Wind and Heat

Cold temperatures and long work days ensured that a full week went by without a ride.  Saturday came along with temps in the 40's.  I waited the cold out in the morning and was rewarded with 47 degrees after lunch.  I pulled on my fleece tights, a long-sleeved base layer, jersey, cycling cap and gloves.  My son wanted to ride a little with me so we did a lap around the neighborhood before I headed out on the roads.  We pedaled down our street and turned south on a drive that loops around the boarder of our community.  BAM!  We both were smacked in the face with a wall of wind.  My son nearly came to a complete stop.  I had to wait and wait and wait as he struggled to pedal through the force of the air.  The wind also sent a chill through me.  We slowly made it home and I pulled on a fleece jacket and set off.  I felt good and warm. 

Pulling out on to the street was exhilarating.  After a full week I was back in business.  I turned south and BAM - another wall of wind.  For most of the ride I battled with a hard head/cross wind that felt like someone was grabbing my saddle and pulling me backwards while knocking me from side to side.  I had decided to push it a little further this ride, but second guessed myself with all the wind.  I finally gritted my teeth and decided to keep pushing the extra few miles.  It was painful, but well worth it.

A few miles into the ride, with all the effort I was expending against the wind I began to get hot.  Very hot.  I realized what all the advice givers meant when they said they want to be a little chilly when they start a ride and that they quickly heat up.  Yeah - heat up is right.  I unzipped my jacket and at a red light, pulled off my cycling cap and shoved it into a pocket.  The breeze through the vents in my helmet felt great from then on.  However my arms were still smoking.  I now see the utility in a good pair of arm warmers that are quick off and easily stored in a jersey pocket if things start to warm up.  Lesson learned.  I ended at 12.2 miles - most of them very hard fought - in just under an hour.