Cold Mornings and Warm Memories - Winter Cycling
Quick Take: I have never liked riding a bicycle in cold weather, but staying ready for an early-summer bicycle tour means I cannot simply quit riding all winter. After decades of cycling, I have learned that keeping my ears, fingers, and toes warm makes the biggest difference, and sometimes the smartest winter ride is the one I do indoors. I hate riding in cold weather. Some cyclists seem to love it. They talk about crisp air, quiet roads, and how a freezing morning makes them feel alive. I mostly just feel cold. My toes start complaining, my fingers never seem quite warm enough, and the wind somehow finds the one little opening in whatever I am wearing. If I had my way, I would probably avoid the bike every time the temperature dropped below 40 degrees. The problem is that I usually have an early-summer bicycle tour somewhere on the calendar, and I know from experience that I cannot wait until April or May to start getting ready for it. Those summer miles are built during t...
