Son of bitch. Shit.
Early morning training in near freezing temps just sucks. At least that’s what I think. After 2.5 hrs on the hills in 35F temps and 10 to 20mph winds I’ve decided that I do not like cold weather training. No, not at all. After the first hour all I could think about was how much my feet hurt from the cold. The hurt was replaced by a numbing hurt (yes, somehow it’s possible for my feet to both be numb and hurt at the same time) and soon after by a deep ache. Awesome.
The wind and the cold and the numb/painful feet wore me down and pretty soon I was no longer a man, no longer human. I was just a thing in constant motion. I was it.
It turns the pedals over. It ignores it’s cold-numbed feet. It doesn’t complain …it rubs the lotion on its body.
Aside from the numb feet (did I mention that my feet were numb and that they hurt?), the cold wasn’t too bad. Of course I had on 4 layers, including a long sleeved jersey plus arm warmers. Perhaps I shall work to devise a battery powered heating system for my shoes. Hmmmm.
#1 by Jaron Ballard at December 21st, 2009
I tried to find battery powered, heated shoes, but to no avail. I did however find socks:
http://www.amazon.com/SALE-Lectra-Battery-Heated-Socks/dp/B000K8CQJA
You’re more of a man then me, my bike goes into storage as soon as we get snow, so until it melts in late April, the only bike I’ll be riding is at the YMCA.
#2 by Geof Harries at December 22nd, 2009
Have you tried neoprene cycling booties? I’ve had a pair for years and they always keep my feet warm & dry.
#3 by Andy at December 24th, 2009
@jaron: Ha, nice. I wonder how those things tolerate rain. I’d be scared that they’d give me a shocking experience.
@Geof: I don’t have those, though it’d be nice to try them. Maybe Santa will be kind…
A friend suggested I use those chemical heater packs; the ones that look sorta like tea bags and heat up when they contact oxygen. He suggested I put them under my toe covers. Says he does that and it keeps his toes warm for hours. Novel idea.
#4 by Paul Armstrong at December 29th, 2009
Consider yourself extremely lucky! You are actually able to bike _outside_! Those of us that live in freezing tundras like Minnesota only really have the option of hopping on a trainer in our basement and doing everything we can to not get completely bored out of our minds.
#5 by Andy at December 29th, 2009
Thanks Paul. Yes, that is one of the hallmarks of childish bellyaching–one tends to perceive of one’s own predicament as being somehow worse than that of other, less fortunate folks. It therefore should generally be ignored.
I recognize that I am quite fortunate to live in such a comparatively warm location. As penance I shall continue to train in the cold and the near-freezing drizzle without complaining about it. Good luck with that bored-out-of-our-minds thing.