Day 177: Today's Theme was Cold and Wet

The conditions today were better than yesterday. The really good news is that temperatures were about ten degrees warmer. Don’t get me wrong, it was still very cold and wet out, especially after the rains had soaked through all of my layers of cycling gear. By the end of the ride I was just about as cold as yesterday, but it took a lot longer for the chill to set in since the temperatures were in the 50's and not the 40's.

Since it was storming out again today, I did a similar ride to the one that I did yesterday. I rode up to the West Point Inn where I paused to take a quick photo before riding down Old Stage to Pantoll. When I had reached the Panoramic Highway, I reconsidered riding down the highway on a weekend, and during a rain storm. It’s well known that on weekends people drink at the little beach communities and then drive home. That combined with the weather made me rethink riding the two mile stretch that leads over to the Gravity Car trail. So instead I doubled back the way that I came, and rode back up to the West Point Inn.

As I approached the Inn I noticed that a Ranger’s truck was making its way up Railroad Grade. I can’t imagine why a Ranger would be driving a 3-ton truck up the Grade on a day like today. The tracks that it was making in the trail were outrageous! Really, why are they allowed to drive such huge vehicles on the trails when they’re rain soaked?

From there I rode back down the Grade to Summit Road. I decided to ride on the road for the rest of the way home. There was way too much mud being flung around today, so riding down the last third of the mountain on the road was a nice respite. After arriving home I was forced to do another striptease in the backyard. It’s amazing how much mud I bring down the hill with me, and I try to leave it all in the backyard. ;-) I hope that I’m not scaring my neighbors.

Today's photos are nearly identical to yesterday's. I did this since the ride and the weather were also almost identical.

Distance: 16.85 miles
Calories burned: 2,274
Time: 1:44:23 hours
Elevation gain: 3,163 ft
Garmin Connect ride details: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/20439155

Day 176: Cold, Wet, and Yet I'm Still Happy to be on my Bike

I'd been following the weather reports pretty closely as the storm doors have opened here in Northern CA. I’m living by the reports, and then of course by the weather radar that comes courtesy of today's technology. I do my best each day to pick the highest temperatures, and the driest times to ride. That said, there are days like today that I’m just not going to catch a break, and I'll be forced to ride in the worst of the day's conditions. Oh well, I chose this path to recovery for myself, and now I'm simply living through my own commitment to recovery. It somehow makes it easier for me to pull on dozens of layers of clothing, before heading out into the cold and rain, knowing that I've made such a commitment.

I was called in to help one of my favorite clients this morning, and that killed off my original idea of riding during the morning hours, and more importantly, before the rains. Sure enough I ended up riding in the rain, and given that the temperatures are in the low 40’s, its simply brutal on ones body. I’ve been off my bike, and in dry warm clothes for over hour now, and yet I’m still shivering like a Chihuahua in Antarctica. I’m really not kidding. I had to cut a call short with my friend Melvis, because I could barely talk. ;-)

OK, so it was freezing cold, wet, and windy on the mountain, and yet I was still smiling as I rode up Railroad Grade towards the West Point Inn. On days like today, when the conditions are difficult for me, I like riding on trails that are ridiculously familiar to me. It’s like I’m riding home. As I reached the Inn I sighed briefly before quickly remounting my stead since. There's no time to rest on cold and wet days like today. To a certain degree riding in these conditions is dangerous, and you need to keep moving in order to keep your body temperature in check. So there's no waiting around, resting, taking lots of photos. It's all about being safe, and getting the ride done.

I rode back via Old Stage to Pantoll Station, and then back to Gravity Car by way of the Panoramic Highway. I descended from there down Railroad Grade. There were several riders on the mountain that apparently felt the need to ride today. None of us could do more than say a quick hello. ;-)

As I returned home I decided to go in the back door where I could hose off my bike that was covered with pounds of debris. I was covered too, so I basically did a striptease in the backyard (sorry neighbors). Most of the pile is pictured, but there was more that ended up next to my heater where I hope that it dries out before tomorrow. From what I understand tomorrow will be even worse in terms of weather. To that I say this, I’d rather ride my bike while doing Riding to Recovery, than to complain about the conditions, or being cold, wet, tired, etc. There are worse things in life. I’m grateful to be alive, healthy, and that I have family and friends that care for me, and then of course I have my Tugboat. I really have nothing more that I can share today. OK, I lied. Commitment is so important to one's life. Today I was committed to riding during adverse conditions, but as I've thawed out, I feel more alive than ever.

Distance: 17.37 miles
Calories burned: 1,641
Time: 1:47:54 hours
Elevation gain: 2,214 ft
Garmin Connect ride details: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/20383699

Day 175: A Gray Day

Today was one of those gray days that we have during the winter months. I know, it’s still fall, but the past 3-4 days here have felt like we're in the depths of winter. The high temps haven’t exceeded 45 degrees, so it’s been cold for us CA folk. Today the winds were back, and blowing in from the Midwest, so the air was bone-chilling. I know, I’ve been using the words “bone-chilling” a lot during the past few days, but they’re the most accurate two words that I can think of using to describe the feeling of riding in the elements right now.

I rode with my brethren today. “F” and “B” asked me if I wanted to head out for a lunch time ride, and I’m always up for riding with people rather than riding solo, especially when it’s with these two gents. They’re fun to hang out with.

We kind of did our usual lunch ride, but today there was a twist that took us elsewhere. So today we rode up to Diaz Ridge, and then over to the Headlands where we were greeted by work crews that looked unfriendly, and whom had the Sheriffs in tow for some reason. So we rearranged our flight plan and circled back to Diaz Ridge.

We made it back to Diaz Ridge and where we rode down the fire road together, mostly. ;-) We rode back to WTB where we made sure that we were all back together, and in one piece, before we went back to work. Being out on the trails with friends is a powerful place to be. Some may think that it’s simply some guys getting together for a ride, but it’s more than that. We’re social creatures, and our socialization has been diluted during the past decades. We need social intercourse, which is no different than a pack of wolves. We need our packs, and I’m fortunate to have mine.

I felt strong on the bike today in spite of having a couple of personally troubling, or better stated, difficult days. It’s funny how I find strength now in the middle of crisis, especially a crisis that I didn’t CAUSE, can’t CONTROL, and can’t CURE! In Al-anon they're known as the Three C's. I wish that I had these tools for coping with life some 25 years ago. ;-) So in a nutshell, I felt strong today and I enjoyed riding with my buddies. Good people should be surrounded by good people, and that’s how I felt today.

Thanks for the fun ride guys. Let’s do it again. How about tomorrow?

Distance: 12.25 miles
Calories burned: 1,027
Time: 1:32:39 hours
Elevation gain: 1,539 ft
Garmin Connect ride details: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/20346401

Day 174: Duck Soup Sewage

I was riding by the Tiburon sewage treatment plant today and noticed dozens of ducks swimming around in their three treatment ponds. I was taken aback by the color of the water in the ponds. It was electric green that's presumably due to algae growing in the ponds. It made me wonder if the ducks should be swimming around in there. I’m assuming that its water that has already been treated to a substantial degree, but it sure does look toxic.

I had another major reminder today that the cleanup work that I need to do from my former marriage is far from over. I’ve stated this before, but I think that it will take me at least a year to clear myself from the marriage. The more that I look at what needs to be done, the more that I think that I’m right. It’s amazing just how enmeshed two can become in a marriage. Mine was very lopsided, and unbalanced, in terms of commitment and contribution, but it was clearly enmeshed no matter how one looks at it.

Today’s temperatures were no friendlier than those that I have experienced during the past two days. There were no winds really, so there weren’t wind chills to factor into my ride. Today I did my first road ride in a while. It was nice to be back on my trusty Colnago and riding along familiar routes. I’ve been doing many more mountain bike rides lately. During the past couple of months, and while I have been healing from broken ribs and the nastiest cold that I’ve ever had, being on the mountain has felt better to me. I’m not sure why, but it might just be a sign, or leaning towards, my favorite and most comfortable cycling discipline.

My toes and fingers are still warming up as I'm writing this posting. I hope that within the hour that my body will be back to room temperature. I’ve read that the weather will warm up a bit during the next few days, but that the rains are returning, so I’ll have a different challenge soon.

Today was a perfect day for me to ride the Paradise Loop. It was cold, but for the first 75 percent of the ride it was sunny. I wore my new gear again today and that kept me warm for most of the ride. I’m looking forward to the high temperatures getting back into the normal 50’s and 60’s!

Distance: 21.94 miles
Calories burned: 1,320
Time: 1:37:16 hours
Elevation gain: 815 ft
Garmin Connect ride details: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/20308081

Day 173: Colder Temperatures and Warmer Clothes

After yesterday’s bone chilling ride, and one that included riding through a hail storm, I decided to splurge on myself by buying some heavy-duty cold weather gear. I’ve had the requisite winter clothing before, but it wore out long ago. So today I did a little bit of shopping in order to replace that gear, and to keep myself toasty warm for the rest of the season.

After taking stock of what clothing I have to use this winter, and what I think that I'll need, I headed off to see my friends over at Tam Bikes in Mill Valley, CA. They’re literally located just two blocks away from my home. Once there I was greeted by one of their team who wanted to help me find what I needed. Attitude is everything in a bike shop, and these guys know that, and they have great attitudes towards their customers.

I made a beeline over to the clothing section that contained the winter gear. My body almost felt warmer just looking at the gear. Toe warmers, wool beanies, ear warmers, booties, and the winter gloves. Oh yeah! I can’t tell you how silly I felt as I fondled the merchandise. I haven’t purchased anything for myself beyond food for a long time, so I was having fun trying things on before buying.

In the end I walked away with a pair of booties for my feet, and a pair of winter gloves. I may go back for more after I've tested things out on today’s 42 degree ride.

It took me at least ten minutes to get all of my gear on before my ride. I had five layers on up top, including arm warmers that were buried some three layers deep. I had neoprene pants over my cycling shorts, and then shorts over those shorts. I had two pairs of wool socks on, and then my shoes, followed by my new booties. I had a wool skull cap on underneath my helmet, and my new winter gloves on my hands. Whew!

In the end I did get cold, but only for the last 10-20 minutes of my ride. I think that if I were to have another layer on up top, perhaps a wool under layer that can wick away sweat, that then I might stay warm enough on a day like today. BTW, when I left today the temperature was 42 degrees! I think that the temperature was even lower than that up on Mount Tamalpais. The picture to the right says it all.

Distance: 18.04 miles
Calories burned: 1,520
Time: 1:41:26 hours
Elevation gain: 2,186 ft
Garmin Connect ride details: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/20264239

Day 172: Another Cold Ride but this Time it was with Friends

When I woke up this morning the temperatures were in the low 30’s. I watched the morning news and the big story was all of the snow that had landed in almost every Bay area county, including Marin. The weatherman predicted the “lowest highs” of the decade, and perhaps even breaking long standing records for the century. The bottom line for me is that I was going to be riding in very cold temperatures, and possibly even rain.

Today I rode at lunch time with my friends “F” and “B." I was watching the outside temperature with the hope that they'd warm up, but they barely broke 40 degrees by noon. 

“F” is the Trail Master, and he always has ideas about what might be a great ride for the day. What’s nice about riding with him, beyond the good company, is that he always takes me to trails that I don’t frequent. Today was no exception. We rode up the streets and trails that lead up Warner Canyon, while on our way to Corte Madera Ridge. From there we rode across the ridge before descending back to Boyle Park, which is located at the mouth of Warner Canyon. We parted ways there since they needed to get back to their work, and I needed to finish up my ride.
 

I turned towards Mount Tamalpais where it had apparently snowed last night. I took my normal route up the hill on Railroad Grade. About a mile up the trail the temperatures dropped severly within minutes, and another minute later the skies opened up and pea-sized hail began to fall on me. The quickness in which the temperature changed was amazing. As the hail landed it didn’t melt away quickly and that was an indicator of just how cold it was. Burrrr!

I forged onward knowing that I needed to get my miles in for the day. My toes were chilled to the bone, and my fingertips were no different. As I reached Double Bow Knot I was treated to a beautiful view of a snow covered Mount Diablo. Wow! It was amazing to see the snow levels so low on the mountain. It looked completely covered. We live in such an amazing place.

I’ve been home and hour and a half, and I’ve had my portable heater cranked up right next to me. I’m still shivering, and my toes and fingers are still tingling. Today I was wearing five layers on my upper body. I’m going to go take a long hot shower in order to bring my core temperature back up to normal. ;-) Winter is here.

Distance: 16.74 miles
Calories burned: 1,849
Time: 2:02:37 hours
Elevation gain: 2,775 ft
Garmin Connect ride details: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/20218958

Day 171: Wow, it sure is Cold!

As winter sets in, and the cold temperatures are hitting, I’m finding that it takes me well over an hour to thaw out after a ride. Today was no exception. I was well dressed in multiple layers of cycling gear, but in the end, and after 30 minutes of descending, I was chilled to the bone. Things will only get worse for me during the next few months, but I’ve been anticipating the cold for a long time now. ;-)

Riding during the winter months is tough, even when you’re riding in the best of conditions. I’ll be riding each day, no matter what, so I will most likely experience some very unfriendly conditions along my way. Today was a reminder of that.

Today I bundled up before my ride. I had several layers on my upper body, including a wool beenie. I believed at the time that I was going to be warm enough, but in the end I was once again chilled to the bone at the end of my ride. I was of course warm on my ride up the hill, but as soon as the ride turned downwards, I began to get cold. It was a good ten degrees colder on the descent today compared to yesterday, and there was no sun to be found, so the descent was absolutely freezing.

As I rode today I thought about all of the tough days that lie ahead of me. I’m resigned to ride each one of them as best that I can, but I also know that there will be some real challenges along the way. Wish me luck.

Distance: 17.91 miles
Calories burned: 1,492
Time: 1:41:42 hours
Elevation gain: 2,141 ft
Garmin Connect ride details: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/20169213