November cycling,,,,continued

Note to myself: just because the sun is out is not reason to assume that it will be a warm day. I knew that the temperature was somewhere around 45 when I "suited up" this morning but for some reason I skipped the liners I usually wear under the wool socks I favor in winter. About ten miles out my toes started to feel sensations that I typically associate with my ice skating days as a kid in Detroit. The layering protects the body but the extremities are exposed not only to the cool temperatures but to the self-generated wind-chill as well - going downhill and hitting speeds of 30 to 35 mph probably drops the effective temperature by ten to fifteen degrees (I read that somewhere, don't ask me to prove it). In any case it was a good ride - 55 miles with about 3500 ft of climbing and not a cloud in the sky. I have a kind of self-imposed minimum temperature of 4o but above that I love a winter ride. The senses somehow seem more alert and sensitive to what is around, the roads seem to be a little less busy (all the tourists have gone into hibernation?) and especially with minimal wind you can put together a nice ride. I'm hoping that the real winter, i.e. snow and ice, will hold off for awhile (like forever?) and we get one of those years where we can ride right into January. My goal at the beginning of the year was to hit 5,000 miles and I'm at about 4200 now...it will be close.

Put away the summer jerseys...

The sun was out in full force but it was not a day to worry about sun screen. It is most definitely autumn and it wouldn't take much to feel like winter. In spite of the bright sunshine it was only in the mid-forties when I went out today and for the first time I had both winter gloves and ear protectors under the helmet. So long as I dress in layers I can still be pretty comfortable but there was certainly no doubt that the summer temperatures are gone for this year. We have probably passed the peak leaf season but there is enough left on the trees that with a strong afternoon sun the backroads are still good for some ooohs and aaaahs. Funny little story today....I stopped alongside someone's driveway on a country road in the Sourlands (what New Jerseyans call the Sourland Mtns - really a nice collection of hills and all country) for a drink and quick snack. The homeowner came down the drive to collect her garbage cans and asked if I had seen any bears...Bears??! says I. Keep your eyes open she says - this is garbage collection day and this is when they seem to come out....I rode off wondering if I could kick it into high gear and outrun a hungry bear....Who would have thunk it in New Jersey?