Happy Monday

Standing, waiting for the light to change, I glanced at the sign for TCF Bank. It blinked from temperature to time, then back again to temperature 3, 5:34, 2… Ticking down that temperature as if mocking me.

Last week I struggled with being comfortable. I experimented and did not come to good conclusion of what was going to work for clothing. The experimentation continues, today with excellent results.

What I wore:
Head –
Tried something new. Since we had received 7 inches of snow over the weekend and fearing/anticipating an impending crash, I donned my helmet over a balaclava. I normally do not wear a helmet. (I don’t need the lecture, so please go elsewhere if you feel so inclined to offer your “advice” or anecdote telling me about how a helmet saved you, your brother, sister, mother, uncle, cousin, or pet.) It didn’t fit well over my balaclava, nor was there enough material to keep said noggin’ warm. So, I stopped a few blocks from my house and ditched the helmet in an Arborvitae. I’ll pick it up on my way home. Stocking hat over balaclava was just the right thing.

Torso –
Resorted back to what worked last year. Light weight wool, mid-weight wool, then miracle fabric top of unknown exact origin. I have two of these tops. I know that they are 100% synthetic, remarkably thin, and made by Terramar. They are marked with “Transport EC2, Resolute of America, a division of Terramar.” I bought them YEARS ago and have never seen anything like them since. Over these three thin layers I wore an REI wind-blocker vest, which I removed at the same time I ditched my helmet. (I was too warm.)

While this was not the “perfect” combination up top, it was much better than what I was wearing last week. I was too warm up top, yet not warm enough… I was sweaty, but the front of my layers froze to the hair on my chest. I think I need to drop a layer up top and add the wind-blocking vest again.

Legs –
The MUSA pants are too tight around the legs to fit enough layers, so I resorted to my old “rain” pants. They are much baggier. With a layer of mid-weight wool and regular cycling shorts, I was just fine. Ideally, I would like something that “breathed” a little more.

Hands –
Back to a thin weight Outdoor Research wind-blocking fleece glove. I was perfectly comfortable which proves to me that the effect of adjustments elsewhere can have a dramatic affect. Last week, I was surprised to find that my hands were cold. Today, they were just fine.

Feet –
My Lake Winter boots. I cannot say enough good things about how warm and comfortable my feet are. I’ve managed to learn to deal with the amazing amount of “toe-clip overlap” with a size 50 shoe, fenders, and riding fixed gear.

My ride in this morning was pretty uneventful. With the exception of the @$$holes that shovel and snow-blow the aprons of their driveways into the street, shoulders were in pretty good shape. I was surprised to find that the pathways through Theo Wirth Park were not plowed, so I took to the street. I will adjust my route and take a different way to work I guess.

One woman passed me south of Highway 55, taking the time to lower her window and yell “You’re crazy.” To which I responded a muffled “Thank You!”

She responded with the ever-popular “get off the road” and a streak of explicatives that would have made a sailor blush.

Happy Monday!