Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Shaping Up for A Tough Week

Marketing companies have it figured out. Not that I watch much television, but when it is on, it doesn’t seem like you can go for more than a few minutes without a commercial for some warm and sunny vacation destination. They know, this is the time of year when we get weak. You could sell me a cruise to some Caribbean location in about 12 seconds. I would buy a hot tub or a sauna in about the same amount of time.

Yup, it would feel so good about now to feel some actual heat and humidity. I would be okay with even temperatures in the 40's or 50's. I read with interest ride reports from areas around the country where there is actually exposed dirt and ground, bodies of water that are not serving as parking lots for trucks and ice-fishing houses.

I have given up on my disillusioned ideas that temperatures were going to be on the rise and that the worst of what winter has to offer had somehow passed. Nope. It looks like we are shaping up for a week of single digit highs and double-digit negative lows.

In the center of my universe (home) the temperature read -9.6° F this morning. I would not call what I experienced while riding as being “comfortable,” but I was not painfully cold and did not do any irreparable damage to any parts of my body. Under my new lowered-standards for fun, I am going to call that good enough.

The forecast calls for more goodness on the near horizon too:

Today: A 40 percent chance of snow, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 8. Wind chill values between -6 and -16. West northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around -15. Wind chill values between -26 and -36. North northwest wind between 14 and 18 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny and cold, with a high near 3. Wind chill values between -26 and -36. North northwest wind 5 to 11 mph becoming west southwest. Wednesday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around -9. Wind chill values between -11 and -21. South wind between 3 and 6 mph.

Oh, but wait… a warming trend for Thursday? Plenty of time
for this to change too:

Thursday: A 30 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 15. Southeast wind between 6 and 9 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 3.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 23.

For those of you living in other parts of the country who may have stumbled your way into reading this, I bet the forecast has you ready to move here? Yup, it really is that nice here.

Somewhere, obviously I must posses some passion for what it is I am doing. Either that, or I am simply mad.

I continue to attempt to look at the bright side. Although riding in the cold feels like I’m riding twice the distance, the miles are stacking up. Hoping that the effort now will pay off later. There are something like 9 full weeks ‘til TransIowa. I am hoping that once the weather does turn nicer that I still have the desire and motivation to get out and do some longer rides.

5 comments:

bmj said...

Every day that I "suffer" through morning temps in the teens, I remember what you deal with, and it doesn't seem so bad. And, on the bright side, most of the snow melted over the weekend, so I can actually ride the bike trails.

Anonymous said...

40s or 50s? Nah. I would be happy if it was above zero in the mornings. This has been a brutal couple of weeks. All I want to do is ride my bicycle!!

This morning while walking the dog (around 6:15), we rounded the corner onto Sherren and HUZZAH! A hint of sunlight in the eastern sky! A well needed tease of warmer days to come.

The best way to describe this weather is 'raw'. I could use a couple "well-done" days, so to speak.

-Matt

Reflector Collector said...

Matt's right; I should lower my expectations. If it were 40, I'd likely be in shorts.

Honestly, mid-teens would be a great winter temperature. I could say that I would be happy with that, but I guess it is human nature to not value that unless we had to deal with enduring these sub-zero days.

Raw is right. Worn down, but hopefully building calluses.

Frostbike said...

I could have written this exact same post earlier today. It's that time of year, I'm afraid.

. said...

my ride into today:
44 degrees. dry. clean. regular cycling shoes. sunny skies. sorry.

I still would rather live above the Mason Dixon Line, believe it or not.

...and the Riv is absolutely gee-gor-jush. Hope to see it in Iowa.

Continental is making the Travel Contact in a 37c. I'm running on on the back and is is very nice. Super comfy. For some reason they hold air very well. I check it about once a week and sometimes don't need to top it off. eh? 65psi to boot.

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