I Rode in Today

Here's what I learned:

1. Riding in temperatures at or near 20-degrees isn't fun. But it doesn't appear to be actively hazardous, either. 

2.  Riding in temperatures in the lower teens is a different story.

At that temperature, the lube on my bike chain froze up, making my pedals stiff and making it hard to shift. Moreover, even with a full facemask, breathing air that cold was almost painful. Going up hills was harder than normal because I couldn't get my bike into first gear, and that meant my lungs were working like a bellows. That brought my core body temperature down, which sucked even more.  It took me hours to warm up after I got into the office this morning, and my feet were so cold they hurt for the last five minutes of the ride. Plus, every time I stopped for a traffic light, I started shivering. None if that was at all good. 

In retrospect, I needed a warmer hat and much warmer socks and shoes. 

This afternoon's ride was much, much better, even though the temperature was only a half dozen degrees higher.  Because let's face it, there is a world of difference between 13-degrees and 20. 

I think from now on, I'm gonna have to reconsider commute riding under, say, 18-degrees.  I like riding, but risking my health is foolish, even to avoid the New York City subway system.