November's End

There are fewer and fewer days to ride now. In the last week, we've have a day with a sleet snow mix, days where the high did not get over 30 degrees and days with crazy wind. Today, Sunday was the best day we've had in two weeks. 40 degrees, winds out of the south at 10 mph. It felt downright warm compared to a couple of the other days I've been out the last month. Very possibly, this could be the last day riding outdoors for three months, so I wanted to be able to get a ride in just in case.

Even though I've done most of these roads many times before, the landscape is different. The ground is back to earthy yellows and browns. All of the fields have been harvested. The trees have lost all of their leaves. Looking out onto Lake Winnebago, there was an area extending about 25 feet into the lake from shore that was some sort of slushy/ice mix. Winter will be here soon. Gone are the lush greens of summer with a landscape that is alive with plants and colors. The sun is different too. It sits lower in the sky. The light seems softer and always a little hazy compared to just a few months ago. With temperatures not warming up until noon and sunset coming just after 4:00 PM, there is not much time to ride.

I did almost 41 miles today, so I stand at 5941 for the year. Getting to 6000 is within sight, but with so few days left, it will still be tough. I may be taking a day off to drive south for some warmer temps if I need a ride. But for today, I'm happy to get another ride in for the year on a terrific fall day.

Last Days of Autumn

Autumn is fading fast in Northeast Wisconsin, the way it always does this time of year. Within two, perhaps three weeks if we are lucky, the ground will be covered with snow and the cycling season will be over. Then it will be a few months of cross country skiing to try to keep the fitness level up, but also to give the body and especially the mind a break from cycling and a new activity to try.

This last weekend was a dose of real cold weather, a preview of what is to come. Saturday the high was in the mid 40's, not too bad, but a lot of cold rain all day with wind. Then Sunday, the high was just 38, windy and more cold rain, occasionally freezing, occasionally a few snowflakes mixed in. I actually did a 19 mile ride on Sunday. It was miserable. When the damp and cold get together, it is cold as cold can be. I thought I had picked a spot where the precipitation had let up for a while. I was wrong. I was glad when the ride was over.

Today was a much nicer day. I had some vacation that needed to be used by the end of the year, so I took today off. The high temp was 48 degrees, dry, and no wind at all. After Sunday, it felt like summer. I had on a base layer, jersey, arm and leg warmers, toe warmers, ear warmers and a wool jersey over the top. This was perfect for the weather today.

I went west of Appleton on Rock Road out to New London. Then I swung south on Bean City road and then headed back to Appleton on School road. The route is very rural and low traffic. The only services are in New London, but on a day like today you don't really need any. Overall, it is a nice ride, a little over 50 miles.

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