I pile on my warmest layers, adding an extra upper layer and a balaclava. Wow, I haven't busted out the full face coverage in a while. At the least I'm going to Mohican for a short loop.
Loaded up.
It's cold in the parking lot as I pull down my bike and put on overboats. I really should have gotten fully dressed at home instead of in the parking lot. I'm cold as I jump on the bike and start to pedal. The first mile should warm me up.
There were no other cars in the parking lot and I'm making the only set of tracks on the snow covered trail. By mile 1 my core is warm and by mile 2 my hands and feet are too. Hey, this is fun! The snow is providing some excellent traction.
Making tracks.
The wind is not as cutting in the woods. I enjoy the sound of snow crunching under my tires. Several miles in I look up and swear I see a rider pass. Weird, how is someone ahead of me? Maybe he's off trail? There's no other tracks out here. Snow mirage?
No problems staying warm. My glasses are fogging from time to time and I pull the face mask under my chin. The air is cold to breathe. It feels better with the mask over my mouth.
I stop to take a picture and hear a rider coming behind me. I figure out he was the mirage and was behind me on a twisty section of trail when I saw him earlier. He complains of cold feet as I invite him to ride ahead as I take a picture.
Rare sun on this ride.
About six miles in I turn 180 to back track. The trail is new on the way back. I enjoy seeing our tracks in the snow and monitor how often the other guy took a different line than me, not often. I'm also amused by how often I take a different line in the reverse direction, sometimes.
I pass another rider on the way back. He is in better spirits and having fun. Maybe it's the Stairway to Heaven blasting from his Camelbak. I do not understand why someone wants to ride in the woods and blare music. I like the sounds of the outside. I can listen to music anywhere but only the outside... outside.
Almost back to the car.
A truck is pulling into the parking lot as I ride in. It's some Soupcan guys. We chat for a bit as they get dressed, in the warm truck, and I get cold standing. I rack my bike and hop in the front seat to drink some hot coffee I packed in the Coleman thermos. Oh how good it tastes. Two steamy cups chase a Pro bar that Santa put in my stocking.
I'm glad I came down for a ride despite the weather. It's a nice end to 2013!
