I love winter riding.
As always, click any photo for big. Click again for bigger

 
As always, click any photo for big. Click again for bigger

 

On of the benefits of a self supported tour is that we are not bound to any route, timeline or anything else really.   With that in mind we have decided to to the C&O and the GAP this year.  We will however look at the weather report for the week, before we leave Massachusetts.  If it looks like either or both of those routes could get washed out, we will detour to Albany NY and ride the Erie Canal.

If all looks good for our first choice, we will drive to Pittsburgh, box our bikes and take the Amtrak to DC.  If the weather looks like a problem, we will drive to Albany, NY.  box our bikes and take the train to Buffalo.  We have done the Erie Canal twice before and know that if the trail becomes mucky because of rain, we can easily scoot over to NY Bike Rt 5, (Car route 31) and continue on pavement.

On the C&O/GAP however, if it rains, your screwed and you and your bike will be covered in muck. On my tour of the GAP last year, I road an hour in the rain and rolled into Confluence, PA looking like this.

We are riding mid June.  The C&O/GAP in Pennsylvania and Maryland is our first choice.  Erie Canal is the backup.  It will be here lickity split.

As always, click any photo for big. Click again for bigger

I’m getting used to this 18 degree morning commute.  It’s a hoot when I get to a destination and people start commenting about how it’s crazy to ride a bike in this cold and when I take off my hat and gator, I’m perspiring.  I did leave the single speed home and rode the beater commuter bike today.  Something is causing a drag on the rear wheel (nothing rubbing anywhere) and I’ll have to investigate that soon.

I did get to go back in tine at the local McDonald’s this morning.  A few years ago, after a fire, the joint was redone as a circa 1955 malt shop.  Lots of people on their way to Cape Cod in the summer, stop for gas and breakfast in town.  When they step into the Micky D’s it’s often and “oh wow” moment.

I went out again in the afternoon to get some crazy seagull shots with my new DSLR camera.  I am just learning how to use the thing in manual mode and none of the seagull shots were any good.  I’ll try again tomorrow.  Check back because I know these will be off the hook photos.

I did get a couple using the auto mode.  Way at the bottom of this post.

New DSLR photos

I have a mile ride to the gym every morning.  I also stop at a local coffee shop either before or after my gym time.   At both of those places I get lots of comments about how crazy it is to ride a bike on a day like today.  No one mentioned the construction crew doing road work, the utility guys, the kids walking to school or the seniors on the bike path.  For most people riding a bike in the cold is nuts, but nothing else seems to be out of the ordinary when it’s 18 degrees outside.

If you spend lots of time outdoors in the winter either riding a bike, walking or working, you know that with the proper layers 18 degrees is not that cold.