Report from the Great White North

[ed_rex]

Me and my riding machine (the hockey stick, yes, was an affectation) after a 14 k run from the Ottawa International Airport, January 15, 2012. Thanks to the Phantom Photographer for the image.

Well, that was a first for me: my bicycle chain froze.

Yes, Gentle Readers, Young Geoffrey has his bragging hat on again.

13 kilometres there, 13 back. And that last half was at a temperature of -18 C (that's about exactly zero Farenheit for you Yanks).

The frozen drive chain meant that I had to keep up a constant pressure on my pedals. Any time I eased up (let alone dared to try pedalling backwards!) the thing would escape the cogs and just slide forward when I tried to move forward again. Only thing that would fix it was to dismount and jiggle it back and forth with my glove a few times, then get back on ol' paint.

Truthfully, it's really not that hard to do; the worst part is that the roads are narrower because of the snowbanks (and yes, a little more treacherous due to patches of snow and ice improperly cleared. I ride faster in the summer).

Surprisingly (at least it was to me, when my parka gave up the ghost a few years back), the key to staying warm is what your mom probably told you: layers.

The proof is in the freezing

That's right: if a screen-cap is proof, then I've got proof!

I wear a headscarf (like an Arab or a slavic babushka) under my helmet; a pair of jogging pants over my pants; a t-shirt, button-shirt and sweater beneath a leather jacket. Add in a pair of glove inside a decently warm pair of mitts and — voilà! — I usually need to unzip and loosen the scarf before I reach my destination.

And that's about it, really. Just bragging.

I suppose I can add that I'm really glad that I braved the weather for more than bragging rights. As some of you might recall from Facebook, I managed to pick up a flu that knocked my onto my ass last week (despite having had the shot; Raven didn't get it and so far hasn't got the flu, either — go figure), so my body was craving some exercise.

Aw right, maybe I've lost the magic touch when it comes to these personal entries. Or maybe not. What do you think?

Comments

[silverflight8]

I'm still impressed that you cycle during the winter. Isn't it slippery? And I was not aware that bicycle chains could freeze. Slip off and get jammed unexpectedly: yes. Freeze: no. (That is one roadside-diagnostic and repair I wouldn't like to do in the winter!)

ahahaha, it looks like the flu shot miscalculated, or the flu was extra creative this year, and you managed to get a different version of the flu than what was in the immunization shot.

Regardless, it's good to see you back! (the last entry notwithstanding).

Slippery? Well yes ...

[ed_rex]

... but it's not too bad if you slow down and pay attention.

And I was not aware that bicycle chains could freeze.

Nor was I, and I've done the winter cycling thing before. Strangely, I had it in the shop just after Christmas, and the mechanic there mentioned it to me when recommending that I use motor oil (5W30 instead of household 3-in-1 oil). And then, my chain froze; it's almost enough to make me suspect he did something to make it happen — except that I had my bike tied to a post at a windswept airport parking lot for about six hours.

... and you managed to get a different version of the flu than what was in the immunization shot.

That's my guess, though the fact Raven remains symptom-free continues to tickle my irony-meter.

And thank you, it's kind of fun to be back. I've missed the nattering on aspect of blogging.