happy ride

today's ride was awesome! it was 19 degrees and sunny. barely a breath of wind. i loved it. even eric would've enjoyed being outdoors today. i felt so light with less layers. the pace wasn't all that great, but okay for this time of year. can't wait for summer...or at least spring! (15.30 miles @ 16.6mph)

g'day mate

mike and his dailymile friend, kris, get together via hologram to discuss, among other things, eric's lack of fitness. international peace is threatened when mike begins questioning the manliness of his australian guest.

single digit start

today's official ride temp is deceiving. it makes it look as if it is warmer today than yesterday. that's because the official temp is the split between beginning temp and ending temp. today's official ride temperature is 10F. it was 8.6F when i began and 12.8F when i ended. so, for the record, this was a new record for cold riding. my first single digit start.

after all that, let me confess: it did actually feel warmer today. the wind was much less than yesterday. the wind chill a few degrees less below zero at the beginning. the wind chills now are above zero. 5F currently. i wore the same clothes today and was almost too hot at times. i am sweating profusely. i am a man. i sweat and i have a beard. (if you are not watching my videos, that last little bit will make no sense. just ignore it.)

i rode to evil dog's house and back. he was missing in action again. his puny cousin, yipper king, gave chase, but not him. yipper king lives just beyond the chikaskia river bridge going west. he is a small dog. he ran toward me, but i easily outran him even with the wind in my face. he was a sign of how much warmer it felt today. yesterday, he cowered near the foundation of his house and barked. he did not move. today he ran after me, but was dropped. silly dog. at least he's more "manly" than evil dog. he pays attention and gives chase regularly.

well, that's it for now. i will likely be back in the saddle tomorrow. until then, "adios!" (16.23 miles @ 15.6mph)

carmichael's offer

that famous Chris, the guy coaches Lance, shows up at argonia high school looking for mike. he presents the kansan rider with the chance of a lifetime. mike's response is surprising.

mike's defense

mike, in his room the day after his incident in the cold, defends his character against a false assault by a devious film maker who created a CGI character who looked like him, but acted like a wimp. this rant is his defense...and his revenge.

crossing the line

as my daughter's father often says, "there is a fine line between bravery and stupidity and you are about to cross it." i think i crossed it today. i'll admit it. what i did was crazy. i went riding when it was 10 degrees fahrenheit outside and the wind was blowing between 15 and 20mph. it was coooooold!

i was, despite the elements, surprisingly warm. i added a winter coat, a warmer pair of socks, third pair of gloves, an extra thermal layer on my legs and a ski mask under my balaclava before i went out. my right thumb was hurting when i returned, but it is better now. i did not lose any toes. they didn't even go numb.

i've never done so before, but i would like to dedicate this ride to some special people. first, this ride would not have even been considered if it had not been for jeff m. his december 8 ride when it was -4 degrees inspired my insanity. second, i would like to honor my brother-in-law fred b who gave me the thermal socks and top i wore today. they were the most necessary christmas gifts i have ever received. and last, but not least, i would like to give a shout out to trainer baby. you know who you are. the mileage you continue to crank out forced me out the door today.

thanks to all three of you i have a new coldest ever ride.

oh, and i almost forgot! i met my goal for the week on this ride. i have ridden more miles in the first ten days of january than i did in the entire month last year. (13.92 miles @ 14.4mph)