Just a light dusting, but it still counts...

It was just a dusting of snow, but it snowed nonetheless. You can see that it didn't stick to the road, so it didn't cause any trouble at all. The sub-freezing temperatures weren't a real problem either; the commute is mostly uphill, so I was fine with a base layer, bib-shorts, short-sleeve jersey, arm warmers, leg warmers, and a windbreaker. I also wear a fleece hat that covers the ears, and I have a balaclava that I use mostly as a neck-warmer. Most of the time I like to double layer the knees, that is, I wear a pair of wool knee warmers under the leg warmers. But I thought I'd test it out as a single layer today.

On the way home, it was 27F with a 'Real Feel' of 14F and windy. I wore a heavier layer on top (under the windbreaker) and a pair of Pearl Izumi AmFib tights (no leg warmers). Although it's mostly downhill for the return commute, I found that all the extra layers were unnecessary. I used to keep a log of temperatures and layering so that I could fine my perfect comfort zone. I'll have to dig it up...

Ride safely and happy trails.

Tomorrow's forecast...

Snow? But it's still October... It makes for an interesting bike commute.

	National Weather Service NowCast: Dated: 437 PM EDT TUE OCT 28 2008

Wednesday...Scattered snow showers in the morning. Mostly cloudy with scattered rain showers. Highs around 40. West winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.

A bull, a dog named Rex, and more foliage

I don't have photos of the bull or the dog named Rex, but I've crossed paths with them during my recent commutes. The bull was just hanging out in the middle of the road near some heifers. The heifers were behind a fence; the bull was not. A little further down the road, I saw Ross, a young fellow who works on a nearby farm and runs the farm stand at the bottom of Ames Hill. When I informed him of the escapee, he rather nonchalantly said, "Oh yeah, that belongs to the neighbors. I call em' or something." It was like the neighbor's dog had come over for a visit. I've seen more urgency when a racoon gets into a garbage can. So bizarre....

I love dogs. The other day as I was riding to work, I saw a chocolate labrador chasing leaves that were falling from the trees. It was encredibly cute. Appearantly, I look like a big leaf (I do wear a green jersey and ride a bright orange bicycle). The dog's name is Rex, and I know this because Rex's owner kept yelling it while Rex was trying to climb onto my handlebars. Rex is clearly a puppy, and a very large puppy. If you've ever owned a large dog, there's an age where 'puppies' don't really know their own size. It's probably between 8-15months when they're still growing into their paws. They aren't a technically a puppy (like in a Purina commercial), and they aren't full-grown dogs; it's sort of the adolescent period. Anyway, my dog was like Dino of the Flintstones. He had no idea how large he really was and would flatten me. Rex seemed like he was trying out for left tackle for the New England Patriots. Rex had no intention of listening to his owner, and when it was clear that Rex was going to follow me (and try to take me down), I rode/walked Rex back to his home.

Sooo, I need to carry my camera at all times. A moose, a bull, a dog named Rex... you'll have to take my word for it. Seems like I only have my camera ready for stationary objects. Speaking of which... more fall foliage. Mother Nature puts on quite a show.







Ride safely and happy trails.

3Oct08, Low - 36 degrees F

It dipped near freezing last night, and there are frost warnings in effect for this evening. I wasn't expecting that... Well, yeah I was. I just didn't expect it so soon. I honestly can't remember the last time I rode in temperatures that low. (I've ridden in sub-zero temperatures, but it was a long time ago.) Lately, I've been trying to acclimate by body to the colder temps by wearing shorts and t-shirts all the time. I don't know if it's working; I just know that I'm cold all the time.

I've been commuting really late at night (approximately 12-1 a.m.), partly because I'm at work so late and partly because I want to see moose. I saw one on my commute home last week. It was amazing. I pinch flatted right after I saw it and didn't even care, just rode the rest of the way home on a flat. Speaking of which, I've flatted two times in the last two days. I'm going to change tires and run higher pressure. It's not ideal, but I haven't any other choice unless I want to change tubes everyday. It does, however, give me an opportunity to check out the fall foliage...











Here's one of the rare instances when I'm actually riding my bike (rather than changing a flat). If it looks like I'm riding towards rain clouds, I am. I got dumped on a few miles after this.



This is the view from the east entrance of the Brown Science Building at Marlboro College. The building in the photo below is Dalrymple Hall, which is the humanities building and formerly a barn.

Ride safely and happy trails (and watch out for moose!).