Extreme(ity) Cold

My toes are damaged. I rode in the cold one too many times without the proper shoes/protection from cold and wet....

Now I suffer from 'chilblains' a medical term used to describe the condition brought on when the toes are really cold and are warmed up too quickly. This results in the tiny capillaries bursting. The blood has nowhere to go so it pools just under the skin surface, and feels uncomfortable. The toes look bruised red, blue, and blackish. It's not something you want to have happen to your toes(or fingers). Under 45F I will feel it again if I don't take the proper care of my toes, and then I'm fighting it all winter....

Here are some of my observations/theories/remedies in my personal quest to keep my toes warm.

I have a pair of SealSkinz socks--neoprene--combined with very thin poly first layer, my toes stay warm and dry. The funny thing is they do feel moist, but not uncomfortable. So far it works down to about 20F, even when my boots get wet or leak.... The other thing that works in drier conditions ( not when my boot leaks) is charcoal toe warmers, in between the (same)first layer and wool socks. You need to wear a shoe size larger than normal, otherwise, neither will work.
I have yet to really test in colder than 20F

With clipless pedals, there's the problem of the metal cleat and plate right under your feet that conducts the cold....the only real way around that is to commit to flats for winter. I've never been able to do that, but I suppose in deep snow it would make sense anyways. The one major thing that I learned is that your body(core) has to be warm. I used to think that it was OK to feel a little chilly in the parking lot, before the ride. My toes/hands would never warm up 'cause your body needs to keep itself warm. But if your core is warm to start, your extremeties will get more blood right away and if you get too hot, you can strip off a layer. I now find that I can even take my gloves off once I get going(hiking not biking). My toes now get so much circulation that I still get a a mild 'chilblain effect' --that is, the extra blood pools in the damaged areas at the ends of my affected toes and results in some of that uncomfortable feeling I associate with chilblains, but the symptoms seem to resolve much quicker.

DSCN5708

DSCN5708
Originally uploaded by 1WheelDrive

That's what real Maine mountainbikers look like. Really.
(one of my favorite t's, part of my Flickr set)

Leave the Bike Inside

The wintry conditions have me off the bike, outside that is....

When I'm not on the trainer in my free time, I've been enjoying some of my favorite biking trails (and some I never ride due to dumb restrictive park policies) on snowshoes. With a $99 pair of high-tech shoes, I can get out there for 2 hours, breathe the fresh air and get away from it all. Even better with a group or a couple of friends, as long as I'm dressed for it, and my toes don't get cold, I'm good....

Layer clothing in the same way as for a ride, but add an extra easily removable layer just in case...gaiters and neck wrap help...... same food/hydration......same camelbak

No helmet.

Friends of the Blue Hills news and comments: Winter Hikes

Friends of the Blue Hills news and comments: Winter Hikes

psssst!

Just tryin to counter all the calories taken in the past few days...hopped on the trainer for a spin, got a flat tire! How's THAT happen? I managed to re-air and get a 25 min workout before it was too low again for any resistance on the roller, then  pulled the tube out to find a hole on the tread side, but no evidence in the tire itself. The hole seems to be on a seam, so it could've been a defect. Anyhow, patched it with a Speedpatch(read: bicycle-specific scotch tape).

Note to self: Replace tube before pumping past 100psi and hitting the road again!

Time to rebuild

Winter started a couple days ago, right? With a foot of powder  everywhere we look around here, it's time to think of alternate forms of trail experiences. The new snowshoes are ready. I have a good stockpile of toe warmers. I do need gaiters, which I promised myself I'd invest in this year. All I need is the time to get out there. Christmas is less than two days away, so there are more 'important' things to do right now. But with any luck, I'll get a SS hike in with friends on saturday.

Jan/February is a time to cleanup, organize, catch up, and rebuild. I'll likely strip my bike down to the frame, inspect it and touch-up the dings and scratches, maybe install a new BB. I'll clean up my bike room in the cellar, try to keep a workout regimen on the trainer, finish the drywall projects, do some painting around the house, all that stuff that gets put off....maybe try to READ, rebuild the mind.....

Kundalini

Another day in the Blue Hills, sans the snow. Frozen ground with half-frozen mud puddles full of horseshoe-holes. Lots of trail garbage from recent weather. Below freezing temps clogging up the mucus and burning my lungs. Sun shining. Wind blowing.

Below me is the SJ 29er again.

I flipped the stem, that seems to help my stance, but still need either risers or a Mary Bar. I'm seeing less and less need for the Big Ring, and not real confident at speed yet anyways.

I'm thinking about centering myself on this bike. Having trouble while standing and powering uphill brings this to my attention. My center on this 29er is obviously different than on my 26er. Originally I thought it was the more minimal knobbiness of the rear tire. Now I know that's not really it, at least not in itself. More study must be done on this theory/concept. Must find that inner liquid fire. Must ride more.