Well, it’s not technically winter yet, but it’s certainly winter-like. Today was my first commute in sub-freezing temps and it was a blast! I was nervous going in because my setup hadn’t been tested yet, but man I was warm and toasty. It felt good to defy the weather and keep riding. Here’s my setup from the feet up:

Wool socks, regular shoes and full shoe/ankle covers. Toes got cold after about 10 miles. I may try the duct tape trick to try and trap the heat.

Fleece-lined tights with regular riding shorts, rain pants to block the wind. This worked out GREAT. My legs didn’t get cold at all.

Long sleeve base layer, arm warmers, short sleeve jersey, and long sleeve soccer jersey on top. The soccer jersey wasn’t form-fitting enough and got a little soggy. My torso got a little child around mile 10.

Columbia jacket shell, LG gloves, balaclava and ski goggles. Nothing on my head got cold, IMO it was the perfect setup. The goggles kept my eyes from watering which is usually a big problem for me in cold temps. My only issue with them is peripheral vision. I really have to turn my head 180 degrees to check for cars. I don’t love that, but I’d rather see clearly all the time and change up my habits than have murky eyes the whole ride.

This was also my first time riding with studded tires. Given the wheelset is heavier than what I’m used to, it sometimes felt like I was riding through sand. As I warmed up it got easier, but it’s definitely a good workout. I’m using the Innova studded tire. Great bead for the road, haven’t tried it off-road yet.

I’m hooked. Once to twice a week for the rest of the winter is the plan. Getting up at 6am in the cold is super tough, but it’s worth getting to ride outside. Next step is to find my low-temp threshold. My guess is 15-20 degrees. I could be surprised. Hopefully I am.

Same jersey. Who’s got two thumbs and is as cool as Lance? This guy.

This weekend I participated in my first Iceman race. Iceman Cometh is a 27 mile point-to-point race that starts in Kalkaska, Michigan and ends in Traverse City. The route is made up primarily of fire roads and two-track trails, with a few spots of singletrack. Between 2,000-3,000 people participate each year.

My class was made up of 51 racers, by far the largest start I’ve had all season. Usually the Beginner Clydesdale class pulls less than 10, so this was a nice change. We lined up at 11:15 and headed out into the spitting rain.

The rain only lasted about 20 minutes. We had a mile or so of tiny bits of hail, and after that it cleared up. This was my first race in colder weather, about 40 degrees. I stressed all week about what to wear for the race. I brought my whole cycling “wardrobe” just to make sure I was prepared. I ended up with toe warmers, tights, a long sleeve base layer and arm warmers, my jersey and a wind-proof vest. It was perfect, not too hot and not too cold. I picked up a new pair of cycling-specific winter gloves that I LOVE. They worked out perfectly.

This was the hardest race I’ve done all season simply because of the distance. There were a lot of climbs throughout the course that added to the fatigue. I decided on a goal time of 2:30:00, which equals an 11mph average. I set my computer to track my average and kept a close eye on it throughout the race. I started with about 12.5 mph, which dropped steadily as the race went on and the climbs kept coming.

There weren’t any amazing moments in this race. The field spread out quickly within the first 5 miles. Once we thinned out, I concentrated on the mph average and pacing myself.

Once the climbs started, I made a solid effort to make every climb. Most were in the granny gear, turtling up the hill at a pace slow enough to cause my computer to think I stopped a few times during the ascent. Regardless, I kept pedaling and watched those ahead of me so I wouldn’t get caught when one of them stalled out. After making “Anita’s Hill”, one of the nastiest hills on the course, I decided my goal time came second to staying on the bike and not walking the hills.

I started to feel pretty good about things around the 3 miles-to-go marker. I was making every hill and my average was still around 11mph. I just kept focussed on the pedal strokes, keeping my speed even and consistent and listening to my body. Two miles left. One mile left. I started hearing the crowd at the finish line and got amped up. Banners started popping up and I figured I was in the final stretch.

As I entered the finish chute there was a guy in front of me. I really wanted to sprint the finish, so I yelled, “ON YER LEFT” and sped past him into the final straight-away. I got up out of the saddle to sprint and BAM, both legs locked up hard right above the knees. Earlier this year I though I experienced my first cramp. I was very, very wrong. I now understand why cramping is such a big deal. I was able to keep grinding away, only a couple dozen feet from the finish. I started to yell and kept sprinting, finishing with a time of 2:29:24, 36 seconds ahead of my goal time.

I immediately stopped and got off the bike. I couldn’t walk hardly at all. I tried crouching to stretch the muscles and it wasn’t working. The kids taking chips at the finish were very patient, except for one. “Move out of the lane please,” he barked at me. “I can’t walk dude, chill out,” I snapped back. He was just doing his job, but I really couldn’t walk! I made it over to the fence and sat down, massaging my legs until the cramps freed up. I looked at my computer and was elated at the time it read. Not only did I make every climb, but I finished under my goal time. Personal victory.

I ended up 11th out of 51. A riding buddy of mine from our rival team took first in the class. That was great to see, he’s a strong rider. I can’t say I’m not jealous, at least a little. :)

After the race we all went back to the team house, “Camp Greyhound”, and started a fire. We sat around the fire and drank beer and talked. Once the food arrived we pigged out, played a little rock band and a few hands of poker. I ended up winning the poker tournament. It was my first time playing! Dang!

Sunday we woke up and prepped for the First Annual Cereal Sprint. We had 11 competitors for the cereal eating contest. I was hung over a bit and not in the  mood for eating, so I threw it pretty early. MIKEWOODS!! HAMMERED the competition, finishing his box of Frosted Mini Wheats in under seven minutes. It was amazing.

Iceman as a race isn’t all that. There’s a lot of hype, however, and I think that has to do more with the surrounding experiences than the race itself. Few races pull so many participants in this state. I will be talking about this weekend for a long time, and I’m already looking forward to next year. The race will get easier, but that’s not really why I’ll go every year for years to come.

After my 21 mile ride tonight, I hit my mileage goal for the year: 2,000 miles. I aint done yet, but it feels good to reach a goal like this.

The ride was cold and they’re just going to get colder. Man, I’m not ready for trainer season!

This year’s Massive Fallout ride was a huge success! We ended up with roughly 200 participants. All 100 t-shirts sold out. The weather was PERFECT. The food and route was well received. All was well.

We started out the day early and cold. A few riders showed up between 8 and 10am to get an early jump. We missed the first 20-30 riders since the waiver showed up late. The official waiver count was 167 riders. Close to 10am the rest of us geared up and headed out with the mass(ive) group.

Staging at Stony Creek was a great decision. The venue has plenty of space and the ride opens directly into one of the best trails in the area. I bumped into a teammate, Jeff, just before the start. This was the first time Jeff and I met, since he’s been living in another state for most of the season. Jeff, Steve and I headed out and rode Stony. Riding with the group was awesome. We got stuck behind some slower riders which made Stony slightly less thrilling but no less enjoyable.

The ride between Stony and Bald Mtn. was a blast. We hit 30+ on the Gunn Rd. downhill. We caught up with Jeremy at the Clarkston Rd. aid station. Everyone was abuzz about the weather and the excellent marking. Yay! Last year the markings weren’t great, and some people got lost. Not this year! Follow the giant arrows, my children!

We cleaned the first half of Bald Mtn. with only one casualty. Steve experienced the most fabulous washout I’ve ever heard. A few minutes of yelling, “Steve… STEVE ARE YOU OK…” and hearing, “UUUUGGGHHHH. YEAH. UUUGH” made us a little worried. He came rolling down the hill with a smile on his face and a good story to tell.

We rolled out of Bald Mtn. and made our way up to Addison. Addison was packed with riders chowing down on Drew’s awesome chili and brats. We decided to charge for food this year to cover the cost, and we were worried how that would be received. No problem! People were very willing to pay for good food at such a cheap price. Success number 2!

Addison was rough. Riding with a full stomach and half-jellied legs was not enjoyable. We stopped a few times so Jer could manage his handlebar cam and we could moan about how tired we were. Things picked up half way through and we ground out the final miles of trail with smiles on our faces. Stopping briefly to refill bottles and packs, we headed back to Stony.

After our return we hit up Rochester Mills Beer Co. for some brew and a few laughs. It was a great atomosphere. Everyone was thrilled with the ride with zero complaints. Success number 3!

We have a lot of work to do for next year, but this year was a huge success. We learn a little each time. Next year will be awesome!