A boring photo

The photo doesn't do the day justice. It was gloomy but it was December 30 with temps in the 50s F. I had a great late-winter ride.

The rock cliff in the background is one at Creve Coeur Park that is hidden when the trees have leaves. And it looks more impressive when it's dry and contrasts with the background better.

So this is a dumb photographic chronicle of a very nice afternoon ride.

Dripping Spring

Due to recent low temperatures below 10 degrees F, the Dripping Spring at Creve Coeur Lake isn't dripping very much. It was 35F when I took this photo on the afternoon of Saturday, December 18, 2010.

To give you a better idea of scale: there are three teenagers huddled inside the gap between rock shelves midway up the "falls" above the park bench. The view from the inside must be pretty cool. I might have to sneak in there myself, despite the "no climbing on the rocks" sign.

The big sign on the left makes reference to the legend of the broken-hearted Indian maiden who lost her life here, without actually telling you the @#$% story. Thanks a lot.

"Creve Coeur" means "broken heart" in some obscure ancient language.

The Last Ride

Last Friday, December 10, 2010, I took my last ride on The Chrome Nun. With temps in the high 40s I drove my car home at lunch and rode the motorcycle back to work. When quitting time came the temps were low 50s so I made that ride home last until well after dark.

Snow was forecast for the weekend, and it came. This is St. Louis and occasional warm winter days are not uncommon. But seeing my covered motorcycle surrounded by the white stuff is a very unhappy experience.

We don't have a garage this winter so I can't even visit The Nun unless I fight the cover off and stand out in the cold. I'm resisting storing her because I'm counting on those odd ride-worthy days.

The forecast says the temps will creep up to just above freezing this weekend. Unless it's extremely windy I'll probably go for a ride in town. It won't be comfortable and it won't be too much fun but an uncomfortable ride is better than no ride and withdrawal is a bitch.

But baby it's cold outside

The predicted afternoon high for yesterday was a windy 43F. Without checking the temperature I suited up around 1:00 PM and went for a spin. My latest experiment in clothing layers kept my torso warm enough but just barely. And my hands could not have handled prolonged upwind riding.

I rode about 20 miles on slow back streets and made several "warm-up" stops. I was so well insulated that I warmed up quickly when I wasn't moving. The ride was fun but it sure seemed colder than 43F. I turned toward home sooner than I wanted to and immediately checked weather.com for the current temperature.
It was 35!!

Considering I'm not yet acclimated to cold weather, I was very comfortable for 35F! Apparently my latest clothing experiment was a thermal success.

I was wearing a T-shirt, long-sleeve work shirt, jeans, thermal overalls, sweat shirt, cloth-lined nylon "windbreaker" jacket and a Perfecto style motorcycle jacket with liner and pocket bags removed and duct tape over the pocket zippers on the inside. I wore a polyester scarf around my neck and over my chin. and a full coverage helmet with visor. I wore lace-up over-the-ankle boots and lined black leather gloves.

I need better insulated gloves. And the combined pressure of all those layers around my neck was too much. The experiments continue. But not today. The streets are below freezing and I don't risk ice.