I have heard this phrase for many years when some asks the time: dark 30. This evening’s ride is probably a foretaste of what it will be like the rest of the year on my evening rides. A strong cool front blew through with wind up to 30 mph at times. By the time I got home from work the sunlight was fading and the wind was slowing. When I left the house on the Raleigh M800 the temperature was 65 degrees and the wind had slowed to around 7 mph. The skies were a clear blue unlike yesterday’s rain clouds. By the time I got back the temperature was 60 degrees and the sun was long gone.

I always seem to have a problem guessing on what to wear when the conditions are like this. Tonight had a long sleeve jersey, wind jacket, leg warmers and half finger gloves. Of these the one item that I should have changed was the gloves, full finger ones would have been better. The lights are earning their keep. The battery for my headlamp is one of those 4 or 5 pound ones. I have to think that this is like running with leg weights on. Maybe this will help be speedier on my Motobecane road bike.

Saturday’s weather could be too cool for an early ride with the Friday night temperature possibly being in the 30’s. This will slow down my riding toward the year’s goal. I may have to ride even though my cutoff is 59 degrees.

Today’s ride information:

• November miles 29.89
• YTD miles 4632.86

11-4-2010 Ride Information and map

Additional charts, weather and map.

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