4 May, 2024
I really wanted to write this post about my small bike retreat, but of course I started having lots of ideas how to tackle it, what kind of photos I want to show you, what’s the best format and so on and so forth… So here I’m trying to actually write anything.
Many months later...
I truly like talking about gear, reading as much as I can whenever I need to update my outdoor wardrobe. I have fun doing that. But I go in every rabbit hole I could find, I talk with every person who could know anything about the stuff I’m looking for, I’m asking strangers in social media like I’m preparing for gravel 500km ultramarathon (it would be nice to actually participate in any gravel event, but even 50km is a challenge for me, but I will talk about this later). I don’t like buying one-time gear, but as you can see, I’m overoptimalazing (is it even a real word? Can you actually do that?)
I’ve started cycling more a couple of years ago, I’m commuting mostly by bike and I even have MTB, so I must have something already in my wardrobe, right?
Well, I’m still your weekend biker. I have no idea how people do 30-50km coffee rides after work just like that. Part of the reason might be that I live in the downtown and it takes me time to reach place with less traffic, but judging from Strava I’m just complaining. So my rides aren’t really challenging except commuting in rain while fighting with cars.
Anyway.
I have willingly lost a lot of weight. You know that running or cycling in too big clothes allow you to experience cold temperatures even more? What a surprise! Who would have thought!
Losing weight also helped me mentally to finally buy something of better quality (to some extent). Don’t get me wrong – we all deserve to buy good clothes we want to regardless of weight and I wish fashion industry wouldn’t be so toxic and so capitalistic, but I have other not weight-related issues with clothing and reaching desired weight eased things for me.
So let me allow you to finally reach the point where I start talking about actual gear.
Expected conditions and location:
Issues:
I figured out that problems with extremites stem from not well enough insulated core It might not be that relevant when you just commute, but it’s crucial when you want to spend more time outdoors (another surprise, right?)
Tops:
Bottom time! (Hehe)
Cold feet and hands
I was preparing myself for temperatures below zero and I was really afraid that I’m going to buy something not good enough, becase my hands are special. I asked Mastodon bike tooters for suggestions, but weather prognosis changed, so I decided there’s no point in buying anything new – I just invested in some thin pair of gloves I could put on underneath.
However, if you're looking for more inspiration, I started a small discussion about winter cycling gloves
I took Endura Humvee Plus MTB gloves and Specialized Deflect. I had them both in my small backpack (I dream about handlebar bag).
Times wild dog(s) were chasing me: 1
Distance: 8,5km from train station to hotel, then 15km later arodun the neighbourhood
I reached hotel around 3:45pm. It was nice and sunny. I rested a bit and decided to visit neighbourhood. I layered up with base layer, Sportful jersey and jacket and Endura gloves.
It was great. Until it wasn’t because I forgot that sun sets down and it gets way colder. I wasn’t very uncomfortable, but there was no point in continuing sightseeing. However, I checked for potential issues with my shiny new clothes and it seemed that they should do the work next day.
Times wild dog(s) were chasing me: 2
Distance: 50,8km
THE BIG DAY!
I don’t plan my rides in ever detail. It usually goes like that: I’m choosing interesting points to visit and then I make detours if there’s anything worth seeing along the way. I usually set distance goal, but this time I said to myself: it doesn’t matter whether I do 50km or 5km in one ride. I can always come back to the hotel, have some rest and then go into different direction another 5km. Or 2km. Or lay down and watch stupid things. I’m here because I want to have fun.
This also means I have to keep tabs on my heart rate, because I would like to stay healthy as long as I can and there’s no shame in doing that as well as stopping for rest and looking at the sky.
I packed Sportful stuff into my backpack along with all the gloves and pair of socks which could be put underneath. Base layer + shirt + Castelli jacket on top, warm socks and GripGrab shoe covers on bottom. I was afraid it would be too warm for my feet in them, though.
After 2km I decided to get rid off the shirt. Too warm even with unzipped fleece. For such conditions I should have probably went with some windostoppery thingy and additonal layer, because that way I could mix and match to answer weather conditions. Sportful jacket with jersey and base layer isn’t windproof enough, so I was left with Castelli jacket. However, when sun decided to take a look at me, I felt that this jacket is a bit too much, but I don’t think it hindered my ride in any way. Am I going to buy something between Castelli’s and Sportful jacket? I don’t know, let’s see how the weather will unfold.
May: I haven’t bought anything like that.
Bibs were warm enough also. No overhating, very comfortable. Maybe having something thinner with emergency leg warmers in the backpack also would do the trick. I don’t think I need anything else right now. I’m not sure how well they will perform during real Spring, but I’ve got the feeling I won’t need to buy anything before short bibs season (except arm and leg covers with sun protection).
May: Indeed, I didn’t have to buy anything else except new short bibs which also have magnetic lock ;)
Unfortunately, my feet became cold at the end of trip, but problems started earlier. I felt good enough to continue my ride, but I couldn’t forget there is something wrong my setup. I couldn’t believe these shoe covers are so bad. I realized my shoes do not fit well – velcro didn’t hold as well as it should (and I clean it regularly). They might be too loose. I do everything in them, so they might have just worn out. I still love them, but my next shoes are going to have BOA ;)
There was one mentally challenging obstacle during this ride. After 25km – 30km I ended up in the middle of swampy fields with one road between them.
A gruesome road which I didn’t take picture of, because I believed my phone will get cursed, but fortunately I can show you something similar.
I was like "yeah, it’s like 3km, should be ok".
These tracks were soldified. I tried, I really tried to go through on the bike. I walked 2km with my bike.
There was no point in coming back, because there was no other road to take unless I get back 5km.
It was exhausting. I didn’t beat myself because I couldn’t pedal through. I was pissed because there was no other way and my energy levels were dropping. In the middle of nowhere without public transport or taxi or a friend with a car.
Having that in mind, I focused on conserving my energy levels in order to be able to come back and still collect more kilometers. I ditched cycling uphill. Not like there were a lot of places to do that, but I had to find this one which wanted to dominate me with all these uphills. I beat them with the power of walking.
Too bad I couldn’t ditch the dog which came out of nowhere on the provincial road (meaning that there was no place I could escape to, just me and empty green fields).
I came back to the hotel feeling that I didn’t deplete all my energy. Although after a shower and dinner I just layed down on the sofa, but it was not ‘I need to lay down, because otherwise I will die’, but ‘Super tired, had a good time, sofa is the best rest option for me right now’.
Times wild dog(s) were chasing me: 1
Distance: 8,5km from hotel to train station
I like dogs. I really like them. But not like that.
Did this set work? Yes, it’s brilliant. Probably Castelli jacket for such conditions was a bit too much. Probably going with some autumn/spring windproof jacket would have been a wiser choice (along with maybe additional layer), but I don’t have any and even if I’m wealthy enough to buy all these clothes, I’m still in the discovery phase of what works for me.
Small digression: I bought my first bibs last year. I was always like “running leggins are ok / sport shorts will do the work / I don’t ride that much”. Chamois pad makes a difference. Riding is more comfortable and you don’t end up with pain in the ass (sorry) after 20km. Of course it’s not the solution for all the problems with cycling comfort (and the same applies to bike fitting). You need to ride, but it’s easier with things like this.
Could I have geared up in Decathlon? Yeah, probably, but I don’t like how its clothes fit me and they’re not drastically cheaper (due to discounts I could find). Although I recently bought MTB pants and they’re ok.
Should I have bought something more universal, because I don’t have anything in my wardrobe? Maybe? But cycling clothes have more suitable pocket system, different fit and elongated back. Besdies, I hadn’t ever had such stuff until this point.
I’m not saying you should run to the closest bike shop and leave there half of your salary. I’m saying that even as an amateur you deserve comfort and there’s nothing bad in having fancy clothes if they make you feel better.
I have to repeat that to myself
So, I had fun, I have nice clothes and I relaxed a bit. I wish I had a proper navigation, because phone is not enough if you also want to take some photos or ride in the sun.