Winter in training

Nope, not training in winter, but with the solstice just over two weeks away, the temperature decided to practice cold. It also snowed. I was also asked for the second time within a week if I ride a fat bike. Winter is coming. And no, my narrow hips and the knees below them hate pedalling the wide stance needed to clear 4" tires, so I ski when the snow is deep, ride 2.5" tires just fine when it isn't, and miss out the one or two times a year when conditions are in the middle.

Yesterday morning wasn't as cold as today, but my thermometer read low twenties when I left, so I wore one more layer everywhere than I'd used so far this fall, except I did suffice with only a single pair of longjohns. It was brisk, but my route started with climbing and I was slightly unzipped by the top of the the hill. Of course, from there I descended and was very much looking forward to the trudge of the unplowed section of railtrail.

Except on the bridges, there was a solid crust 

I could ride on a 2.0 tire at 40psi.

After a mile of bumping along, I reached the segment of trail the DCR started plowing last year. As a testament to the power of UMass, they stop at the dead end connector to campus, but not a quarter mile further at arterial route 116. They just wanted to be sure I was plenty warm from the effort. Also, while the plowing did smooth my ride, I didn't pedal that much faster, given my new found respect for the possibility of hitting the ground at speed and the generous coating of ice on the untreated surface.

About half way to Northampton, I passed a DCR utility vehicle that made a minimal effort to leave room for me and may have been placing salt only 48 hours after the snow stopped falling. Yes, I appreciate that the state is clearing the trail, but I do bemoan that bicycle infrastructure gets not even a backseat, but is relegated to the utility trailer towed behind snow removal for motor vehicles. But hey, good news, a year later, they are clearing snow from the trail bridge over the Connecticut River. Hope springs eternal, but where does it winter?