This past week I started my new assignment cross guarding at a scenic corner in the Bay Creek neighborhood just over 4 miles from my residence.
I ride the route four times per day there and back and there and back for 26.6 km daily. As a result my Strava progress spiked this past week to 120 km from about 40 km.
My head is literally spinning from the drastic changes in weather we have been experiencing here from -34C windchills last Tuesday morning to 12C on Friday afternoon.
My attire changes with the weather of course. With negative or single digit temperatures, I wear a thermal baselayer plus dry wick layers, a hoodie and a parka.
I’ve had success taking off the parka on my ride in to my place of employment and placing it in the trailer that I pull. At first it’s a bit cold, but I warm with each pedal stroke and arrive dry without sweat. I can then put on the parka and feel warm.
For the cold I have wrapped my feet in plastic bags used for loaves of bread. I remember this from childhood and it really works to keep feet insulated from cold provided you are wearing at least one layer of wool socks.
Related to successes, stretching out on a yoga mat in the dark of the early morning has helped me stay fresh and far less stiff after adding these miles.