As you probably know, transportation causes more than 50 percent of greenhouse gases in the US. This contributes significantly to changing climate and specifically to increasing intensity and frequency of weather events.
Cycling takes cars off of roads and reduces deadly emissions, decreases congestion on our roads, opens up critical green spaces for higher aesthetics in our cities and diminishes wear and tear of our roads.
Riding a bicycle is also a source of critical exercise for many that is proven to reduce incidence of obesity as well as improve mental wellness and physical fitness.
When bicycling, we are the change that improves our climate and wellness.
The last few weeks the weather has been changing dramatically in the Madison area. First, we have seen uncharacteristically high winds with brutal and damaging gusts.
We have also experienced a roller coaster of temperature changes with corresponding rain, wintry mix and snow.
One day the temperature reaches the mid 70sF with sunny skies and the next day there are single-digit windchills. A change of 60F in less than a day with more than 30F above normal to more than 30F below normal.
CFCs or greenhouse gases are eroding ozone making Earth less defended from wilder temperature fluctuations.
These changes impact not only riding but also infrastructure. It’s hard to find something as challenging as riding into 45 mph headwinds. I lower my head, hold on tight and pedal in a lower gear. The wind gusts from the south as my commute takes me south and into an unrelenting, tenacious headwind.
Afterward one feels not only a sense of relief but also pride that they have fought and won a great battle with nature. Arms and wrists are sore from holding the handlebar so tightly in the gusting wind.
Infrastructure of roads and paths are severely affected by changes in weather. For example we recently had a day of seasonably mild temps in 40sF and 50sF but with two bouts of steady rain.
Temperatures dropped below freezing at night and it snowed. As a result the following morning commute was treacherous. The rain on the paths froze into black ice hidden under the snowfall. I had to swap in one more time my winter studded tire to complete my commute after walking the paths to see their real condition.
I opened my road bike season this afternoon after tuning up the Zurich, including a – air pressure, b-brakes and c -cassette. I topped off air pressure at the top end of range shown on tire wall.
I lubricated with T-9 the brake cables where they move in and out of cable housing. Corrosion can lead to stickiness in break functioning. I placed the bike in the stand and pedaled through all the gears and made adjustments with the screws especially on the rear derailleur.
The ride was a special one on the light carbon road bike after riding an aluminum “bus” with trailer nine months a year. The differences in setups seemed even more pronounced. The carbon Zurich sliced the wind up. Without a trailer, my pedal strokes translated into more speed.
The ride looped out to and through the Arboretum for 25 km. In a few short weeks there will be beautiful blue bells and colorful magnolias followed by swathes of sweet lilac flowers. But now there are only small buds emerging on flower-less and leaf-less foliage of very early spring.