De Fenestra

Last bike commute of the year today. Campus dining services shut down this evening, so no breakfast options are available at the office until students return. And I really don't want to eat first and ride in on a full stomach.

Gear checklist for not freezing my balls off in 25º morning commute: padded liner shorts under Smartwool base layer under Novara bike commuting pants. Arc'teryx Naga hoodie under Arc'teryx Trino jacket under Sugoi Evo Zap jacket. Arc'teryx liner gloves under Giro Ambient winter bike gloves. Smartwool beanie under helmet. Smartwool hiking socks under street shoes. Oakley Jawbreaker sunglasses with clear lens inserts for eye protection.

I was wearing more in performance athletic gear than my damn bike costs, probably including the bike computer that my lovely wife gave me as an early Christmas present. OTOH, I was actually comfortable and even a bit sweaty at the end of both rides. And I have proven that 25º weather is not an excuse for not riding in.

For a great many years, I was snidely skeptical about Arc'teryx apparel because of the price. Then I got a pair of their fleece gloves on REI clearance and found they were the best (dry-weather) winter gloves I'd ever owned. Then a medical instructor recommended their Bastion pants as a lighter-weight and professional-looking alternative to jeans and I found the first pants ever that made me look good less bad. Then I realized I had a problem. I keep buying the Dead Bird, though, because I have yet to purchase anything that isn't actually worth the money. The Naga and Trino, for instance, are both made of some sort of finely-woven black magic. With those over a silk base layer shirt, I've gone for runs on 20º mornings and never been more than mildly chilled.

Same applies to Oakley eyewear. Yes, there are cheaper brands. Yes, I'm paying for the label to a certain extent. But I've put a lot of money into my eyes and I'd like to keep random tree branches and road debris out of them. ANSI Z87 impact certification makes me feel a little better about that. Also, when it's this cold and I'm seeing 20+mph on downhills, having something to block the wind is a genuine safety need. And the ventilation cuts in the Jawbreakers are amazing for keeping the lenses from fogging up, which has been a problem with every single non-Oakley set of eye protection I've owned.

Buy once, cry once.

Finally back on a regular running schedule. For the last four weeks, I've gotten three runs a week logged. Not great. I've lost a lot of cardio. Did 3 miles today but 0.25 of that was a walk, so it doesn't really count as a 5k. But it's more than I've accomplished since December.

( Also accomplished today: )

Whew. And now it's flake o'clock.