~?~
Wednesday 21st 29F/-2C. Overcast with hard white frost. Early sunshine was forecast. Wind picking up to easterly gales. Possibility of some snowfall. 59F/15C in the room. 40F/4.4C in the greenhouse.
Up at 8.20 after a fairly quiet night.
Plans for a ride are on hold. Gales, low temperatures and snow aren't conducive to full enjoyment. I have been watching YT videos by professional northerly Swedes and Norwegians on the successful choice of low temperature clothing. While Denmark doesn't usually suffer such extremes the advice is still relevant.
Gloves or mitts are the most difficult choice where warmth with fine dexterity is essential on an e-bike. My higher average speeds compared to my trikes adds a serious wind chill factor. While I must certainly pedal all the time I am not usually working nearly so hard on climbs. Though I am not a sack of spuds like a scooterist or motorcyclist. If the pedals don't turn then forward progress simply does not happen! My cadence is falling steadily with old age. I could pedal up to 130rpm only a few short years ago. Now I average high 70s low 80s.
The tiny keypad controls of the Bosch motor system are a serious impediment to power mode selection. While wearing gloves or mitts. One can only presume that they don't have winter in Bosch's Germany. Or the head of design has never ridden a bike of any form. Perhaps thanks to the crudest form of nepotism. Or bullying of the design team from on high. Who knows. They certainly don't deserve their monopoly for their motor controls and computer screens. Which is why I usually stick to Sport mode. Fortunately the MTB style gear and brake levers are fine.
My best winter glove choice so far is a pair of Reusch "Powder Spirit" skiing gloves. With Goretex membrane and wrist bands for safety. Made in China of course. They have been warm under most conditions. Dexterity is acceptable for so much warmth and still having five digits. The don't feel too clumsy for the insulation provided.
For years I have been using GripGrab gloves and mitts but they have often disappointed when it is cold. Their fancy printed grip patterns on the palms and fingers are basically crap. Far too slippery even for driving safely! Hopeless on the bike.
I note that GripGrab no longer fills the display walls of Danish bike shops. I one swore by their two finger mitts and have bought several pairs over the years. Never again. The cold creeps in on every ride below 50F/10C. The Reusch have allowed me to ride comfortably and reliably in frost conditions. With wind chill factors equivalent to 30kph/20mph cruising speeds. I usually take a pair of GripGrab mitts in case it warms up. Though I rarely do a swap after warming up in the shops.
The name Hestra keeps cropping up in the YT videos about sledding at -40C. Pricing is eye watering. I'll try to find a Danish stockist within reach. To see if I can try their products on in the shop. Provided they have them in XXXXL of course! The one detail I am not keen on is the elastication at the wrist. Not the cuff. Taking gloves on and of should never be a struggle. I [usually] have no need to keep the snow out.
9.15 Stove lit. I must go for a walk!
10.00 The stove is finally going well and I can stop waffling. I can go for a walk now.
10.35 30F/-1C. 61F/16C in the room. Back from my walk around the fields on the spray tracks. Overcast but the wind wasn't too bad. Though a passing lorry left its memory as a cold headwind for almost half a minute. The ground was frozen hard. Making me feel as if my legs were too stiff at first. The horses were curious and came out from their stalls to see me. My hands were too cold in the GripGrab mitts. Five minutes after coming home my fingers are still cold when I make a fist. I brought the recycling, wheelie bin back with me. They came late yesterday.
~?~
No comments:
Post a Comment