“Well it’s a frosty one this morning folks -5ºC (23ºF) you’re going to need that scraper today!” said the radio announcer. I groaned as I turned over, I felt like had just got to sleep half an hour ago. I strained to lift my dead body from the bed. My 5 year old daughter had been up few times during the night saying she was having bad dreams. With the little sleep I had I guess I was going to have a bad day. I slide out of bed and crawl into the shower. My body revives ever so slightly so I can now stand erect with one eye open. As I stub my toe leaving the washroom I realize I need both eyes open.

Into the closet should I ride in today? Did the radio say -5ºC it’s only October 13th give me a break! Maybe the ride will be good for me. I slip on my cycling clothes and decide against the t-shirt under my turtleneck, I’m tough I can take it. I stumble downstairs for breakfast. It’s cold downstairs because I haven’t turned the furnace on yet. I flick the switch, the house will probably get warm by the time I leave.

I slip on my wind pants and shell; I hope I will be warm enough. I step into the garage, its cold! I roll my bike to the driveway, it’s colder! I’m sure it will be okay once I’m riding. I slip a head band on and put on my helmet, a few stretches, turn on my headlight, and I’m off. Whoa, Maybe I should have put that t-shirt on! Riding into the park and down the ridge the wind is cutting like a knife.

My eyes are watering from the cold wind and it’s hard to see, I think I see someone walking their dog along the path. In this city we have bylaw that bikes have to have a bell, I slide my numb thumb over to ring it and the frozen ringer tab snaps off. Fortunately this lady sees my wavering headlight and jumps out of the way, “sorry” I yell as I roll past. Heading down towards the river I think I see a little water across the path, my brain kicks in at last second and says that’s not water, its -5ºC. My front tire slips off the path into the grass I am able to recover enough to not crash. I am awake now, at least for the next minute.

I cross the bridge over the river and head into the woods as I come out of the woods I just about clip some guy riding without any light on. I curse the guy under my breath and realize if I was not riding half asleep I would have seen him sooner. Thoughts of riding out of the valley in my condition haunt me as I approach the hill. I gear down quickly and crawl up the hill, I’m in my lowest gear pumping, and if this hill is any longer I’m going to have a stroke! I make it to the top and my head is pounding but I’m not cold anymore now. My legs are soaked in sweat, which reminds me I need to find better gear for the cold. Through the streets to my office as the sweat starts freezing to my legs I question why I didn’t drive in today. I pull up to the office start locking my bike up, a guy walks by and says “Wow you rode in today it’s freezing out, you must be a real man” and smiles. A small inkling of pride rises in me “Thanks” I say to him. Maybe even a bad ride can still be a good ride.

Kevin Redmond is a senior design supervisor at a large engineering company in Canada. He cycles into work whenever he can. He also runs a consumers Website called http://www.avoidconfusion.com you can get your cycling accessories at this site plus lots of other stuff give it browse and check it out.