Once bitten...

I wonder what frostbite feels like. Okay so it possibly wasn't as bad as that this morning on the bike, but man I was cold. The special sort of cold you get when you combine being soaking wet with low temperatures. I lost feeling in my fingers for about 40 minutes or so towards the end. I knew they were there and everything, but only from what I could see.

This morning's ride completes a set of two of possibly the most miserable rides I have ever had. Wet, windy, cold, everything. Perth is currently going through a very dry winter (that seems to be the norm down here) so I know we need the rain. I would just prefer it if it wasn't doing the raining on me.

It started last night as I headed out to King's Park to do some hill repeats on the bike. There was patchy rain all of yesterday, but during the afternoon it looked like it might have cleared. Looks can be deceiving though I have heard. It started out dry but then 30 minutes or so in, the rain came and I am not sure if ever really left. Plus it was blowing a gale. I finally and very thankfully got home and swore that if it was like that in the morning I would be jumping on the trainer.

This morning came around and whilst there was some patchy rain on the radar, it was clear at my house with stars visible and everything. I should have known better. I innocently headed out to do some intervals. Once again about half an hour in the rain started and just kept it up for about an hour. By the time I finally rolled into work and got off the bike I just had to stand there for a couple of minutes to mentally compose myself. And shiver. A warm shower never looked so good.

As I stood there wringing out my socks another guy from the office who had just ridden in said you look like you need some good old fashioned mudguards, they would help keep your feet dry. That might be true, but unless the mudguard was big enough to cover my entire bike, I am pretty sure the hour or so of rain I had just ridden through might still have got me. I know he was well meaning, but I really was not in the mood. He is just lucky that I was to cold to move, otherwise I might have shown him what else a good old fashion mudguard is for. As it was my brain was to busy directing all available heat to my extremities to come up with a response much beyond a grunt.

Obviously my bike is now filthy. I gave it a quick clean last night and just then finished giving it another quick clean to get rid of this morning's efforts. I swear I could hear it whimpering when I went to clean it just then, it may or may not have flinched away from my touch. Unfortunately I won't have time to give it a proper clean until the weekend. Perhaps it will forgive me after that. Luckily I am pretty sure it has a short memory.

Speaking of memory I might see if I can repress the last 18 hours or so. These last two rides are ones that I would happily forget all about. Then again when you are racing and you get to the bit where it starts to hurt, these are the sessions you remember. So perhaps I will try and remember these ones after all.