Keefer Madness

24 Hours Can Make a Huge Difference – Central North Carolina Winters

// November 28th, 2008 // Cycling, Local (Raleigh Durham), Weather

One thing I love about North Carolina, and hate at the same time are the wishy washy season transitions.

A few short weeks ago, the beginning of a group ride I did in downtown Durham left us all frozen on the downtown ups and downs. Granted, by the end of the ride, we had all shed layers and it ended up being a very comfortable, if not crisp autumn Saturday.

Yesterday, was much the same, with my group ride with the Gyros starting out a bit cool, but warming up to a fairly comfortable, yet still on the chilly side. I had a long-sleeved base layer with a thermal long sleeve jersey over top of it, along with tights, doubled-up socks and toe warmers. I had long-fingered gloves and a fleece head covering under my helmet.

Fast forward to my solo ride this morning and the layers were all shed – back to regular race gloves, short sleeves and bib shorts. Today’s afternoon solo 24+ mile ride of the roads near our home started with 65 degree temps and an hour later, the temperature hadn’t changed a bit. The only time I felt any chill at all was crossing over Falls Lake at near 30 miles per hour.

It’s technically the off season right now, where outdoor riding tapers off, but I’ve signed up for a race two days after Christmas for when we’re down in Orlando for Christmas. Speaking of Christmases, just a few years ago, I was even comfortably cycling in shorts and a short-sleeved cycling jersey on the Durham section of the American Tobacco Trail – we’re talking December 25th!

On top of just seeing family, I look forward to the warmer Florida weather to cycle in, but now and then, the central North Carolina winters still throw us cyclists a bone.