Due to a temporary closure of Gorges Brewing and the Ankeny Street Pub, Bike Happy Hour has had to move. It’s found a winter home at Migration Brewing on N. Williams Avenue.
Although the high was only 46F today, it was dry and I felt that it would be a good day to try riding to the new location, which is much closer to home and afford me a lower-traffic, lower-stress route. The ride there was cold but pleasant, with the sun hanging low in the sky and warming my arms and legs as I pedaled.
Part of the back porch has been enclosed by thick plastic sheets and includes heat lamps and a fire pit, making for a cozy spot to gather. Because night riding is hard for me now, I decided to get there just before the 3pm start, and stay until the light began to fade. That gave me a lovely hour to spend greeting regulars and meeting new folks, including a couple of people who will begin working on our new Portland City Council next month. I enjoyed conversations about the new Council, transportation issues (a continuous topic at the Happy Hour) and the wonderful work of Randi Jo Fabrications. I was wearing one of her hats and someone asked to see it up close.
I was starting to feel the chill as the sky changed, even with a hot cocoa in my belly, so I decided to leave a little after 4pm. Riding home was much colder and much less enjoyable with the sun just below the horizon now. I pondered the difference in my ability to handle riding in the winter now with how I’d handled it before the pandemic. I miss the relationship I used to have with winter riding.
I got home at dusk, and called it good.
These blue winter gloves are almost thirty years old. We used to sell them at Citybikes, and while they weren’t waterproof, they were fairly warm. Some of us added waterproof mitts over the top, which made them almost perfect on the coldest, wettest days.
I lost my waterproof mitts ages ago, but still have the gloves.
Rice and beans warmed my tummy nicely.
Sadly, they serve apple juice in small, overpriced pouches so I had to buy two to fill a glass.
I followed it up later with a cup of hot cocoa.
While it was quite cold — in the mid 40s — and I was ready to head home after an hour, I was also glad that I’d taken the ride. It’s interesting to note the changes in how I deal with colder temperatures now. I’m not really sad; this is what happens when we get older, and I’m mostly philosophical about it.
Riding home, I enjoyed the cold, crisp air on my cheeks, even as my toes and fingertips began to feel a little pain.
And I stopped for a minute meant to admire the changing light as day became dusk.
I loved the fade from light purple to blue.
This is the taillight that used to be on the red singlespeed.
Before I re-homed that bike, I removed the light and homemade bash guard, and swapped them over to the Peugeot.
It looks funky, but I really like it. I made it from a bicycle spoke and some Erector set parts.
On really cold, dry days, I’ll take it case by case before deciding whether to ride to Happy Hour. When it’s raining, I’ll probably skip it until at least February, by which time the days should get longer enough to have some light at 5pm. I don’t ride at all after dark if it’s raining anymore, because it’s just too hard to see and I no longer feel as safe. Another concession to my aging process.
I’m glad to be able to ride at all these days.
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