Breakfast Ride … In The Snow!

As I pushed out of the house a little later than usual this morning, there were a few snowflakes in the air.  By the time I reached the Rusty Bridge to join up with the other 5 riders, the bike was starting to leave faint tracks in the tiny bit of accumulation.  The snow continued to fall heavier.  Soon only Mike B and I were riding, and we continued to Annapolis for breakfast, stopping twice to clear glasses and headlights of snow.  Annapolis streets were slippery and snow covered by the time we arrived.

Snow accumulated on the helmet on the way into Annapolis this morning.

We had good conversation at breakfast.  Soon enough, Mike and I were on our way back.  The snowfall was heavy.  Streets were completely snow covered.

I had an amazing fall/crash.  In the Navy parking lot the surface was snow covered and slippery.  I could not see the crack with two different levels of surfaces butted next to each other extending in the direction of travel.  I hit this uneven surface, slid, and the bike started sliding out from under me.  I called out, “I’m going down!” and landed as gently as I could on my left hip and shoulder.  Nothing was apparently broken and the bike was in fine shape.  We pressed on.  (The bruise is just now beginning to form.)

Winds were gusty going over the Naval Academy Bridge.  Gusty winds and slippery surface was enough to keep our speed low.

We opted for the trail on the return.  Hills were tough on the shoulders of the roadway.  Standing up to pedal meant our rear wheels spun out, so the flatter the route the better.

Before it stopped snowing, I had to stop to remove accumulations of ice between my tires and the bike frame.  It was getting hard to pedal.

Both Mike and I made it home without further incident.  The bike is a mess.

This Ride: 24.7 miles
Month: 24.7 miles
2013: 440.8 miles
Total since 1/1/2010: 20,213.7 miles