Yesterday I went out for a bike ride. It was 24F when I finished--my coldest ride to date. In fact, it's the first ride I've done below 30F.

It was cold. Fortunately, the winds were fairly calm, or it would have been worse.

I survived 21 miles. Here's what I wore:

• T-shirt


• Gore (brand) windbreaker jacket


• Performance (brand) windbreaker bib tights


• Two pairs of socks


• Plastic wrap on my feet


• Blaclava


• Warm gloves


• Sunglasses

(File photo of me in my cold weather outfit)

Most of my body stayed warm enough; in fact, I sweat a little in the mid-section. My feet were the weak link. I started feeling them after about 20 minutes and they got worse as time went on. I think they would really have bothered me had I gone on a 30-mile ride.

I'm glad we rarely have such frigid conditions in East Tennessee. I wouldn't want to make a habit of that.

How much longer until spring?