The thermometer on the back of the house showed closer to fifty than forty. The ride was so cold I have to wonder about my thermometer.

It's a cheap, spring-loaded, cling-on thermometer that I've long thought is a little off. For the $3 I spent on the thing it seems close enough, but when you're basing your cold-weather decisions on something that seems about five degrees too hot, maybe it's time to spend a couple more dollars on a better thermometer.

Of course, those few degrees do nothing when it's cold, and the only protection offered is from your helmet. I wore the full-head helmet, although I honestly contemplated roughing it out with the half-head helmet. The temperature around here has been so varied. Forty in the morning and seventy in the evening.

It's so cold that exhaling was enough to fog both my shades and the helmet visor. It's too cold to ride with the visor up, but I'd occasionally have to as the sun is just above the horizon, and the glare caught in the fog, making my visor translucent.

The ride didn't get uncomfortable until I passed the river. I think the crossing the river did a lot to make me colder. About a mile after the river, the cold pressed through my jeans and jacket and started making me shiver.

A couple miles later I pulled into the parking garage and its evidently constant sixty-five degrees. Felt tropical. I took a few shivering moments before I trekked up to the desk. Fingers are starting to thaw...