Each fall day in Minnesota can produce a very different outside experience. Sunshine combined with cool, dry air can make for a perfect afternoon. Even when the temperature drops into the 50s, the sunshine can make it seem like a bright, summer day.
It’s rare that higher humidity comes along with the fall weather. But that’s what I encountered on Sunday afternoon. Humidity can be an OK thing when the temperatures are in the 70s, but when the same humid conditions accompany high-40s, it’s a bone-chilling experience.
The humid air just penetrates every little nook-n-cranny while on the bike. And it really bites when it reaches the skin. I noticed this within the first few feet of leaving my driveway and actually turned around to get a warmer skullcap before heading out on the roads.
The wind didn’t do me any favors during the ride either, It started out as a SW wind in the low teens, but switched to a NW wind about halfway through the ride. This means that I did not get to reap any of the usual awards, as I seemed to have a headwind for about 2/3 of the total ride.
But, I wasn’t out there to win any races or ride too hard. I’ve long given up those types of ambitions and focus, instead, on enjoying a little bit of nature while doing something I love. The leaves are pretty much finished and it is starting to look a little bare. But, outside is outside and it’s hard to complain.
