The windchill when I left for work today was -3 in Baltimore City. I know that some places have temps like this without the wind, but this is rare in Baltimore. I can’t imagine what the windchill doing 25 mph downhill into a headwind was, but my nose is still a little numb a half hour later.
And my mustache froze! The water vapor from my breathing got it wet, and it felt like I just huffed some buckwheat honey. I mean, it was a strange sensation. It took my brain a minute to realize what it was. Ice. Awesome.
The rest of my beard was under a scarf and not under my nose, so Mr. Fuzzy is working to keep me warm currently.
Anyone else get covered in ice this winter? 
10 comments
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02.05.09 at 10:45 am
Pragmatik · Frozen facial hair, first time.
[...] Things on my face froze this morning on my downhill plunge to Central Baltimore on two wheels. Read more. [...]
02.05.09 at 12:21 pm
r.e.wolf
Mornings like this one, I just don’t breathe out there.
02.05.09 at 3:03 pm
Allan
I took my first ride of the year this morning. A balaclava kept most of my face warm; eye area and hands were hurting. It was nice to be riding again, though.
02.05.09 at 4:49 pm
Daniel F Smith
I cant ride a bike,and i need to walk about a mile to get to a particular bus stop/taxi cab stand. I walked the mile at about 645am this morning, It was -4 deg F minus the windchill as I left the house and much colder obviously with the windchill. By the time I got to the cab stand, my cheeks and nose were frozen,and my nose hairs were frozen stiff!! Now at approx 4pm, I realise that I have skin damage on the tip of my nose and on my cheeks. A very minor version of frostbite, I guess.
02.05.09 at 9:42 pm
bob
Way to keep the pedals churning year round, Johnny!
Everyone I know thinks I’m nuts, but I’ve been dutifully doing my Owings Mills commutes every day. Got over 500 miles pedaled in Jan.
Today was a tough one, BUT it can be done.
BTW. there’s a great bike swap meet up in Westminster this sunday. Highly recommended. flyer here: http://www.stopswapandsave.com/SWAP_FLYER_2009.pdf
02.05.09 at 11:50 pm
sietse
jezus that had to be cold
02.06.09 at 12:13 am
Johnny
Now no longjohns this weekend? I’ll feel naked!
02.06.09 at 8:36 am
NoRacer
Another “all year long” bike commuter here, I rode yesterday and had learned and applied a few lessons from that very cold and windy January ride where the windchill got down into negative degrees F. In comparison, yesterday was a breeze–no pun intended.
02.06.09 at 8:59 am
Johnny
This Jan was the coldest Jan in Baltimore I can remember. Generally I’m very toasty on my commutes, but I was lazy with the face coverage yesterday. Now I see it’s going to hit 39 today — balmy!
02.08.09 at 12:28 pm
msdottie
I don’t ever have a problem with ice forming, unless I wear my scarf around my face for a while and then take it down for a while (then scarf freezes). Usually I leave my face uncovered. My husband has ice rings around his head where the helmet ends. I guess frozen sweat? I don’t ride hard enough to sweat in 0 degrees.