Winter cycling/commuting

[mulletCobra]

I plan on cycling back and forth to work this winter(I don't have much of a choice.) The ride is only 4.5 miles each way, but when it snows here(Eastern Pennsylvania) It seems to take forever to melt. I also plan on doing some serious riding for sport.

I have been looking online for some choice gear to stay warm.
Does anyone have any recommendations? I'd appreciate any advice on how to make my winter commutes more enjoyable.

I've decided on a pair of winter bibs and am going to either fit my current ride with fenders or put together a beater bike. Besides that, I'm not set on anything.

 

[liftman]

I just got some Pearl Izumi AmFib Tights Elite Series and love them. I have only needed them once this fall but the temp was less than 30 and I was almost too warm. For gloves I wear ski/snowboarding gloves. Right now some Northface wind proof fleece and they have also been good below 30. I will also be trying to ride through the winter. (Lake Tahoe)

 

[US Patent Exploding Cyclist]

I picked up the short sleeve craft winter base layer last year and it was a very good buy. It made it possible to wear a shell vest and arm warmers late in the fall, and allowed me to not have to buy a million dollar winter jacket later in the year.

Good luck.

 

[TheDude]

OK,
I've spent more winters in rain than blasted cold, but in my experience wool and gore-tex are you friends. For milt temp/biting wind I like a wool jersey with a Gore windblock jacket. I used to ride in gore-tex pants as well on really wet days. Plastic bags over your socks are almost better than shoe covers for wet, but I'm guessing not for cold.

 

[Hoekstyn]

I plan on cycling back and forth to work this winter(I don't have much of a choice.) The ride is only 4.5 miles each way, but when it snows here(Eastern Pennsylvania) It seems to take forever to melt. I also plan on doing some serious riding for sport.

I have been looking online for some choice gear to stay warm.
Does anyone have any recommendations? I'd appreciate any advice on how to make my winter commutes more enjoyable.

I've decided on a pair of winter bibs and am going to either fit my current ride with fenders or put together a beater bike. Besides that, I'm not set on anything.

I wear a pair of Roubaix tights over a pair of longjohns with a larger size shorts overtop. My socks are worn over the longjohns, thus under the tights. If needed, I wear a pair of boothies over my mountainbike shoes (no vents). On top a body armor turtleneck, riding jersey (for the pockets), a lined vest and a insulated fleece jacket. Then a full skimask under my helmet. I wear a pair of insulated gloves under a pair of Izumi long finger cycling gloves. The Izumis have reflective lettering, which is good in the morning (dark) when indicating lane changes/turns. I ride a Redline cyclocross and have Shimano Sora shifters, as those are the easiest to use with full gloves on. You could ride those with mittens on if needed. I ride as long into the winter as possible, but as our city (London, Ont, Canada) is useless for cleaning early morning snow, I stop riding when the snow gets too heavy. However, the "getup" is good for as low as -10C, which I think is about 15F. Yes it takes a while to get dressed and undressed, but if the outdoor temp. is around freezing and you are traveling at about 15M/hr, the windchil for you is about 10* lower and fingertips and ears can freeze quickly. But even when the commute has to stop, you can still catch a few miles on the weekend as long as you dress right.
Good luck;
Hoek.

 

[durrin]

re: winter commuting

I commute most of the winter in Copenhagen, Denmark. It gets down to around 14F-22F, and I use, when it is at its coldest:
top:a midweight Smartwool merino jersey, an 260 weight Icebreaker merino jersey, a roubaix jacket. I add, if it is really cold/windy: a baselayer underneath with a windbreaking panel and/or a wind/rain jacket.
The great thing about the merino is that it is warm, and doesn't stink to high heaven as soon as you take it off.
bottom: roubaix bibtights possibly wool tights underneath and/or rain pants, if it is really cold.
feet: I use Shimano MT90 boots, and really like them. A pair of Smartwools alpine socks, and a pair of Sealskinz over these. Overshoes if it is really cold. I have, a couple of times, used battery-powered feet warmers in my boots.
head: just a fleece hat, or a wool balaclava+fleece hat, the important thing is that ones ears are covered. Helmet of course, and clear glasses to keep the very cold wind out of my eyes.

My biggest problem is my feet, they tend to get numb after 10-15 km when it is close to freezing or colder (that's why I bought the battery-powered heater) and I'm still experimenting with the best way to deal with this.

 

[Anonymous]

U v d w

I plan on cycling back and forth to work this winter(I don't have much of a choice.) The ride is only 4.5 miles each way, but when it snows here(Eastern Pennsylvania) It seems to take forever to melt. I also plan on doing some serious riding for sport.

I have been looking online for some choice gear to stay warm.
Does anyone have any recommendations? I'd appreciate any advice on how to make my winter commutes more enjoyable.

I've decided on a pair of winter bibs and am going to either fit my current ride with fenders or put together a beater bike. Besides that, I'm not set on anything.

Under 5 miles you won't be out for even 30 minutes, no big deal. Problem is not staying warm, but getting rid of the sweat. Reasonable base, wool jersey, something to block the wind. Try lots of different combos. In order of importance: U V D W. stay Upright, be Visible, keep Dry, stay Warm. (and have fun!)

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Don't forget a pair of insulated shoe covers and some good mits (I use an old pair of ski gloves). Nothing worse than frozen extremities - and they get cold real fast at below 20F. And a balaclava for the noggin.

 

[online-rider]

Do you have a shower at work? Because sometimes changing your clothes isn't enough to stop the bacteria in sweat from eating into your crotch/saddle area where the heat is and you'll get bad infections if you let the sweat sit on you for 8 hours.. Its worth thinking about lol. Alternatively you can just dampen a towell with water and try rubbing all the sweat from your body (inside legs and armpits) and then dry off but that wont work as well. I only say this coz i've had some skin infections myself from not washing after riding

 

[STODRR]

Do you have a shower at work? Because sometimes changing your clothes isn't enough to stop the bacteria in sweat from eating into your crotch/saddle area where the heat is and you'll get bad infections if you let the sweat sit on you for 8 hours.. Its worth thinking about lol. Alternatively you can just dampen a towell with water and try rubbing all the sweat from your body (inside legs and armpits) and then dry off but that wont work as well. I only say this coz i've had some skin infections myself from not washing after riding

Just rub a little bit of neosporin on, in your armpits and crotch and it will kill any bacteria. shower still better but it works.

 

[pedaling squares]

Does anyone have any recommendations? I'd appreciate any advice on how to make my winter commutes more enjoyable.

There was a thread with some good suggestions here. I used to ride in a cold climate and found that while it is easy to overdress your torso, hands and feet are critical. Once it dropped below -10C I wore regular winter gloves, not cycling specific, and a wool sock and neoprene bootie over the regular cycling shoe worked for me as I didn't have a winter specific cycling boot. I found that tire size/pressure was the only equipment I needed to alter. A fatter tire with lower pressure provided far more control in the slush and on packed snow. And lights... don't forget to be visible as other commuters don't expect to see you out there and the shoulders are often impassable snowbanks once the plow passes. Happy riding.

 

[online-rider]

Just rub a little bit of neosporin on, in your armpits and crotch and it will kill any bacteria. shower still better but it works.

OK, i'll try that next time. cheers

 

[mulletCobra]

Thanks everyone for the replies. The advice should certainly make for a more comfortable winter commute.

 

[boianchimoon]

winter cycling

I bought a buffalo systems cycle jacket last year, you wear it as a single layer ie no base layer underneath, cycled many miles in the snow even night rides, it was perfect for the job, only problem is that it needs to be below 3/4 degrees or would be too warm

http://www.buffalosystems.co.uk/DP_Cycle_Shirt.htm

alan

 

[marathon marke]

I bought a buffalo systems cycle jacket last year, you wear it as a single layer ie no base layer underneath, cycled many miles in the snow even night rides, it was perfect for the job, only problem is that it needs to be below 3/4 degrees or would be too warm

http://www.buffalosystems.co.uk/DP_Cycle_Shirt.htm

alan

Did you actually use the crotch strap while cycling?!

 

[boianchimoon]

only when no one was looking yes i admit it does look a bit ****zy but from a practical/comfort view in minus temeratures it's an unbelievable pice of kit, though you do get strange looks when you unzip for ventilation and people see you have nothing underneath it

 

[marathon marke]

only when no one was looking yes i admit it does look a bit ****zy but from a practical/comfort view in minus temeratures it's an unbelievable pice of kit, though you do get strange looks when you unzip for ventilation and people see you have nothing underneath it

But...but...don't you get any kind of irritation from the buckle???

 

[pedaling squares]

Strap to the left, or strap to the right? I am not usually faced with such a conundrum while dressing for the commute.

 

[Boeing]

compression clothing in addition to or apart from warmers depending on temps keeps the blood flowing and the muscles warm earlier and longer on cold days

expensive but worth it and made a big difference in my rides

I wear compression tights or calf socks and knee warmers with a heavier wind vest and a light thinsulite beanie

 

[boianchimoon]

But...but...don't you get any kind of irritation from the buckle???

it has to be so cold to wear the buffalo, that ur gonads have gone inboard
but seriously, the padding on your leggings stops any irratation from it

 

[veganrob]

I commute all winter. They are generally not bad at all in Indy, but have ridden -20F. Remember, it is all about the clothes. Layer. Balaclava. And for the real cold days, lobster gloves. I use the LG with glove liners under. Works. I also have the Northwave insulated shoes and wear booties over if needed.
I love riding in the winter. Gotta have the right clothes

 

[philcrisp]

either fit my current ride with fenders or put together a beater bike. Besides that, I'm not set on anything.

Beater bike, because you will end up leaving it covered in goodness knows what for eight or so hours on a regular basis.

 

[mulletCobra]

Beater bike, because you will end up leaving it covered in goodness knows what for eight or so hours on a regular basis.

That's what I figured. I'm taking an old six speed I have and trying to outfit it with new better working parts.