winter commuting necessities? (help me shop!)

[Becky]

FWIW, I have no idea where to put this thread...."Commuting" seemed as good as anything else.

Last year, DH and I stopped commuting once it was dark going both ways. This year, we intend to get brighter lights and ride through the winter. It doesn't get super cold or snow much here, so this should be pretty feasible. Lows in the 20s or 30s are typical, unless we get a cold snap.

I have some winter gear from last winter...heavier tights, a cap, a balaclava, insulated gloves, and some mid-weight long-sleeve jerseys. What else do I need? Heavier gloves are definitely on the list due to chilly fingers, but what about toes that get cold very quickly? Do booties work, or are there better options? What about a jacket- insulated w/ windblocking panels, or something Goretex that can be layered? I tried my ski shell on the bike and with helmet last night, and it didn't work, so a jacket (beyond my spring/fall cycling windshell) is now at the top of the list.

What else am I forgetting? What products do you love and whole-heartedly recommend? Many thanks in advance for your help!

(Oh, and yes, I know it's only August, but I love fall so much. I was so excited to have to wear my arm and knee warmers on yesterday's commute to work :D)

[Aggie_Ama]

I am a total cold weather weenie.....

I like Smart Wool socks, use toe covers (they work). I have to have a jacket for at least wind stopping. We are in Texas so we don't see much cold, I only go to about 40.

[crazycanuck]

Umm, when you say cold, are we talking about -20C or 5C? (ya never know..:rolleyes:)

In terms of lights, we recently purchased Ayup lights (http://www.ayup.com.au/usa-shop-kits.html) and love them! We've used Cateye double shots etc but these things are bright & VERY VERY light!!! (i'll have to take some photos)

Long sleeved jerseys :) & something to cover your knees..

Since you mentioned we should help you shop...www.groundeffect.co.nz ( get an Ice Queen or a Ristroetto, Popsicle, Montezumas, Lucifers and some Zig Zags)

www.mec.ca-Cool Canuck co-op

[lph]

IMO temps just below freezing are great to ride in, mostly dry but not too cold. Great stuff.

I sweat a lot when I commute so I need thin clothing that dries fast but I try to cover "everything". Just around freezing I'd be wearing a doubled up Buff covering my ears underneath my helmet, another Buff around my neck to pull up or down, softshell jacket (Gore Phantom), sports bra, shortsleeved wicking layer, lined gloves (SixSixOne Watch gloves), shorts, PI Amfib tights, thin wool socks and winter shoes.

A bit colder I'd switch the Buff for a windproof skull cap, switch the short sleeved layer for a long-sleeved one, switch to PI lobster gloves and add a thin wicking layer on my legs as well, and add booties.

Getting dressed in winter is a hassle, but the riding can be great!

[Grog]

Remember to think out of the box too. I have learned great tricks from other commuters on this forum and others:

- If it's really cold (and possibly wet), no insulated gloves will work. Put on a few layers of thin gloves and a dishwashing glove (bigger than your usual size) on top to block the wind.

- If it's cold and wet, or even just really wet, no bootie will perfectly protect your foot from getting wet too. My husband and I have tried lots of them, including very expensive ones (for road riding, not for commuting though). Turns out that what the "hard core" people do (those who commute rain or shine all year and forever) is: a few layers of wool socks, a plastic bag... and sandals ON TOP of everything.

If you get a new jacket make sure it has pit zips so you can "ventilate" (especially if your commuting route is somewhat hilly).

If you need new lights, I would buy those RIGHT NOW because it's already starting to get dark later, and you never know when you'll need to stay later, be stuck with a flat tire or two, etc. I carry mine year round. Consider getting something that goes on your helmet (+ something that goes on the bike) and buying cool new reflective stickers to put... well, everywhere. :) THat's the fun part.

Speaking of flat tires: in the winter you don't want to have to patch a tube in the cold. Just replace it with a new one and fix the broken one in the warmth of your home.

I also love to ride in the winter, I have done it a lot (for training purposes) but this will be my first year commuting to work daily on my bike. I'm actually looking forward to cold, dark commutes. Please remind me this when December comes around!!

[sfa]

I'm looking for the same kind of information, so I'm interested to read the replies! I got caught out in the dark for the first time on Tuesday (evening meeting ran late) and all I had was my rear blinkie light, so headlights and reflective tape is top on my list.

Back in the old days I was one of the ones who wore plastic bags around my feet to keep them dry and relatively warm. It didn't work really well, but if you go that route, newspaper bags and bread loaf bags are the best. But personally, now that technology and my bank account have improved, I'm going to invest in good wool socks and toe covers or booties. I ride with regular shoes and toe clips, so I have some flexibility there for wearing warmer shoes as well (although I hate riding with really bulky shoes).

I'm also a fan of layering--I'm planning on wearing my spring/fall shell over layers of whatever people here recommend!

And if it's raining and below freezing? All bets are off. I'm taking the car. I'm happy to ride in the cold, but courting hypothermia isn't fun.

Sarah

[Blueberry]

Grog -

Have you guys tried seal skins? I've heard they work well with sandals (over, of course, wool socks...).

Just curious if they're a good option...

CA

[Becky]

Thanks for the ideas so far- keep 'em coming!

To answer a few questions:

We're talking 20s F (~ -5C) at the coldest.

Lights: I'm using a first-gen MiNewt right now and love it. I will probably buy a TriNewt in the near future. Oh, and I have reflective tape everywhere. I really like the stuff at www.lightweights.org.

Seal skins: Yep, use 'em (actually, I think I have Seirus socks) when I know that I won't warm enough to want to take them off. Love them, but would like something with a little more insulation.

LPH: Your product suggestions are exactly what I'm looking for. What winter shoes do you use? I'm considering those instead of booties- like I said, my piggies get cold *fast*.

Anyone familiar with the Pearl Izumi Octane hardshell jacket? I haven't been able to find the Gore Phantom yet.... EDIT: Found it, but this year's comes in dark gray :confused: :( The Gore Xenon is available in red...that might be a better commuting choice color-wise.

Thanks again!

[Geonz]

And if it's raining and below freezing? All bets are off. I'm taking the car. I'm happy to ride in the cold, but courting hypothermia isn't fun.

Sarah

Around here, if it's raining, it's generally not below freezing ... but it's the 35 and raining that is most chilly for me - IF I don't have the gear.

With the right gear, I'm not courting any more hypothermia than walking outside or driving in the car - my coldest has been 4 below and I arrived at work with warm hands and lots of energy :)

Necessities for me - layers. When it's bitter cold, also to do situps or something to get the blood flowing before I go outside, because otherwise there's this 5 minute painful gap between when the cold gets through the layers and when I'm working hard enough to generate the heat to beat back the cold.

Balaclava - I gotta have the ears and neck covered even if it's not very cold.

I *love* my Gore-tex bike suit - don't know if it's a necessity (it was a hand-me-down gift, 'cause I can't afford Gore-Tex).

Necessity - layers that don't constrict blood flow. Also washcloth & soap 'cause I tend to work harder & sweat more.

[Grog]

Haven't tried the Seal Skins yet, but I might get a pair depending on how my setup is working...

Note: the plastic bag technique does not really work if it's inside shoes, because then you really get wet (from the inside).

Toe covers are GREAT. I like them when it's not raining.

[GLC1968]

I also love using toe covers when it's cold. It's plenty of protection for my feet - even below freezing.

I'm going to have to re-think my winter commuting clothing myself. Now that I'm in a place where the biggest factor is RAIN, I've got some changes to make.


And sfa - I totally agree with not riding when it's below freezing and raining! That always threw me when we lived in NC - how is it possible? Do the laws of physics NOT apply in the south? I'd be driving in fairly heavy rain and the thermometer would say it was 29F. :confused: Huh?!

[Eden]

Up here in the PNW we tend to get a lot of rain, but not as much bitter cold so most of my suggestions are about keeping dry....

My feet tend to sweat, even when its cold out, so I've never been a fan of the plastic bag thing - I end up just as wet.... On the other hand, I love my winter Sidi shoes with a nice cushy pair of wool socks. Nothing will ever keep your feet perfectly dry, but the dedicated winter shoes come close. A couple things you do have to do - make sure your socks do not poke out over the top of the neoprene cuff - the water will travel right down your sock and into the shoe. Pull your tights well over the shoe - down as far as they will come - also directs water away from the cuff of the shoe. That setup will be virtually water proof for a few hours at least and windproof all of the time. The best thing - no holes that go all the way through the bottom, so no fountains of cold water hitting the soles of your feet - heavenly. On plain cold days you feet will never even know its not nice out.

One thing you will want if you will be riding in the rain at all is fenders. Full coverage if you can fit them, but even speed fenders can make a big difference. Be sure to extend them to protect yourself and anyone who might be riding behind you. A nice big flap on the front one will keep a lot of water and muck away from your feet in the first place! A nice big flap on the rear will keep same said muck out of the face of anyone who might ride behind you.

Another good investment is tough tires - choose your brand (conti gator skins, specialized armadillos etc), but get a pair that are made for adverse conditions and won't flat easily. You'll appreciate not standing around in the rain trying to change a flat with numb fingers.

[GLC1968]

Eden - that's very helpful about the shoes. Both H and I have been wondering how we were going to make this work in the rain (and he gets cold VERY easily). I'm going to suggest that we look into winter shoes! Thanks!

[Eden]

If you are doing long rides in the cold those little chemical heat packets are great too. My commute is barely long enough for them to warm up (about 25 min), but for long team rides they can be finger and toe savers.

You can even get rechargable, eco friendly ones at REI - they are of course a little more expensive in the first place, but can be reused more than enough times to negate that. I don't think they don't get quite as hot though. If you have money to burn..... you can get heated insoles from Sidi.. I'm pretty sure they run on a battery, but they are quite expensive.

[amy]

Umm, when you say cold, are we talking about -20C or 5C? (ya never know..:rolleyes:)

In terms of lights, we recently purchased Ayup lights (http://www.ayup.com.au/usa-shop-kits.html) and love them! We've used Cateye double shots etc but these things are bright & VERY VERY light!!! (i'll have to take some photos)

Long sleeved jerseys :) & something to cover your knees..

Since you mentioned we should help you shop...www.groundeffect.co.nz ( get an Ice Queen or a Ristroetto, Popsicle, Montezumas, Lucifers and some Zig Zags)

www.mec.ca-Cool Canuck co-op

WOW! I am so bad with cold. It's why I moved to California. But after seeing this shopping list, I'm excited to give it a try.

[sfa]

What about glasses? In good weather, I wear sunglasses pretty much all the time, but haven't thought about eyewear for cold/dark--I'm just thinking how much my eyes sting and water when they are whipped by the wind in the winter when I'm standing still and how much worse that would be on a bike. Any suggestions?

Sarah

[Becky]

What about glasses? In good weather, I wear sunglasses pretty much all the time, but haven't thought about eyewear for cold/dark--I'm just thinking how much my eyes sting and water when they are whipped by the wind in the winter when I'm standing still and how much worse that would be on a bike. Any suggestions?

Sarah

I wear a pair of $5 clear wraparound safety glasses from Home Depot for dark commutes. Cheap, easily replaced when scratched, and no constant switching of lenses in my interchangeable sunglasses- switching morning and night was making me crazy.

Orange--->brown photochromatic lenses for just about everything else.

[newfsmith]

A waterproof but breathable jacket, preferably with pit zips. I wore one of these for 6 of the 8 years I commuted.
http://www.bicycleclothing.com/Waterproof-Breathable-Rain-Jackets.html
Too warm for summer use, but an excellent fall, winter, spring jacket. It was roomy enough to put several layers underneath. I wore it down to -5F/-20C, all for a reasonable price. Their rain pants are too warm for anything but the slushing days, but they are great for that.

For chilly fall rains I used wool socks with water proof socks on top & SPD sandals, the sandals would be dry by the time I headed home. For winter riding I gave up my SPD pedals and used MTB platforms with mini toe baskets. I found that an ordinary pair of womens winter boots worked very well in the cold, giving good chill proofing of the ankles.

I carried a winter emergency pannier: a space blanket, toe warmer and hand warmer (Grabber Mycoal), an extra fleece, 2 pairs of dry wool socks, a spare pair of gloves, and my leather chopper mitts with heavy wool mitten liners. I went a little overboard because my commute was through a rural area. I also carried "Yak Trax" in my jacket pocket so that I could walk better on icy surfaces. The worst fall I took in 6 winters of riding was standing in the work parking lot after dismounting.

As for lighting, I was continually evolving. I believe in LED lights. My home-brew system had a car horn, 1W LED head light, and a 56 LED truck taillight. It was very noticeable, but even with lots of lights, drivers aren't expecting cyclists in the winter, so you have to be extra alert.

I would suggest you put your money in your lighting system. You probably have enough layers around the house to keep you warm. They don't have to be cycling specific if they are going to be covered with a jacket. Thrift store wool sweaters are fine.

[Geonz]

I got "squall" shoes from Lands End for reasonable price and they're amazing. No wet feet!

[lph]

Nope, you don't want the Xenon jacket. ;) I have it, and was a bit disappointed. It's brilliant red and looks really fast and stylish, but it has no pit zips, gets quite clammy but is still only windproof. The Phantom jacket is the one piece of bike clothing I've been most happy with, and I haven't even bought a real waterproof until now. Granted - I have got soaked a few times, especially as the water-resistance wore off. But new it was an excellent jacket and when it wears out I'll be looking for another softshell as my main winter item.

Gloves: the SixSixOne gloves I just bought on an off-chance, and they turned out to be cheap and just warm enough but quite breathable, so I got another pair. When I switch to the lobster gloves I sure am warm enough, but they're a bit sloppy and feel bulky. Not too pleased about them but they do do the job. In fact they do best when it's really cold so that I don't sweat in them at all.

Winter shoes: I rode several winters with my standard mtb shoes and shoe covers. Warm enough mostly, but a hassle to put on. I've also ridden with hiking boots but prefer to be clipped in. I came across some Shimano winter shoes on sale and picked them up but I don't know the model. The best thing is the high cuff and that they're quite stiff so that my toes don't get squished. And they lessen the wear on my regular shoes so I figure the net cost is the same.

I agree that you want good lighting!

I don't use any eyewear except sunglasses on very bright days, but I'm funny like that. I wear contacts, that may be a factor. When it starts getting cold out I'll rub a little vaseline or the like on exposed skin before I go out, especially under my eyes, it helps against the windchill.

[malkin]

I got some weather proof mittens last year at REI. I wear them over smartwool gloves and normal cycling gloves and my hands finally stayed warm. (Feb. in Salt Lake City)

[tulip]

I found that layering is very important, and being visible because of winter darkness. When it was really cold (in the 20sF) I wore an old cashmere cardigan as one of my layers. It was the best! It had holes in it and was no longer presentable as a regular sweater.

Also a skull cap under the helmet will help alot. I also was fine with two pairs of socks, one being wool. You might need to get some larger winter cycling shoes.

My favorite gloves for winter are Pearl Izumi Lobster gloves, but ski gloves are also quite warm and sometimes cheaper.

[Becky]

There are some awesome ideas here! These forums are such a great resource.

I went through my skiing and cycling stuff last night, and I have a fair amount of stuff already. I even found my yellow Illuminite wind shell, which should be perfect for cool commutes. (If you haven't tried Illuminite, check it out- it's so cool!) I did order some booties, gloves, and a soft shell. We'll see how far that gets me once the mercury dips.

[7rider]

I went through my skiing and cycling stuff last night, and I have a fair amount of stuff already.

I find that most of my skiing stuff slides over easily into cycling duty when the need arises, and vice versa.

[wolfak]

I like the PearlIzumi Calientoes toe covers for keeping the toes warm. I never graduated to full booties. I also used a pair of leg warmers, the knitted kind, not the fancy lycra ones to keep my legs warmer. For gloves, I move up to full-finger gloves, then my winter mittens - I still long for the fancy lobster claw gloves. And a scarf or some sort of means of warming the neck. And some sort of wind-proof upper garment. I go with a bright yellow vest. :)

[TahoeDirtGirl]

Great topic- I feel the crispness of Fall at night now here in Mass. Being as I think it's going to become my next change of address, and I've grown found of commuting (I have a goal of buying a pumpkin and strapping it to my rack on the back of my bike!) I figured I would ride as long as 'humanly possibly'. Minus mailbox incidences.

+1 on the skull cap. What little mtbing I did last year, the skull cap made me not realize how cold it was. I wore my leather Keens that I ride with and a pair of Bolgo (I can't remember how to spell it) running socks that are sooo nice. They are the grey ones, not the white ones. Even when my feet got wet they weren't really cold. I just bought whatever full coverage gloves I could find, nothing special, but I do put on a pair of the little stretch gloves sometimes under them. I have a balaclava and wore that a couple of times, but my big dilemma is the shell. I have not found a waterproof (or resistant for that matter)shell that I like or want to shell out (haha pun!) 150 bucks for. I guess I'm being cheap but to me, unless I know they are worth it I don't want to spend that much. If I could find that perfect shell with pit zips, a hood (is that common, the hood?) and the big pocket in the back. I would like a full zip but at this point, a pull over would work. A small pocket in the front would work too but most of all, it's gotta be BRIGHT!!!!!

And the lighte. I need a big a$$ brite lite on the back. I have the small catseye one for when I get stuck and need to ride in the dark for a short time, but I need a big one so people will see me. As far as the front, I've been looking at the Nightrider ones.

And of course, I'm buying a GPS for the road (Garmin NUVI 270-Costco has it for 189 instead of the 399 I've been seeing). I'm sure it's not water proof. But being lost in the cold would be the worst yet.

I already have the starbucks thermos for the water bottle cage. Don't forget that.

+1 on the hand warmers. Good idea on looking through my snowboard/winter stuff-I already have the layers, just need that 'perfect' shell :( that fits! Pearl Izumi is always too small. So they are out. Not sure about their mens stuff though...

[pardes]

Quick, someone lock me in my room. I'm emptying out my panniers to ride over to Eastern Mountain Sports store where they are having a 30% off sale on all Clearance items. They are holding a trillion dollar winter biking coat for me. Now it will only cost one third of a trillion dollars.

I haven't bought an item of clothing that cost more than $20 for decades. I tend to hastily dress in GRRanimal kinds of sportwear where everything matches everything so there are no decisions in the morning.

However, with biking accoutrement, the sky's the limit!

[lph]

Go! and have fun :D

come on, you didn't think anybody here was going to stop you from buying bike stuff didja ;)

[Becky]

And the lighte. I need a big a$$ brite lite on the back. I have the small catseye one for when I get stuck and need to ride in the dark for a short time, but I need a big one so people will see me. As far as the front, I've been looking at the Nightrider ones.

I recommend the Planet Bike Superflash and the Cateye TL-1100 tail lights. BRIGHT! Like mind-numbingly so.

I have a NiteRider MiNewt that gets used during the lighter months. The purchase of a TriNewt for winter and night riding is imminent. I love LED lights, Li-ion batteries, and NiteRider's excellent customer service.

As for the shell, Performance was selling a men's Illuminite commuter shell last winter that might meet your needs- hood, pit zips, can't remember about the pocket in the back though. DH has one and likes it. I may try to find a men's small for me this year. EDIT: Found it- closeout from last year: http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=24430&item=10-0271&slitrk=search&slisearch=true

[pardes]

I found two very good buys at Eastern Mountain Sports.

First is a wonderful winter coat for biking (http://www.ems.com/catalog/product_detail_square.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442593052). One reviewer used it in Yellowstone for rock climbing and said he kept him warm in very cold, wet weather. Regularly $160, on clearance for $70.

Second is rain pants (http://www.ems.com/catalog/product_detail_vertical.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442592923&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302889008)! Yippe, I've been searching for these. The only problem is that the inseam measurement is 34 inches. I'm VERY long-legged for being so short but these are about 3 inches too long. However, one reviewer claimed he like the too long lenght when riding a bike as they covered part of his shoes. Regularly $70 on clearance for $20.

I clocked 10 miles today but 7 of it was circling the store a dozen times looking for bargains. I was there so long with my bike parked inside the store that all the service techs came out to peruse it and offer compliments on it and cheer me on for biking. They are such sweet puppies there. I wanted to adopt them all.

And then the fun stuff....blinking reflectors. One to hang from my backpack and the long strip at the bottom of the backpack for a pants clip. It's much wider than typical pants clips AND it lights up and blinks.



http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t7/threedogwrite/Lighted-Backpack.jpg

[kfergos]

My top winter clothes:
1. Booties. I swear they are God's gift to winter cyclists. You can get away with booties + warm fuzzy socks + one lighter pair of inner socks down to into the 20s, especially if it's not rainy. Definitely buy booties. Just a warning: The velcro ones get un-velcro-y after a season of pulling on and off.
2. Three pairs of gloves. I wear normal fingerless gloves as a bottom layer, followed by a cheap pair of polar fleece fingered gloves (you can find them at Old Navy fairly cheap). I just do that if it's freezing or above. Much below freezing I add another pair of polar fleece gloves on top, usually a thicker pair with the grippy padding on the fingertips and palms.
3. Ear warmers of different weights. These in conjunction with a helmet keep my head plenty warm down to about 10F, which is the lowest I voluntarily ride in. I have super thick ones, medium-weight ones, and thin ones depending on the temperature.
4. Bellwether water-resistant pants. They have a water- and wind-resistant outer layer just on the tops of your thighs and front of your shins; the back part is breathable and flexible, which is nicer for riding than full GoreTex. They're also fuzzy inside and are excellent on their own for down to the high 30s or so. In mid-30s down to low 20s I wear those with a pair of long spandex as a middle layer and a pair of normal padded bike shorts as a bottom layer. The downside to this type of pants is that they let water in eventually when it's wet. However, I found that wearing all GoreTex (especially GoreTex pants) ends up feeling like wearing a rain fly despite their claims of excellent breathability, so you get all sweaty and wet inside anyway.
5. Breathable GoreTex jacket with armpit zippers. The armpit zippers are nice because you can get hot even riding in cold weather, and venting there lets you cool off easily without taking the whole thing off. I like my bike jacket because it has a "butt flap" that unbuttons to cover your posterior when it's really wet out.
6. Multiple thicknesses of long-sleeved shirts. I have a very thick warm Underarmor shirt I wear most days in the winter. If it's extra-cold I'll put on a lighter layer on top of that, and if it's super cold I'll do a third layer (but usually just the two + a jacket and my neon yellow vest keep me plenty warm). Long-sleeved jerseys aren't always the best for this because they don't work as well with jackets as I might like. I have three weights of shirts that I vary in combination together depending on the temperature, and that about does it for my upper body.

Bike accessories:
1. Bright front headlight. I just got a Light & Motion Vega, which is insanely bright, but has multiple brightness settings. It's fabulous. It takes very little time to charge up, and on the blinky mode lasts for something like 20 hours. I also have a smaller 3-LED PlanetBike front headlight just for blinking to get cars' attention.
2. Single-tube Down Low Glow (http://www.rockthebike.com/lights/downlowglow/singletube). This lights you up from the side so cars see you even if you're not head-on to them; it, too, is fairly dazzling. It's also very fun to use. :) One caveat: It had some trouble with corrosion after I used it all winter. I had to send it back and have them give me a new one. Also it takes all night to charge up, and it has a separate big battery you have to find a spot for on your bike.
3. PlanetBike SuperFlash. This is far and away the brightest blinky rear light I've ever seen. I use all three of these when it gets to riding in the dark all the time, and so far I've not had any mishaps.

So...um...I think that's just about it :D But if you want to talk more about riding in the winter, I've ridden all the way through two New England winters, so I'd be happy to give you more info if you want.

[redrhodie]

Buffs are great. You can wear them lots of ways. I use mine like a balaclava sometimes, as a beanie under my helmet, or as a neckwarmer.

[Becky]

Buffs are great. You can wear them lots of ways. I use mine like a balaclava sometimes, as a beanie under my helmet, or as a neckwarmer.

I just watched the "Original Buff" demo on the Buff webpage. Oh my gosh! I want one!