Newbie lessons learned about biking in the approaching cold weather

[pardes]

1. Backpacks are fine until you wear a wonderful puffy insulated jacket (http://www.ems.com/catalog/product_detail_square.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442593052&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302889356) and then try to put on and take off a loaded backpack about six times a day.

THE SOLUTION: Switch to a messenger bag (http://www.amazon.com/JanSport-Elefunk-Metro-Messenger-Bubblegum/dp/B0007QCOEW/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1223426929&sr=8-1) that actually works MUCH better than the backpack ever did since everything sinks like a rock into a large bulge at the bottom of the backpack.

THE BONUS: The messenger bag is very light and stows neatly on the back rack above the panniers so I'm not lugging it on my back. It holds more than the backpack yet looks less bulky.

2. For some odd reason I like to listen to a rain shower tape on my Sansa Fuze 8 gig mp3 player. The sound of rain is very realistic and comforting. You can still hear approaching traffic or dogs about to eat the back of your heels and the sound of rain on a sunny day just sounds cool. Well that was all true in the summer when you were sweating off the liquids. However, in the winter, all it makes you do is want to pee and pee very badly and pee very soon.....and pee very frequently....

THE SOLUTION: Switch your mp3 player to listening to Prairie Home Companion Lake Wobegon podcasts (http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_detail.php?siteId=7495767) which makes you laugh instead of pee.

THE BONUS: A bicyclist passing by who is laughing hysterically is more unsettling to car drivers and thus you become very visible and they give you a very wide berthy for fear you are going to do something even more odd.

3. Bike headlights. You could take out a second mortgage and buy super duper headlights OR

THE SOLUTION: you could take a chance on an Amazon review and go for two of these (http://www.amazon.com/Blackburn-112282-Quadrant-Bicycle-Light/dp/B000BNTY2Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1223427122&sr=1-1). They look like jet engines mounted on thye bike; they mount EXTREMELY easily and are VERY adjustable. Also that have a rather strong blue light that focuses in a nice fat circle so with good positioning of two of them you can be very confident while riding in the suburbs where there is some ambient light. They ARE however not for speed demons but who rides reallllllly fast at night anyway?

THE BONUS: They draw more comments from people than anything I've put on my bike. I've had the most fascinating conversations with strangers that started with a question about the lights. There is something about conversations at night with strangers about bikes that has a totally different focus and reward than daytime conversations about biking.

We are currently running at temps in the 50's in Delaware so when it drops lower I'm sure there will be more newbie lessons to be learned about riding in cold weather.

[sfa]

LOL at the peeing comment! Maybe I should try one of those recordings as ambient music in the bathroom while potty training my son.

I'm a big fan of Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me (http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_detail.php?siteId=5183214)podcasts to keep me going on the treadmill. I think the other gym-goers think I'm nuts when I'm laughing out loud while running.

Sarah

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

We are currently running at temps in the 50's in Delaware so when it drops lower I'm sure there will be more newbie lessons to be learned about riding in cold weather.

Wool.

[redrhodie]

Wool.

and layering. many thin layers is better than a couple of thick ones, but I'm sure you already know that.

[pardes]

Wool.

allergic

[pardes]

[QUOTE=redrhodie;369740]and layering. many thin layers is better than a couple of thick ones, but I'm sure you already know that.[/QUOTE

Knowing it and knowing how to do it successfully are two different things. Since I can't stand wool in any form, I'm a microfiber person and have bought several very thin windpstopper things, thermal things and a luscious feeling rain-resistant jacket and a vest and ear muffs and windstopper pants for the wretched days.....oh and gloves and a neck gaiter and a beanie.....

Meanwhile I am in my glory in this wonderful fall temps, blue blue blue skies....and the aroma in the air of winesap apples.

[fastdogs]

pardes, when I was younger I was allergic to wool. Then I joined the army, in January '79, with basic training in Ft. Dix NJ. I was issued all the scratchy wool winter things- long johns in wool, gloves in wool, socks in wool, scarf in wool. Dress uniform in wool. Bunk blanket in wool.
I guess my body decided if it was to survive in the field in a bitter NJ winter, it would have to get along with wool. Prior to this, I would break out in hives if wool touched my skin. But I never had a single problem from it all through basic training, and I lived in those wool long johns. Since then, although I don't wear wool, I don't break out from it any more.
vickie

[pardes]

Wow, that wooly story is frightening. I can't imagine how you must have felt to see a mile high pile of wool to wear, be in, and around and you HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO DO IT! eeeeeks.

Amazing though that your body realigned itself into accepting wool.

Bodies are amazing things. I had a friend at Harvard who worked in a department where animal experimentation was going on. One by one, each of the workers all become deathly allergic to the animals they were working with and all left their jobs and then magically all of them were no longer allergic to the animals.

Doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure that one out. In that case, their bodies were much MUCH smarter than their brains.

But as for wool, I'm not in the military (much as I admire those who are) so I don't have to worry abut wool. It can live happily on someone else's body.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Pardes, are you really allergic to wool? I only ask this because 90% of people who say they are allergic to wool aren't really allergic, they just find it to be too itchy.
To those people I say they should try the newer washable style of wool that has become so popular nowadays- very fine fiber merino wool which is extremely soft and comfortable to wear. Some top brands include Smartwool, Ibex, and Icebreaker.
On the other hand, if you break out in hives and other real allergic reactions, then maybe you are truly allergic to wool- or to something in the wool that gave you hives.

[pardes]

Within just a few minutes I've scratched my skin raw whenever I tried to wear wool. I have experimented with merino wool and other newer upscale forms of wool, and they are soft but within seconds I can feel the itching begin and then I'm clawing at wherever it touches skin. Not a pretty picture.

I seem to have very sensitive skin and can't even use commercial brands of lotion or face soaps. Hypo-allergenic baby products all the way.

There MAY be other forms out there that would work but at 62 I don't want to spend any more time experimenting with wool. I'd rather experiment with new bikes, and cameras, and computers, and puppies, and such.

[redrhodie]

Knowing it and knowing how to do it successfully are two different things. [/QUOTE]

You want layering pieces that come off easily, and are not too heavy to carry if you do take them off, and don't add so much bulk you feel like the little brother in "A Christmas Story" who can't put his arms down in his snow suit. I like to wear a bolero as my outer layer when it's cold at the beginning of the ride. If I get too hot, it's easy to remove. It also fits nicely in my empty water bottle cage, so I don't have to stuff it in my jersey pocket.

A buff is also a good thing. You can wear it many ways, as a balaclava, a hat, a neck warmer. It's very versatile, and balls up to almost nothing when you take it off. You can even wrap it around your wrist to carry it if you take it off.

Instead of wool, you can wear super light microfiber base layers. I like the ones that have holes for your thumb to fit through, that keep the wind from blowing up your arms. If it gets warm, you can take your thumbs out of the holes and roll up the sleeves. I have some from EMS that I wear often. The fabric seems not of this world. When you wash it, it comes out of the water almost dry. It is a little freaky, but they really are very warm.

With layering, I have found that less is more. A few thin layers is the most you will ever need. Any more and you will roast.

[indigoiis]

Pardes, are you really allergic to wool? I only ask this because 90% of people who say they are allergic to wool aren't really allergic, they just find it to be too itchy.
To those people I say they should try the newer washable style of wool that has become so popular nowadays- very fine fiber merino wool which is extremely soft and comfortable to wear. Some top brands include Smartwool, Ibex, and Icebreaker.
On the other hand, if you break out in hives and other real allergic reactions, then maybe you are truly allergic to wool- or to something in the wool that gave you hives.

ALPACA wool is hypo-allergenic (no lanolin) and has very few secondary fibers, eliminating the "scratchy" feel.

It is also lightweight and strong!

And you can likely get it locally, as there are alpaca farms everywhere. And a lot of them carry US (and sometimes South American) made garments and socks that are warm, insulating, wicking, and soft. My favorite stuff comes from redmaplesportswear.com

Even though this sounds like a commercial, it isn't... I'm a farmer but I don't represent red maple - I just like their products!!! ;)

Anj

[indysteel]

One of the better cycling adages I've heard and generally stick to is "ride the temperature." Meaning, ride no more miles than the temperature that day. So, if it's 33 degrees, ride no more than 33 miles. I assume like most generalizations, it won't for everybody, but I still think it's a good rule of thumb.

I have some microfiber base layers that I like just as much as their wool counterparts. I get a lot of my winter gear at running, versus cycling shops, because they often have a better selection for women (plus, I run in the winter, too).

[SouthernBelle]

So if the temps are in the minus range, you should ride backwards! :eek:

[indysteel]

So if the temps are in the minus range, you should ride backwards! :eek:

LOL. That's what it sometimes feels like when I'm on my trainer in the middle of winter!

[crazycanuck]

Pardes, I don't know how much you want to spend & are willing to ship but Ground Effect stuff is pretty good. I don't know it it'll fit you but hey, check it out anyways.

In our fall/cooler months (not calling winter in Perth winter k..) it's 5c some mornings & i wear 3 layers to keep me toasty.

Anywho. http://www.groundeffect.co.nz/

THe Thermos, Ristroetto, Ice Queen & Frosty Boy are faves at our house.

I also have a MEC (www.mec.ca) Woosh Cycling jacket that goes well with armwarmers, a TE jersey & the Thermos. Snug as a bug on a rug :)

Happy shopping!

[jsdilks]

This last week had mornings a bit cooler than they've been, so I did the most logical thing and layered up. And up and up - I'm the original 0ne-who-gets-cold at the first sign. So I had on a pair of regular tights (like I wear all winter with all my clothes...), my bike tights, my bike shorts, a long sleeve wicking shirt of my DH's, my fleece Patagonia jacket, and the bright yellow Everyone-is-going-to-see-ME wind jacket. And the only gloves we could find were a pair of DH's golf gloves. I've GOT to do better than that. I felt like a little kid playing dress up with the fingers waggling about. BUT, the key piece here, is I was able to do the ride in to work ok. And we figured out where/how to stow the extra gear in the afternoon for the ride home when it's not quite so cool outside. So 50 degrees will be all right. Good to know. Oh, and I got to exchange the lenses on my sunglasses for the amber ones that worked better in the semi-darkness. It's very odd viewing the world as sort of orange-ish yellow. I can only imagine what I must have looked like. It took a long time to take it all off to take a shower at the office...:D

[pardes]

Pardes, I don't know how much you want to spend & are willing to ship but Ground Effect stuff is pretty good. I don't know it it'll fit you but hey, check it out anyways.

Thanks! Shipping charges are very reasonable!

I just may experiment with merino from this supplier. I appreciate the link.

[CommuterChick]

after reading this thread decided to go out for a ride in ystdy's icy drizzle, see how my layers held up. Report -- ls bike shirt, light ls fleece shirt, fleece vest, turtle fur neck gaiter under REI high viz jacket worked better than my Golite softshell under hi-viz jacket the night before. Tights over bike shorts were perfectly adequate. It was gray enuf ystdy that I decided the hi-viz was important. Only uncomfortable part was mile long downhill, with wind and drizzle hitting my cheeks. My triple glove rig worked great -- glove liners, then my fingerless bike gloves, then my windstopper gloves. I've used these in the past when I commuted when it was sooooo cold in the a.m. and the ride home was shorts and a T.

And my Polar Bottle (http://www.polarbottle.com/) did a GREAT job at keeping my tea warm, as I pedaled from open studio to open studio in the Boulder area's annual art event.

[pardes]

And my Polar Bottle (http://www.polarbottle.com/) did a GREAT job at keeping my tea warm, as I pedaled from open studio to open studio in the Boulder area's annual art event.

You are SO RIGHT about the polar bottles. I bought 2 with my new Trek from Bikeline back in July and it was astonishing how long they kept ice/water cold. It saved my life more than once.

My only complaint with them is that the pop-up top really restricts how much liquid is released at one time. Probably good for when you are riding and drinking at the same time; but very annoying when I want a BIG slug of coffee or tea or water.

[Becky]

My only complaint with them is that the pop-up top really restricts how much liquid is released at one time. Probably good for when you are riding and drinking at the same time; but very annoying when I want a BIG slug of coffee or tea or water.

The Camelbak Podium bottle lids will fit on Polar bottles and allow copious beverage flow :D

[pardes]

The Camelbak Podium bottle lids will fit on Polar bottles and allow copious beverage flow :D

This is very good to know....is there a local distributor?

It's astonishing the things you learn on TE.

[Becky]

This is very good to know....is there a local distributor?


I've seen them at Performance, EMS, and BikeLine.

FWIW, I adore the Podium bottles, and am slowly replacing my massive bottle collection with them.

[lovelylibrarian]

THE SOLUTION: you could take a chance on an Amazon review and go for two of these (http://www.amazon.com/Blackburn-112282-Quadrant-Bicycle-Light/dp/B000BNTY2Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1223427122&sr=1-1). They look like jet engines mounted on thye bike; they mount EXTREMELY easily and are VERY adjustable. Also that have a rather strong blue light that focuses in a nice fat circle so with good positioning of two of them you can be very confident while riding in the suburbs where there is some ambient light. They ARE however not for speed demons but who rides reallllllly fast at night anyway?

THE BONUS: They draw more comments from people than anything I've put on my bike. I've had the most fascinating conversations with strangers that started with a question about the lights. There is something about conversations at night with strangers about bikes that has a totally different focus and reward than daytime conversations about biking.


Pardes, those lights are COOL. I'd love to see a picture of your bike with the lights on it.

[fidlfreek]

So lights. I need some since even here in TX it gets dark at some point. I ride almost entirely because I LOVE to go fast so I know that influences my light choices. Any ideas?

I'd love to get a good deal on ebay etc. I would like to spend less than $100 but would spring for $200 if it was too fabulous to pass up.

[pardes]

I checked out lights at PerformanceBike from cheap to low range expensive (up to $300) and I was not impressed with any of them. Actually many of the more expensive models weren't as bright as the quandrant lights I bought.

If you want to go fast at night you'll need something better. Darn it, I can't remember the link but I did a search on "bicycle light pattern comparison" and found a group of mtb'ers who did a very nice real world study with photo examples. It was surprising how many were terrible even at expensive prices and the really good ones were REALLY expensive.

Here are a few links:

http://eddys.com/page.cfm?PageID=493

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/headlights.asp

http://reviews.mtbr.com/blog/category/lights-shootout/

[crazycanuck]

I still say the best lights i've ever owned are the Ay-ups!!!

http://www.ayup.com.au/

They are BRIGHT, small & light. Great as helmet lights!!

[SouthernBelle]

The other night I closed myself up in a dark garage to see how bright some of my lights looked. My blinkies looked good. My headlight was the pits. Oddly, a strap on my head light I got at Harbor Freight for cheap seemed really good. I haven't had to use in real conditions yet, but that should happen in the next week or so.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Sometimes I go camping in big gatherings of music-connected friends.
This past summer, some people had taken to using LED lights that strap on their heads so they don't have to carry flashlights at night walking around- they just point their heads where they want the light, like on the path in front of them.
The trouble is, when they see someone else in the dark and want to try to see who it is, they naturally look at them, blinding that person in the process.
I can't tell you how many times I was temporarily blinded by someone looking at me and aiming these intense LED beams at my face- it's highly annoying! They are WAY more concentrated than traditional lights.
One woman had a head light on for the first evening of camping and so many people got mad from being blinded that she had to take it off for the rest of the weekend.
As cyclists, do we really want to be shining these intense LED lights into the eyes of approaching drivers? :confused: Remember, when you look at the car, you are basically aiming these lights right into the driver's eyes. These LED lights are very intense and bright.
For this reason I am against forward facing helmet LEDs. Red blinking lights are fine and do not have this problem. But red lights are recommended as rear facing lights only, since most car drivers assume a red light is rear-facing and moving away, not towards.
I suspect people get these strong narrow-beam LED lights because they are cheaper than a well designed headlight. But cars can see good bike headlights that light up the road in a wide swath in front of the biker. That's what headlights are supposed to do, not perform laser surgery on approaching drivers' eyes. :eek: :mad:
Thus, if you do use a steady white LED light as a forward facing light, please make sure it is pointing at the road in front of you- not up at approaching drivers' eyes.

[Crankin]

That's exactly what I did, Lisa. I pointed my headlamp on my helmet (really just a hiker's light like you are describing) all the way down at the road. It even unfolds so you can flip it down to do this. Then, I pointed my light on my bars as far down and out on the road as I could. I doubt I blinded anyone and it helped me to see.
Looks like it will be raining tomorrow, so i doubt I will be commuting to the train. One night of dark and rain was enough for me last time...

[SouthernBelle]

My headlight adjusts that way too. Actually, any of my lights are more for the purpose of being seen than seeing. My commute is completely on well-lit streets unless I decide to take a tiny of section on unlit bike path.

[Geonz]

I got a Fenix light (http://www.batteryjunction.com/fenix-l2d-q5.html) and "twofish" clamp (http://www.batteryjunction.com/twofish-cycloblocks.html)for my bikes that don't have the dynamo that's on my regular commuter. It is super-duper bright, so yes, I aim it down.

I took it out with me the night it arrived 'cause I had an errand that meant a mile or two out in the country. Oh, my, did it come in handy. Three times cars came at me with *their* brights - and usually I have to pull off as they approach. I just "flicked my brights" - just a wave in their general direction, from half a mile away - and the lights dimmed right away for 2/3... took three flicks for the third. (I do *not* want a blind driver aimed at me so I'd have pulled off anyway, not tried again as it got close...)

[malkin]

I got this light:
http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodFS_XLT35000.html

Haven't tried it yet.

[pardes]

Pardes Winter Update.

Let's just say I over-reacted a bit this morning. There have been threatening newscasts all weekend that Monday would be a killer cold morning. Freezing temps.

So, I broke out the EMS Belay Jacket, pedaled a few blocks and saw the error of my ways. It was 46 degrees but not nearly cold enough for the Belay since there was no wind and I don't generate much wind going 6 miles an hour. :D

On the other hand, I didn't swelter, and by unzipping it, it was a pleasant ride to the bus stop. Of course, the bus never arrived and I had to wait an hour for the next bus but that's another story.

[wackyjacky1]

Yeah...it was 65 degrees for my ride to work this morning...85 for my ride home. Sometimes ya just gotta love South Texas. :D

I've been using a Planet Bike 1-watt Blaze headlight. I used to have the 1/2-watt, but it didn't throw out quite enough light. The 1-watt light is perfect for me, plus I like how sleek and compact it is.

[fastdogs]

malkin- do you think that light would work mountain biking? I thought about a light on my bike and one on my helmet. I don't mtb at night normally, but especially with winter coming on I'd like to be prepared in case I get the opportunity, or simply end up out on a trail later than I expected.
vickie

[malkin]

I chickened out this morning, and was also late, and remembered errands and so I didn't ride. I'll post after I ride with that light. And besides--it was COLD out there!

Update on mittens:
My mittens are marked OR, which I think is the same as the liner gloves that I found marked ORgear.com (which I assume belong to my husband--or else, who left their stinkin' liner gloves here?!). For future, I recommend washing all of these winter items before placing them in sealed plastic containers for the summer months.
*gag*
Fortunately there is still enough sun to take care of that little odor problem. (no wonder the cat was so interested in that closet!)

[obie]

I like a fleece vest for commuting - my torso gets hot easily and if I overheat there I either end up sweaty (which later gives me a chill) or cranky. But with a vest, once it's unzipped, for me it might as well not be there.

[pardes]

Even though it's only 46 degrees today which isn't that cold, it was 85 only a few days ago so the sudden drop feels colder especially with the wind we've had for the past two days. In a few weeks everyone will acclimate but now I hear a lot of weather whining.

I have a feeling that I'll be wearing my EMS rain pants in the morning to block the cold air since I haven't had much luck finding reasonably priced tights to wear under my slacks.

I did just fine with the jacket and a micro fleece vest under it as well as ear muffs but the morning cold wind made my cheeks hurt so I'm looking into something for that. You speedy beavers out there awe me a little because the wind factor is multiplied many times at higher speeds and it must feel frigid if not properly dressed.

When you are dressed properly it is actually pleasant to ride a bike plus those who are never adequately dressed who are walking or zipping out to their cars always think we are such heroes for riding a bike in cold weather. I gave up telling them that there is no such thing as bad weather, just inadequate clothing.

[fastdogs]

I used my arm warmers for the first time today (got them used from here), they are great. I had a heavy coat that I wore to work, but wanted to go mountain biking after work. I had on a t shirt, and just slipped on the arm warmers and stayed nice and warm- they were perfect when a coat would have been too much.
vickie

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I did just fine with the jacket and a micro fleece vest under it as well as ear muffs but the morning cold wind made my cheeks hurt so I'm looking into something for that. You speedy beavers out there awe me a little because the wind factor is multiplied many times at higher speeds and it must feel frigid if not properly dressed.

If it's cold enough for your cheeks to hurt, you might want to consider a thin silky balaclava- they are very versatile. Here's what I wrote about mine:
balaclava (http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showpost.php?p=371961&postcount=23)

[GeoCam]

If it's cold enough for your cheeks to hurt, you might want to consider a thin silky balaclava- they are very versatile.

Lisa,

I've read your posts about that balaclava before, and I am going to get one. I just got some winter gloves, too, so the only problem area I have left is my feet. I think you are one who does not use clipless pedals, so I am curious about what you wear in cold weather. A hiking type of boot? I have never bought that kind of footwear in my life, so suggestions would be most welcome as to brands or even styles. I do have a wide foot, so that might limit my choices, especially if I want to layer socks as well.

[Cataboo]

Bodies are amazing things. I had a friend at Harvard who worked in a department where animal experimentation was going on. One by one, each of the workers all become deathly allergic to the animals they were working with and all left their jobs and then magically all of them were no longer allergic to the animals.

Doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure that one out. In that case, their bodies were much MUCH smarter than their brains.

But as for wool, I'm not in the military (much as I admire those who are) so I don't have to worry abut wool. It can live happily on someone else's body.


Not really relevant to the discussion, however having worked in labs with mice & rats - basically almost everyone that works with them becomes allergic to them. It's the combination of their urine and the bedding, it's a pretty potent allergen and gets kicked up in the air. It is pretty common that people have to end their mouse working careers because of allergies. I'm allergic to both without having ever touched either with my bare hands. I'm fine with dogs still, but I'm mildly allergic to cats now (I didn't use to be). I'm also allergic to mouse saliva (have only been bitten twice) and cat saliva seems to be what triggers most of my issues with cats.

I'm not sure which animals the people at Harvard are working with - but if it's mice or rats, I'm fairly certain they don't run into those much in their daily life nor inhale their dander. I do have issues if I'm near someone's pet rat.


Back on topic -

I have a lot of wool, it's been kind of irking me for cold weather riding because it sort of absorbs moisture when I sweat. So I stop riding or pause, and all of a sudden I'm absolutely freezing because I'm wearing moist wool. No, I'm not layering too much - usually I've just got a sports bra and maybe a 260 weight icebreaker over that with a zip neck. The sweat's usually related to exertion. My main sweat areas are around the sports bra and underneath my camelbak, so I may need to swithc to riding without that and use waterbottles or something.

Other alternatives to wool that I've found that works well in the cold:
REI windtracker cycling tights
Marmot driclime pants (and jacket)
Patagonia windtracker (I could have just thrown myself off with this description)
REI mistral pants (sort of a light weight softshell pants that often go on sale at REI)
REI mistral jacket & I have this half zip pullover from REI that's the same fabric.
Sporthill shirts.
Arc'teryx squamish windshell (very light weight & cuts the wind, I know marmot has a similar jacket)
Arc'teryx switchback shirt & pants


Not so many of those are cycling specific.

[Cataboo]

Tramdock.com has some helly hansen prowool tights up currently - polyester inner layer, merino wool outerlayer.

Those may work for some of you allergic folks.

And they're hot pink. What's not to like?

[bmccasland]

back to wet wool - I've gone head over teakettle into a raceway at a trout hatchery, in November (icy cold water, snow on the ground). :o So long as there was no breeze, the wet wool did keep me warm. Fortunately, the hatchery manager was sympathetic, took mercy on me, brought some sweats and another sweater, and hauled my wet stuff off to the dryer so I could get my work done without catching my death of cold.

So with an outter windproof layer, wet wool will keep you warm, after you ring it out. :rolleyes: But I much prefer DRY clothes. :D

On the other hand, Pardes said she's allergic to wool, so all this is absolutely MOOT! Moot, I say. Which leads us back to Catriona's suggestions.

[OakLeaf]

I have a lot of wool, it's been kind of irking me for cold weather riding because it sort of absorbs moisture when I sweat. So I stop riding or pause, and all of a sudden I'm absolutely freezing because I'm wearing moist wool.

That really doesn't sound like wool behavior. What wool is well known for is being warm even when wet, which is why it's favored by sailors and sweaty athletes.

Is your gear 100% wool, or is it a wool blend? Even 70% is enough to keep my things warm and dry, and I sweat a LOT.

[pardes]

back to wet wool - I've gone head over teakettle into a raceway at a trout hatchery, in November (icy cold water, snow on the ground).

Now THAT is a challenging job.


On the other hand, Pardes said she's allergic to wool, so all this is absolutely MOOT! Moot, I say. Which leads us back to Catriona's suggestions.

"...absolutely MOOT! Moot, I say." That was very funny.

With all the great suggestions here, I found some great microfleece alternatives and just ordered a balaclava (that is a weird word, if you ask me) and I found some decent tights and for good measure a couple of neck gaiters (one or a hat, one for the neck if the balaclava doesn't work). So BRING on the cold weather!

[Cataboo]

That really doesn't sound like wool behavior. What wool is well known for is being warm even when wet, which is why it's favored by sailors and sweaty athletes.

Is your gear 100% wool, or is it a wool blend? Even 70% is enough to keep my things warm and dry, and I sweat a LOT.

My wool's 100% merino wool - icebreaker 260 weight. The bras are patagonia sports bras, also wicking. I was biking in ibex or smartwool short sleeve tops this summer, and I was definitely making them moist as well. Apparently, if you sweat a lot, I must sweat absolute buckets.

As long as I'm moving I'm fine, when I stop, the wind blows through it, I lose the warmth of exertion and wet wool sucks.

Wearing a camelbak on my back pretty much ensures that sweat gets trapped back there.

I've been using some pullover REI softshell top that I bought a few years back and it's working better than the wool does for me. It unzips down to my navel, so I can adjust the amount of ventilation I'm getting as I'm riding.

It's sort of sad because I've been doing away with most of my wicking stuff the last few years and stocking up on wool... And now I'm bringing all my synthetic wicking stuff back into circulation. But this is the first year I've biked this much, previously just used my wool for kayaking, camping, and skiing. Or to wear around and be blissful in my wool luciousness.

[SouthernBelle]

I think with wool and the cold, layers are the key. You need a baselayer to wick and outer layers to protect.

I also think that if you are standing still long enough, you'll get chilled.

Sometimes after a longer ride, I'll get home and be hungry so I won't change right away. I get chilled from the sweat even though I'm in my warm house.

Brrr. Winter.

[bmccasland]

I've gone head over teakettle into a raceway at a trout hatchery, in November (icy cold water, snow on the ground). :o


Now THAT is a challenging job.

Not really. Start with permanent vertigo. Have all your attention on the lovely rainbow trout swimming in the raceway that you need to catch, reach over with your dip-net, and discover that it's deeper than your thought ... sooo reach, reach, reach.
And fall in.

At least the water was fairly deep, so I didn't get hurt. Fish raceways are not exactly designed to be diving pools.:o

[Geonz]

Dumping into a trout hatchery, indeed! I'm impressed!!!

I'm much *less* allergic to cats than I was when I came out here. I shared a house with them, but kept them in other rooms, adn every time one came near me ... welp, sometimes I'd just have to pet the critter, and then I'd go wash my hands.
You know, I didn't so much as catch a cold for two full years. However, the allergies abated and so did the habit, and my immune system returned to "above average." Note to self: It's October. Pretend you're petting cats again!! (Leaving room to wash hands)

I'm still allergic to wool... and down... and pretty much anything from an animal if it's *next* to my skin.

I just splurged on a jacket from Cheepa nd Steep earlier today. I hope it gets here before Monday when we'll have a hard freeze - but I never did find my parka wehn I moved and found that wearing two jackets worked even better. I figure if I'm wearing five layers, I look like Michelin Mama but road rash will avoid me, and when spring comes people are sure I've lost 15 pounds!

[pardes]

Not really. Start with permanent vertigo. Have all your attention on the lovely rainbow trout swimming in the raceway that you need to catch, reach over with your dip-net, and discover that it's deeper than your thought ... sooo reach, reach, reach. And fall in.

Don't care, I'm still impressed. First of all rainbow trout are beautiful to behold and I think you still agree with that.....and I understand what you mean about the vertigo of rushing water. As a kid I used to watch rainbow trout in a creek and was always amazed at the disorienting feeling of concentrating on one object within a moving background. I always thought it was magic.


...wehn I moved and found that wearing two jackets worked even better. I figure if I'm wearing five layers, I look like Michelin Mama but road rash will avoid me, and when spring comes people are sure I've lost 15 pounds!

I agree. I was thinking it could even be useful to put my thin windbreaker somewhere in the middle to really block the wind. The experimenting is fun! And you are right, they will think we've lost hundreds of pounds in the spring when we stop wearing so many layers!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I never did find my parka wehn I moved and found that wearing two jackets worked even better. I figure if I'm wearing five layers, I look like Michelin Mama but road rash will avoid me, and when spring comes people are sure I've lost 15 pounds!



I was thinking it could even be useful to put my thin windbreaker somewhere in the middle to really block the wind. The experimenting is fun! And you are right, they will think we've lost hundreds of pounds in the spring when we stop wearing so many layers!

Hey you two, don't forget to pack a patch kit and a pump, in case your 'cocoons' blow a hole somewhere! :eek: ;) :D7663

[pardes]

Oh GAWD, now every time I'm wearing sixteen layered jackets, I'll see a MIchelin man...er woman in my head ready to blow a flat. :eek::eek:

Surely everyone here remembers getting bundled up in a snowsuit by your mother so tightly that you couldn't move and looked like an astronaut who couldn't move their arms or legs and just bounced around.

God love our mothers.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Oh GAWD, now every time I'm wearing sixteen layered jackets, I'll see a MIchelin man...er woman in my head ready to blow a flat. :eek::eek:

Ha ha! :D Make sure you put out that cigar, too.


Surely everyone here remembers getting bundled up in a snowsuit by your mother so tightly that you couldn't move and looked like an astronaut who couldn't move their arms or legs and just bounced around.


I was the one in ripped Salvation Army jackets and cotton pants with the sleeves and legs way too short, my wrists and sneakers getting full of snow. Snowsuit?- not in my world. :cool:
Now I'm grown up and I'm thrilled to have wonderful warm clothes. Merino......droooool....
All my life I froze and hated winter. Now I love it and love being out in it walking, biking, and snowshoeing. :)

[TahoeDirtGirl]

After a challenging day, nothing is better than firing up the laptop and seeing the Michelin man on a bike smokin a stogie. HAHA. He is now my wallpaper.

About wool...I have wool socks and a wool 'flimsy' shirt. This ls shirt is very thin, but it keeps you so warm. I never realized that I should be looking at more wool things because if that insulation power of the flimsy shirt says anything...

Pardes-have you checked sierratradingpost.com for leggings, etc? One of the best places to find wool stuff. I got the flimsy shirt from their store in Reno. Boy do I miss going in there!!!

[Biciclista]

I was the one in ripped Salvation Army jackets and cotton pants with the sleeves and legs way too short, my wrists and sneakers getting full of snow. Snowsuit?- not in my world. :cool::)

Yeah, remember how it felt when some grownup took your rubber rain boots off your frozen feet and started rubbing them hard to "get the circulation moving again" ?
we were little, we didn't have good snow wear, but we sure wanted to go out and play!
and then when all our clothes were wet, we couldn't go out anymore; and had to watch the OTHER kids playing in our snow fort.

[pardes]

Lisa, so sorry about the bad old days. I had my share too but they didn't involve not having warm enough clothes, they were the kind you don't talk about because you are too ashamed and then you end up a warped adult and THEN start talking about it to iron the million warps out of your psyche. Finally.

Yes, I know what you mean about the joy of being able to dress warmly after being cold due to someone else's "oversight." In my case, I had surgery for a brain tumor in 1994 which was a grand success. The only exception was the fact that it totally screwed up my thermostat and I bought more coats and jackets and warm fuzzy things to wear than I bought in my combined 49 years that I had been alive before that. I'm not quite so cold-blooded now but I still buy more coats than I'll ever wear out. I think I must still be compensating for that first year after surgery when I could NEVER get warm no matter what I wore.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I'm not quite so cold-blooded now but I still buy more coats than I'll ever wear out. I think I must still be compensating for that first year after surgery when I could NEVER get warm no matter what I wore.

I think when the body is under stress it has a harder time keeping itself warm, since some energy is funneled off to healing particular areas. Great that your surgery was such a success!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

After a challenging day, nothing is better than firing up the laptop and seeing the Michelin man on a bike smokin a stogie. HAHA. He is now my wallpaper.

Then you'll like this one too :D :
http://www.cyclofiend.com/Images/misc/camelad.jpg

[sgtiger]

You left out this one:
http://www.bicycle-gifts.com/jpg/q45.jpg

[SouthernBelle]

That's really a super domestique.

[sfa]

Yeah, remember how it felt when some grownup took your rubber rain boots off your frozen feet and started rubbing them hard to "get the circulation moving again" ?
we were little, we didn't have good snow wear, but we sure wanted to go out and play!
and then when all our clothes were wet, we couldn't go out anymore; and had to watch the OTHER kids playing in our snow fort.


Anyone else have parents put plastic bags around their feet underneath regular shoes when it snowed? I was one of six kids and snow boots weren't a big priority for my parents--I think they figured that if you didn't fit a pair of available boots now, you'd grow into a hand me down pair eventually! But I remember having maybe four pairs of boots for all six kids, so you'd stick your feet in plastic bread bags held up with rubber bands and then play in your sneakers. It didn't work very well, but it was better than nothing.

Years later, when bike touring, I tried the same technique to keep my feet dry in the rain. It didn't work very well then either.

Sarah

[Tuckervill]

We did that, too, Sarah. Our boots, if we had them, always had holes in them after the first few walks to school.

Karen

[Tuckervill]

We did that, too, Sarah. Our boots, if we had them, always had holes in them after the first few walks to school. The kind you pulled over your shoes and buckled, and then you had to pull your shoe all the way off and struggle the shoe out in the cloak closet so you could go in the classroom.

Karen

[Grog]

I have put plastic bags in my shoes for running, not for cycling. But I guess it would work.

[lph]

I remember growing up with no winter hats, or elderly bobble winter hats that I wouldn't be caught dead in at school, a thin autumn jacket that I wore all winter, and yep, pastic bags in my shoes or folded newspaper to add to the soles. And I remember going to one skiing class and being so cold I could hardly move. My parents weren't really stingy or poor, just clueless about how to dress well in winter to actually do something outside, not just survive moving from door to door, and they were very big on non-consumerism, jumble sales and recycling everything. Which is fine when you're an adult and can make your own decisions about what you want to wear, a little harder for a 14 yr old in the 80's.

My son has the most functional winter clothing I can lay my hands on. And nothing expensive or high-fashion, but clothes that no-one will ever point out don't fit in.

Pardon the hijack, this sort of hit a nerve :o

[xeney]

This is not really my discussion since I live in California, after all, but thank you for making me feel a little less ridiculous about my kid's winter wardrobe, lph. I have a bunch of friends with babies the same age who are already planning all the indoor activities they'll need to keep their toddlers occupied all winter, while I am thinking, dude, this is Sacramento. Sometimes we have a rain and wind storm bad enough to keep us inside all day. Sometimes it freezes. Sometimes it's foggy and gross. But except in the worst of the windstorms, you can go outside. And I am not raising a hothouse flower here.

So she has itty bitty base layers, a fantastic fleece jacket from REI that allows her to move her arms and play, another Smartwool hat (we learned how great that was last year -- I could take her out in the pouring rain and the hat sheds water so well that only her face would get wet, which she LOVED), gloves and plenty of Smartwool socks. She hated being inside when it was hot and smoky all summer, so I have no plans to stay indoors all winter. That is why we pay exorbitant housing prices, for pete's sake, so we can bike and hike and run around all winter.

And for when it's actually cold, I still have my Mamacoat (http://www.japaneseweekend.com/mamacoat_trade_p/05-7036-082blk.htm). Nothing like extra body heat to keep everybody warm. Won't work for cycling, though!

[Crankin]

I can't imagine staying inside all winter...
Those moms must have never played in the woods. But, seriously, I can't imagine not having boots or a winter coat in New England. I had a lot of wool as a kid!

[pardes]

So she has itty bitty base layers,

That line, "itty bitty base layers," just CRACKS me up every time I read it. Please PLEASE post some photos of these itty bitty base layers.

Do you remember the scene in "Three Men and a Baby," where they took the baby to a construction site in a tiny tiny hardhat. Same idea, it just makes you smile and smile.

[xeney]

I will, if it ever drops below 80 degrees here!

[beccaB]

I will, if it ever drops below 80 degrees here!



That's not nice to brag!:rolleyes:

[pardes]

EEEKS! Forecast for tonight in Newark and tomorrow's bike commute: 39 degrees, rain, wind! I'm breaking out the CuddlDuds and rain pants!

[Cataboo]

I can't say we were deprived or anything as kids, there were 5 of us, so we just tended to wear all the clothing we owned in the snow or cold - so my parents definitely had layering down!

There were a few sizes of snow boots and if you didn't fit those, then there were a couple of pairs of knee high mens galoshes that we'd use.

We weren't particularly cold - but I definitely can stay warmer layering with smarter better clothing choices now.

I keep trying to give my Mother some nice fleece jackets, rain coats, or wool and she always refuses.... So now if I want to give her something like that, I wear them a couple of times, and then I'll sort a bag of clothes to donate to goodwill or the church.... I then give my Mom the bag of clothes and tell her that I want to donate it and she should check if she wants anything out of the bag....

So she of course then takes the nice jackets or whatever, and gives me hell for being so decadent that I was going to give away such nice jackets or clothing...

And a while later I'll hear all about how could i have tried to give away such a warm or waterproof jacket and all about how great it is... And am I sure I don't want it back?

She's cute.

[lph]

That line, "itty bitty base layers," just CRACKS me up every time I read it. Please PLEASE post some photos of these itty bitty base layers.

There's a Norwegian brand called Janus that makes inexpensive but functional merino wool underwear for kids. My son has literally spent every winter since he was born encased in first a navy blue wool "bodysuit", then a navy blue polo sweater. He hasn't started wearing it yet, but once he does he won't take it off until spring :)

Oh - and great lateral thinking, Catriona!