Dealing with winter

For me the wet is a problem (as in cold & wet at the same time often make me decide not to ride), but I do try to ride through the entire year. I haven't managed riding in temps below 20 F / -6 C yet though.

There is a discussion from earlier this winter that centered around what to wear on those cold days. Take a look at http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=4757, I think you'll find some helpful hints there (from a clothing standpoint, at least - won't help with the desire or lack of desire to go ride in nasty weather conditions!)

--- Denise

I am with Denise, on cold and wet. That will keep me indoors. But I will brave the cold. Layers on all parts of body. Preferably layers that will breathe and not get too damp with sweat. Pay particular attention to hands and feet. As extremities, they tend to get cold the quickest.

As to motivation, you can tell yourself you'll go for at least a short ride then see how you feel. Usually, you'll have warmed up enough and feel good enough to go farther. Choose a route you enjoy. Plan a nice warm treat for yourself when you get home. Think of how good you feel when you're done! :D And don't overdo it - you don't need to do huge distances at this time of year. Save that for the nicer weather, unless you are training for something specific. And then THAT would be your motivation. Anyway, get out there and have fun and enjoy being a bike rider.

annie

I may be a wimp but my threshold for cycling is around 42-45oF, SUNNY and no wind. Well "reasonable" wind conditions. Must have two of the 3 conditions to venture out. And after being cooped up inside the last 2-3 weeks, I am riding tomorrow even if the wind is forecast to incude gusts to 35! Might be a short ride..... :)

How can I not ride, that's the question here in the midwest where there are so few truly excellent days for riding. If I don't go, then I'm couped up inside. That's usually enough to get me aboard for trip downtown to work and a likely stop the coffee shop.

I put chemical heat packs under my shoe covers, wear wind blocking tights, somtimes with another polar fleece type layer. 3 layers on top: thin, longsleeve undershirt for wicking, wool, then a highly breathable cycling jacket. Mittens with chemical warmers. Sunglasses, or ski goggles if really cold. face cover, ear covers, and helmet. Feel like a space alien, but I do have the trail to myself and I'm out and about.

I guess it's more about feeling good for having done it than the pleasure of actually doing it? I don't know, I just love it.

The other thing I do when it's really cold, is not get more than 5-10 minutes away from someplace to warm up if need be. That way, if my feet go or whatever, I have options.

Happy riding!

One of the things I have learned is that I wear a heavier fleece layer on my cold & wet rides because I have a "breathable" water proof layer on my top. Even though it has vents front & a cape back vent & full pitzips it still traps sweat and can feel clammy quicker. It bothers me more on my torso than legs. Although I hate to wear rain pants, some days they just can't be avoided. Without them my water proof socks get full of water which is pretty icky. On cold and dry days I can wear a more breathable jacket with a wind front and can get away with a lighter mid layer. I always wear Cool-max as my base layer because I have a lot of it that I got cheap. I have 1 wool cycling jersey that I like for the cold-dry days, but for commuting it tends not to dry enough for the return trip home on cold-wet days. If I give my polarfleece a hard shake in the morning most of the sweat shakes out and it is bone-dry by evening. I only wear wool socks and just routinely bring a dry pair for the ride home. It is not unusual for me to look more heavily dressed in the spring and fall than in the dead of winter.

Thanks for the help, I'll go out and get some good base layers tomorrow I think. It was a very cold windy day today and I saw a cycling club out and about, I couldn't help but envy them! I also bought my first SPDs so hopefully I'll be warm and clipless on tomorrow's ride :)

Well I got 20 miles in but the WIND! Yikes! It was really getting to me. Then it got cloudy, and with 25-35 mph winds it got pretty chilly. Felt great to be back on bike after 4 wks off due to weather. :)

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Originally Posted by sydney_b

...I put chemical heat packs under my shoe covers...

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where can you get those? i've heard of them, when i used to manage a football team years ago we had them. what sort of cost is involved? (i imagine it's not that much?)

~roxanne

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Originally Posted by ardent_cyclist

where can you get those?
~roxanne

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I get mine at REI.
Go to http://www.rei.com and search for Heat Treat.

I imagine that you should be able to find them at ski shops in addition to stores that sell outdoor equipment / sporting goods.

--- Denise

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Originally Posted by ardent_cyclist

where can you get those?

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My mom picked up an industrial sized quantity at the area Walmart and shared them with me. Worked out to be around a dollar and some change for 6 packets. They work for 6 hours and if you shake 'em up you can get gentle heat after that.

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Originally Posted by JoHunter

Living in Britain usually means that the roads are favourable for cycling but the weather may have other ideas. How do those of us who are able to cycle in winter manage it? I have a real hard time trying to motivate myself to go out when it's cold/rainy/windy and I don't have much idea of how to stay warm. I really want to go out on a good long ride this weekend but I'm not sure if I'll be able to manage it (physically and mentally). What do you wear when winter cycling and how do you psyche yourself up?

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I'm a bike commuter so I don't see myself getting to work any other way. Because of that - I don't ride much on my offtime during the winters. As for psyche'ng myself - I know I'll feel better once I'm on the bike and my days always seems a little "spritelier" for having ridden and if it's too cold, there's always hot coffee at the end of my ride! ;)

Ah, the joys of the British winter!

I cycle year round but I only really cycle on the roads to commute in winter, I prefer riding offroad in the winter (well at any time really). I have cut my commute to one or two days a week - its a thirty six mile round trip, about an hour each way and can get unpleasant if its really wet. I don't have any drying facilities at work which is about the only thing that really puts me off commuting in heavy rain.

I wear slightly different sets of clothes for commuting and MTBing as the windchill on my knees tends to be greater on the road as I'm travelling faster.

In terms of keeping warm the best thing is to keep moving, it very rarely gets really cold in the UK (though stuck on top of an open moor in howling gale and horizontal rain it can really feel it!). This year I have commuted in about -7 (C) windchill and I was boiling by the time I got to work.

For commuting on the road at the moment (as its done at the coldest part of the day):

Merino wool top (Howies or GroundEffect), Cycling Shorts, Tights with windproof panels on knees and shins (GroundEffect Daddy longlegs), normal technical socks, normal cycling shoes, thick pair of Adidas neoprene overshoes, waterproof jacket (Altura Nevis), Altura Shield Gloves (one of the best bits of kit I have ever bought), a buff round my neck and one on my head (just ordinary buffs). I've worn this all winter and generally arrive at work really warm and toasty if a little sweaty due to the waterproof, its not the most breathable in the world. This is for an hour each way, for a longer ride/MTB I would swap the shoes/overshoes for my MTB goretex boots with wool socks and thicker tights. I also tend not to wear a waterproof when MTBing as I just boil its usually a windproof.

In terms of motivation to get out I find that its best just to set a time and get out there. In the morning I tend to get up and dressed in my cycling kit without looking outside at the weather once I'm up I tend to just get on with it. I do the same with running - just get out, its usually, but not always, better than you think it will be. The only thing that would really stop me is very strong winds, especially on the road. I had a very frightening experience a couple of weeks ago, I battled to work against a very strong headwind happy that it would blow me home. It got stronger during the day (30mph +) and on the way home it was actually a bit of a crosswind, blew me along really fast but was also trying to blow me off the bike (kept catching the front wheel), luckily I was on my old heavy hack MTB, if I'd been on the light roadie I would have been off. I don't think I have ever been so scared on a bike. I don't do strong wind at the moment (or ice).

Like several of the others, I cannot make myself go out in wet + cold, but I can deal with cold and even cold + some wind. I stay comfortable if my fingers, ears, and feet are toasty. I use a fleece headband-type thing around my ears, just under the edge of my helmet. For Christmas the DH got me a wonderful pair of shoe covers (from TE, I believe)--full boot shape. They have made a huge difference. Under those, I also have on wool cycling socks over thin ski sock liners. (I hate being cold.) My feet stay pretty toasty. I need a better pair of gloves for 45 F or less days, but usually my hands start out cold and then warm up as I start working hard. You don't need as much on your torso as you might think, as long as you have a good windbreaker on. Sometimes I end up with too much up there, because once I start pedaling, my top stays really warm (usually Smart Wool under layer, long-sleeve jersey, and windbreaker for me). But I deal with heat much better than cold. Next winter season I plan to invest in warmer gloves and a balaclava.

Have learned that good gear is the key to comfortable/enjoyable riding in winter. There's no substitute really for good technical gear and once you get over the initial shock at the price, you begin to realise that often you get what you pay for.
I've wasted so much money over the years trying to cut corners and buy a cheaper version of this or that, only to relegate it to the back of the wardrobe because it didn't do the job, and go out and buy that hideously expensive waterproof jacket anyway!
The only weather that really stops me riding in winter are gales and snow/ice.
Had a couple of very nasty accidents on sheet ice last winter (bombed down my drive thinking the road was wet, only to find out the "shiny stuff" was, in fact, smooth, skating rink ice! Owww!) No matter how carefully you try and ride on ice, it'll bring you down at some point or another and I've had injuries that took several months to mend because of it.
Snow is slightly better, but I hate the stuff because invariably there's ice hiding there underneath it, so I'd rather cut my losses and leave my bike in the garage until it clears.
Give me rain and cold any day - at least you can dry off and warm up!

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Originally Posted by tattiefritter

Altura Shield Gloves (one of the best bits of kit I have ever bought

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Tattie (cute name, btw!) - my old Altura gloves (not Shields) have seen better days and I'm going to replace them when I'm back in the UK - are the Shields breathable, do they make your hands hot after prolonged riding (say, all day club rides?).

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Originally Posted by SnappyPix

I've wasted so much money over the years trying to cut corners and buy a cheaper version of this or that, only to relegate it to the back of the wardrobe because it didn't do the job, and go out and buy that hideously expensive waterproof jacket anyway!

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This is so true! I'm a born cheapskate and always go for what's on sale. Sometimes it doesn't matter, but when it's cold outside...that expensive stuff is expensive for a reason - it actually works! I've got a "back of the closet" section too. :mad:

They do get pretty warm and they are "supposed" to be breathable, but they struggle when it gets warm or you are working really hard. They are a bit like ski gloves with a bit of insulation and a waterproof/windproof insert. I suffer from very cold hands so they are a godsend to me and one of my essential winter bits of kit along with my buffs, goretex boots and duvet jacket/windproof ear flap hat (for after the ride). In the colder months from end November - March, I find I wear them a lot, for commuting, night riding and MTB day rides, almost every ride in fact. When it warms up a bit, until about beginning of May, I will carry them with me on most rides in case it gets cold enough to put them on.

On long winter MTB day rides I'll take another less insulated but windproof pair of gloves with me as it can sometimes warm up quite a bit in the course of the day but they are there if it cools down again. On the road you may find them a bit warm as you will generally be moving faster (though windchill will be much greater) a second less warm pair of gloves may be useful for less baltic or still days. Though they are a little bulky I had no problem operating my STI levers with them.

I can't praise them enough as they keep my cold hands really warm. I bought these last year and this year's purchase of goretex boots has sorted my feet out (warm toasty feet - I never thought it was possible) I have been much happier doing winter riding.

If you tend to have warm hands they will be too much on all but the coldest days. If you have are like me and have fingers that freeze at the mere mention of the word windchill then they'll probably be really useful.

Thanks for the info Tattie,

I suffer from Raynauds quite badly in winter, so overheating of my hands isn't usually a problem! I often have to bash them against the handlebars in a vain attempt to get the blood running to the fingers, but usually they're just numb, white and painful.
For commuting I often wear PI Lobster Gloves in really cold weather, but do find them quite bulky and not the most dexterous of gloves!

Do you cold weather riders get your insulation right before you leave home, or do you have to stop one or more times to adjust as you warm up? Personally, I'd rather start out warm enough to be comfortable at the beginning and then stop and adjust later than freeze at the beginning and hope I warm up. But I've always been a fan of the strip stop while hiking too.

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Originally Posted by DebW

But I've always been a fan of the strip stop while hiking too.

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Deb is there something you'd like to tell us. :D Sounds like my kind of hiking!

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Originally Posted by DebW

Do you cold weather riders get your insulation right before you leave home, or do you have to stop one or more times to adjust as you warm up? Personally, I'd rather start out warm enough to be comfortable at the beginning and then stop and adjust later than freeze at the beginning and hope I warm up. But I've always been a fan of the strip stop while hiking too.

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Depends on the ride - my bike commute is only 6 miles one way and downhill going to work so I'd Much rather start warm! It seems if I get cold or start cold, I'm not on the bike long enough to ever really get warmed up. My commute home is up a mountain so I always have to remember that and what direction the wind is blowing from and then try to dress a little cooler so I don't overheat going home. (course I have Yet to overheat in any temp under 40 degrees! LOL)

Today, I set out looking like the abominable snowman and my husband raised an eyebrow - being a cryptic guy, that was all he was going to say about me being overdressed. I was swimming in sweat by the time I got to work six miles later!

Once you start sweating, if it's really cold it's hard to stop and remove anything because that sweat will chill you down in a hurry. You can't evaporate before you begin to freeze (I just HATE that cold trickle!) Of course, this is moot if your kit really wicks well but it seems like some nooks and crannies are able to avoid direct contact with fabric.

Yesterday I did it right and was cold starting out and okay after about a mile. I never broke a sweat the whole ride (going turtle rate). I guess I would reluctantly advise starting out cold and not having to remove anything along the way because of the sweat factor (unless you're good at stripping really fast before you reach the sweat threshold!) ;)

My ride starts downhill, so it's really miserable if I'm underdressed or not prepared for wind. I usually warm up about 20 minutes into the ride and stop to remove a layer. Surlygirl, I'm not really an exhibitionist on public roads (but if you hiked with me you might occassionally get an eyeful).

When it's cold out, I dress for the temperature and not for how I think I'm going to feel several miles down the road. I'd rather stop and shed some layers than risk being cold.

--- Denise

I have another positive vote for those Altura shield gloves. When out buying this cold weather kit I spotted them. I have ridiculously small hands so buying gloves is a nightmare, the small womens are a pretty good fit though (besides the pinky which is a knuckle or two too long for me). They are very warm indeed and totally cut through the wind. They allow for quite a deal of dexterity. The gel padding is a very nice touch, particularly at that thumb gusset. All in all I'm glad I spent the money on them, I had been tempted to buy Windstopper velo gloves but these fit much better and I'll inevitably use them while out and about as well.

I managed my first ride out in the cold the other day and it was great, I felt warm and it was nice to get out on the first good day we've had in a while. Some things that I'm saving up for now are the De Marchi Contour Windproof Jacket :p and some proper cycling tights.

I just had to share my experience of cold weather exercise after reading some of the other comments on this page.....

From years of experience hiking and skiing in Norwegian mountains, I have learned that to stay warm and comfortable and avoid hypothermia or frostbite the best option is as follows:

1. Dress warm so you are comfortable from the start. And wear lots of layers, with thermal underware nearest your skin, then wool (as many layers as needed to stay warm) then something windproof as an outer shell.

2. Start to shed layers as you warm up to regulate temperature.

3. Always (!) carry a dry set of thermal underware (top and bottom) to change into when you stop or get very sweaty. As soon as you stop moving, that sweat will cause you to freeze instantly no matter how many layers you wear on top. Quickly change into a dry undershirt and then put the wool layers back on top.

And I would strongly suggest carrying a dry change of undershirt even if you don't plan on stopping. You never know what might happen along the way. And always at least carry enough clothing to bundle up so you are comfortably warm without peddaling fast. Again, you never know what might happen along the way. I am speaking from experience here. I have survived skitrips, including long lunchbreaks, in -35C and been comfortably warm the whole way. It's a bit chilly when you strip off the sweaty top, but feels soooo nice and warm when you put a dry one on and layers of wool back on top.

Just had to share.....

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Originally Posted by uk elephant

I have survived skitrips, including long lunchbreaks, in -35C and been comfortably warm the whole way. It's a bit chilly when you strip off the sweaty top, but feels soooo nice and warm when you put a dry one on and layers of wool back on top.

Just had to share.....

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WOW! Now that's REAL cold-weather survival!!

We've been having a bit of a cold snap up here in Yorkshire, and while it's only about 2 degrees C it's been absolutely gorgeous today, too nice NOT to go cycling. I'm happy to say I was very comfortable wearing my layers and gloves, even with the wind. Of course a nice warm drink when I get home as well. On days like this it makes you happy you're a cyclist I think :D