What to wear??

[helena]

I live in Fairbanks, Alaska, where it gets rather chilly over winter ... last winter I commuted every day to as low as -44, but I only had 2 miles to go. Now I live 6 miles away which takes me just under 30 minutes in the summer, but will be much longer in the winter when the snow falls and the oil freezes....

Any advice on what to wear? I have Pogies for my hands and my face and upper body are generally ok with a windproof shell and some wool thermals...but my toes in particular get cold, and so does my backside.

Are bibs the answer? Any in particular?

Helena

[Voodoo Sally]

! Girl, you're in a class by yourself! Seriously, I don't know how to dress for riding in such extreme cold. But the Iditabike racers probably know. I watched that on TV. Maybe there's a way you can find out what they wear.

Actually, I know something. The long-sleeved Craft undershirts come way down the butt, which I find keeps my butt pretty warm, when tucked into my tights. I wear some older models, in men's sizes. Don't know if the current models are the same long length. Neoprene booties work for me, but in your case, I'm thinking Sorel pac boots with cleats self-installed might work better.

[lisascenic]

I'll remind myself of your commute if I ever notice myself griping about being cold.

[pll]

Wow, my helmet off to you!

A long time ago I found this site, which has advice for really cold weather riding: http://www.icebike.org/

[Sheesh]

I went to college in Fairbanks, and though I know others commuted by bike all winter long, I never would have done that! You are truly amazing! I'm afraid I don't have any suggestions other than layers, layers, and more layers. I found that running apparel can be found on clearance for less than cycling apparel so I buy that and wear it as my base layer.

What about some wool boxers under shorts? Or, shorts under tights? You may already be doing that...

[Jenerator]

Have you been to Apocalypse Design to see what they could sew up for you for your feet?

[kfergos]

Wow. You truly are in a class all by yourself. I thought that I was pretty hardcore to ride in 10-degree weather last winter in Massachusetts, but after that I really couldn't take it. Kudos for sticking it out -- you are amazing!

Clothing-wise, I never found a good way to keep my feet from freezing, even in the teens. I talked to one guy who says he wears nylon toe-covers (inside his shoes, although these look like what he was talking about) that keep his feet really warm. I ended up wearing lots of pairs of thick socks. My butt always stays warm because I have a Timbuk2 bag that sits right there, so I'm afraid I can't help you there, except to say that lots of layers of pants have never gone amiss for me in the extreme cold.

[northstar]

I commuted every day to as low as -44

Holy Hannah! I think you should be writing the book on this one!

You, dear, are a trooper!

[cricketk]

I live in Fairbanks, Alaska, where it gets rather chilly over winter ... last winter I commuted every day to as low as -44, b

Dear God!

I turn into a whiny ***** about the cold at about 8 degrees celcius.

I expect over the daylight savings period this summer some commutes will be in around 40 degrees celcius.

I don't know how you folks who get both the hot and the cold cope with it.

[pinkychique]

Wow I am seriously impressed!!!

My only suggestion for your feet/hands is to get hand warmers, either the little packets that you can get from mountaineering stores, or, my mom and I have figured out that we can make small fabric cotton (make sure no synthetic fabrics as they tend to melt in the microwave) "pillows" about 2.5X3 inches filled with rice that you can put in the microwave and stick in your shoes(on top of your feet)/gloves for a reuseable warming method. That way you don't use up the 8 hour heat ones for just a 30 minute commute, at least that's about my commute, hopefully yours isn't longer than that

again, I'm amazingly impressed. I get cranky when it gets to 20 deg's out, but that's the desert for you.

[Geonz]

Coldest I've commuted is 2 below (F) for my seven miles. 44 below is so cold that it's a higher number than the same Celsius... wow

I brought hand warmers in case something happened and I had to be out longer or fix something. Haven't used 'em yet. Ski goggles and balaclava. Four layers was enough ... two pairs of socks and my "winter squall" shoes (I *think* - I might have worn my duckboots from LL Bean), but my hands and feet are *much* better than most folks' with cold. Gloves were some cannondale full-finger gloves with some novelty Christmas gloves on top.

I figured out that it takes between 7 and 11 minutes for my inner furnace to kick in, at which point I can usually keep the warm going out as fast as the cold is coming in (for that 35-40 minutes). Between the three minutes it takes for the cold to penetrate the 3-4 layers (thermal underwear, tights, sweats and my Gore-Tex rainsuit) and that kick-in my hands will hurt and I'll be cold, except when I've planned properly and do 7 or 8 minutes of something ferociously aerobic before I walk out the door, so the furnace is rolling already.

I have a big fat winter coat that I can't even find because it's just too warm for anything a bove zero if I'm riding, and here in sultry Illinois it doesn't get there that often during the day.

I was rather surprised at how cold I *didn't* get when riding. MOtorcycles... they're cold@!@@ But I didn't want to go without the hand warmers because at that temp it's physically dangerous to be out in it.

[DebW]

I have a friend who used to live in Fairbanks and biked through the winter. He said that when his feet got cold biking, he would get off the bike and run for awhile. That may be something that would only work for him.

[Tri Girl]

Everyone has said some great things, and I have nothing to add.
Just wanted to tell you that you're a monster stud. I didn't want to commute this week because the morning temp. was 39 F. Yes- I'm a cold weenie. Doesn't help that when it drops below 70F I get out blankets and pants.
You're amazing!!!

[invsblwmn]

1. you are NUTS!
2. i worship the ground you ride on

i love smart wool socks, maybe a couple pair for you, i wear neoprene toe covers over them, under my shoes, then neoprene booties. another six layers and you should be fine. for the legs i like under armour cold gear (two pair for you) then pearl gavia pants for the top layer you have to look like the michelin man but you gotta ride! wtg.

[RedCanny]

Helena, My hat's off to you. Wow. And I have no advice that hasn't been given. Other than: maybe you could try studded tires, to deal with the snowplow's ignorance of the bike lane.

What you wrote intrigues me:

...I have Pogies for my hands and my face...
Helena

Before your post, I'd never heard of pogies, but Google has enlightened me, and I think that may solve my cold fingers problem, on my commute. What brand do you use/where did you get them? I commute on a Trek hybrid, with wide/mostly straight bars.