Calling Winter Commuters:

[CorsairMac]

OK, so here's a question (in a roundabout kind of way).

Pearl Izumi has a new women's short this winter. It's the Microsensor Thermal Short. A thermal short. I, of course, said. "Well, that's dumb. If it's cold enough to need thermal, then why wouldn't I just wear tights? Thermal with bare legs seems dumb." But, as was pointed out to me by my dear sweet man, my butt always seems to be very cold to the touch after a winter ride (even if I don't *feel* chilled).

So, now this thread has me wondering how many people would find this type of a short a useful product. (Useful enough to actually purchase, of course. ) Would you wear it with leg or knee warmers? Or layer wam tights over it to get extra thermal just on the buttocks?

What do you think? Useful? Hokey? You all kow I value your feedback greatly, so have at it! And thanks!

Susan

Need a tester??........I mean - someone who has a problem with cold tushie and would be willing to test these for my winter commute?? *wink wink nod nod*

[Cassandra_Cain]

Very novel thread here, I've enjoyed the varied responses.

I've never suffered from "ice-booty-ius"

My problems lie elsewhere...can you say numb hands and feet? yikes, now that's more where I have trouble

I probably wouldn't use a thermal short, since I would feel limited by it in the summer. I'm tending to buy jerseys/shorts that I can use year round and not just in the winter. Also layering is, for me, a pleasant alternative.

Some people might like the short though as has been mentioned in this thread.

[nuthatch]

Very novel thread here, I've enjoyed the varied responses.

I've never suffered from "ice-booty-ius"

My problems lie elsewhere...can you say numb hands and feet? yikes, now that's more where I have trouble

It feels like sitting in front of a campfire on a really cold night. Your whole front side (with the exception of the EVER cold hands) is warm, even sweaty and your backside, no matter how hard those glutes are working, is feeling icy. If only I could transplant some belly fat to the parts that need insulation when it's cold (or some enhancement? )!

The thermal shorts sound weird, I guess. The backside would be warmer but the crotch would get sweatier and it doesn't need to get sweatier in the freezing cold. That's why I don't think those thermal tights with the windproof panel in the crotch area would work for me either. I need to vent those areas.

What they need to make is a bolero for our bottom half!

I saw a jacket recently (maybe here on TE) with the greater protection in the arms and less in the core area. Now that makes sense to me - the core quickly gets hot and the arms never do.

[cherinyc]

I am bringing this thread up again - b/c even though I've gotten gung-ho, and layered up - gone on a ride in the (almost) cold...I was pretty frigin miserable.

Maybe you all can help (this will be my first cold season of cycling).
I listened to everyone's advice - and resourcefully - pulled out my snowboarding undergarments (translation:long underwear) out of storage (translation:under the bed) .
Wore the pants (though I was worried about the crotch seam) under my light chamois she beest shorts (both black, so not so ugly together) and then my L/S shirt under a sleeveless jersey.
Also wore a headband to cover my ears.
I thought I had it all covered, literally, but what I found was that my face was painfully frozen, and it hurt to breathe. The cold air in my lungs felt like razor blades and my nose was running so terribly, that even though I kept blowing it (I always ride with a cloth tucked in my jersey) I couldn't keep up. It made it that much harder to breathe through my nose, and it hurt to breathe through my mouth.
Am I doomed to ride indoors in temps lower than 60 degrees? I don't even think I can describe how painful it was. My eyes were even getting swollen and squinty.

Ladies, the temp was MAYBE 55 degrees. Not THAT cold. Is it something you get used to? If so - how long does it take? When I got home I was coughing badly, and getting that metallic taste in my mouth - so I don't really know how much more I could take.
(ok - all of you reading this can now loudly say it, in unison....WIMP!!!!)
that's me

[nuthatch]

Ladies, the temp was MAYBE 55 degrees. Not THAT cold. Is it something you get used to? If so - how long does it take? When I got home I was coughing badly, and getting that metallic taste in my mouth - so I don't really know how much more I could take.
(ok - all of you reading this can now loudly say it, in unison....WIMP!!!!)
that's me

Aw, that's terrible! Winter riding/commuting IS a totally different experience from summer. Its joys are hard-won. Pioneer grit is called for.

Yes, cold air hurts the lungs, noses run like faucets, toes go numb, hands can no longer shift and you STILL sweat! But it boils down to this.....it's better than riding inside (most days).

Try covering your face with a polypro balaclava to warm the air going into your lungs and slowing down to reduce windchill. Think about getting a cheap pair of ski goggles for your eyes. Don't be afraid of looking like the creature from the black lagoon

It does take some time to acclimatize yourself and adjust to the inconveniences. But on that perfect blue-sky day during January, you will be outside instead of on that danged trainer! Hang in there, super-commuter!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Cheri,
If by "long underwear for snowboarding" you mean some of those old style cotton blend waffle "thermal" underwear- then I'd say that is not a good choice.

Try investing in some baselayers made of 100% thin merino wool. Both SmartWool and Ibex brands are good examples. This stuff will be soft, keep you WARM, and yet be breathable. It also does not incubate body odor after one wearing like polyester and cotton does, so you can wear it 5 or 6 times before washing. You can wear the tops any time, not just for biking. They won't look weird like those goofy polyesther jerseys can.
Wear a longsleeve merino crew neck top underneath a turtleneck one- total toastee!

Also try a long warm tight over your biking shorts instead of the long underwear.
Some ski socks will go up to your knees either under or over your tights, and keep your lower leg and foot warm. Or try some leg warmers made for biking (tuck the tops UNDER your shorts legs).
Get a good neck gator in merino wool and you can pull it up over your mouth and it will not get soggy or cold as you breathe through it. Get a thin merino helmet liner (se TE's SmartWool version- I have it and it's perfect, and covers my ears as well!) to keep your head warm.

[nuthatch]

I totally second the recommendation of wool covering as much of yourself as possible. It's nature's wonder material.

[recycle613]

I like the Buff as a neck gator that I can pull up to cover chin and mouth as needed. I find breathing through it is real comfortable and it wicks the moisture or something. It's enough down to about 40 for me. Then I want warmer. They are also great to bring along when you aren't sure what you'll need. They do heads & ears or necks & chins and it's easy to wear 2 or 3 at a time if nec.

[cherinyc]

Cheri,
If by "long underwear for snowboarding" you mean some of those old style cotton blend waffle "thermal" underwear- then I'd say that is not a good choice.

oh no no no no no - I spend way too much time on my butt/back/knees while (learning) snowboarding still. No way would I wear cotton. BF is an 11 yr snowboarding veteran, and made sure I was well-equipped before I started.
This is what I have (and love). But in black. Very soft and comfy.
http://herroom.stores.yahoo.net/eli001-2301.html
http://herroom.stores.yahoo.net/eli001-2300.html

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

oh no no no no no - I spend way too much time on my butt/back/knees while (learning) snowboarding still. No way would I wear cotton. BF is an 11 yr snowboarding veteran, and made sure I was well-equipped before I started.
This is what I have (and love). But in black. Very soft and comfy.
http://herroom.stores.yahoo.net/eli001-2301.html
http://herroom.stores.yahoo.net/eli001-2300.html

Maybe soft and comfy, but if it's not keeping you nice and warm in 55 degrees weather I'm not too impressed. Try merino wool. I have some of the foillowing items, and in NY here my weather is similar to yours, and I've been peeling these babies OFF while riding, they're that good:
http://www.ibexwear.com/F06/View_Pro...&CategoryLine=
http://www.ibexwear.com/F06/View_Pro...&CategoryLine=
http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=19348
http://www.ibexwear.com/F06/View_Pro...&CategoryLine=
http://www.ibexwear.com/F06/View_Pro...&CategoryLine=
http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=21593