Calling Winter Commuters:

[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

[cherinyc]

I'm sorry, I was probably not clear. My body was plenty warm. The clothes were fine. It was the places that I DIDN'T have clothes on that hurt. My face.
Breathing hurt me, because the air coming into my lungs was cold. I guess my issue is that, I thought I had taken care of all potential cold issues, and I hadn't. Something about riding my bike wearing a ski mask and goggles....just isn't appealing.
Though neither were bike shorts when I started.

Thanks for the links on the IBEX though. I am always looking for good base layers.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I get it now, Cheri.
Perhaps the thin neck gator pulled up over your mouth might help to warm your breath as it comes in. You might sew two gators together to make one tall one that can go up high.

If you do ever get the merino tops, I can tell you that the Ibex run just a bit smaller/skinnier than the SmartWool ones.

I wear glasses, and I do find that sometimes my eyes get cold in the downhill winds and they get teary. Usually in the beginning of my ride only so far. I expect more problems as it gets colder, especially since my frames are metal not plastic.
My nose always runs when I'm biking. I think it has to do with the wind as I ride. I've always found that it runs even MORE if I blow it. It seems to irritate my nose linings so they try to protect themselves with yet more mucus coatings. So I just sniffle it in and swallow (I figure it's already in there anyway!)

[Dianyla]

In mildly chilly temps I can get away with just a cotton buff or earwarmers, but when it starts getting windchappingly cold I switch to this Sugoi Balaclava. The fabric is somewhat smooth and silky feeling on the outside, and slightly fleecy on the inside. But it's not made of fleece per se, I find heavier fleece balaclavas to be great for cold weather camping (especially at night) but when I'm working and sweating they're too hot.