No Bike or Frostbite?

[Fledgling]

If I don’t have winter biking gear, and I don’t have money to spend on winter biking gear, am I stuck inside all day? The temperature just dipped below twenty degrees Fahrenheit, and we got the nice surprise of a snow day off from school, and I absolutely cannot stand the thought of being trapped inside all day. I can’t just sit here and stare and my bike all winter! I’d go crazy. I have very few items of wicking clothing, but I’m desperate. Is there anything I can use to improvise until Christmas that will keep me from getting frostbite? Crazy Kansas weather… I was wearing shorts and a T-shirt Tuesday! I definitely want to bike this winter, it’s just that this season is requiring a bit more specialized clothing…

Any suggestions on improvisations? Maybe the only solution is to get a job (to support this habit of mine).

Thanks for reading my rant,
~Katlyn

[Crankin]

It is unhealthy to be exercising in such low temps without properly clothing yourself. There is a pretty high risk of hypothermia in the temperatures you are talking about, especially when you stop. You don't necessarily need biking specific wicking stuff, in fact, the under layers can be general wicking shirts that are less expensive. You need proper gloves, head covering, and a good solution to keep your feet warm (which tends to be different for everyone), and tights or leg warmers. You could go out in regular winter clothes (shirt, wool sweater) and pants, but you would be hot when you got going and the cotton of regular shirts would be chilling and leave you wet.
Try to find another winter activity you like until you can get the gear! Hiking, snow shoeing, x country skiing... all good aerobic activities, where the wind resistance isn't so high. I understand the having to be outside thing, but you do need to be safe. I know I sound like your mother, but I'm probably old enough to be your mother!

[sarahkonamojo]

We have 8" of snow on the ground. Road biking is out of the question. I did go for a run in the snow, slow.

You could do serious damage to your skin (frostbite) if you aren't properly protected. When I ride in freezing temps all skin is coverd and wrapped in fleece, windstopper goretex, and neoprene. The feet are the worst. I tend NOT to ride much below 25F. I'm considering getting a trainer, but most likely I'll just go skiing instead.

Winter! It allows us to have spring, summer, and fall.

sarah

[fixedgeargirl]

I'll do a road ride in the high 30s wrapped up in a thin base layer covered by a winter weight outer layer faced with wind proof fabric. My ears must be covered, hands might be in two layers, and it's really important to keep the wind off my neck. It's possible to tootle around the lake trail or neighborhood in less technical gear.

I tend to go for slower speed activities when the temps dip into the 20's. Wind chill is exponential, and I have enough borderline frostbite damage to my extremeties as it is . I, too, go bonkers having to stay in and miss my endorphin fix. I go running, and love to skate ski. Snow shoeing is good too .

[Cassandra_Cain]

For someone who is really, really cold-natured and from the tropics, I've surprised myself these past few weeks. Mainly by doing far better than ever before at riding in some genuine cold weather.

One weekend, I rode on a day where it was in the 20's with 25mph winds. Amazingly enough, I had to actually stop and remove layers. Ended up riding in a s/s jersey, arm warmers, shorts, and leg warmers, that's it.

The big caveat? I think you can ride in cold weather without wearing a large amount of clothes, but you have to be working very, very hard, like doing a long, hard climb. However, you do have to come down the mountain though, so that calls for serious cold-weather gear (aka that cool velo bella jacket I got ). In the flats or with variable terrain, I find it harder, but not impossible, to generate enough warmth without lots of layers.

Riding in deep snow is a whole other question. Not one I'd court on the road, though maybe on the MTB and a nice trail.

You could always get a trainer and ride the day away. Yes it costs money, but it is equally good for avoiding cold, rain, sleet, and darkness

[MomOnBike]

I think it's a myth that you absolutely must have technical gear to ride a bike. Humph! What you want is layers.

Ok, the nifty-difty stuff is pretty neat, but all you are trying to do is keep warm, after all. Wool sweaters from Goodwill work just fine, and won't kill a budget. Runner's wind pants with another layer underneath keep the legs warm enough.

One thing to absolutely remember is the old Mountain Man saying: "If your feet are cold, put on your hat." Really. Keep your head warm and the rest of you can deal with much colder temps. DH & I have been experimenting with helmet covers. I'm now a believer in helmet covers, along with a wool headband and something for the neck (buff or similar).

When the thermometer gets into frostbite territory, keep your skin (I'm thinking specifically about the face here)covered with something - I'm considering a dumb-old bandana for the bank-robber look on the way to work.

Keep in mind, though, I'm pretty immune to cold, so when I'm toasty-comfy, everyone around me is shivering. (must be all that insulation I've collected on my hips... )

[Geonz]

It absolutely doesn't have to be pricy for twenty degrees. Maybe for four. You do need layers, though. It's not going to be as nice and wicky and waht have you, but you can stay warm, especially if you aren't commuting to work (but even if you are).

Some tights - polyester or cotton, yes, cotton - with sweats on top do well until it's pretty cold; I add a layer of thermal undies under that when it gets colder. I have invested (from the closeout section :-)) in a couple of really warm wicking kinds of tights so when it's in the single digits (as it will be very soon here), I'll do the skinniest inner layer I've got, then the seriously wicking thick guys, then my thickest sweats.

Top is easier, at least for me. thermal undies,long-sleeve t-shirt, sweatshirt, and two jackets. I didn't even have a warm coat when I tried that; it was totally toasty. Now I've got my (hand-me-down, free) Goretex rain suit so I've been downright **comfortable** so far. (We'll seel when it's four again!)

Of course I cover everythign I can on my face but usually I end up easing up on that once my furnace gets going. Light socks under my orange socks might be in order soon and ... I just might have to do that under the duckboots 'cause that's the only reallye nclosed shoewear I've got. For my hands I have pretty good gloves - and when it's really, really, really cold I try to get in a couple minutes jump roping or on the trainer to reduce that time between getting out there and my furnace kicking in.

I'm also well insulated, though.

[Fledgling]

I love this site. It's like a big, pulsating brain of biking knowledge. All you have to do is ask and you get more information than you ever expected. Thanks for all the help, guys, I've got plenty of ideas now. I really really appreciate it. It's a relief to see the alternatives to the pricey (and cool) technical gear. Another snow day for us tomorrow... maybe I'll just make a trip to the Goodwill to look for LAYERS. I never thought about warming up beforehand, either. Neat-o...

~Kat.

[Blueberry]

Don't discount buying wicking base layers at stores like Target if goodwill doesn't have sufficient layers - I prefer to support local retailers (or not so local non-big box stores), but sometimes you can get great deals on pretty nice stuff. Usually in the lingerie department.

Good luck! You really can stay warm without spending a fortune!

[lph]

It's like a big, pulsating brain of biking knowledge. All you have to do is ask and you get more information than you ever expected.

I just loved that quote - "a big, pulsating brain of bike knowledge"