recommended cold weather gear ?

[Geonz]

Layers

Wool and I do ***not*** get along. Coldest I've ridden in was 2 below... but I only have a 7 mile commute. Big thick socks and Lands End "Squall shoes" take care of my feet; two pairs of gloves on my hands. I also carry hadn warmers in case something happens and I have to fix something 'cause if I stop moving, numbness will happen at that temp.
What makes a big difference when it is truly cold is to warm up before I walk out the door. Two or three minutes of some kind of exercise means I get to skip that "window of numb" between when I leave the sort-of-warm house and when my internal furnace sends enough blood out to keep the hands warm. (After 10 minutes, my hands will be warm again.)
long undies, tights, looser long undies and sweats work downstairs; long undies, long-sleeve T-shirt, sweatshirt, and two jackets work upstairs.
balaclava over the delicate ears
SKi goggles if it's single digits (non fogging).


Oh, and yea, that outer jacket is Bright Yellow Gore-Tex. And I've got strings of Christmas lights.

I sold my car at the end of May. Last year I drove five times in the winter... but there is a bus system if I wimp out :-)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Layers
....balaclava over the delicate ears....

Yes, layers work well. I have TWO thin balaclavas that i have been known to double up on in really cold (below 30 F) rides.

I plan to try a new method this winter....the "Princess Leia Plan B" that I have invented myself:
Take two baclavas and warm them in the oven.
Insert them INSIDE your balaclava, one over each ear.
Ride in warm gooey comfort.
EAT the baclavas at the end of your ride.

[TsPoet]

I plan to try a new method this winter....the "Princess Leia Plan B" that I have invented myself:
Take two baclavas and warm them in the oven.
Insert them INSIDE your balaclava, one over each ear.
Ride in warm gooey comfort.
EAT the baclavas at the end of your ride.

I love it
And, if you have a dog, they can lick your ears once home to complete the warm gooey feeling and free yourself of the sticky.