What to wear??

[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.

[Geonz]

Right this second www.steepandcheap.com has pink ski goggles up (for smaller faces which I have, but I arleady have goggles from when this happened last year, tho' they aren't pink).

[madscot13]

i guess one thing you can think about is that your body is actually warmed up when you are riding as compared to warming up. Minnesota winters can't compare to what you have but I would dress differnetly if I was biking for 1 mile versus 7. With 7 I wanted to be able to take off layers. Also I second googles in the cold weather especially if you have any downhills. I used to cry on the first slope!