What to wear??

[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!

[helena]

Thanks for some great suggestions - I love the home made handwarmers! I'm trying to stay away from the hand and toe-warmers that you buy because they're not reusible and I'm a bit of an enviroment nut ...

Wool socks are definitely the way to go, footwear will become challenging in a month or so when it gets to around -20F since the cold weather sorel boots have such wide soles they don't fit on pedals .... am thinking of mukluks although they might even be too warm

Still looking for ways to keep my *** and legs warm though

I'm riding on the roads now, since I live outside city limits for the bike path plowing people I think, but the road is ok, believe it or not once it gets significantly below freezing the roads aren't so slippy any more because the thin layer of water that makes ice slidy can't form. Will just stick with plenty of lights and reflective strips

I'll post a photo when I get some good icicles on my eyelashes

[OakLeaf]

You might want to try some of the microwaveable hand and foot warmers also... not very green in the manufacture, but at least they're reusable.

I am in awe. I lived two years in North Dakota, so I know what 40 below is like... it's like, I never want to experience it again! You rock.

[invsblwmn]

i wear panoptix glasses from sierra trading post (foam eye cups keep the wind and cold out) and an underarmour mask with another full face mask over it under my helmet. a co worker said i looked like a misguided superhero in my winter biking "oufit." no skin left uncovered, only way to go.

[MomOnBike]

Nerdy science factoid of the day:

-40 is where Centigrade and Farenheit are cross. That is they are the same temp.

I've lived where it gets that cold, and I'd be worried about frostbite on the face. I miss good, honest cold - but that's a rant for another day.

Toe or foot-covers? Wear shoes that are a size or two large and several pair of socks? (I'm serious here) A plastic bag over each shoe to keep down wind infiltration? You'd make fashion model of the year with that!

[lph]

i wear panoptix glasses from sierra trading post (foam eye cups keep the wind and cold out) and an underarmour mask with another full face mask over it under my helmet. a co worker said i looked like a misguided superhero in my winter biking "oufit." no skin left uncovered, only way to go.

I think it was on bikejournal I read something like this:

"You haven't lived 'til you ride up next to a car waiting at an intersection wearing full winter gear, face mask and goggles, and hear the THWUNK of all the door locks in a large SUV engaging simultaneously." Still cracks me up

[RedCanny]

Helena, My hat's off to you. Wow. And I have no advice that hasn't been given. Other than: maybe you could try studded tires, to deal with the snowplow's ignorance of the bike lane.

What you wrote intrigues me:

...I have Pogies for my hands and my face...
Helena

Before your post, I'd never heard of pogies, but Google has enlightened me, and I think that may solve my cold fingers problem, on my commute. What brand do you use/where did you get them? I commute on a Trek hybrid, with wide/mostly straight bars.

[helena]

I'm trying ski goggles this year for my eyes, but they're only really necessary below -20F and it hasn't got that low yet, but I like the styrofoam idea - that won't get cold either

As for pogies - the ones I've seen are made mostly in Alaska, mine are Dogwood design and fit over my mountain bike even with the extra bull bars [I don't know what they're called but the bars that stick up vertically from the crossbar (for going uphill?)] and they're pretty roomy, otherwise Apocalypse Design http://www.akgear.com/hats-mitts.html make them too. I've seen homemade pogies made out of hoods from jackets... My hands get way too hot in them above -5C/25F so be warned

The studded tyres I have work really well for ice but for snow the wide rim wheels are better as they give a bigger surface area (and are mostly good for fluffy new snow) - the problem with the bike paths is that the snow has been packed down and is incredibly bumpy, they now need to scrape rather than plow

Cycling with in the dark and snow with the northern lights flickering overhead is incredible - I love it

[Pangie]

I noticed this thread's about a year old, but I was hoping Helena would be able to gives some feedback on how last winter went! I'm in Fargo, ND, don'chaknow, and I'm just starting to bike. There's really nowhere I go that's more than 1 mile away (mall, Target, grocery store, work) so I don't have a monster of a ride anywhere, but it's gonna be cold. I have a great hat, face mask, and gloves, and I think my boots will be good, but I'm wondering about a jacket and if I should be pulling out the ol' snow pants or something.