What to wear??

[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.

[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

[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!