winter commuting necessities? (help me shop!)

[wolfak]

I like the PearlIzumi Calientoes toe covers for keeping the toes warm. I never graduated to full booties. I also used a pair of leg warmers, the knitted kind, not the fancy lycra ones to keep my legs warmer. For gloves, I move up to full-finger gloves, then my winter mittens - I still long for the fancy lobster claw gloves. And a scarf or some sort of means of warming the neck. And some sort of wind-proof upper garment. I go with a bright yellow vest.

[TahoeDirtGirl]

Great topic- I feel the crispness of Fall at night now here in Mass. Being as I think it's going to become my next change of address, and I've grown found of commuting (I have a goal of buying a pumpkin and strapping it to my rack on the back of my bike!) I figured I would ride as long as 'humanly possibly'. Minus mailbox incidences.

+1 on the skull cap. What little mtbing I did last year, the skull cap made me not realize how cold it was. I wore my leather Keens that I ride with and a pair of Bolgo (I can't remember how to spell it) running socks that are sooo nice. They are the grey ones, not the white ones. Even when my feet got wet they weren't really cold. I just bought whatever full coverage gloves I could find, nothing special, but I do put on a pair of the little stretch gloves sometimes under them. I have a balaclava and wore that a couple of times, but my big dilemma is the shell. I have not found a waterproof (or resistant for that matter)shell that I like or want to shell out (haha pun!) 150 bucks for. I guess I'm being cheap but to me, unless I know they are worth it I don't want to spend that much. If I could find that perfect shell with pit zips, a hood (is that common, the hood?) and the big pocket in the back. I would like a full zip but at this point, a pull over would work. A small pocket in the front would work too but most of all, it's gotta be BRIGHT!!!!!

And the lighte. I need a big a$$ brite lite on the back. I have the small catseye one for when I get stuck and need to ride in the dark for a short time, but I need a big one so people will see me. As far as the front, I've been looking at the Nightrider ones.

And of course, I'm buying a GPS for the road (Garmin NUVI 270-Costco has it for 189 instead of the 399 I've been seeing). I'm sure it's not water proof. But being lost in the cold would be the worst yet.

I already have the starbucks thermos for the water bottle cage. Don't forget that.

+1 on the hand warmers. Good idea on looking through my snowboard/winter stuff-I already have the layers, just need that 'perfect' shell that fits! Pearl Izumi is always too small. So they are out. Not sure about their mens stuff though...

[pardes]

Quick, someone lock me in my room. I'm emptying out my panniers to ride over to Eastern Mountain Sports store where they are having a 30% off sale on all Clearance items. They are holding a trillion dollar winter biking coat for me. Now it will only cost one third of a trillion dollars.

I haven't bought an item of clothing that cost more than $20 for decades. I tend to hastily dress in GRRanimal kinds of sportwear where everything matches everything so there are no decisions in the morning.

However, with biking accoutrement, the sky's the limit!

[lph]

Go! and have fun

come on, you didn't think anybody here was going to stop you from buying bike stuff didja

[Becky]

And the lighte. I need a big a$$ brite lite on the back. I have the small catseye one for when I get stuck and need to ride in the dark for a short time, but I need a big one so people will see me. As far as the front, I've been looking at the Nightrider ones.

I recommend the Planet Bike Superflash and the Cateye TL-1100 tail lights. BRIGHT! Like mind-numbingly so.

I have a NiteRider MiNewt that gets used during the lighter months. The purchase of a TriNewt for winter and night riding is imminent. I love LED lights, Li-ion batteries, and NiteRider's excellent customer service.

As for the shell, Performance was selling a men's Illuminite commuter shell last winter that might meet your needs- hood, pit zips, can't remember about the pocket in the back though. DH has one and likes it. I may try to find a men's small for me this year. EDIT: Found it- closeout from last year: http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...slisearch=true

[pardes]

I found two very good buys at Eastern Mountain Sports.

First is a wonderful winter coat for biking. One reviewer used it in Yellowstone for rock climbing and said he kept him warm in very cold, wet weather. Regularly $160, on clearance for $70.

Second is rain pants! Yippe, I've been searching for these. The only problem is that the inseam measurement is 34 inches. I'm VERY long-legged for being so short but these are about 3 inches too long. However, one reviewer claimed he like the too long lenght when riding a bike as they covered part of his shoes. Regularly $70 on clearance for $20.

I clocked 10 miles today but 7 of it was circling the store a dozen times looking for bargains. I was there so long with my bike parked inside the store that all the service techs came out to peruse it and offer compliments on it and cheer me on for biking. They are such sweet puppies there. I wanted to adopt them all.

And then the fun stuff....blinking reflectors. One to hang from my backpack and the long strip at the bottom of the backpack for a pants clip. It's much wider than typical pants clips AND it lights up and blinks.