Newbie lessons learned about biking in the approaching cold weather

[pardes]

back to wet wool - I've gone head over teakettle into a raceway at a trout hatchery, in November (icy cold water, snow on the ground).

Now THAT is a challenging job.

On the other hand, Pardes said she's allergic to wool, so all this is absolutely MOOT! Moot, I say. Which leads us back to Catriona's suggestions.

"...absolutely MOOT! Moot, I say." That was very funny.

With all the great suggestions here, I found some great microfleece alternatives and just ordered a balaclava (that is a weird word, if you ask me) and I found some decent tights and for good measure a couple of neck gaiters (one or a hat, one for the neck if the balaclava doesn't work). So BRING on the cold weather!

[bmccasland]

I've gone head over teakettle into a raceway at a trout hatchery, in November (icy cold water, snow on the ground).

Now THAT is a challenging job.

Not really. Start with permanent vertigo. Have all your attention on the lovely rainbow trout swimming in the raceway that you need to catch, reach over with your dip-net, and discover that it's deeper than your thought ... sooo reach, reach, reach.
And fall in.

At least the water was fairly deep, so I didn't get hurt. Fish raceways are not exactly designed to be diving pools.

[Geonz]

Dumping into a trout hatchery, indeed! I'm impressed!!!

I'm much *less* allergic to cats than I was when I came out here. I shared a house with them, but kept them in other rooms, adn every time one came near me ... welp, sometimes I'd just have to pet the critter, and then I'd go wash my hands.
You know, I didn't so much as catch a cold for two full years. However, the allergies abated and so did the habit, and my immune system returned to "above average." Note to self: It's October. Pretend you're petting cats again!! (Leaving room to wash hands)

I'm still allergic to wool... and down... and pretty much anything from an animal if it's *next* to my skin.

I just splurged on a jacket from Cheepa nd Steep earlier today. I hope it gets here before Monday when we'll have a hard freeze - but I never did find my parka wehn I moved and found that wearing two jackets worked even better. I figure if I'm wearing five layers, I look like Michelin Mama but road rash will avoid me, and when spring comes people are sure I've lost 15 pounds!

[pardes]

Not really. Start with permanent vertigo. Have all your attention on the lovely rainbow trout swimming in the raceway that you need to catch, reach over with your dip-net, and discover that it's deeper than your thought ... sooo reach, reach, reach. And fall in.

Don't care, I'm still impressed. First of all rainbow trout are beautiful to behold and I think you still agree with that.....and I understand what you mean about the vertigo of rushing water. As a kid I used to watch rainbow trout in a creek and was always amazed at the disorienting feeling of concentrating on one object within a moving background. I always thought it was magic.

...wehn I moved and found that wearing two jackets worked even better. I figure if I'm wearing five layers, I look like Michelin Mama but road rash will avoid me, and when spring comes people are sure I've lost 15 pounds!

I agree. I was thinking it could even be useful to put my thin windbreaker somewhere in the middle to really block the wind. The experimenting is fun! And you are right, they will think we've lost hundreds of pounds in the spring when we stop wearing so many layers!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I never did find my parka wehn I moved and found that wearing two jackets worked even better. I figure if I'm wearing five layers, I look like Michelin Mama but road rash will avoid me, and when spring comes people are sure I've lost 15 pounds!

I was thinking it could even be useful to put my thin windbreaker somewhere in the middle to really block the wind. The experimenting is fun! And you are right, they will think we've lost hundreds of pounds in the spring when we stop wearing so many layers!

Hey you two, don't forget to pack a patch kit and a pump, in case your 'cocoons' blow a hole somewhere! Attachment 7663

[pardes]

Oh GAWD, now every time I'm wearing sixteen layered jackets, I'll see a MIchelin man...er woman in my head ready to blow a flat.

Surely everyone here remembers getting bundled up in a snowsuit by your mother so tightly that you couldn't move and looked like an astronaut who couldn't move their arms or legs and just bounced around.

God love our mothers.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Oh GAWD, now every time I'm wearing sixteen layered jackets, I'll see a MIchelin man...er woman in my head ready to blow a flat.

Ha ha! Make sure you put out that cigar, too.

Surely everyone here remembers getting bundled up in a snowsuit by your mother so tightly that you couldn't move and looked like an astronaut who couldn't move their arms or legs and just bounced around.

I was the one in ripped Salvation Army jackets and cotton pants with the sleeves and legs way too short, my wrists and sneakers getting full of snow. Snowsuit?- not in my world.
Now I'm grown up and I'm thrilled to have wonderful warm clothes. Merino......droooool....
All my life I froze and hated winter. Now I love it and love being out in it walking, biking, and snowshoeing.