Gloves or mittens for BELOW freezing

[SadieKate]

Personally, I never pay much attention to winter clothing advice from Californians either.

Neither did the Donner Party.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Neither did the Donner Party.

Well I could always eat my gloves I suppose. Or a Californian cyclist or two.

[maillotpois]

What? You need a smilie face? Maine is on the coast also.

I've lived on both balmy coasts - CA and ME. ME tended to freeze the nose hairs. CA has in the past frozen my water bottles while riding.

Some of us don't live in CA for the beaches.

[michelem]

"CA has in the past frozen my water bottles while riding."

Oh! I've had that happen as well! However, my PI AmFib gloves kept my fingers toasty (thanks Santa!).

[snapdragen]

What people in the tiny eastern states don't seem to realize is California is more than beaches, which if you're in the north are very likely to be foggy. There are alpine mountains to lose flat lander cyclists in, deserts (Hello Mojave!), and the central valley that probably provides a good amount of the produce we all eat. The climate ranges from arid to subarctic, temperatures have been recorded from minus 45° to 134° F. Annual rainfall has exceeded 161 inches in some places, while other points have gone for more than a year with no measurable rain. There is lots of snow for playing in the Sierras, providing the roads can stay open. It is not uncommon for them to be closed due to snow.

And that my doubting Thomases is your California geography and climate lesson for the day.

[Tri Girl]

Ok, ok- we are now all well-versed in California geography and climate. Having been born in Yorba Linda and lived in the OC, many of us can attest for the many climatological differences in that state. Enough already. It's like the generalization that all people in Oklahoma live on farms and have cows and play cowboys and "indians" out on the Plains. Most people just assume that California is warm because lots of it usually is (although you're now getting pounded with strange snow and such- so weird).

I'm glad you started this thread, Melalvai, because I was wondering the same thing. I just can't keep my toes and hands warm no matter how much great advice I get on this topic from these wonderfully wise women here on the board. I keep trying new combinations, hoping I can find something to keep the digits somewhat warm. No luck yet, but I have hopes for warm toesies and fingers... some day.