Fall/winter riding gear and tips

[Helen]

What happened to the good old fall/winter jackets ?
Do we really need all those new products ?

[SadieKate]

I've always dressed in layers with shoe covers, toe covers, base layers, etc. all the stuff above is just improvements on stuff I used for 20 years. I'll take the new microfibers over the original old wool and polyprolene products any day!!!

Remember the original polypropelene? Peee-uuuuu!

And shoe covers that didn't stretch or breathe? I felt like a duck on a bike but not the cute children's book version.

[roughingit]

Don't forget fenders! I just ride in bike shorts and a bunch of flannels on when it gets chilly since I can't afford all the nice stuff and throw on one of those cheap plastic raincoats from sets in the camping section when it's too wet for that. Ain't elegant, but it works!

[Bike Goddess]

I have a GoreTex cycling jacket that has been a life saver for me in cold damp weather. Since it breathes but doesn't let cold air in, I can layer inside as much as I need and not get too sweaty! It's almost waterproof so I'm in good shape if I get caught in the rain, God forbid!

Wool socks are a must for me winter, summer, all year round. They keep my feet warm or cool as they wick well. I have PIzumi Shoe covers as well. It it's really cold, I cover whatever holes I can underneath to keep the air from coming in from the bottom. I hate cold feet and cold hands!

[newfsmith]

First the cold water: riding at night, in cold weather means you will lose speed. All those layers make your legs slower, and even with 20-30W of light you have to slow down so you have time to react to road hazards that are only visible in your light cone. My winter commutes are anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes longer than my fall commutes.

So why ride outdoors in the dark when you could train better indoors on a trainer? Because it is outdoors, and it brings a new set of challenges and skills. I don't mountain bike, but I do ride across ice covered streets with rain or snow falling. It demands a round pedal stroke. Here in the Boston area it is really only 1-3 months. I regard it as the season I work on improving some of the riding skills I let slide in the summer when I may be thinking more about endurance or speed.

Specific tips on cold night riding:
1 Be sure to check your brakes before you leave, moisture in cables can
freeze, locking your brakes.
2 Have 2 headlights & 2 taillights, so if one fails you still have something.
3 You can not have enough reflectors, it is not possible to overdue it.
4 A loud horn is even more important. I use a 12V car horn.
5 Don't forget to use layers on your hands. Invest in thin underliner gloves,
they will add lots of comfort with less awkwardness than heavier gloves.
6 Pack like you are going on tour. Mechanical problems with sweaty clothes are an invitation to hypothermia. Carry at least a dry top and pants. A spare pair of gloves or mitts can be a finger saver if you lose one while turning a bike over to change a tire in the dark.
7 Be extra careful to keep your cell phone charged. Consider calling for help rather than risking hypothermia dealing with a simple problem you know you can fix yourself. Cold and darkness will make it take at least twice as long as normal.
8 Go to the library and get some books on wildlife at night. Learn what to watch for in your area. Stop to listen. Winter brings a profound silence, punctuated by the owls, coyotes, fox and other nocturnal animals. While at the library check out the star maps too. Winter skies are often less smoggy and if you ride out the light pollution you will see brilliant skies.
9 This is the season to ride for the love of riding. It will reward you in its own ways not easily measured in speed, HR, time, or distance, but hard to measure bike handling ability.

[Trekhawk]

Looking for some yummy winter woolies check out www.icebreaker.com
The New Zealanders sure know how to make great stuff.

[shewhobikes]

Knew I could count on TE for good advice and tips. Thanks, ladies, for all the links and tips on warm and dry clothing. Newfsmith, those are exactly the kind of safety/preparedness suggestions I was after. It's rarely that cold down here in Birmingham, but there is a Tuesday night ride I want to continue doing starting next week. During the summer, the club does one route which changes to a different ride the first week in October. This new one is mostly on neighborhood and downtown streets where there is little traffic after 6 p.m. (our start time), but generally good street lights.

It will be interesting to see how long I can hang in there!

[Helen]

Don't forget fenders! I just ride in bike shorts and a bunch of flannels on when it gets chilly since I can't afford all the nice stuff and throw on one of those cheap plastic raincoats from sets in the camping section when it's too wet for that. Ain't elegant, but it works!

Yeah ... I don't like microfiber. Its too geeky ... I simply hate it ...