Commuting: building mileage and managing cold

[MomOnBike]

Have you considered warmed water (me, I'd use hot tea with much honey, but that's just me) in one of those water bladders you carry on your back? (Camelbacks?)

The way I see it, you'd have a warm beverage that's easy to get to, and you'd feel the warmth of the water/tea on your back. How could you lose?

It might be worth a try. I'd do some extensive testing myself, but my bike just doesn't handle slick roads well at all.

Mom(watching the snow fall)OffBike

[thinpaperwings]

I didn't make it on Thursday. It was just still too cold for me. However, I realized that what I need is a wind-stopping jacket and pants. My clothes are warm enough until a gust of wind goes by, and then all my heat is lost. The Pearl Izium jacket doesn't cut it. I went to the large branch of my LBS but they didn't have anything that fit me. I am short, with a shorter than average torso. The pants come up to my ribcage and the jackets are too long and boxy. I found a gore-tex windstopper jacket that I liked, but the person at the store told me that it wouldn't keep me warm in the rain. I've been looking for a month now and haven't found jackets or pants that fit me. I'm looking at reviews online, but they don't usually tell you whether they're good for women with short or long torsos.

If anyone has any recommendations for jackets or pants that block wind and rain I would be grateful.

Thanks!

[RoadVixen]

Not from experience (I don't own one yet) but I've been eyeing that Castelli Chrysalis Jacket on TE- rated "warmest", mostly waterproof, and says it's 360 windproof (also looks pretty bad %$$ too!) It is really expensive, but perhaps Santa baby also shops at TE?! Sounds like ya'll all need it much more than I do w/ your ZERO degree weather, but being from MS, I FREEEEEEZE when the temp goes anywhere near the 30's!!! And, as it's usually not much colder than that, we tend to get a lot of rain (which really sucks) in winter. Then mix our ungodly humidity w/ wind & it can be pretty darn uncomfortable.

Hope you find something that works for ya!

[RoadVixen]

Oh, also- don't know how warm they'd be, but Marmot Pre-Cip pants ROCK in the rain! They're by far the driest pants I've ever tried!

[Dianyla]

Hello, from another webfoot!

I've given up trying to find the perfect jacket for warmth and moisture, so I just dress in layers like I do when I go hiking. For winter riding around here, I usually have the following on:

first layer:
bike shorts
some thin tank or shirt that will move moisture
smartwool cycling socks

middle warmth layer:
pearl izumi fleece tights
long-sleeve fleece top (thriftstore!)

outer waterproof layer:
REI waterproof bike pants (blocks wind too)
Gore-Tex rain jacket (blocks wind too)
Helmet rain cover
balaclava
Pearl Izumi winter gloves
Pearl Izumi water/windproof shoe coverings


Another point about being cold a lot and feeling fatigued - you might want to get your iron checked. Lagging performance that gets better when you take a few weeks off can indicate low iron. Intolerance to cold is another symptom.

[RoadRaven]

Ahhh... I am SOOOOO pleased I do not have the dilemma of wanting/needing a ride and the weather being THIS inclement and cold...

And if I did... wow, what a wealth of wisdom being shared here.

As always, I am very impressed by the depth of advice and suggestions given here... wishing you well and much warmth, thinpaper...

[Duck on Wheels]

Hi! Just got back from Christmas holidays in Norway. Haven't been out biking in the cold, but been walking a lot testing some cold weather gear I picked up "back home". I was skeptical when I saw a climbing/trekking shop advertised a wool bra. I envisaged some scratchy saggy homespun homeknit thing. Not! It's the most comfortable bra I've ever worn. Even comfier than the Playtex 18hr bra. It's by Aclima, and it kept my boobs toasty warm in weather down to -20C (5F), but wicks well and doesn't overheat indoors. Good support too, and even without padded straps no binding. Next trip home I'm getting more of these! I also got some lightweight wool/silk blend underwear that's pretty good in moderate cold, and some duolayer stuff (polyester liner + washable wool top layer) by Devold that is great for extreme cold. The top also has an extra bit of length at the back that I imagine would be handy for biking (why else would bike jerseys have that feature?), though I plan on just doing spin classes through the winter here. Tried biking in the cold one day and though I was warm enough everywhere else it gave me a splitting headache.

[Geonz]

When I started commuting (7 miles each way) I didn't *have* a big warm coat. So I would wear a t-shirt or silk long underwear under a sweatshirt, under two windbreakers. Since I'm riding through town, there usually isn't *that* much wind anyway. If it gets down to the single digits, it's a turtleneck and the silk longjohns and the sweatshirt and the two jackets.
My thighs are what gets coldest (and then there are the alligator ankles), but I have one really good pair of warm fleecies, and if I put on thin tights, the warm fleecies, and thick sweatpants, I can get across town before the cold gets through the layers. By then, I'm putting out enough heat to get things moving, too.
I have some warm gloves but I think I'm better insulated than most people. I also noticed that it takes between 7 and 10 minutes for my heater to kick in - so if I've still got the bike on the trainer, I'll get on and give myself a few minutes' head start before I even walk out the door.
When I got a big ol' LL Bean Warm Thing, I fouind it was 'way too warm. I want more layers anyway, to keep the wind off. So I usually do the two-jacket thing... and maybe it *looks* like I'm wearing everything I own, but that just makes drivers treat me more kindly :-) That also makes it easier to make adjustments for higher temps when I'm going home, as sometimes happens.
I can't help with the tired thing except it's prob'ly a food thing. I've never been too tired to ride and it wakes me up and energizes me... if I *don't* ride I'm yawning all morning. I would definietly explore the Iron thing.

[CorsairMac]

When I got a big ol' LL Bean Warm Thing, I fouind it was 'way too warm. I want more layers anyway, to keep the wind off. So I usually do the two-jacket thing... and maybe it *looks* like I'm wearing everything I own, but that just makes drivers treat me more kindly :-)

Nah - I think they treat us more kindly in the winter coz they feel sorry for us. I think they think we don't have any other way of getting to work - us poor dears eh? LOL

[Crankin]

I am also short and had difficulty finding rain pants/jackets. I got a pair of pants from Perfomance (extra small) that have velcro on the ankles, so you can bunch up any extra material. They work well; I wore them in Europe during our tour this summer (it was about 50 and raining out). I also have a pair of wool/lycra pants from Ibex that I wear x country skiing, with thin long underwear. i have worn these mountain biking and road cycling in the winter, with shorts underneath and they are very warm. I have hiked in them at -7 degrees!

[nicolezoie]

I've been commuting in the low 30s, and while I think I finally figured out my right clothing combo for my 16 mile commute, it often takes me *hours* to warm up afterwards. As soon as I'm off my bike, changed and cooled off from the ride, no amount of hats, socks, warm sweats, coffee, help me warm up. We don't have showers at work, so that's not an option.

Any suggestions?