cold weather clothes?

[DeniseGoldberg]

PM Denise Goldberg at http://forums.teamestrogen.com/member.php?u=513. She cycles through incredibly cold weather.

Wow Dogmama - I thought I was being a baby! It's newfsmith who commutes to work year-round, and she lives in the Boston area too!

Seriously though, I do try to ride year-round, but my cold weather rides are usually limited to an hour or two. I'm ok into the 30s. I think I might be able to wander down to the mid-20s, but I haven't had to try it yet this year.

The key for me is definitely layers, as Aint Doody said above. I too use extra heat for my feet; the brand I've been happy with so far is Heat Treat toe warmers. I get them from REI. I love the name of the warmers Aint Doody says she uses - but I have a bit of a stock of Heat Treats because they are cheaper if you buy 10 or more at once. (I've been buying 10 or more at a time easily since one of the guys I work with cycles through the winter too, and we split the warmers and the cost...).

I use my regular cycling shoes, thin socks (because that's all that fits in my shoes), PI AmFib shoe covers, and a Heat Treat warmer on each foot. My regular cycling shorts covered by either PI AmFib tights or by REI Polartec Powerstretch tights. Lots of layers on top. Temperature dependent, but I usually start with an REI MTS mid-weight sleeveless long underwear shirt, covered by a Patagonia R.5 shirt, a Patagonia R1 shirt, and a windbreaker. If it's really cold I also add a fleece vest and/or a neck warmer. And unbelieveably enough, yes, I can still move! On my hands, I wear either PI winter gloves or Lobster mits. I wear ear bags on my ears, and a Pearl Izumi skull cap under my helmet.

Wow, that sounds like a lot of clothing! But it does work, and I'm happier if I can get out on my bike for even a little while.

It's more than possible that you have enough layers of clothing that will work for you without buying something special - other than things like shoe covers...

Oh, and I don't put anything special on my face - just my normal moisturizer.

Have fun, and keep us posted on your cold weather rides!

--- Denise