Commuting: building mileage and managing cold

[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.