Fall/Winter 2010/2011 Commuter Challenge!

[blackhillsbiker]

5 for 5 this week. Began and ended the week with vicious high winds. The middle of the week was nice, though. Probably won't get any riding in this weekend – 'tis the season of Christmas activities.

Deb

[Rebecca19804]

Still not back on the bike after my knee surgery 5 weeks ago, but enjoying reading everybody's updates. Really encouraging! Can't wait to get back out there myself!

[Tri Girl]

2 for 5 this week. That's what my goal was, but if it weren't for sheer laziness I would have done 5. Some days getting out of bed 45 min. earlier when it's freezing cold is just hard.
Enjoyed my two days, tho. VERY much!! It's in the teens and 20's in the mornings and I'm still not good and dressing cold enough so I'm not burning hot by the end of my ride.

[7rider]

The forecast for my area today:
TODAY: Partly To Mostly Cloudy; Windy; Isolated Mountain Snow Shower
WINDS: WNW 15-20 Gusts 35-40 m.p.h.
HIGHS: Upper 30s (WIND CHILL 20s)

It was 28 degrees (-2C) this a.m. when I left (not sure of the wind speed at that point, but it was blustery).
Yet still I rode. This past weekend (Saturday), it was a bit warmer, yet I didn't go out for a ride at all. I puttered in the house, did a home workout, and raked leaves (made brownies! ).

I'll commute in colder, windier weather than I'll ride in for a "social" ride. I wonder why that is...why I'm so eager to hibernate on a cold weekend, but I'll ride on a cold weekday to work. Is it because I know my commutes are shorter than my social rides, or what?? Is it because my bike commutes are usually the best part of my work day??

[Melalvai]

I'll commute in colder, windier weather than I'll ride in for a "social" ride. I wonder why that is...why I'm so eager to hibernate on a cold weekend, but I'll ride on a cold weekday to work. Is it because I know my commutes are shorter than my social rides, or what?? Is it because my bike commutes are usually the best part of my work day??

Me too, I'll brave anything to bicycle for transportation but my weather-standards for a recreational ride are much higher. For me, it's because transportation is useful. But a recreational ride is just for my own enjoyment. It would have to be one heck of a ride to enjoy it when the weather is bad.

My report for the week:
Very successful on the running, gym workout, swimming, and core exercises.

"Staying home when sick" didn't come up this week. Although I did skip the core exercises on a day I was supposed to do them, because I didn't feel like it and it occurred to me that rather than make myself do them I could for once listen to my body and let it go until tomorrow. Wild concept!

[hilaryclaire]

i recently bought a bike with the ultimate goal of commuting to work. someone in my office rode in this morning and i'm jealous! i'm ok with cold weather, but i don't have any sort of windproff jackets or gloves. and, like everyone else in the county, i'm SO BROKE. so far all the stuff i've looked at is super expensive. any advice?

[hilaryclaire]

p.s. melavai! i'm originallyl from missouri and several of my friends went to college in kirksville. we were all convinced that kirksville's always 10-20 degrees colder than it is anywhere else in missouri!

[Melalvai]

i recently bought a bike with the ultimate goal of commuting to work. someone in my office rode in this morning and i'm jealous! i'm ok with cold weather, but i don't have any sort of windproff jackets or gloves. and, like everyone else in the county, i'm SO BROKE. so far all the stuff i've looked at is super expensive. any advice?

The reason I like the expensive stuff is that if it is made specifically for cycling, it doesn't have flappy bits that can get in the way or get caught in the chain and cause you to wreck. But you can go a long ways with regular clothes if you secure everything using rubber bands, safety pins, velcro straps, duct tape, anything you can think of!

I don't know how cold is cold for you. Layers are the key. A base layer that is wicking, an outer layer that blocks the wind, and if it's really cold (for me that's about 35F) a layer in between.

The other important things are your extremities. A balaclava for your head (nashbar has them on sale for $8), ski gloves, maybe with a liner, thick wool socks--but not so thick that they constrict. However much you layer up it must all be loose or you will end up colder.

Your priority is gloves and a balaclava. Then start thinking about a windblocking jacket.

One of the first things I learned is that a winter coat doesn't work well on the bike, even in the coldest of cold. It makes me too hot in the wrong places and leaves me much too cold in others. There are two other tricks I've learned: warm up before you go out (ie jumping jacks or something), and when you arrive, wait 10 minutes to stop sweating and then change into your clean shirt and/or other work clothes.

[tulip]

You don't have to get cycling-specific gear. The best cold weather piece I have for commuting and cold-weather recreational riding is an old cashmere cardigan sweater that I got at a thrift store. It has holes in it, which is good for riding. I layer it with a non-cotton long sleeve shirt and either a shell or heavier jacket depending on the conditions. Usually a shell is enough once I get riding. I can unbutton and button as needed.

You can wear a thin hat under your helmet, or get an band that just covers your ears. I wear cycling shorts and tights because I have them, but thrift-shop wool slacks over cycling shorts will do fine. Just be sure to secure them at the ankles to keep the fabric out of the way.

Gloves you can get just about anywhere. I like ski mitten/gloves; you can also layer gloves and mittens.

[blackhillsbiker]

Balaclavas absolutely don't work for me. I fashion a balaclava-ish thing out of a merino Buff. I can adjust it to cover more or less depending on how cold I am, and it breathes so I don't get all sweaty. I wear wool leggings under my jeans. A thin turtleneck and wool sweater under a windproof shell (with pit zips) is usually enough unless it is really cold. Then a cardigan over the sweater, under the shell is sufficient. I love Smartwool snowboarding socks with my Keen shoes or hikers. I have a thin merino beanie for under my helmet. The one place I really need warmth is my hands. I have some extremely warm gauntlet-style snowmobile mittens. I doubt they'd work with bar end shifters. They work just fine on riser bars with regular Shimano click-shifters. They're really more puffy than bulky (800 or so gram Thinsulate). If my hands and toes are warm, I do pretty well.

Deb

[tulip]

BHB--anyone who commutes by bike 5 for 5 in December in South Dakota has my ultimate respect and admiration. Good going!

[girlsubobscura]

I second the recommendation for smartwool snowboarding socks. They are incredibly comfortable, and the extra layer of padding on the shin which is meant to prrotect against boot chafing has the added advantage of extra wind blocking while bike riding. None of my winter gear is specifically for biking (except my helmet), and for me the essentials are: warm mittens (my fingers get too cold when they are separated by glove fingers) , wool socks, synthetic fuzzy pants from REI (that wierd fuzzy stuff spun from pop bottles, can't remember what it's called), a regular winter coat, and some sort of hat/scarf combo or balaclava. I also adore my ski goggles, but if you are on a budget start with good gloves or mittens and quality socks and layer the rest, buying quality pieces as you can afford.

[girlsubobscura]

Oh and I forgot to update, today the temps were betwee 15-30 degrees, and it seems like its been about the same all week. After the 2 day work week due to the holiday, I'm back to 5 a week commuting. I'm kind of enjoying peeking in at everyones brightly lit christmas trees in the windows as i ride home in the dark.

[blackhillsbiker]

I like looking at the Christmas lights also! The snowman that plays carols at me as I ride by sometimes startles me.

None of my winter gear (except helmet) is bike-specific. The key is layers. I'm always unzipping or zipping something as I get further into my ride. A parka just doesn't allow for temperature adjustment.

Good lights are also a must! My L&M Stella batteries have been incredibly unreliable after a very short time. I'm waiting for the arrival of a different lighting system.

Deb

[malkin]

I did it! Twice!!

I've stoked a couple tandem rides, but had not been on my bike since I got sick before halloween. But I rode yesterday and today. Both were beautiful, early, cold--high 30s is my guess.

I was flirting with applying for my old job (from 8 years ago) but the travel is yucky (itinerant, and not a feasible bike commute) so as of this week, my current job wins.