January rides -- outdoors!!

[Thorn]

As I toyed with riding or not, I kept thinking of the woman who rode to the South Pole. Now *that* was impressive. If she could do that, what's a commute to work?

It is funny, the colder I successfully ride, the more I realize that the bike really is year-round vehicle now that we have LED lights and studded tires. Sure, it is cold, but at those temps you can't ride very fast so it doesn't get colder by biking. I admit, tho, that if there is a more than an inch or two of snow I'll take the bus -- I just don't feel confident riding in the snow.

As for what I wore...
Core: 3 layers of wool (Ibex Shak-weight) + winter cycling jacket for wind protection
Head: Wool beanie + hood of one of the Shaks + wool Buff over the chin; for the nose, the LPH patented "nose buff" -- best tip I ever got; safety goggles
Legs: Boure thermal knickers and Showers Pass thermal pants
Feet: 2 pairs of SmartWool knee socks + thermal hiking boots (I switch to flat pedals in the winter)
Hands: Shak-weight glove liners and Bar Mitts (seriously, just glove liners, the road bike Bar Mitts are crazy warm)

Sometimes in the winter I think I spend more time gearing up than I do the actual riding.

[ridebikeme]

Got out mid afternoon yesterday, although had to ride the roads as opposed to the trails. Like most parts of the country, the temps/rain have left the trails where once you step foot on them you end up crashing through the top layer to 6-7 inches below. But all of that will change when either a snowmobile goes through or they groom. Either way, the roads are enough of a challenge with 2-3" thick ice on the sides.

Took the FATBIKE out and had a blast! Temps were about 15 when I started with wind anywhere from 5-15MPH.

I wore:
Gortex shell
Smartwool top
Windproof vest

swix base layer on the bottom
Swix Universal pants

Toko Lobster mitts... the best that I have ever found!
Wool Buff
LG skull cap
Thin Smartwool footies
Ficsher OTX boots... like Crankin, I generally switch to flats in the winter.
+++ I did just buy a pair of Toko Boot Covers, much heavier than any of the cycling booties I've ever seen, so will try them along with my Mavic shoes here soon.

[ny biker]

As I toyed with riding or not, I kept thinking of the woman who rode to the South Pole. Now *that* was impressive. If she could do that, what's a commute to work?

It is funny, the colder I successfully ride, the more I realize that the bike really is year-round vehicle now that we have LED lights and studded tires. Sure, it is cold, but at those temps you can't ride very fast so it doesn't get colder by biking. I admit, tho, that if there is a more than an inch or two of snow I'll take the bus -- I just don't feel confident riding in the snow.

As for what I wore...
Core: 3 layers of wool (Ibex Shak-weight) + winter cycling jacket for wind protection
Head: Wool beanie + hood of one of the Shaks + wool Buff over the chin; for the nose, the LPH patented "nose buff" -- best tip I ever got; safety goggles
Legs: Boure thermal knickers and Showers Pass thermal pants
Feet: 2 pairs of SmartWool knee socks + thermal hiking boots (I switch to flat pedals in the winter)
Hands: Shak-weight glove liners and Bar Mitts (seriously, just glove liners, the road bike Bar Mitts are crazy warm)

Sometimes in the winter I think I spend more time gearing up than I do the actual riding.

What is the nose buff??