I commuted today, for the first time in quite awhile. It was 38 when I left, so I was decked out in all my gear, including a light balaclava under my beanie. Well, even though it was at least 5-8 degrees colder than the last time I rode, when I was freezing, the sun must have made the difference. I was warm even going down the hill. Knowing I would be building up sweat, i barely rode above a speed of 14. I did not want to stop, for a 5.3 mile ride.
I rarely wear my winter riding shoes for my Frog pedals. They are so toasty, I felt like I had chemical heaters on. I still have issues with the cleats kind of not engaging and my left foot often flies out. I finally got this set on my regular shoes. There was a lot of chatter about this a few years ago; you can hear a light click when it engages, but on these, Irarely hear the click, so I keep my heels in, just in case. Between that, and the packed pannier, I felt a bit off. The ride home was gorgeous, though. Fully dark, with a full moon.