Need some cold riding inspiration!

[sonicmolasses]

Every year it's the same thing. . . end of October, it's getting chilly. I say I am going to ride through the year and then I just kind of. . . stop. And get cranky and pissy that I am not riding. So I take spinning and say it's better than nothing.

I see here that a lot of you ride all year. Did you always? The pleasures of April-October riding are obvious- warm air on my skin, green on the trees. What are the pleasures of October-March? Any gear you especially recommend? Does your mileage slow down (I'm about 75-125 a week in the warm months and can't see how I'd do that now).

I think I have to do it this year. Spinning class is fine for what it is, but it's not the same.

[Kalidurga]

This will be my first year riding past September. I've enjoyed my new bike so much that I'm determined to ride any chance I get through the winter, though I have set limits. So far, the coldest ride I've done started at 40 degrees and I think that was cold enough for me.

What I've found works for me gear-wise is:

• Mid-50's - 60 degrees: Bike shorts with knee warmers, either short sleeve or long sleeve top (depending on wind &/or how low the temp), wind-resistant jacket, and either short- or long-fingered gloves (again, depending on conditions).
• 40'ish - 50 degrees: Bike shorts or liners under loose-fitting tights, long sleeve top, wind-resistant jacket, long-fingered gloves, and a fleece headband under my helmet to cover my ears.

So far, that's been sufficient for me. As long as we have a few days over 40 degrees this winter, I'm hoping the withdrawal symptoms won't be too bad while I wait for March.

[GLC1968]

This is the first year I've committed to riding all winter. I live in a temperate enough climate that it's doable (or at least it was the past two winters when I didn't ride!). For me, the benefits to riding in cold weather are a bit harder to drum up. I have a blast in temps from about 55 to 85 and outside that range, I have to really talk myself into it! When it's cold out, a nice benefit is that there is less bike traffic and those riders that you do come across tend to be friendlier than most just because its nice to see another bike out there! Let's see...what else?

1) workouts in the fresh air instead of a stinky gym
2) a built in reason to shop for fun hi-tech winter clothing
3) your water never gets hot
4) chocolate doesn't melt
5) hot showers feel extra good when you are done
6) other people think you are nuts


So far, I've been commuting as much as I can to get in the miles. I'm hoping to maintain 75 to 100 miles a week (adding at least one longer ride on the weekends). My commute is 14 miles each way. The coldest I've ridden in so far was 35 degrees (and dark). I wore padded shorts with tights over them, short sleeve jersey, bolero and a wind jacket, full-finger gloves, wool socks, toe covers and a buff as a balaclava under my helmet. I was warm enough but had my ride been any longer, I would have needed better gloves.

For me, I am good in bike shorts to about 55 degrees. From 40 to 55 degrees, I'm ok with my bike shorts and knee warmers (with windblock panels) and below 40, I go with tights and shorts. The top layers vary but I MUST have a good wind-blocking but breathable shell and plenty of layers that I can peel off or add as necessary. I do know that I will NOT be riding in any snow or freezing rain. The drivers around here freak-out in adverse winter conditions, so I have no intention of being on the roads with them when it happens.

Oh, the other essential to winter riding (if you aren't able to ride mid-day) is good lighting. I am still looking to upgrade my front light (the one I have is ok for well lit roads which covers most of my commute), but I've got two good blinking rear lights. Not only do you want to be visible, but you need to be able to see!

I'm only just figuring this all out...but so far, a lot of my motivation is my desire to lose some poundage before next cycling season. That and the hope that come March, I'm in better shape than I was this past season!

[sonicmolasses]

Wow, Kali and GLC, very very helpful. You both make me think I can do it. The hot showers and cold water are nice images.

I have: leg and arm warmers, nice Giordana jacket, tights. I need: something for the head, booties, long sleeved gloves, maybe real tights with a chamois.

What would really help is a riding partner! I am lucky in that several days a week I am home by about 3 and can get out when the day is the warmest.

[Kitsune06]

When I was commuting, it was in temps down to 40ish. Waterproof/breatheable jacket with pit zips. Gotta be pitzips. Love the pitzips! Also the 2-way zipper so you can zip 'er up to the middle-ish or top to protect your chest, then zip the bottom up to mid-chest to ventilate your lower torso a little, where the main wind impact is reduced. I wore my regular cargo pants for the commute (it was generally shortish) and rain pants (sadly, not breatheable) over those. Looking into tights and/or knee warmers this year.

I suffer through the summer all year 'long just waiting for the winter. I love winter biking. Cold water, that feeling of invincibility that comes with rain pelting your waterproof/breatheable jacket as you zip down the road, safely protected... Cold water in the vents of your helmet when you're so hot you're steaming, and the crisp smell of cold where others are hiding in their 2-ton fortresses of steel and glass.

...then again, I'm from Wisconsin, and have fond memories of sleeping balled up in snowdrifts as a kid...

[Xrayted]

Ok, I've never gotten used to the cold. I was born and now live in PA but I grew up in FL. I think it snowed one time when I was a kid but it melted upon impact. I used to love to ski but haven't had the guts to try again for a long time. That was my only winter sport. I've never been on ice skates either so don't ask.
I just don't have any reason to be out there when it's freezing. I guess I need the right motivation (or person to share it with) to enjoy the cold these days. In my life, I'm the only one interested in riding at all so...
I love my bike but I think I'll keep it on the trainer for the rest of the winter. Sorry.

Good ideas from the other ladies tho.

[run it, ride it]

I bike to school in the winter because it's better than standing in the cold waiting for the bus!

It gets down to about -30C + windchill and my tires aren't more than an inch wide--but they salt the roads in this city so it's just slush and not ice on the streets. I can ride on ice, I just prefer not to downhill in traffic.

I wear thermal tights, stretch jeans or short skirt, high warm socks, running shoes (boots with the skirt), thermal long-sleeved shirt, regular long-sleeved shirt, hoodie with the hood up under my helmet (I know, a no-no..), scarf around my mouth and nose, sunglasses to keep the wind off, jacket and gloves under glittens. My biggest concern is frostbite on my fingers, but the commute is less than 5km each way so I can keep them from going numb most of the time.

Unless it's -really- cold (lower than -5) I can go bare-legged under the skirt, but the winter wind is more apt to catch it and offer an unexpected view.

I run in the winter, too. I do shorts down to -5C, tights with reinforced thighs down to -20, and warmup pants over tights lower than that. Toque, scarf around nose and mouth, gloves, thermal long-sleeved shirt and shell. I try to avoid the ice, but snow is excellent conditioning--I'll run in it up to mid-shin.

The only real dangers of winter riding are damaging your lungs, frost-bite to nose/ears/fingers/toes, traffic hazards (skidding vehicles) and ice. If you can manage those (breathe through a scarf, don't skimp on winter wear, only ride on salted streets), no reason not to take to the streets!

[rocknrollgirl]

One reason I like riding in the winter is that I feel this incredible sense of accomplishment when I am outside riding and everybody else is inside hiding. Winter days can be beautiful,you just need the right gear.

Another reason to stay outside, germs. The gym gets to breeding a lot of bacteria and viruses in the winter. Being outside helps you avoid much of that.

Give it a try. Even if you have to cut your mileage some, it is still a great time of year to ride.

see look at my picture!!!

[Mimosa]

It's just so refeshing to be out there and a cup of soup afterwards just tastes better
And the other bikers (the few that are also out there) are much friendler "There is another nutter going out in this weather".
It certainly beats being inside on the rollers, I hate that, it's so hot (sweaty) and BBBBOORRRRRIINNNNGGGG.
You should probably cut down the milage a bit, so you don't freeze of any bodyparts on long rides. I often have winterfrost toes by the end of the winter but that goes away during the warmer period.

[uk elephant]

I ride year round and always have done. The bike is my only form of transport aside so I never really considered locking it up for the winter. But I love being outside in all kinds of weather all year. That's the best part of living in a place that has seasons! You get to go out and enjoy them.
Summer: warm sunshine on your skin and a warm breeze through your hair. Fall: crisp air and fantastic colours on the trees.
Winter: crispy cold fresh air and if you're lucky lots of white snow to brighten things up.
Spring: beautiful wildflowers popping up everywhere and the wonderful feeling of the first warm sunshine.

Just dress for the weather. If it's cold, layer up. I've found that the best solution is to wear many thinner layers rather than one thick layer. You will warm up as you get going and will want to shed a layer or two. If you stop along the way for a break, bring a dry shirt to change into so you're not wet which will cool you down very fast. And something windproof is generally a good idea in winter.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Another reason to stay outside, germs. The gym gets to breeding a lot of bacteria and viruses in the winter. Being outside helps you avoid much of that.

Has everyone read this past week in the news where it says if older women take a brisk walk outside every day, they only get half as many colds and flus as women who don't. Surely biking could qualify as well! (they only did the study using walking)

[Meaux]

Looks like I'm the only freak here. I can't wait for it to be winter!!! I live in southeast TX and it gets into the triple digits during the summer, and I won't ride then. We've had a couple of cold fronts come through where it's been in the 60's and 70's in the late evening and I find myself staring out my office window like a sad puppy waiting to get on the road. Of course, this is my first winter to be cycling, so it may not be as fun as I'm imagining it.

[cosc]

I'm hoping to be able to ride in the winter. If only our SD weather wasn't cold and windy. So far our fall has brought many cool,gusty days.URGG I've only rode mostly in the 40's. Riding with wool socks and gloveliner and windstop glove wasn't enough to keep my extremities warm. Anyone have favorite products to keep hands and feet warm. There is so many choices out there, but I hate to pay lots of $$ for something that doesn't work well or isn't comfortable. For hands I need something that fits, not too bulky for shifting and braking on my road bars. Any recommendations? I have read some threads but need more ideas. Thanks, for your help.

[chickwhorips]

winter time here is when we really start riding, less bear competition on the roads. its all about layers. some days i have more layers than others, but no matter what i'm happy to be out there. i love biking in the snow.