Author Topic: First Winter/Snow/Freezing Bike Ride!  (Read 5064 times)

Tyson

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First Winter/Snow/Freezing Bike Ride!
« on: November 29, 2015, 01:20:03 PM »
Finally got myself to layer up and head out in the crap weather on my bike and I have to say it was pretty badass!  It was freaking COLD, but I had extra thick (skiing) gloves on and thermal boots with thick wool socks, and a balaclava for my face.  First 10 minutes absolutely sucked.  But then I sort of acclimated and by the time I was done I was actually so warm that I was sweating.  I did long underwear and jeans for the bottoms, and for the tip I did a t-shirt, a sweat shirt, a cotton hoodie, and a light snow jacket.  I think I'll lose the hoodie next time. 

I was most worried about ice and snow, but my tires (aggressive tread mountain/mud tires).  And I was able to navigate over ice pretty easily, albeit slowly. 

Right now I feel exhilarated, like yelling "Fuck YEAH!" at the top of my lungs.  But my family might realize I truly have gone insane.  So I'll just sit here with a huge grin on my face instead. 

Conjou

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Re: First Winter/Snow/Freezing Bike Ride!
« Reply #1 on: November 29, 2015, 03:20:51 PM »
Good for you!! In my embrace of commuting all year long in North Dakota, it took me two solid years of doing so in all weather before my attitude went from grumpy about it to tolerating it to actually feeling great about it to being grumpy when I wasn't on my bike on the weekends :)  Getting the clothes dialed in is one of the challenges, to be sure, but just keeping it going is even bigger deal--old mind games.  Keep up the great work and enjoy feeling like a badass!

SilentC

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Re: First Winter/Snow/Freezing Bike Ride!
« Reply #2 on: November 29, 2015, 08:55:42 PM »
Congrats on the ride, it's always fun too when people give you a WTF look in the elevator when its well below freezing outside and you are in bike gear (or for me maybe its the icicles in my beard...)

Thegoblinchief

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Re: First Winter/Snow/Freezing Bike Ride!
« Reply #3 on: December 01, 2015, 08:05:49 AM »
Absolutely the #1 challenge is clothes. I generally try to err on the side of under dressing, but pack an extra layer in case I hit the 10 minute mark and haven't warmed up yet.

When it gets below 20F, I personally find having a wind/water proof layer on both legs and torso makes a huge difference. You need fewer layers and even when you sweat the wind can't penetrate and chill you through the wet layers.

If your head gets cold even with the balaclava, consider taping the vents on your helmet. I resort to this when it gets below about 10F.

On long rides sometimes your toes will go numb even with good boots. Getting off and walking for a few blocks will help stimulate blood flow.

GuitarStv

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Re: First Winter/Snow/Freezing Bike Ride!
« Reply #4 on: December 01, 2015, 08:53:07 AM »
Just an FYI, stay away from cotton (jeans/sweater/whatever) when doing long winter rides.  Once it gets wet cotton conducts heat away from your body faster than being naked.  Synthetic fleece and wool is the way to go.  For short distances it's not too big a deal, but anything over an hour can get miserable really fast.

Thegoblinchief

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Re: First Winter/Snow/Freezing Bike Ride!
« Reply #5 on: December 01, 2015, 09:44:13 AM »
Just an FYI, stay away from cotton (jeans/sweater/whatever) when doing long winter rides.  Once it gets wet cotton conducts heat away from your body faster than being naked.  Synthetic fleece and wool is the way to go.  For short distances it's not too big a deal, but anything over an hour can get miserable really fast.

+1

argonaut_astronaut

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Re: First Winter/Snow/Freezing Bike Ride!
« Reply #6 on: December 01, 2015, 09:55:54 AM »
If your head gets cold even with the balaclava, consider taping the vents on your helmet. I resort to this when it gets below about 10F.

I posted this on another thread, but will put it in here too: I swapped over to my ski/snowboard helmet for winter and haven't looked back since. It has build in ear coverage, removable plugs in the holes, accommodates my goggles better, and fits better over a balaclava.

I realized this after trying to mash my bike helmet over a knitted hat and later was online looking for a winter bike helmet with fewer holes when I realized that I had the perfect thing already collecting dust in my ski gear (not really dusty, but infrequently used).

powskier

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Re: First Winter/Snow/Freezing Bike Ride!
« Reply #7 on: December 01, 2015, 12:47:01 PM »
Congrats on your first winter ride! The more you ride the more you realize ANY weather is doable.

Ski helmet and clear goggles for sure in winter. I run studded tires all winter ( 6 months) . Pogies are worth the investment if you are in a cold climate, it makes a huge difference and allows for wearing thinner gloves and better dexterity. Leg coverage and shoes that are not tight will also go a long way to staying warm.

Tyson

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Re: First Winter/Snow/Freezing Bike Ride!
« Reply #8 on: December 01, 2015, 01:26:41 PM »
If your head gets cold even with the balaclava, consider taping the vents on your helmet. I resort to this when it gets below about 10F.

I posted this on another thread, but will put it in here too: I swapped over to my ski/snowboard helmet for winter and haven't looked back since. It has build in ear coverage, removable plugs in the holes, accommodates my goggles better, and fits better over a balaclava.

I realized this after trying to mash my bike helmet over a knitted hat and later was online looking for a winter bike helmet with fewer holes when I realized that I had the perfect thing already collecting dust in my ski gear (not really dusty, but infrequently used).

That is a GREAT idea.  I'll have to hunt mine down from storage....

powersuitrecall

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Re: First Winter/Snow/Freezing Bike Ride!
« Reply #9 on: December 01, 2015, 01:41:07 PM »
Congrats!  You now get to say that you are hard core.

I'm on my 7th winter commute ... here is what I wear:

> -5 Celsius
top: light fleece and a wind breaking shell
bottoms: thick rain pants
hands: lobster mitts
head: thin wind stopping balaclava and snowboarding helmet (very warm)
feet: hiking boots

-15 > -5 Celsius
top: add a down vest
head: add ski goggles

< -15
top: big down jacket
hands: big mitts (terrible for bike control, but what are you gonna do?)
head: add face/nose mask over the balaclava


powskier

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Re: First Winter/Snow/Freezing Bike Ride!
« Reply #10 on: December 02, 2015, 05:21:14 PM »


< -15
top: big down jacket
hands: big mitts (terrible for bike control, but what are you gonna do?)
To answer your "what are you gonna do?"
POGIES !!!! will change your life bike riding in cold weather.

GuitarStv

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Re: First Winter/Snow/Freezing Bike Ride!
« Reply #11 on: December 03, 2015, 06:16:09 AM »
I've tried pogies and don't like them.  They force you to keep your hands in one position for the whole ride, it makes things really uncomfortable if you're out for more than a half hour.

powersuitrecall

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Re: First Winter/Snow/Freezing Bike Ride!
« Reply #12 on: December 03, 2015, 09:14:41 AM »
I've tried pogies and don't like them.  They force you to keep your hands in one position for the whole ride, it makes things really uncomfortable if you're out for more than a half hour.

It's good to hear that feedback GutiarStv.

Even with last year's cold weather, I broke out my arctic mitts shockingly few times.

And it certainly helps that this winter is coming in like a lamb.  4 degrees today (Ottawa) ! 6 on the weekend - and sunny!

Eric222

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Re: First Winter/Snow/Freezing Bike Ride!
« Reply #13 on: December 03, 2015, 11:02:20 AM »
...
Right now I feel exhilarated, like yelling "Fuck YEAH!" at the top of my lungs.  But my family might realize I truly have gone insane.  So I'll just sit here with a huge grin on my face instead.
I'm more afraid of yelling "FUCK YEAH!" at work... but that is exactly how I feel after a cold/rainy ride.  :D

powskier

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Re: First Winter/Snow/Freezing Bike Ride!
« Reply #14 on: December 09, 2015, 12:41:36 AM »
I've tried pogies and don't like them.  They force you to keep your hands in one position for the whole ride, it makes things really uncomfortable if you're out for more than a half hour.

I've ridden with mine 10 plus hours in minus 15 F, many different types out there, get them wider.

GuitarStv

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Re: First Winter/Snow/Freezing Bike Ride!
« Reply #15 on: December 09, 2015, 06:08:16 AM »
I've tried pogies and don't like them.  They force you to keep your hands in one position for the whole ride, it makes things really uncomfortable if you're out for more than a half hour.

I've ridden with mine 10 plus hours in minus 15 F, many different types out there, get them wider.

If you have some that let you ride the tops, drops, and hoods easily link 'em please!

pompera_firpa

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Re: First Winter/Snow/Freezing Bike Ride!
« Reply #16 on: December 17, 2015, 03:22:03 PM »
First winter bike ride is a CRAZY AWESOME experience! I am probably going to have to break down and get goggles sometime this winter, though, because having the snow drive right into my eyes made it difficult to keep them open and see where I was going. Any recs?

GuitarStv

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Re: First Winter/Snow/Freezing Bike Ride!
« Reply #17 on: December 18, 2015, 05:57:34 AM »
I don't like ski goggles, they fog up too easily because you heat up so much while cycling (much more than while skiing).  I wear my regular glasses all winter long, but if you don't normally wear glasses maybe a cheap pair of clear safety glasses would work well (no seal around the face means that they can lose moisture/heat much more quickly.

argonaut_astronaut

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Re: First Winter/Snow/Freezing Bike Ride!
« Reply #18 on: December 18, 2015, 07:16:30 AM »
First winter bike ride is a CRAZY AWESOME experience! I am probably going to have to break down and get goggles sometime this winter, though, because having the snow drive right into my eyes made it difficult to keep them open and see where I was going. Any recs?
I use these daily and have zero fogging issues even with a balaclava: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GDME0C

I moved to goggles after I had fogging issues with clear safety glasses particularly when wearing a balaclava since it seems to channel hot moist air directly to the inside of the lenses. Just make sure you get something with double lenses otherwise fogging will be a major issue. A lot of clear lens goggles are single layered for motocross and they work terrible in cold weather.

Again, I am using a ski helmet and the goggles integrate well with that setup. Another unintended benefit of the goggles is that you don't have the arm of the glasses pulling open a part of your hat or compressing weirdly under your ear/helmet.

BTDretire

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Re: First Winter/Snow/Freezing Bike Ride!
« Reply #19 on: December 18, 2015, 01:09:42 PM »
I'm a new biker here in Fl. I bought a used Trek about 2 months ago. Slowly building up my ride distances. Just started logging my distances on paper, last Saturday, 27 miles
Tuesday, 16 miles, and on Thursday I rode 20 miles, I did the last 9 miles in the rain totally soaked. My first my first rain ride. 
What is this snow/freezing thing you speak of? :-)

 

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