I definitely need to figure out how to be warmer. My legs and feet were sooo cold last time I biked and it was only like 32F. Not that cold. What do people were on their feet when it's cold? 'Cause running shoes are not keeping my feet warm, even with wool socks.
I biked up to the tiny LBS yesterday. They said that my tires were probably fine for winter but that I should get fenders. They are ordering some for me and I'll go back to have them installed. There are probably cheaper ways to get fenders, but my mental bandwidth is limited!
The fenders we chose are reflective and I already ordered a reflective vest, so I should be SUPER visible at night!
I've found that keeping my chest and core warm enough actually keeps my hands and feet warm. When my chest is too cold, my feet and fingers are the first to suffer . . . even if they're in heavy boots/gloves. Other than that, make sure that your shoes and gloves are loose (don't pack boots so tight with socks that there's no room to move your feet around). Tight stuff will cut off circulation, and as soon as you do that you're going to suffer in the cold.
Some other tips to stay warm:
- Don't wear cotton. As soon as cotton gets wet, it conducts heat away from the body faster than being naked.
- Always wear a wind blocking layer on the outside and various insulating layers below that. You're always getting whacked with wind while cycling, and that wind will cut right through most non-wind blocking materials - chilling you much more than would happen if you were just walking around.
- Have stuff with zips and vents. Seems weird, but one of the problems you run into when cycling in the winter is that you overheat. Then you sweat. Then the sweat makes you cold.
- Try to keep your power output slow and steady on the bike. If you're sprinting to the next traffic light and then sitting still you're going to build up a lot of sweat, and then freeze while you're not moving. (Can also cause problems with glasses fogging up.)
- Cover your face and eyes! Wear a balaclava over your face below zero. Wear glasses or goggles to keep the wind from making your eyes water and then have cold liquid dripping down your face.