Living Car Free - Are you ready? Cuz a cold wind's a-gonna blow....

Yesterday the temperature at 7:00 AM was 75 degrees F. By noon it had plunged to 55 degrees. Today we're getting "lake-effect rain showers," which are only a preview of the lake-effect snows of November and December. I wore my shorts today, but my knees are feeling a little cold and achy in that west wind blowing over Lake Michigan from Canada. Winds are shifting and the hawk is getting ready to fly!

Are you prepared for winter--mentally or physically? What are you doing to get ready?

i'm not ready as of yet...some of my winter clothes are worn out and need to be replaced.

however, it's already dark here when i wake up in the morning, so i'm already used to that. the wind will be a different story.

I just got some long-sleeve baselayer, looking for some wind/water resistant pants and jacket.

Mental preparation I think, is the harder part. Once I'm about a half-mile along my route, being cold is the last thing on my mind. when I'm getting up in the morning, I get goosebumps thinking about walking out into a 60 or colder atmosphere.

I'm starting to wonder what the issues with over-dressing for the cold are, since I'm sure I'll be overprepared

I'm good up until the real cold stuff hits, then I'll need to add a few items to my cycling wardrobe... new shoe covers, gloves, balaclava... things like that... mentally I'm usually good 'till about mid/end of January... Feb-Mar is pure torture :mad:

Can't wait. The days are already noticeably shorter here. That means my morning commute features a sunrise. There are few things more lovely than the colors of a sunrise on a snow covered field.

[But more responsive to Roody's question . . . as usual, I'm wondering whether to upgrade my lights.]

I live in So. Cal. We don't have winter.

Here, maybe 20 days it got below 40. Hope I am ready for it.

Feb-Mar is pure torture :mad:

i agree - these two months are the hardest. i always think the winter isn't too bad through dec and janurary but then it drops another 10 degrees in feb.

march isn't so bad temp wise, but it seems to be a mixed bag of weather. rain, wind, sometimes snow, sometimes nice sunny days. it's hard because you can see the spring in the near future but winter keeps making unscheduled appearances.

I've added knee/arm warmers for my early morning "go fast" rides on my roadie. And on my Breezer, a sweatshirt has become common AM gear. That and a hot cup of joe where the H2O bottle used to be :)

But ya'll are right on all counts. The mental prep is the clincher and Feb/Mar are truly awful! The cold I can deal with but the wind? Ick!

As Joe from Family guy says, "BRING IT ONNNNN!!!"

I ordered my winter tires a couple weeks back, and I allready bought some winter cycling pants. That is a first for me, usually I hit the colds, and then rush out to buy. So I'm feeling a bit more prepared for the winter.

The only thing is that my winter bike needs a major cleaning and overhaul, which is something I've been putting off for a while now. Once the bike is fixed.... BRING IT ONNNN! (sorry jeff-o, I had to use it too :))

Just coming out of winter here, starting to wear shorts and t-shirts again.

It was a pretty mild one. I got rained on about 7 or 8 times over the entire winter season, and got absolutely drenched to the core twice. Most days were warm and sunny with blue skies.

Mentally, the hardest day for me is the first day I wear long pants instead of shorts--my final admission that the carefree (as well as carfree) days of summer are over. That day hasn't come here in Michigan yet, but it soon will. Today I'm wearing a light wool sweater and gloves, but my legs are bare.

Not ready yet - winter clothes are still buried somewhere. But every winter it seems I'm learning to get by with less and less clothing.

My first winter of commuting I'd dress just like George did - remember the Seinfeld ep where George wore this huge puffy coat and couldn't move his arms? :D

Now I'm pretty good to go down into the high 20's with just a wicking undershirt, long sleeve jersey, windbreaker (maybe) and mid-weight tights.

Psychologically - I love morning rides as dawn is breaking even though, in winter, it is often the coldest part of the day. Hardest is late January riding home after work in the cold dreary darkness.

Getting ready...
Those two months (March/Feb) are the nasty ones..but as long as you're prepared with the proper layering and attitude it's really the only two months you have to worry about then it's spring again!!

I've got all my stuff ready, never really wore alot of extra winter gear since the human body generates alot of heat the trick is to not lose it to fast. I've actually been sweating at the end of my ride while I pass people shivering in bus shelters.

Bring on the winter!! c'mon I dare you! -20C and three feet of snow.. "bring it onnn!!"

Not even close to ready...winterizing the house has taken more time (& money) than expected. 48F & pouring rain yesterday morning. I don't mind the snow as much as I do the 35-45F, rainy days.

Are you prepared for winter--mentally or physically? What are you doing to get ready?

No, not even close. In fact, I'm in complete denial. It's early spring, right?

My first winter of commuting I'd dress just like George did - remember the Seinfeld ep where George wore this huge puffy coat and couldn't move his arms? :D
Or the little kid in "Christmas Story" who fell down while running away from the bully and couldn't get up again because of his heavy snowsuit. (And remember--don't lick your bike frame on those real cold days! :D

One thing that helps me get ready psychologically: I think about the Potawotamis and other tribes who used to live in my area. When hunting in the winter, they evidently wore nothing but leggings, and when in camp they would put on a fur robe to stay warm. When properly acclimated, we are like the other animals, capable of maintaining warmth as long as we stay active, and provided we have good shelter when we are inactive.

im working on a new winter bike right now. its a schwinn varsity that i made fixed. here on the lake shore your brakes get filled with snow,slush and god knows what and become useless. i used a varsity because its bomb proof. got a good head light and tail light. im pretty ready i guess.

With the exception of a few auslanders it looks like this thread belongs to us upper states and Canada. :)

This is my first winter being car free, as well as my first winter bicycle commuting. Looks like I jumped in a little too quick but I'm slowly getting there. Building my winter bike right now and have enough clothing to get me thru the ides of November.
I can't wait to see what blows across Lake St. Clair this winter.

Winter here in Seattle, unlike MI, mostly just involves lots of rain gear and wicking undergarments, and a having a bus pass at the ready for the two or three days a year that it actually snows. You don't even have to change tires. But you must have a good light, preferably LED, because it's going to be dark a lot, even in the daytime. It's the lack of light that drives people mad up here in the winter, not the cold, which is wimpy by Chicago/Detroit/Buffalo standards.

Winter here in Seattle, unlike MI, mostly just involves lots of rain gear and wicking undergarments, and a having a bus pass at the ready for the two or three days a year that it actually snows. You don't even have to change tires. But you must have a good light, preferably LED, because it's going to be dark a lot, even in the daytime. It's the lack of light that drives people mad up here in the winter, not the cold, which is wimpy by Chicago/Detroit/Buffalo standards.
I'll take snow over rain any day!

I'll take snow over rain any day!

Especially in the winter.

I'll take snow over rain any day!

Definitely. Rain sucks, especially in winter!

well, i thought i was ready.
then i read this thread... :eek:
this is my first car-free winter and my first bike commuting. i am one of those people who aren't happy unless i am jumping in head first... i just hope there's water in the pool, if you know what i mean.
i'm in the hampton roads area (coastal VA), so it doesn't get too awfully cold here, but it has been known to rain like a mofo for weeks at a time (ok, so maybe not weeks... i am trying to prepare for the worst case here :p ). i think i have enough to stay warm and dry, but i definitely need backups. as of now i have exactly one of everything. it's either get more stuff, or do laundry every other day. :o

well, i thought i was ready.
then i read this thread... :eek:
this is my first car-free winter and my first bike commuting. i am one of those people who aren't happy unless i am jumping in head first... i just hope there's water in the pool, if you know what i mean.
i'm in the hampton roads area (coastal VA), so it doesn't get too awfully cold here, but it has been known to rain like a mofo for weeks at a time (ok, so maybe not weeks... i am trying to prepare for the worst case here :p ). i think i have enough to stay warm and dry, but i definitely need backups. as of now i have exactly one of everything. it's either get more stuff, or do laundry every other day. :o
I think it's largely a matter of planning ahead. The "wicking" fabrics and even polyester fleece will dry overnight in front of a register or radiator. Just remember to set it out to dry as soon as you get home. I have two pairs of pants that I wear only on the bike. These are dark-colored to hide the road dirt. I change out of them when I get to work or a friend's house, etc. This year I'm going to look for some kind of synthetic-fiber pants that will dry faster than the khaki or wool pants I now wear. If you have fenders on your bike, everything will stay dryer and cleaner.

I have started buying small things, socks and stuff. The hardest part for me is waking up in the dark. I am not looking forward to it. I can't afford to stop riding in the winter. Too much trouble in getting back into shape plus I got rid of my car. Motorcity, in their great wisdom decided to discontinue some of their bus routes so once again I have no choose but to ride a bike. Fortunately, I love riding my bike.





Gas, the price of a can of beans.

Yesterday the temperature at 7:00 AM was 75 degrees F. By noon it had plunged to 55 degrees. Today we're getting "lake-effect rain showers," which are only a preview of the lake-effect snows of November and December. I wore my shorts today, but my knees are feeling a little cold and achy in that west wind blowing over Lake Michigan from Canada. Winds are shifting and the hawk is getting ready to fly!

Are you prepared for winter--mentally or physically? What are you doing to get ready?


Riding on a lake !! Riding on a lake !! Yahoo !!

Did I already ask if you have access to a digicam for ice ridng photos?

Definitely. Rain sucks, especially in winter!

Should be: Freezing rain sucks, expecially in winter.:eek:

hell's yea bring on the snow riding!!!!

Riding on a lake !! Riding on a lake !! Yahoo !!

Did I already ask if you have access to a digicam for ice ridng photos?
I'll try to take pics this year. My friend tony rides with unstudded tires and videos of him slip-slidin on the lake would be about as comical as the Three stooges. Unfortunately, with global warming lake riding time is rarer than it used to be. Last year I only got out a couple times all winter. In colder years I've even gone on frozen rivers--miles and miles of isolated splendor.

I'll try to take pics this year. My friend tony rides with unstudded tires and videos of him slip-slidin on the lake would be about as comical as the Three stooges. Unfortunately, with global warming lake riding time is rarer than it used to be. Last year I only got out a couple times all winter. In colder years I've even gone on frozen rivers--miles and miles of isolated splendor.

I never had a chance to ride on a river like that, it sounds great !

Have you seen the Lucas Brunell video of the two guys riding on the river in Boston? They get going as fast as they can and then get off the bike, to see how far they can slide.

If Tony falls a lot he might think it's pretty funny. :)

that video is great!

I never had a chance to ride on a river like that, it sounds great !

Have you seen the Lucas Brunell video of the two guys riding on the river in Boston? They get going as fast as they can and then get off the bike, to see how far they can slide.

If Tony falls a lot he might think it's pretty funny. :)
I've seen some of Brunell's other videos but not that one.

Besides falling and sliding, another funny thing Tony does is pedal real fast on slick ice. The ice under his tire melts from the friction, and he just stays spinning in one spot. He looks like he's riding on rollers at 120 rpm. the faster he pedals, the less foreward movement he has.

I guess the point is, people dread the winter coming, but the real strategy is to learn to enjoy it. Having the right gear is important, but even more important is having the right mental attitude and always stay fun-loving.

I've seen some of Brunell's other videos but not that one.

Besides falling and sliding, another funny thing Tony does is pedal real fast on slick ice. The ice under his tire melts from the friction, and he just stays spinning in one spot. He looks like he's riding on rollers at 120 rpm. the faster he pedals, the less foreward movement he has.

I guess the point is, people dread the winter coming, but the real strategy is to learn to enjoy it. Having the right gear is important, but even more important is having the right mental attitude and always stay fun-loving.

That's right, you have to look for something you like and have fun with it once in a while. It lowers the stress of everything else.

Of course now you need a video camera.;) :D

I'm not ready... but I'm sure it'll be interesting. :D

thinks about the screw pattern for this years' ice racers'

In Farmington, NM here. Yeah the hot and sunny southwest. But this little city is at 5500' elevation, and Jan. and Feb. are cold and usually windy. Occasional rain and snow, but mostly cold bitter wind.
And no, I am not ready yet. But working on it. And thanks for all of the posts to give me some good leads.

SF and the Peninsula doesn't get all that cold, but it'll be cold enough. This is my first biked (?) car-free winter; i've been a ped for 30 years. I have a feeling I'm not ready at all for winter biking. I do know that I'm looking forward to it, though :D

was 5 degrees C this morning

SF and the Peninsula doesn't get all that cold, but it'll be cold enough. This is my first biked (?) car-free winter; i've been a ped for 30 years. I have a feeling I'm not ready at all for winter biking. I do know that I'm looking forward to it, though :D
Of course, Mark Twain said the coldest winter he ever lived through was a summer in San Fransisco. The price you pay for nice winters, I guess. My friend in San Diego whines about the "cold" winters there. "Boo-hoo, I had to wear my parka. It went down to 55 last night." I'm thinking I'd be a happy rider if it went up to 55 this side of next May. ! We had a "frost advisory" already a few nights ago. But Monday it's supposed to be 75, and that's my next day off. Life can be sweet! :)

Of course, Mark Twain said the coldest winter he ever lived through was a summer in San Fransisco. The price you pay for nice winters, I guess. My friend in San Diego whines about the "cold" winters there. "Boo-hoo, I had to wear my parka. It went down to 55 last night." I'm thinking I'd be a happy rider if it went up to 55 this side of next May. ! We had a "frost advisory" already a few nights ago. But Monday it's supposed to be 75, and that's my next day off. Life can be sweet! :)

Living in northern colorado sure is great - as much sun as southern california, they say. The only thing they don't say is that the wind is a near constant in the winter and the humidity hovers around 15%. Getting dehydrated in the cold sure isn't cool.

I plan on wearing shorts most of this winter. The california transplants to the state think the natives are nuts.

Anybody else get snow yet?

We had the shortest autumn I can remember. Less than a week ago I was wearing shorts, today I dug out the long johns. The wind chill now (midday) is 22 deg F, we're geting lake effect snow squalls all over Michigan. It's cool to see the snow on the orange and yellow leaves, and even on some of the trees that still have their green leaves. I Took a nice ride this morning, but the 25 mph winds were fierce.

hear it comes lads!!!!!!

Anybody else get snow yet?

We had the shortest autumn I can remember. Less than a week ago I was wearing shorts, today I dug out the long johns. The wind chill now (midday) is 22 deg F, we're geting lake effect snow squalls all over Michigan. It's cool to see the snow on the orange and yellow leaves, and even on some of the trees that still have their green leaves. I Took a nice ride this morning, but the 25 mph winds were fierce.

You must be more north than Rhode Island?

You must be more north than Rhode Island?

Not much farther north only about 1 degree. More to do with lake effect snows in MI and the way the air moves out of canada in the midwest. Closer to Lake Michigan here we have over 8" of snow, with more coming today.

Yesterday's ride was great. snow everywhere except on the roads.

Not much farther north only about 1 degree. More to do with lake effect snows in MI and the way the air moves out of canada in the midwest. Closer to Lake Michigan here we have over 8" of snow, with more coming today.

Yesterday's ride was great. snow everywhere except on the roads.

Wow. I saw pictures of your snow on the TV this morning. It was in the 60's last night here. :)
Time test ride the bike with studded tires and make sure everything is working, it has not moved in a long time.

Not much farther north only about 1 degree. More to do with lake effect snows in MI and the way the air moves out of canada in the midwest. Closer to Lake Michigan here we have over 8" of snow, with more coming today.

Yesterday's ride was great. snow everywhere except on the roads.
Where you at? Here in Lansing we usually get about 2 inches of snow for every foot you get at the lakeshore. The tradeoff is that it's usually a few degrees colder here in the winter and a little warmer in the summer.

I had a lovely ride last night. It's so freaky seing all that snow on the tree leaves and the green grass. the wind has been killer--30 mph today. My commute home last night averaged 3 mph slower bike speed than usual, bucking the winds.

The forecast is for temps in the 60s by next week. Now I have to remember where I put my riding shorts!