Fifty Plus (50+) - Ok, who ordered the cold air

Hello everyone, It is very cold here. I am freezing and I am in my living room at the moment. That is cold.
How does each of you deal with the cold air when it comes to your bikes. I would love to know.

Thanks.;)

Layers, and cold weather specific cycling fabrics.

Rode in this morning to work in the mid teens. Nothing to it. There is plenty of great tech built into winter cycling gear, and plenty of it that works, right down to the toe covers.

After that kind of riding, anything indoors feels positively toasty! :)

- it was cold this morning... 65F w/13-20MPH winds and i had to wear a fleece jacket!

:-)

(everything is relative)

I can't help as I live in L.A., but I was wondering if Tom is still trying to organize an ice ride?

I add layers depending on temperature and on days when temperatures drop below 15F I wear my rainsuit over everything to keep the wind from chilling both my legs and upper torso. I'm nice and comfy.

I do a 4-mile round trip commute, a few times per week. I just wear my 'casual office' clothes under an appropriate-weight coat and gloves, with either ear covers/headband or a balaclava in colder weather. Today was 20F for the trip in, and I wore my fleece headband, lobster gloves, and tennies. I keep my office shoes under my desk.

For club rides in the winter, I layer with wicking stuff underneath, followed by fleece, and a windproof outer layer. Again, something for my ears and hands, depending on the temp, from cotton gloves all the way down to full snowmobile mittens. I'm not afraid to use insulated boots if it gets really cold, but down to about 15F I just stick catalytic toe warmers in my bike shoes and maybe use some toe covers.

If it gets really cold, I'll put a face shield on my helmet. For bent riders, a fairing helps, too.

Check this out...........

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=249840

Layers, and cold weather specific cycling fabrics.

Rode in this morning to work in the mid teens. Nothing to it. There is plenty of great tech built into winter cycling gear, and plenty of it that works, right down to the toe covers.

+1

We use some of our higher tech ski wear as crossover solutions. When we deem it too cold or it is raining, there is spin class. My wife and I road our tandem both days this weekend. The weather was cool 45 to 63 F.

Under Armour, then fleece and then wind pants / wind shirt, gloves and a hat work pretty good for me so far.

A sweater, a flannel shirt, long pants and ski gloves were my ensemble for today. I have a knit cap, heavier shoes and a long sleeved shirt if its too cold.

I've been riding in lower 30 degree weather, and am keeping myself warm, all except my face, need a mask of some kind. Anything colder than that and I haven't been willing to try it, I do go fast enough to create some (little bit) of wind chill!:)

I haven't gotten into cold weather riding, but as skiers race at high speeds through very cold air, it can certainly be done.

As to the fleece jacket when it is in the 60s, I would die from the heat. I wear short sleeve shirts down into the mid-50s.

Perhaps I'll try to get out a bit this winter when it is in the 30s or 20s (i.e. our warmer days)

Based on recommendations by others, I started using visorgogs when the temp drops below 50F and is expected to stay that way all day and found them very helpful to reduce wind induce tearing, expecially on down hill runs. They fit reasonable well below the helmet, not ideal, but ok. At $7 or so much cheaper than ski goggles and better vision as well. Fleece ear covers are necessary below 40F. People vary a great deal on inbuilt antifreeze, I recall one ride a few yrs ago at 38F, one guy showed up in SS jersey and shorts with summer gloves rode bare arm/leg. My rides need long sleeve jerseys below 75F and layering increases as the temp drops. Riding stops in the upper 20sF for me. I have to laugh when I go out at 40F and see a bunch of preteens running around in shorts and tee shirt having a great time while I have three layers and a windblocker.

When I used to run every day including winter no matter how cold (we're northerners after all) I figured shorts until below 40. Add tights, long sleves, and hat till below freezing. Add gloves and windbreaker till below zero F. Add a face cover until below -20 after which I add goggles. Below -20 F there should be absolutely no exposed skin.

I find biking raises those temps by about 10 degrees for each clothing style

(My lower limits for golf were: no play below 50 if raining, no play below 40 if cloudy, and no play below freezing if sunny.)

I will try to find the data but in 1976 it did not get above something like 10f for most of December in Pittsbugh, PA. It was cold in space. This is not cold. It will be in the 40s on Wed.

All of my winter riding clothes have come from the second hand stores- I found a brand new Eddie Bauer down vest for 8$- or Sierra Trading Post closeouts. Layers work great and when I get too hot I put the extra layers in my backpack. If it get really cold-below zero- I might try my snowmobile suit which I bought many years ago for cold weather motorcycling. I also have insulated boots that I bought for the same purpose. I have since sold the motorcycle and bought some good bikes with the money. Best choice I ever made. I am car free and the bus only runs a few hours on the weekend so I get around on the bikes. And I enjoy it!

How cold is cold? if its really cold, say less than 20 F, then its indoors on my trainer, otherwise, layers and layers, wool undies, and a woll hat and some windstopper gloves. Mostly though, here in Montana, if its cold the roads are too icey for me to ride on anyway.

I can't help as I live in L.A.....

Me neither, as I live in Northern CA. I just got back from a pheasant hunting trip to the Oklahoma panhandle (Beaver, Forgan, and the Liberal, KS area)...... BRRRRRRRR.......

Had fun, met some great folks, but I'm glad to be home. Too cold for my candy ass.

The past week has been gloriously cold for us: 28 - 30 F in the mornings, warming to mid-50's in the afternoons, dropping into upper 40's by sunset when I ride home.

I bought an LL Bean Polartec-lined winter coat for a trip to Chicago last spring so I wear it on my daily commute. Best features are the zippers that move from both ends so I can adjust heat generation for comfort. Ear warmers, fleece gloves over my riding gloves. I'm toasty and invigorated by the lower temps! Especially since it's stayed dry so no worry about staying warm AND dry. If it starts to rain too then I'll have to start layering Polartec & Goretex.

30 in the morning, 50s in the afternoon. That's what I look forward to enjoying in late March.

A 100% Merino wool base layer is the answer. I'm also a great fan of "Buffalo" clothing which is sold in the UK. It works well and needs little care.

Like Howsteepitis, up here in ND we don't even consider it cold for riding until you get into the mid 20's and below! It is easy enough keeping warm layering like an onion, (you have to work at it to keep your face warm when it's windy and the wind chill is way down there) but a week ago we had a bad ice storm which left 1/2 inch clear ice all over the roads. Bike has been parked since.
Trying to ride on ice is dangerous. People say that studded tires don't really work. I tend to go out and ride packed gravel roads when it's icy. Put "cheaters" on the clipless pedals and wear my pac boots.
I have a trainer in the basement in front of a TV but its horribly boring. Will switch from the bike to cross country skiis if we'd get some snow instead of ice.
Calhoun Bicycles in Minneapolis has some kind of a fun ice riding event every year in the winter! See their website.