Living Car Free - How's your winter going?

Did you ride all winter or switch over to the bus? Did you find any gear or equipment that worked great this winter? Anything that didn't really work at all? Will you do things differently next year? What problems or challenges did you encounter?

Did you ride all winter or switch over to the bus? Did you find any gear or equipment that worked great this winter? Anything that didn't really work at all? Will you do things differently next year? What problems or challenges did you encounter?

Getting more Fox River wool socks...seems everybody was out of stock including Fox River:rolleyes: Weather here has been unusually mild. Mostly just fog and rain vs our twice a winter ice/snow storm. In fact, headed out to the grocery store in a bit with current temps in the 50's and the sun breaking thru the clouds:D

Aaron:)

Snow's been melting here and the roads are almost completely bare so I've had my good bike out last weekend and this weekend.

Throughout the winter, I've used an old mountain bike with knobby tires to get around. It's done the job nicely but I'm planning on making a few minor changes for next winter.
• Some mechanical and maintenance items are needed. The bottom bracket needs to be replaced as do the brake pads. A complete tune-up and cleaning are also needed.
• Fenders will make a difference. Right now the spray from the roads goes everywhere, making a mess of clothing.
• I may attach a wire basket on my rear rack for hauling groceries or other goods.

We've been using the bus. We're all looking forward to getting bikes back out in a few weeks.

Riding (and walking) all winter, but the weather stays pretty mild here in southern virginia. finally got some fenders and also got a patagonia micropuff pullover on a closeout sale and wear it every cold day. love both.

I got a Land's End squall jacket for Christmas. That kept me warm while riding in minus 20F wind chills with a light sweater underneath. It also sheds snow real well. It's too warm for temps above 20F, even unzipped.

I dug out a neoprene headband, with polar fleece lining, that I got a few years ago. It keeps my ears warmer than just about anything else. Combined with a stocking cap it was also effective in blizzard conditions. I don't have much experience with neoprene, but it looks promising. I think neoprene gloves would be nice.

Some New Balance all-terrain running shoes (model 83) were a disappointment. They weren't very warm and they didn't keep out water very well. They also smell funny. :eek: An older pair of NBs were much more effective and odor free.

My Trek MTB froze up pretty bad a couple times. My previous winter bikes (Specialized Hardrock and Giant Rincon) never had that problem.

Last year, I didn't ride all winter. This year, I made it a point to go out in all of the worst weather.

What I learned about my bike:

-- I have to be careful about my chain lube. It attracts gunk
-- Fixed gear is good for winter.
-- Cross tires are just as good as studded tires, when you live in a city that gets plowed now and again

What I learned about myself:

-- I'm tough.

What I learned about my gear:

-- Spats are way better than rolling up pants
-- Nylon liner-gloves inside of leather work-gloves = soooo good
-- Waterproof boots are good
-- A waterproof shell over several sweaters is way better than a down coat
-- Goggles from the Army Surplus are great for hail. Shaving cream keeps them from fogging.

---------

The other day, on an icy morning, I passed an officer quite legally on the left. He yelled out the window at me, and I ignored him. Later, he caught up to me while I was locking up, and said: "It's dangerous to go that fast on this ice. I said: "Maybe if I were in a car, it would be." :)

No snow here, but we still get fairly cold weather. The coldest I've ridden in this year was 11 degrees Fahrenheit, with a windchill of 3. It's really not that bad, and much like last year I find that I still tend to overdress most of the time. Around here we get a lot of cold rain in the winter, which really sucks. I'd like to see a decent snow just once around here, like it used to be when I was young.

This winter has been cold and snowy. That said it has been an absolute blast to ride in .
It has been warm the last couple of days so the roads have been super slushy. Also fun, but then I have fenders.
I am looking forward to the warmer weather so I can ride my nice bike though.

I've been on the bike for most of the winter, mostly because it rarely gets icy here. On those rare days when it is in fact snowy and slippery, I wimp out and walk or take the bus. I have full rain gear, fenders, and a nice neoprene hat and gloves, so I'm pretty comfortable virtually all the time. Like others, I've discovered that multiple thin layers under a waterproof shell works the best. I have to clean my drivetrain and rims a lot; things can get really gunky in a hurry this time of year. I've stopped using panniers for the time being, opting instead for a waterproof backpack made by Ortlieb. It's easier to ride more aggressively without the panniers, and there's less resistance in a head wind. I may go back to them when it gets hot again; I like arriving at my destination without a sweaty back.

I've been on the bike for most of the winter, mostly because it rarely gets icy here. On those rare days when it is in fact snowy and slippery, I wimp out and walk or take the bus. I have full rain gear, fenders, and a nice neoprene hat and gloves, so I'm pretty comfortable virtually all the time. Like others, I've discovered that multiple thin layers under a waterproof shell works the best. I have to clean my drivetrain and rims a lot; things can get really gunky in a hurry this time of year. I've stopped using panniers for the time being, opting instead for a waterproof backpack made by Ortlieb. It's easier to ride more aggressively without the panniers, and there's less resistance in a head wind. I may go back to them when it gets hot again; I like arriving at my destination without a sweaty back.

One thing I like about a backpack is that it keeps my back warmer. ;)

How have you been cleaning your drive train and rims? One problem is that in the winter they need cleaning the most, but who wants to go out in the cold and clean something? The best I've ever done in winter is wipe stuff with a rag and WD40, but that doesn't work real great. Any tips?

How have you been cleaning your drive train and rims? Any tips?

http://www.brucew.com/gallery/albums/portland-bath/100_2817.sized.jpg

I stand mine up in the shower stall and have at it with the shower massage on the gentle spray setting. Hang by the radiator to dry, then wipe down and relube the chain.

One thing I like about a backpack is that it keeps my back warmer. ;)

How have you been cleaning your drive train and rims? One problem is that in the winter they need cleaning the most, but who wants to go out in the cold and clean something? The best I've ever done in winter is wipe stuff with a rag and WD40, but that doesn't work real great. Any tips?

I keep my bike on the balcony of my apartment, so it's at least protected from the rain if not the cold. To clean the rims, I just use a rag and rubbing alcohol. (I read about that in the Lennard Zinn book, and it works well.) If the break pads are dirty, I'll give them a quick wipe, too. For the drive train, both gears and chain, I just flip the bike upside down and use a rag, followed by an old toothbrush, and then I add a very small amount of chain lube. (I've thought about getting one of those chain bath things, but they seem a little silly to me, so I haven't actually done it.) If I were you, I wouldn't use WD40 on any part of your drive train; it attracts dirt like a magnet, as I discovered to my own considerable dismay last year. The whole routine takes about 10 minutes, once a week or so, more often if it's been slushy or they've gone crazy with the street sanding.

Well, this year was a breeze. The weather was a little warmer and we didn't have any snow. My only change this year is that I tossed my 16 year old raincoat and bought a new rain suit. The bib overalls with it are seriously heavy and difficult to ride in. So I only use the coat and hood unless I am anticipating a downpour.

How have you been cleaning your drive train and rims?
I've done very little in the way of cleaning my bike. My winter bike is a cheap beater and as long as it works, that's all that matters to me. I'll give it a thorough cleaning this spring, after I've taken it off the road for the year. I'll do my maintenance at the same time.

I stand mine up in the shower stall and have at it with the shower massage on the gentle spray setting. Hang by the radiator to dry, then wipe down and relube the chain.
:eek:

I'm sorry, but I'd rather have a dirty bike than a dirty shower!

I keep my bike on the balcony of my apartment, so it's at least protected from the rain if not the cold. To clean the rims, I just use a rag and rubbing alcohol. (I read about that in the Lennard Zinn book, and it works well.) If the break pads are dirty, I'll give them a quick wipe, too. For the drive train, both gears and chain, I just flip the bike upside down and use a rag, followed by an old toothbrush, and then I add a very small amount of chain lube. (I've thought about getting one of those chain bath things, but they seem a little silly to me, so I haven't actually done it.) If I were you, I wouldn't use WD40 on any part of your drive train; it attracts dirt like a magnet, as I discovered to my own considerable dismay last year. The whole routine takes about 10 minutes, once a week or so, more often if it's been slushy or they've gone crazy with the street sanding.

Thanks, I'll try the alcohol on rims and pads. I only use the WD40 on the bottom of the frame, not on moving parts. Well maybe the jockey wheels sometimes. As for the chain, I never clean it--only lube it--and I don't notice excessive wear. I've been using White Lightnin' wet weather lube this winter. It works well but it gets so thick in the cold weather that it's hard to squeeze out of the bottle. I need to start storing it in the house instead of in the garage.

Rode all winter. The edge is pretty much gone from it now, i'm back to riding around in birkenstocks :D
it was a good season.

Equipment that worked great:
Xtracycle: they aren't lying about it being good in winter. The long wheelbase really makes it a stable experience, even on wet powder over ice, over gravel.
Whatever grease is in my Rocky Mountain Fusion: I just bought this bike, and was really surprised to see that even in the deep freeze of -30C or worse, my freewheel has *no* trouble engaging. I wish I knew what grease they packed in there.
Wooly wicking socks: incredible improvement over cotton. No brainer there, I just hadn't bought any before.
Schwalbe Ice Spiker tires: 130lbs of groceries over uneven, wet ice? Check.


What did not work:
Shimano M465 Disk brakes: I have had the Worst experience with these. After having gone from Avid v-brakes over to these, I was expecting to experience disk brakes for the first time and see what everyone raves about: well, they aren't fun, at all. The bike shop calibrated them for me and they seemed to work fine, for about 40 minutes of riding. Now, the rear wheel skreeeeeaks on braking, and has so little braking power I can get off the bike, grab the lever and roll the bike around the ground with the wheel turning. Being my first pair, I have no idea how to calibrate them yet. I was going to work on that tomorrow, actually.

They're extremely noisy when they get even slightly cold or wet, and the braking power on them sort of "wavers" like you get when you have a rim with a bump in it. There's either something seriously wrong with both brakes, or they're just utter Junk.

If it turns out they're just honestly junk, I may try some Avid BB7s, as they seem to get a good review. Does anyone know how to keep disk brakes from making so much noise when they're even just a tiny bit wet though?

The biggest problem i've yet encountered is that I will simply admit to being a rustophobe. Its nice that the Rocky Mountain frame won't rust, but the Xtracycle is made in California. I spent several hours spraying the insides of the tubing with rust proofing, covering the snapdeck, taping the uprights closed, and going over the tongue, eyelets, and brake mounts with rust paint.

Next year, the only thing i'm going to do differently is hopefully have more functional, enjoyable brakes.

This winter, with the acquisition of a winter beater with studded tires, I have been able to get through the last impediment to full winter certification, snow. Last year I did cold down to 15 below (F) but my main commuter was too heavy for plowing through snow. The winter beater is kept light (fenders and lights, no other attachments) and is easier to move and control in snow. In the worst case, I could carry it and walk.

Now that I have earned the four advanced commuter certifications (for which I am still trying to design patches) of rain, darkness, cold, and snow, I am looking for the next challenge in moving from car mobility to bicycle mobility. I think that is going to be grocery shopping. I need some project to keep my motivation up.

Been an awful winter for me. Unable to ride due to ice, then we had a huge snowstorm and the plows piled all the snow on the inner lanes and sidewalks making it too congested to road ride. Been on the bus for two months and it sucks

Things I learned this winter:

Windproof shell over hoodie and other shirt is very comfortable, even with a -30 windchill.

Boots without holes will need to be purchased before next winter, because I know I'm too lazy/forgetful to tape them or put baggies over my feet.

Fenders do not necessarily equal dry and clean upon reaching destination (i.e. do not wear work pants on the bike in the winter).

Smartwool makes an excellent underlayer.

Very light track bike w/skinny tires + 40lbs of groceries on the back = very cautious and annoying ride home. I know to use a bike with some substance now.

Apparently, very, very cold temperatures make it very difficult for drivers to pay attention to anything but themselves.

That's all.
Overall, fantastic and fun winter riding (made it out every single day this year), but very happy to see spring around the corner!

Stuff I learned:

1. WI bikes need studded tires, even when everyone says "but we never have ice here!"

2. WI bikers need long underwear, wool pants, squall jackets, wool socks, wool sweaters, wool hats, and wool mittens. My down jacket failed catastrophically in a freak rain/ice storm this winter, and I was *very* lucky that it didn't end with me in the ER.

3. Trying to bike through the worst winter on record is a dumb idea, especially when you're used to California winters. I planned on walking and buses since I'm not acclimated. That was the smartest thing I've done all winter. We've had over 6 feet of snow (2m) so far, and if things continue, we may hit over 8 feet. Even the natives are having trouble.

4. Have backup hats, gloves, mittens, scarves... if it can get wet, it will. Plan ahead so you are not caught short with nothing dry.

5. As long as I'm active, I stay pretty warm.

6. Yup, my mittens still flunk at warm when it's below 10F. Fat yarn does not make good mittens. Am working on a New! Improved! design.



Stuff I already knew:

1. Hypothermia makes you stupid.

2. Wool is good.

3. Snow is evil.

I had my first bit of excitement this past week. I pumped up my tire about 5 psi more than normal one morning and after getting out of class, I found my tube had exploded. It was probably due to the temperate change (about 30 degrees when i left and 65 or so when i got out of class). Regardless, my rim was way out of true and I had my first experience with a truing stand. Luckily a friend had one I could borrow. Fun times.

I had my first bit of excitement this past week. I pumped up my tire about 5 psi more than normal one morning and after getting out of class, I found my tube had exploded. It was probably due to the temperate change (about 30 degrees when i left and 65 or so when i got out of class). Regardless, my rim was way out of true and I had my first experience with a truing stand. Luckily a friend had one I could borrow. Fun times.

I wonder if the crooked rim had anything to do with the tube popping?

Stuff I learned:

1. WI bikes need studded tires, even when everyone says "but we never have ice here!"

2. WI bikers need long underwear, wool pants, squall jackets, wool socks, wool sweaters, wool hats, and wool mittens. My down jacket failed catastrophically in a freak rain/ice storm this winter, and I was *very* lucky that it didn't end with me in the ER.

3. Trying to bike through the worst winter on record is a dumb idea, especially when you're used to California winters. I planned on walking and buses since I'm not acclimated. That was the smartest thing I've done all winter. We've had over 6 feet of snow (2m) so far, and if things continue, we may hit over 8 feet. Even the natives are having trouble.

4. Have backup hats, gloves, mittens, scarves... if it can get wet, it will. Plan ahead so you are not caught short with nothing dry.

5. As long as I'm active, I stay pretty warm.

6. Yup, my mittens still flunk at warm when it's below 10F. Fat yarn does not make good mittens. Am working on a New! Improved! design.



Stuff I already knew:

1. Hypothermia makes you stupid.

2. Wool is good.

3. Snow is evil.

Great post and I was totally with you until the very end when you said "snow is evil." I think just the opposite. Snow is so pure and it covers up ugly imperfections of the world. I think it's cool that the world totally changes color 4 times a year: Bright green in the spring, dark green in summertime, red, orange and yellow in fall, and white in winter.

I rode all winter. Florida is great during the winter! The coldest it got here was 32F with wind chill. That was it. I just doubled on some light glove liners and wore socks with my shoes (usually it's warm enough to go sockless) hahah.

Although FL is great on not having to deal with the cold snowy weather, I do miss the snow. It's been 2yrs. since I've been able to snowboard and I miss it. There also isn't much in terms of watching the seasons change.

I wonder if the crooked rim had anything to do with the tube popping?

Nah, I know for sure the rim was perfectly true (or very close) prior to the incident; however, the spokes may have been a bit loose.

You guys are more badass than me. I don't ride on ice or snow, although I will ride on clean pavement at any temperature. So far in 2008 I drove the car to work once, took public transit 22 days, and only got 7 bike commute days in, and it's snowing again right now. Mind you I did get four days of skiing in, so that's one perk of winter.

You guys are more badass than me. I don't ride on ice or snow, although I will ride on clean pavement at any temperature. So far in 2008 I drove the car to work once, took public transit 22 days, and only got 7 bike commute days in, and it's snowing again right now. Mind you I did get four days of skiing in, so that's one perk of winter.

For me winter cycling is a matter of necessity, not being badass. I can easily take a bus or walk to work. But I finish my shift at 11:30 PM, an hour after the last bus runs. My choices are taxi ($10 a trip), walk (seems risky, takes too long when I just want to get home) or bum a ride (co-workers and friends would get tired of that!). Riding is just more practical in my situation.

The important thing is to have the right gear and bike. With that in place, winter riding is very practical. In a city, there are only a few days a season that riding is more difficult than usual. Cold isn't an issue because your activity keeps you warm. Snow is a problem mainly when it's falling and for a few hours after it stops--just like for driving and even buses. Ice lingers on low-traffic roads for weeks, but the main roads are always ice free.

Great post and I was totally with you until the very end when you said "snow is evil." I think just the opposite. Snow is so pure and it covers up ugly imperfections of the world. I think it's cool that the world totally changes color 4 times a year: Bright green in the spring, dark green in summertime, red, orange and yellow in fall, and white in winter.

:) For me it is evil. I really don't enjoy seasonal changes since I find temperatures under 70F really pretty uncomfortable. Mostly, I'm happiest when I'm warm. Haven't really been warm for about 3 full months, and I'm getting tired of it. The pretty visuals just don't make up for it. Having a use for my knitting *also* doesn't make up for it, since I start needing sweaters at about 60F *g*.

For me winter cycling is a matter of necessity, not being badass. I can easily take a bus or walk to work. But I finish my shift at 11:30 PM, an hour after the last bus runs. My choices are taxi ($10 a trip), walk (seems risky, takes too long when I just want to get home) or bum a ride (co-workers and friends would get tired of that!). Riding is just more practical in my situation.

The important thing is to have the right gear and bike. With that in place, winter riding is very practical. In a city, there are only a few days a season that riding is more difficult than usual. Cold isn't an issue because your activity keeps you warm. Snow is a problem mainly when it's falling and for a few hours after it stops--just like for driving and even buses. Ice lingers on low-traffic roads for weeks, but the main roads are always ice free.

Ice/snow is pretty much the only thing that will keep me off the bike at this point. Like several others on this forum, I laugh at the cold, wind and driving rain, and I really don't even notice rude or inattentive drivers any more (after a while, you can tell when they're about to do something that might hurt you even before they do it). Ice, however, is a scary deal-breaker. It's all that thinking about sliding around and falling down that makes me whip out the bus pass. Fortunately for me, I live in an area that's pretty mild compared to say, Chicago or St. Paul, and also happens to have a kick-ass bus system.

Ice/snow is pretty much the only thing that will keep me off the bike at this point. Like several others on this forum, I laugh at the cold, wind and driving rain, and I really don't even notice rude or inattentive drivers any more (after a while, you can tell when they're about to do something that might hurt you even before they do it). Ice, however, is a scary deal-breaker. It's all that thinking about sliding around and falling down that makes me whip out the bus pass. Fortunately for me, I live in an area that's pretty mild compared to say, Chicago or St. Paul, and also happens to have a kick-ass bus system.

TEHO. I'd much rather ride in snow or even ice than rain. I've been known to spend an hour parked under a bridge waiting for a rain shower to pass. I guess it's a good thing that you ride in Washington and I ride in Michigan. :)

Ditto on the fox river socks. I love them. I've been riding all winter so far, with a few cab trips during the worst of the snow to stock up on groceries.

Ice is fun and easy if you just have good studs on. The problem only comes with dense snow that gets too deep to ride through. The only way around that is with a fatbike designed to float on it, like they use for the iditasport.

I tried riding throughout the winter. Baltimore didn't really get too bad, so I've been basically riding random small rides throughout the entire season. One thing I learned quickly - bike shorts don't work well below 4 deg C. Also, I never did find a good combination of jackets and underlayers that would keep me comfortable below 4 C. One last thing - ice sucks on old road bikes. I slipped and gashed up my leg pretty badly on some ice at the furthest point of a 50 mile ride. I was dripping blood all the way back :-D

Looking forward to spring, now that skiing season is basically over here...

I am back in the saddle again. Basically took off Dec, Jan and Feb...I just couldn't hack it in the windy cold. This is my first work day of March. The ride was dry this morning but is supposed to rain the rest of the day and then turn to a wintery mix. Hopefully, I can now ride from March to November.

Winter, what winter? I didn't see much winter here... I have to say that I am actually disappointed. We had a few sub zero (Celsius) days, but that's about it. Now the sun is back and we are waiting for the spring down pours. I miss winter... and I am saying this from farther north than Montreal. Brittany, where somehow weather has been domesticated.

More snow and rain this week.

As long as I'm active, I stay pretty warm.

Very true, although there are some exceptions. If you are extremely wet, or extremely under-dressed for the weather, you can get cold while physically active. And physical activity heats up your body core while doing only a little to reduce your chance of frostbite to bare skin or fingers/toes.

Very true, although there are some exceptions. If you are extremely wet, or extremely under-dressed for the weather, you can get cold while physically active. And physical activity heats up your body core while doing only a little to reduce your chance of frostbite to bare skin or fingers/toes.

Frostbite isn't likely if the air temperature is above zero degrees F (wind chill above -18F). But I agree to watch out for hypothermia any time you get wet, whether from rain or sweat. Even if it's 60F, you can lose body heat quickly if you're wet.

Hypothermia makes you stupid, so if you get cold enough to start shivering, warm up and try to put on more clothes. This is less likely to happen if you're riding hard, but watch out when you stop.

6 to 10 inches of snow tomorrow. And we've had a total of 1" so far all winter. I've been told to stay home if things don't seem passable. Looks like it may be a snow day at work. :)

So, the other day the mechanic at the shop gave me a quick run down on the M465 brakes, they're actually pretty easy to modulate and they work well after being adjusted, I suppose they're not so horrible after all. My initial impression was probably generated by the sales guy adjusting them out the door, instead of the mechanic - should've been the mechanic to begin with, but things are pretty spiffy now.

So far I have not missed a day of bike commuting, so my winter goes well.

So far I have not missed a day of bike commuting, so my winter goes well.

Groan. There are large snowbanks on my street that ooze water during the day, which freezes on the street and sidewalk as glare ice overnight. Every night. Another blizzard expected tonight or tomorrow. Toronto is usually pretty much snow free by now.

Not much snow here in Ky. usually in March. But today about 6" when I came home, that's about as much as my slick tired SS can handle. MY commute is all uphill to, and all downhill from, and it got a little hairy on the way home. When I go out tomorrow I'll be taking the mountain bike with knobbies.

i'll have to start by saying i'm a dumbass for not using a fender till a year after i started commuting. it's nice to have a dry ass at work on a slushy day.

as for the low 30 degree days, i stil think there better then 90 degree days.. i don't need a shower when i get to my girlfriends house or have a stripe of sweat across my chest.

Update on winter here...it was 78 degrees yesterday:eek: Next week will be much better riding weather, in the mid to upper 60's. Got a dyno hub mounted on my Compact RSW so that will be my bike of the week for next week. I was supposed to go to NYC this weekend, I was going to look up David at Bfold and check out some folders, but with the weather forecast and couple of flights getting canceled I decided to wait.

Picked up a copy of "Bicycle the history" by David V. Herlihy, gotta love that bargain book bin.:p

Need to get my butt in the shop and get some of the bigger projects wrapped up, but every time I look at one I think of another $100 worth of parts I think I need:rolleyes:

Aaron:)

For me winter cycling is a matter of necessity, not being badass. I can easily take a bus or walk to work. But I finish my shift at 11:30 PM, an hour after the last bus runs. My choices are taxi ($10 a trip), walk (seems risky, takes too long when I just want to get home) or bum a ride (co-workers and friends would get tired of that!). Riding is just more practical in my situation.

The important thing is to have the right gear and bike. With that in place, winter riding is very practical. In a city, there are only a few days a season that riding is more difficult than usual. Cold isn't an issue because your activity keeps you warm. Snow is a problem mainly when it's falling and for a few hours after it stops--just like for driving and even buses. Ice lingers on low-traffic roads for weeks, but the main roads are always ice free.

+1 Would have to catch the bus at 630pm to start at 10pm

1st year LCF and what I'm learning this winter:
how to adapt. my limits. my gear's limits. if my tights are good down to 20f, I can probably use less bulky top layers. typically I'm sweaty by the time I get to work. watching the weather, headwinds, heavy snow, changing clothes, and icy ruts on the street suck. cold by itself isn't as bad as people think.

Short commute 8.4mi RT at night. Rode everyday except bummed rides 6 times during active ice storm and tail end of heavy snows. Took the bus once when my ride home forgot about me :(

The good:
...Performance windproof balaclava - very windproof, waterproof, warm. probably too warm over 30F
...NEOS overshoes - large and clunky but tennis shoes and rag wool socks good to -10F wind chills, waterproof
...Cannondale LE Bad weather tights - initially didn't like but they shed water and are tolerable down to 20F.
...Ski goggles: dual lens, rarely fog keep eyes and nose protected. need to get a clear lens instead of gold mirror with tint for night riding

OK gear:
...Nokian W106 studded tires. Bought into the marketing that said studded tires are all you need for winter. They are great for smooth ice and good until the snow gets heavy, slushy, or frozen and rutted. Need a better system for hard packed snow that breaks apart.
...Polarfleece gloves: very warm, windproof, water resistant. bulky but I have grip shifters, stay sweaty on the inside
...Pogies. These things are bulky (Cabela's brand) but great for keeping hands warm during heavy winds and also for keeping freezing rain off the shifters and brake levers.

Winter doesn't want to let go this year! We've missed the last couple snowstorms which went to the south of us, but it's stayed cold, with only one or two days when temps went above freezing. I rode across a frozen lake near my house Thursday, and plan to do the same tomorrow. Life doesn't get much better than that!

Gloves=no-name mittens made of a double layer of Ragg wool with a layer of "Thinsulate" in the middle. These have kept my hands warm down to -25 deg F wind chills, the coldest I rode in this winter. I guess I have warm-blooded feet. They've stayed warm in all-terrain running shoes with wool socks. (But I didn't ride for more than an hour at a time in the severe cold this year.)

Did you ride all winter or switch over to the bus? Did you find any gear or equipment that worked great this winter? Anything that didn't really work at all? Will you do things differently next year? What problems or challenges did you encounter?

I bummed a ride home once and caught the bus to pick up my bike. I would have thought I'd have done the bus more often - this is my first car-free winter - but, then again, I didn't think the Xtracycle would want to ride so much when I first got it, either.
I agree about the Nokkian W106's - they're okay for most of what I've had to deal with, but some of this winter has been beyond them. I found that riding the Gazelle on just plain bitter cold days was also a good idea - not just the studded-tire-worthy ones - as I warmed up a lot faster.
Somebody told me their doctor told them that getting acclimated to colder weather included having more capillaries sending hot blood out to the extremities. That makes sense to me, as it would explain how my hands and feet are warm when others' are cold. It's tailwind-and-single-digit days that have been actually cold... but if I'm on the Gazelle I'm usually okay 'cause it's so much work to push a 50-pound bike with studded tires anywhere :)

Too much ice and snow for me. I did not ride as much this winter. I did get a chance to ride with studded tires and a disc brake. Hopefully spring is around the corner.


Gas, 69 cents the price of a can of beans