Winter Cycling - Frozen sinuses

It's F-F-FREEZING! This forum inspired me to set aside my trainer and start winter riding in Westchester county NY this January. I've been really comfortable on 40 mile rides down to 34 degrees. However, yesterday I went out in windy 26 degree conditions and found it pretty punishing.

I was comfortable everywhere except a numb face and -the worst part- frozen sinuses from the deep breathing the cold air. I ended up bailing on the ride after only 25 minutes and had a sinus headache for hours afterward.

So hats off to all you hardy riders that persist in going out in temps below 30! I can work around a cold face but I don't think that I can put up with the sinus problem. I'm skeptical that breathing through a face mask will solve this problem for me. Does it make a big difference? How do those of you who ride in the 20s and below deal with this?

During the last week I've seen 4F and 7F when I strated my ride to work. When the temps drop low enough I add a PSolar EX face shield. I normally prefer to ride with just a Skull cap (Turtle Fur in my case) under my helmet. When the temps drop low enough you need to realy protect your face. The upper part of my face (above the eyes) is protected by the scull cap, everything from my nose down is protected by the PSolar face shield. The PSolar face shield has a built in heat exchanger that makes it fairly unique. When you breath out the air passes through a filter. When you breath in the air gets pre-heated by the filter. This helps protect your lungs from having to breath super cold air. The other bennefit is that the air is expelled in a way works much better than the neoprene covers that just have a bunch of holes in it. With the neoprene covers they always gets super slimy and gross. The PSolar mask stays much cleaner and dryer.

Happy riding,
André

I use the PSolar when it gets cold enough. If you wear glasses you may want to include the Vapor Shield. I got the EX on closeout for a much cheaper price. I think I would like the balaclava model better since I do not wear a helmet cover. My balaclava in addition to the PSolar.EX gets a little bulky. But having them separate does give me the ability to remove the PSolar if I do not need it and still have a balaclava. Of course you could store a balaclava in a pocket in case you need it since they are not very big. Something to consider, anyway.

I commuted in Vermont in sub-zero temps and had a few problems
ranging from annoying to serious. An Army man told me the reason I
felt faint after getting off of my bike was because the inside of a
persons lungs can actually freeze over time, reducing their processing
power to nothing and almost suffocating them.

You Made Me Blow My Cool - The Frozen Nostrils

You need to run your incoming air through something if breathing is uncomfortable.

I use a balaclava down to around 5F then add a bird beak mask on top of that.

I don't like breathing through all of that, but it is necessary in order to ride when it is that cold.

During the last week I've seen 4F and 7F...Jusus..remind me never to goto NY!!