Winter Cycling - Tips & tricks thread?

I like the tips & tricks thread in the touring forum, and I think one would be useful here.
Here's a few tricks that worked for me:

Sweaty hands:
It hasn't been extremely cold here lately, so my hands kept getting really sweaty and I'd constantly be taking my gloves on and off which was really annoying, especially in the snow. I found that if i roll my sleeves up (leaving bare skin), it keeps my hands cooler and stops them from sweating like crazy, and is much easier to control.

Cold feet:
I moved my panniers from the back of my bike to the front using a low rider rack, so they block a lot of the wind on my feet which helps keep them warm. So far it hasn't affected my stability enough to be a problem.

When it is cold wear mittens. When it is really cold bring your thumb into the finger compartment and make a fist. You can make a fist inside a glove as well.

Paul

I use a dollar-store showercap as a rain/snow cover for my helmet. When I arrive at my destination I pull it off my helmet and it doubles as a saddle cover. They seem tailor-made for the application.

Here's one on my helmet:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4008/4188812406_bfc8e0934b_m.jpghttp://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4188812826_e33ae974a6_m.jpg

And again on my saddle:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2522/4188813232_78b625976c_m.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2701/4188813604_5bd78a4c3b_m.jpg

I wore latex gloves under my regular gloves this morning (temperatures were around 15F). Fingers were a bit chilly at first, but very warm after the 15 minutes of riding.

I had read that the latex gloves would help by blocking wind. In my case, they worked more like a wetsuit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetsuit). The warm sweat from my hands insulated my fingers perfectly.

Now, if only they made latex socks, I'd be golden.

I use a dollar-store showercap as a rain/snow cover for my helmet. When I arrive at my destination I pull it off my helmet and it doubles as a saddle cover. They seem tailor-made for the application.

I like that idea. I'm going to try that one. Good tip.

Dollar stores are so awesome - even though they seem be renamed to "Under $2 Store" now.

I liked the idea that few people mentioned in other threads: taking a small thermos of hot tea (or coffee) for the commute ride on cold days. I never occurred to me!

Speaking of sweaty hands and AngrySaki original post: I'm thinking about cutting the cuff off of a pair of winter gloves to allow for some air circulation. The top of the palm can easily be protected using oily cream, it's really the fingers that need warmth but all really warm gloves have thick cuffs and no air circulation and cause my palms to sweat too much.

Adam

. . .Now, if only they made latex socks. . .

Use the plastic sleeves the newspaper is delivered in bad weather. . .over the sock. . .pull on tights over 'em. . .then the shoe [well, DUH]. They last about three rides and get you a couple more cheap degrees lower temperature. Mind, over 40 degrees F. the sweat thing overcomes the cold benefit.

I've heard of folks using bread bags on their feet.

This tip isn't specific to winter cycling but it's a good one nonetheless (I borrowed it from elsewhere on this forum.) My u-lock wouldn't fit anywhere on my frame so since I only run one pannier I use the other side of the rack for my lock:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2491/4188811520_be0e23750d.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4188050043_56a1ec4270.jpg

The bungee keeps it from jumping around and making a racket.

This tip isn't specific to winter cycling but it's a good one nonetheless (I borrowed it from elsewhere on this forum.) My u-lock wouldn't fit anywhere on my frame so since I only run one pannier I use the other side of the rack for my lock:

The bungee keeps it from jumping around and making a racket.

Yeah, and keeping the weight low and in the rear helps with pedaling and steering in the snow.

I wore latex gloves under my regular gloves this morning (temperatures were around 15F). Fingers were a bit chilly at first, but very warm after the 15 minutes of riding.

I had read that the latex gloves would help by blocking wind. In my case, they worked more like a wetsuit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetsuit). The warm sweat from my hands insulated my fingers perfectly.

Now, if only they made latex socks, I'd be golden.

What you are describing is a vapour barrier layer. Water cools your skin 25x faster than air, the water is not what is keeping your warm. What is really happening is the vapour barrier(latex glove or breadbags) is preventing the insulation in your gloves/boots from becoming moist, which compromises it's insulating power.

A vapour barrier is best worn next to the skin, directly over the hands and feet, and then covered up with a wool sock or fleece glove/mitten. Extended use isn't recommended... damp feet for days=very bad.

Vapour barriers were widely used by our troops in Korean war to stop people from losing feet to the cold, the boots the army made were called "bunny boots"

Something I have not tried: some of the car washing soaps have wax and are supposed to wash and wax your car in one step. Perhaps washing the salt off with one of these products will leave enough wax to serve as a rust preventative, without having to wax your bike and winding up with chalky dust trapped in the crevices where it may serve to hold salt.

Also, I believe the latex glove thing works because when your outer gloves get wet they lose their insulation value.

Speaking of sweaty hands and AngrySaki original post: I'm thinking about cutting the cuff off of a pair of winter gloves to allow for some air circulation. The top of the palm can easily be protected using oily cream, it's really the fingers that need warmth but all really warm gloves have thick cuffs and no air circulation and cause my palms to sweat too much.

If you try this, I'd be interested in the results. The thought crossed my mind but I'm not sure I want to cut up my gloves yet.

Not to shill for costco or anything, but if you have a costco membership, there are some good winter clothing and gloves on sale right now.

Paradox underlayers are really good at keeping you dry even if you get sweaty.
Hotfingers 3-in-1 mitts & gloves are very warm and don't make your hands sweat profusely. get at least one size larger than a perfect fit, as it's a 2 piece sweat wicking glove & water/wind shell mitt system.

if you are going to cover your clothing in plastic bags to block out wind, be sure you have a sweat wicking layer on underneath and make sure you have a small cutout at the back which will act as a chimney for evaporated sweat, instead of having it condense on your clothing, chilling you further.



Cold feet:
I moved my panniers from the back of my bike to the front using a low rider rack, so they block a lot of the wind on my feet which helps keep them warm. So far it hasn't affected my stability enough to be a problem.

I've tried this before, and it would be better to use machka's method of keeping feet warm. On windy days with plenty of gusts, the panniers act like a wind sail and either send you into the next lane, snow bank or down to the ground. Add to this, with the extra weight on the front , it is more likely to make you endo when braking hard.


http://www.machka.net/whatworks/coldfeet.htm

someone used my motel shower cap idea. I got sky diving goggles - is that helpful? I'm hoping to use them tomorrow.

reminds me of a Groucho Marx comment/joke ...: "you want a tip? I'll give you a tip. get out of the business!" it was all in his delivery

When washing the salt off your bike, make sure to clean the inside of the steerer tube. I had a fork with a steel steerer and it really pitted up in a few spots. The pits were deep and large enough that I was concerned the steerer tube was going to start to crack.

Many of the higher strength steels are less resistant to corrosion than ordinary hi-ten.

When I put in a new fork, I used some leftover rustoleum to coat the inside of the steer tube.

Most steerers I have seen were open to the elements even if you run a fender.

I spray my feet with anti-perspirant before "socking up". My feet do not sweat and are warmer for it.
I wear a thin pair of glove liners, beneath my winter gloves, that wick away moisture thus keeping my hands dry and warm.
I apply Vasoline Intensive Care lotion to my legs, arms, face and hands prior to kitting up and going riding or running in very cold weather...it is -1f now and I'll be running for an hour in a bit...keeps my skin from drying out.

I keep the seat low enough so when I coast I have one foot on a pedal and the other in front of a pedal, ready to step on the ground if I slip on some ice. This has saved me several times from tipping over.

During fall or winter I keep a jar lid velcro'd to my saddle rack. I rip the jar lid off before I rest the bike on the kick stand. This keep the kickstand from sinking a few inches into a mucky lawn. When towing kid trailer or loading the panniers this often keeps my bike from tipping over.

During fall or winter I keep a jar lid velcro'd to my saddle rack. I rip the jar lid off before I rest the bike on the kick stand. This keep the kickstand from sinking a few inches into a mucky lawn.
I for one prefer to file my kickstands to a point during the fall or winter. On one of our wet days when it's hovering around freezing and everything is covered with wet ice, it keeps the bike from blowing away if there's a wind. ;)

Before parking my bike outside the office, I shift to a "universal" gear. If the gears freeze, I will at least make it back home. I do this especially in slushy weather while the temperature fluctates around the freezing point.

if you've ridden through a lot of slop, undo the QR on your wheels and give your fenders a good kick so that the slop won't freeze into solid blocks of ice, that weld your tires to your fenders.

Dont forget to regularly lube your parts in the winter.

-Repack your bottom bracket, headset, and hubs in the fall.
-Lube your cables weekly, after lubing, dab a glob of grease at each cable housing end.
-Dont forget to lube your gear shifters and brake levers.
-Lightly spray lube on the outside of your derailers, hubs, bottom bracket, seat post, quick release levers and any other exposed metal before each ride.

I take my 1st grader to school in the morning, about 2km, after which I have a 4km ride to the office. He usually rides his own bike but when the weather or, more to the point, road surface, is dodgy, I hook up the tag-along to the mtb. I've discovered the added benefit for me is that in mucky, fishtail-inducing snow, the tag-along acts as a drag anchor and inhibits the back end form coming around.

Oh, yeah, just installed conti ice spikers 240 as well. Very choice.

Dont forget to regularly lube your parts in the winter.

-Repack your bottom bracket, headset, and hubs in the fall.
-Lube your cables weekly, after lubing, dab a glob of grease at each cable housing end.
-Dont forget to lube your gear shifters and brake levers.
-Lightly spray lube on the outside of your derailers, hubs, bottom bracket, seat post, quick release levers and any other exposed metal before each ride.
Sounds like sound advice. What type of lube do you recommend, and is lithium grease good for the "dab a glob" you mentioned?

For shifters and cables (not drivetrain) I use silicone spray for winter lube. It doesn't gum up in the very cold.

-Repack your bottom bracket, headset, and hubs in the fall.
-Lube your cables weekly, after lubing, dab a glob of grease at each cable housing end.
-Dont forget to lube your gear shifters and brake levers.
-Lightly spray lube on the outside of your derailers, hubs, bottom bracket, seat post, quick release levers and any other exposed metal before each ride.

I'd add to that if you use clipless, relube the cleats. I'm currently trying to get my cleats off my old shoes so i can put them on my new lake boots.

I've had a problem with frozen thumbs at below-freezing temps. I wear Saucony running gloves as liners under ski mittens, and usually my hands are fine. But, we've been having windy 0 degree nights (I ride home from work at 11pm), and by the time I make it home (6 miles) my thumbs are painfully cold.

To solve this wind issue, I cut a hole in the bottom corner of a couple 1 gallon plastic ziplock bags and slipped them over my handlebars. The bar ends on the mountain bike help keep the baggies in the right position since I have those bar ends that make an almost 90 degree angle out in front of the brakes.

Essentially, this is a poor mans poggie and REALLY cuts down on wind chill on your hands! I'll take a few pictures when I get home tonight.

Put a few drops of cycling oil in the cable housing going into your rear derailluer. Do this occasionally. It will work itself down quickly. It will help you shift in frigid temps.

If your riding in frigid temperatures. Get good gear. It's worth the comfort.

Consider these. http://www.onlygloves.com/winter-gloves/womens/loki3wayaccessmit.cfm#ReviewHeader

Okay, here are some pics of the frostbite fightin' baggies, as promised! And obviously I would be wearing gloves when my hand is in the baggie.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af277/pmcadamis/100_3442.jpg
http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af277/pmcadamis/100_3439.jpg
http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af277/pmcadamis/100_3440.jpg

+1 ziplock pogies

I find that when it warms up, the pogies trap moisture, so if you're riding without gloves they give you a clammy feeling when they stick to back of your hands. Wearing a light glove works great. They're good for rain, because soggy wet gloves are no fun, either. I wrapped packing tape over the hole where the cabling passes thru, and that keeps the bag from continuing to rip open wider. I roll up the mouth of the bag to make it easier to place my hands on the bars and it helps shape them open.

Sounds like sound advice. What type of lube do you recommend, and is lithium grease good for the "dab a glob" you mentioned?

I havent found anything that works really well, I use wheel bearing grease. It will gob up in the real cold though.

Another tip, dont try to wash your bike when its below freezing... Or just after it warmed up from a below freezing night and the metal on the bike is really cold. I tried to clean the dirt off my bike the other day with soap and water, I couldnt dry it quick enough, it kept freezing to the metal.

Does anyone have a tip to keep freezing fog from collecting on your glasses?

i like using a 5 speed 20" rear rim during winter so i can keep my feet on the ground on the really icy days. plus it moves your weight back. i also make sure my tires are at least 35psi because if they get too low i end up just spinning my tires more than i move.

You sweat, you die.
- Les Stroud (http://lesstroud.ca/)
:thumb:

Good howto on winterizing an extracycle: http://www.webikeeugene.org/index.php/2010/10/how-to-waterproof-your-xtracycle/

Gloves and toe covers! Thatll help with the hands and cold toes!

On really sloppy days, I spray the underside of the downtube, BB and chainstays with Pam cooking spray. I give the underside of the fenders a good spritz, too, helps keep them from icing up and rubbing on the tire. It's just vegetable oil so it's biodegradable, unlike WD40. Won't displace water at all, but the schmutz just wipes right off. Especially handy if you keep your bike locked up outside.

Check out your local salvation army for clothing. Spent $3.50 and came home with a pair of gloves, 2 hats, neck gaiter, and ear warmers.
182460

if you have disc brakes and particularly avid elixir crs take out the brake pad retaining bolts occasionally and lightly smear with grease to stop them seizing in the caliper. Alternatively (as I had did) just throw them away and replace with split pins. If the bolts seize in the caliper (which one of mine did) you might have to throw the brake away because drilling them out is not so easy as the caliper body is soft aluminium while the bolt is very hard steel. In my case I managed to cut the bolt up with a dremel and slot the head to get the bolt out but it was a close thing.

A split pin? aka a cotter pin? i don't think that provides enough clamping force...? Maybe an m6 anchor bolt?

A split pin? aka a cotter pin? i don't think that provides enough clamping force...? Maybe an m6 anchor bolt?
I was referring to the brake pad retaining bolt- this doesn´t exert any clamping force at least on my avid elixirs- it just goes through the hole in the brake pads and stops them exiting the brake- some brakes, e.g. at least one model of Shimano LX, have a split pin here as standard (albeit usually the lower end brakes).

I was referring to the brake pad retaining bolt- this doesn´t exert any clamping force at least on my avid elixirs- it just goes through the hole in the brake pads and stops them exiting the brake- some brakes, e.g. at least one model of Shimano LX, have a split pin here as standard (albeit usually the lower end brakes).

Ah, sorry. Misread your original post.

Here area few things I've learned:

1. Carry an extra layer to put on in case of a mechanical, yours or someone else's
2. Keeping your legs warm is key to keeping your feet warm
3. Metal cleats conduct heat away from the bottom of your feet, the hardest part to keep warm. Plastic cleats conduct less and are noticably more comfortable.

I am not sure if this has been mentioned, probably has, but I saw someone the other day sporting zip ties to ride through the snow..

191746

Okay, here are some pics of the frostbite fightin' baggies, as promised! And obviously I would be wearing gloves when my hand is in the baggie.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af277/pmcadamis/100_3442.jpg
http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af277/pmcadamis/100_3439.jpg
http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af277/pmcadamis/100_3440.jpg

+1 to the cheap bag idea I plan on do that myself after reading your post. I really needed something over the weekend when it rained a crap ton. I also get off work at 11 at night and I also have a fun and interesting 7 mile ride home.

Does anyone have a tip to keep freezing fog from collecting on your glasses?

Wash your glasses with soapy water...should help a lot...

Now, if only they made latex socks, I'd be golden.

They do, you have to purchase them from fetish stores. Also available in thigh hi's and rainbow brite colors

If you lock your bike up outside bring a lighter with you so you can get your bike unlocked. Instead of haveing to cut the lock or break a key off inside the lock.:crash:

Plasti Dip (http://www.plastidip.com/home_solutions/Plasti_Dip) your cycling shoes to keep your feet toasty and dry! Removal is easy as you can peal it off, or rub your thumb over it until it starts to fall apart. A good coating will last a while before you need to remove it and redo it. It is only like a few dollars at your local hardware store and comes in many different colors.