Winter Cycling - Riding during Winter

How many, here, besides me, ride during the Winter?

Me, me! But I suspect that your weather in Duluth gets much colder than where I am in the foothills of the Alps. It's all in wearing the right clothing.

Cheers...Gary

I ride every chance I get during the winter.As long as it's dry and not below -10C I'm out there.
I commute 30km every day, but it's not the same as getting the racing rig out there.

'Rasher

As long as it is either cold or wet (read: rain not snow), and not both, I'll be out there. I can handle cold temps here, as it doesn't get _too_ cold. I can handle rain, because it's generally warm enough. But as soon as the snow/slush starts sticking to the roads, I'll be hoofing it to work and toiling on my elliptical machine at home.

Until there is ice on the road, I'll ride. Like gcasillo though, I won't go out if it's a cold rain.

This'll be my second winter since picking up cycling. I rode last winter, and intend to do so again this winter. My limits are 20F or over, and the last snow has to be relatively plowed away - although I am going to try to learn to dress for down to 10F.

35 degrees and raining last night during my 20 mile commute. It was great. I think I'll pass if it gets icy.

55/Rad

You ride during the winter in Duluth?? My hat's off to you.

Me? I am a wimpy California boy. It's 40 degrees out and I am already asking Santa for Under Armour under garments. (See another thread).

But I'll still ride though!

I tend not to ride on Christmas day. Family obligations, I guess.

We DO make it a tradition to get the family out and ride around the neighborhood on Christmas day. At sunset time so the lights are coming on. Also working of some of the excess food.

That counts as riding, right? :)



I tend not to ride on Christmas day. Family obligations, I guess.

I ride to school, its just 4 miles each way but i do year round, unless its snowing, way to much ice (though roads are generally plowed and salted) or really cold. I find myself mainaining the bike more but thats okay.

We've got pretty mild winters here so I keep riding. It was 33F/1C this morning when I left for work. That's about as cold as it gets.

One of my best days riding last year was New Years Eve. A buddy and I rode up to Folsom and back. I hope we can make it a tradition.

I ride during the winter, but not alot. Because i need the money to get some tights and a windproof riding jacket then ill be riding almost everyday

I guess it's not fair for me to respond since I'm a So Cal boy...but I'm sure it was like 55 when I road at 4:30 this afternoon...brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr :)

I ride during the winter... it's been down about as far as 28 or so and I've still ridden.. I just dress accordingly and I do quite fine. We don't get much snow here, so that's not an issue. We get more rain during the winter than snow.

I will ride in just about anything.

I love riding in winter just as much as I love to ride in the summer.


.

Had a great 20 + mile ride this morning. 3" of snow on the ground and lots of ice. Temp was 24 F with a stiff North wind. It took me 2 hours. It was a great chance to try out my studded tire on the front and my blade tire on the back.

18 miles of the ride was on county unpaved gravel and frozen dirt roads. 5 miles was on frozen/soft sand. That was a real hoot. I don't understand why people quit riding when the temp drops. It isn't that those of us that ride in the winter are superheros or something. It really is quite comfortable by nature if you dress comfortably.

Cycling generates a lot of heat. Last week i was stuck in the garage riding the trainer because i had kid duty. It was in the 20's and snowing outside. I had the garage doors open and just a pair of tights and a LS cycling jersey on. I had a fan blowing on high to keep my cool. People were driving by looking at me like i was nuts.

Maybe it was all of the smoke (steam) rolling off of my body. :D Seriously, today's ride was one of my best ever and i ride every day. It was better than just about any other ride, including the summer,spring rides. It was just so quiet and serene out in the middle of the country with nothing but miles and miles of rolling white hills and the crunch of snow and ice beneath my tires.

Why would you stop ridding in the winter? The cars give you alot of room as they think you're nuts.

Cheers,
Dusk

I'm just starting my first winter on the bike. So far it's not a problem. I am using pretty off-the-shelf stuff, nothing biking-specific; some technical fabric undies from Walmart and Target, some department store nylon running pants and a microfiber jacket as a shell. Wearing old sneakers in toe clips, over a baselayer and wool socks.

Best thing I've gotten recently: Full fenders and a front mudflap. Wet rides went from totally miserable to no problem.

I had a nice ride this morning, 31*F and wet snow falling, with abt 2" wet slush on the side of the road, wet main road surface. The problem I need to address now is that I can NOT keep my glasses clear. If I stop and wipe them, they're totally covered with wet snow and fog in seconds. I'm going to get some full-coverage over-glasses safety goggles and see how that holds up; I was thinking of just going without glasses, and right about then a car passed me and threw a wave of slush on my legs, and a bit went in my eye. So safety glasses it is...

In the cool, dry winter temps I'm almost not sweating at all. I love being outside in that cool crisp air.

I can't wait for it to snow here. I've never ridden a bike in the snow, but I'm definitely going to try it this year.

Me too! Me too! I cannot commute (I have no place to hang my riding clothes during the day) but I do my shopping, groceries, errands etc. on bike. With studded tyres even icy roads are not a problem. Plus, I like the way my halogen lights up the snowy scenery in the dark. And it's really quiet out there after a heavy snowfall!

--J

Only 19 miles this morning. Temp was 18 F. I had a great ride as i debuted my super d duper Visor Gogs. I was very comfortable all the way. I had my first flat tire in these temps today. No real problem except that my cheapie frame pump did not want to attach to my valve stem very bad. I think i need to look into CO2 for these temps.

http://www.sargentwelch.com/images/200/WLS40392-A_EA.jpg
My wife and kids had a great time making fun of me when i tried these on last night. That is an added bonus. Not only do they keep your eyes from tearing in the cold, they also make you look like a complete dork, which provides hours of entertainment for your friends and family.

<Ranger said: Last week I was stuck in the garage riding the trainer . . . I had the garage doors open and just a pair of tights . . . had a fan blowing . . . People were driving by looking at me like I was nuts.>

Ranger please close that garage door next time . . . You have your reputation to maintain!!!
:-)

Ranger, seriously, was that a flat tire so soon with your new tires, what went wrong? BTW, I'm still not sure if I would/can commute in your minus-infinity temperatures . . . See what happens this winter with my commuting, if I can ride everyday of the season . . . We'll see.

Cheers.

The first regular winter day and I am commuting by bike. I am very proud of this accomplishment as it is my first winter biking. It may not seem like much to others but I really don't care. I plan on biking all winter with the exception of -40 with a 30mph wind. But I am not ruling it out. I agree that motorists give you more room in the winter cuz they think your nuts or broke or both. Whatever it is I will take it. Winter cycling is very addictive.

Have a great day.

<Ranger said: Last week I was stuck in the garage riding the trainer . . . I had the garage doors open and just a pair of tights . . . had a fan blowing . . . People were driving by looking at me like I was nuts.>

Ranger please close that garage door next time . . . You have your reputation to maintain!!!
:-)

Ranger, seriously, was that a flat tire so soon with your new tires, what went wrong? BTW, I'm still not sure if I would/can commute in your minus-infinity temperatures . . . See what happens this winter with my commuting, if I can ride everyday of the season . . . We'll see.

Cheers.

I hear ya Archie. Well i had to open the doors because it is VERY boring riding a trainer looking at garage doors. It is only boring to ride with the doors open.

Yeah, i noticed last night that the front tire, (one with the Nashbar studded tire) was flat. I aired it up and checked it this morning and it was still up fine. 12 miles into my ride this morning and it went flat again.

I had to stop and replace the tube. I then was able to get home. I need to look at things closer tonight to figure out what happened. The only thing that i know at this point is that, the Slime inside the tire was frozen. Actually Slime isn't supposed to freeze, so i suspect that i got water in there via my compressor.

However i tried to drain the compressor and no water came out so i am really not sure. I do know that the container of slime out in the garage is not frozen so who knows? Either way it was a good experience changing a flat in 18 F weather. I learned that my plastic lever on my frame pump will not raise well in that temp and so i went to LBS this morning and got hooked up with C02. I am ready for the next time.

I love riding in winter. It has taken me several years to accumulate the clothes I like but I'm set. I's in the upper 20s in the morning now. The only problems I have are the same as many. Fogging safety glasses, short headlight battery life. Other than that...life is good.

My wife and kids had a great time making fun of me when i tried these on last night. That is an added bonus. Not only do they keep your eyes from tearing in the cold, they also make you look like a complete dork, which provides hours of entertainment for your friends and family.

Thanks. I found these this morning on icebike.com, and while I was at labsafety ordering these, I got some uvex otg grey tinted goggles too.

If I was worried about looking like a dork, I wouldn't be riding!

I've used the goggles for two days. I really am starting to love them. Hell, i might wear them in the Summer. :beer: Today it was 21 F and I rode for 1 hr and 54 minutes- 23 miles. I was very comfortable the whole time.

THe visorgogs do tend to want to "cut" into my nose a bit. They need some form of padding on the nose. THere is polished plastic in this area and it would be comfortable if not for the weight of the helmet pushing down on them. Today I used one of my kids cartoon band aids and put it on the bridge of my nose to aid in comfort. THat pretty much took care of the problem. It certainly increased the dork factor a little more.

I might try and fab some form of padding to place on the nose area of the Visor Gogs. Or i might just live with it, it is a very minor problem. IN terms of value, these things are an A+. I recommend them for anyone that intends to ride in cold and especially cold wind. THey are the perfect, cheap solution for some one that wears RX glasses like me.

Thanks. I found these this morning on icebike.com, and while I was at labsafety ordering these, I got some uvex otg grey tinted goggles too.

If I was worried about looking like a dork, I wouldn't be riding!


Those Uvex goggles may give you a fogging problem. The nice thing about the Visor Gogs is that they are vented. There are holes on the top of the visor/brow area. Also if worn correctly, they do not seal to your face. Wind actually blows through them. You can feel it on a side wind. You do not want glasses that seal to your face, you need airflow to keep them clear.

I can attest that the visor gogs do this.

This is my first year winter riding. Last night we had a good snow and when I was going to work this morning I had to turn back back and drive. The bike wouldnt stop or it would slip out from under me. Its a mtn bike and I have knobie tires on it. Guess you can only expect so much. My question is can you buy studs and put the on your tires yourself.

This is my first year winter riding. Last night we had a good snow and when I was going to work this morning I had to turn back back and drive. The bike wouldnt stop or it would slip out from under me. Its a mtn bike and I have knobie tires on it. Guess you can only expect so much. My question is can you buy studs and put the on your tires yourself.

Nokian Winter Tires (http://www.suomityres.fi/bike/winter/index.html) These will end your slipping.

I opted for cheaper studded tire from nashbar. I paid $27 for a front. I have a blade tire on the back. It is just a tire that has a blade like tread, it is made by Geax.

If I was worried about looking like a dork, I wouldn't be riding!

I ride to look cool! If you paired those goggles with a wight jumpsuit stuffed into the right pair of socks, you would be a flyin' fashion statement. I am definately going to get one of these accessories!