Winter Cycling - Cold , 1hr from home and no extra layers

What you would do riding in the middle of nowhere in winter if you're cold without extra layers with you?
As it already happened to me and i'm sure to most at least once.
For instance you bring an extra jacket but your feet or hands are freezing or vice versa
Or you get a flat or any other piece fail and you start getting too cold vs what you brought with you or you get soaked and has no extra layers available or you simply didn't bring enough layers with you. Or you forgot your hand warmer or didn't bring enough etc
An infinity of possibility could result in a lack of layers

In my learning process my own decision was to go back home nearly losing my toes

What you would do then in those kind of situations?

How "middle of nowhere" are we talking?

I can't really picture a situation where I would be out in the wintertime without so much as a farm house within a few minutes ride. That's probably what I would do... seek shelter, warm up a bit, then head back out. Hop from place to place if necessary.

If there really was nowhere to go, then I'm probably out touring or something, in which case... I would have brought enough layers. I did get a flat once in the rain in the middle of nowhere and my fingers were too cold to change the tire. Fortunately, it was a slow leak, so I just pumped it back up and hoped for the best. It held on for another 20 km :-).

For the most part, my winter riding is for the purposes of commuting, in the city. I even made the decision to not bring a spare tube and pump on winter rides - I'd rather throw the bike on the train and walk it home than sit and change a tire when it's -10.

1. I try not to cycle in the middle of nowhere in winter ... especially if it is really cold. I try to stay within walking distance of shelter.

2. I am known for bringing all sorts of stuff with me when I ride, even on warm days. It's a rare ride that I don't have more than enough layers, gloves, headbands, neck gaiters, etc. etc. I've even been able to hand some out to other riders when they've turned up for events without that sort of thing.


Get a Carradice or other trunk bag, and put spare mitts, head band, neck gaiter, wool socks, leg warmers, and booties into it. Those will stay there until needed in emergency situations. Then when you leave home for a winter ride, wear other mitts, head band, neck gaiter etc. .... so that you've got 2 of everything with you at all times.

How "middle of nowhere" are we talking?



I was hoping for your own experience it's easier to picture. As we probably all have experienced this situation. Maybe i could have deals with the situation in an other way. Macgyver/DIY way for instance. I don't know.
And regarding middle of nowhere. Even a 20min ride through a park/forest can lead to an hour walk so there is no need to be really the middle of nowhere. And not necessary like a life threatening situation
When i was getting frozen toes i was in the middle of the city. So feel free to share.

Plastic bags can be real life savers. I remember riding home woefully under-dressed one night last year. Stopped at a park, grabbed some dog poop disposal bags, and put them between my socks and shoes. Definitely helped. Same with my hands (gloves I was wearing were quite thin). To keep the wind off my chest, I found a couple of real estate flyers and put them between my two outer layers. Not elegant, but better than being 100% miserable.

Hi,

MileHighMark (http://www.bikeforums.net/member.php/185651-MileHighMark)'s suggestions are very good if you are indeed in this situation. But don't put yourself in this situation. As has been suggested above (Machka (http://www.bikeforums.net/member.php/4588-Machka) and others), carry extra clothes with you. A little extra weight isn't such a big deal. Getting frostbite or worse is.

Ow... Doctor, it hurts when I do this...

Then don't do this.

:D

Cheers,
Charles

Get off the bike and start pushing it while jogging its way warmer but slower then riding

better planning, carry extra stuff incl chemical hand, toe and body warmers

You shouldn't let yourself get into this situation in the first place. Add a windshirt and a pair of wool socks to your tool bag. The socks can double as emergency mittens. A hooded unlined windshirt like http://marmot.com/products/trail_wind_hoody weighs less than 5 ounces, and packs small enough to fit in most under-stem or under saddle bags while still leaving room for a spare tube and tools. It will increase your windchill tolerance by at least 20F and works even when wet. Wear it between your base layer and whatever jacket you're wearing. The hood fits under your helmet, and has a drawstring so it won't interfere with rearward visibility.

always be prepared like everyone has posted,

but what's one hour from home in winter? 10-15 miles? ditch the bike and start double timing it home or to someplace warm. you'll be there in a few more hours.

if you have to shelter in place, find evergreen boughs or dry forest material (moss under snow, leaves) and add dead air space under clothes.

When it's really cold, you'll be warmer inside the snow. find a treewell drift, and dig in.

Forgot to mention that a plastic garbage bag/liner makes a good emergency shell. Weighs virtually nothing, and packs up small. Latex or nitrile gloves are also worth carrying (keep your hands clean during a repair, and makes good emergency glove liners).

Wow with all this solutions i feel really for the great adventure....in the city.
Thanks you!

What you would do riding in the middle of nowhere in winter if you're cold without extra layers with you?

In winter time I am always prepared by carrying an extra layer or two. If I am going to be in the "middle of nowhere", then I also carry a firestarter with me, just in case I get stuck and can't go back. Now if I was in the situation that you describe, ie unprepared.. I would get off my bike and walk at a fast pace pushing my bike and jogging on/off until I reach safety.

I thought i was prepared too until i experiment the domino effect. One problem lead to another who lead to another etc.
2 days ago I went from wonky gears to 2 rear wheel cap nuts broken followed by a chain jumping every 1/4 mile. I experiment that too with my computer from 1 wrong mouseclic to a broken computer at the hardware level. There are lots of examples in the world : sandy's storm, economical downturn, tchernobyl, fukushima etc.
So preparation OK up to a certain point. I take both preventive and corrective measures

You can vigorously stomp on the ground to warm up your feet, or go for a jog. Swing your arms around to force some warm blood to your fingers. I usually bring a pannier with me with some warmer gloves, a warm tuque, another top, sometimes extra pants if I'm going to be away for a few hours. The pannier is also used to store insulating layers if I overdressed.

During my first year winter riding, my feet would always get cold. On the way home during one ride my toes were getting very numb, so I diverted to a nearby hockey rink to go inside and warm up. Another ride during university break I rode to the university expecting to warm up for a while before heading home, but most of the doors were locked. I eventually found one that was open. Failing that I would have gone across the street to the McDonalds.

As long as you aren't truly in the middle of nowhere, just go to the nearest coffee shop, restaurant, convenience store, etc to warm up. I doubt they would have any objections, and chances are you could use something warm anyway.

Once it gets cold enough, I always bring a pair of hardcore mittens with me, just incase. I find if my body gets too cold, I can usually just ride harder to warm up, but that doesn't help hands and feet. I ride with lake winter boots so my feet never really get too cold, but I'm going to carry a set of chemical toe warmers with me this year.

In the past, if my hands/feet were cold, warming up in a store or something would be nice, but if my whole body was cold, stopping to "warm up" usually backfired.

Try spinning your crank at 110rpm+.

the bottom of my messenger bag always seems to have extra socks / glove liners / poo bags / heavier balaclava along with my tool kit.

based on the above, i'm going to add some chemical toe and hand warmers to the mess down there.

What you would do riding in the middle of nowhere in winter if you're cold without extra layers with you?
As it already happened to me and i'm sure to most at least once.
For instance you bring an extra jacket but your feet or hands are freezing or vice versa
Or you get a flat or any other piece fail and you start getting too cold vs what you brought with you or you get soaked and has no extra layers available or you simply didn't bring enough layers with you. Or you forgot your hand warmer or didn't bring enough etc
An infinity of possibility could result in a lack of layers

In my learning process my own decision was to go back home nearly losing my toes

What you would do then in those kind of situations?

Many good suggestions have been made. The best advise is to not get into that situation in the first place. As a practical set of suggestions:

1. Don't go out riding this time of year with shorts and short sleeve jersey. Even if it is a warm day. Wear light tights and a long sleeve jersey even if it is temperate. You are not going to overheat in them by much if they are not layered.

2. Always take with you a good cycling windbreaker in cool conditions. 6-8 ounces is no big deal. With just a windbreaker and long sleeve jersey you can ride in pretty cold conditions without freezing for an hour.

3. Best to wear full finger cycling gloves in cool weather that are a little warmer than you think you need. Your whole body will not overheat if your hands are a little warmer than normal.

4. Put on some of those thick lycra cycling shoe covers when you start your ride. They won't over heat you but will keep your feet warmer if it turns cold. And they weigh very little.

5. Take a thin cycling balaclava or scull cap to put on if necessary. Weight is inconsequential and can fit in jersey pocket.

You were lucky. Don't get yourself into that situation again. There are a lot of good suggestions in this thread; take as many of them as you can.

I cycle year round in Calgary; even in summer we can experience temperature drops of 20 degrees (Celsius) in a day. I've been snowed on in June - twice! :twitchy: A balaclava, full-finger softshell gloves, rain shell, knee warmers, lightweight fleece or merino sweater, and wool socks LIVE in my bike pannier year round, along with the first-aid kit, multi-tool and spare tube.

My current favourite item is a tube of fabric that can be a neck warmer, beanie, face mask, headband or hair elastic depending on how you fold/twist it. Ski shops often sell them as they've become really popular on the slopes. A couple of brands are Chaos and Buff; I have a merino one from Chaos and a synthetic, slightly lighter weight one that was a promotional giveaway from a bike manufacturer. They fold down to almost nothing and they can make *such* a difference when you're caught out; keeping your head and neck warm can be the difference between getting home chilly but unharmed, versus a bout with hypothermia and its attendant poor decisions that amplify risk.

Also, bring extra food. And money, and a cell phone.

I went through a little emergency few years ago. I went trail riding with my mountain bike and studded tires. After riding trails for about two hours I decided to have some last minute fun and ride on some large frozen floodplain/marshy type of an area. Temperature was -14 celsius below zero. Ice broke and my front wheel went in, I fell in the water just past my knees... boots got soaked, gloves got soaked, pants got soaked. I was about 45 minute ride from home. What to do ??? I knew it was too cold to stand around...adrenaline pumping I just got on my bike and peddaled like crazy. I was warm, I didn't suffer any frostbite, because I was dressed right and I peddaled very intensly... but my pants, gloves and boots were solid sheet of ice. It was a fun experience, a little scary, and I learned my lesson..never ride on a frozen floodplains and marshes.

Experience is the best teacher - but it does not have to be your experience.

Bad experiences make for great stories - if you live.

To my mind, having enough gear with you is much better than not having enough gear.

Bad experiences make for great stories - if you live.


Haha! Here is what i have understood from this:

Doesn't matter if you die but at least leave something for us (video, diary,drawing whatever). As we need some stories.

I believe (hope) you didn't mean that but i'm alive anyway

Always be prepared.

My panniers always seem to have too much in them but in the winter those extras could make the difference between me having to hike or bike.

Since we get harsh winter weather I am always dressed for the occasion but carry extra socks in case mine were to get wet, if it is warmer I pack an extra mid layer as our weather can change on a dime although we usually get a little more warning than my friend in Calgary.

Money, a cel phone, bus tickets, and food are a constant.

Now... if you are unprepared and forgot to dress right, left your cel phone, money, and spare bus tickets at home then you need to make due with what you have.

I carry nitrile gloves in my repair kit so they can be put on to form an excellent protective layer for my hands, plastic shopping bags could be used as an extra layer in a boot, garbage bags are an excellent quick poncho.

Mind you, if I found myself in this unlikely position on a ride I'd be kicking my own ass to stay warm.

Wow with all this solutions i feel really for the great adventure....in the city.
Thanks you!

Exactly ... in the city.

I have done Century-A-Month challenges in Canada, which include riding centuries in winter months. For those centuries, I stayed quite close to a city. One winter century I did entirely within Winnipeg city limits. Another winter century, I rode the Perimeter highway around Winnipeg, and did a few little out-and-backs to towns just outside Winnipeg. A Red Deer century involved a short loop not too far from the city, still in a relatively populated area, a longer loop during the warmest part of the day to a town not too far away, and then several short loops within the city.

During warmer weather, my rides will venture well out into the middle of nowhere. But when the weather gets cold, I plan my rides so that they are reasonably close to some sort of shelter. Bad winter weather can be very dangerous, and I'd rather not risk it.


That said, I did do one early spring ride (century) in the middle of nowhere which caught me by surprise. It was supposed to be a relatively warm day (+8C) and sunny, but that did not happen. If it made it to 0C, I would have been surprised, and I found out later that with the windchill it was -17C for about the last half of my ride. Fortunately I was prepared in terms of clothing (always carry more than you think you'll need when venturing out into the middle of nowhere) so I was fairly comfortable, but two things did concern me: 1) My water bottles froze solid with about 2 hours of riding to go so I had nothing to drink, 2) I was concerned about something happening to the bicycle(i.e. a flat).

So, I rode carefully, avoiding potholes, stones on the road, etc., and I made a mental note of every farm house or community hall I passed, and the distance at which I passed them. If I had to make a decision about walking forward, or walking back, I'd at least have some information to help me with that decision. For example, if I flatted 1.2 km from a farmhouse, and couldn't see any farmhouses or anything ahead, I'd probably walk back.

Fortunately, nothing like that happened, and I was OK. But I probably wouldn't try a century in such a remote area so early in spring again.

If you're really worried about your feet, you could roll up a pair of LW mukluks and stuff them in a jersey pocket. I wore these 283056

on a winter bike camping trip.

they fit over my cycling shoes. I could have ridden in them if needed.

283057

I would say get one of those emergency aluminum blankets, they only weigh an ounce or so and definitely some of those chemical finger and toe warmers, I even use those at work,put one in each pocket, I work in an airplane hanger and what we call heat is useless and does nothing, I usually dont even run it. when it gets really cold 15 20 degrees, those things are great, you can keep warming up your fingers, they also make ones that are designed to go on your socks and keep your toes warm

I couldn't imagine possibly ending up in a situation where it's extremely cold and not packing something like these, http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3800629&emssrcid=GoogleBase:PS3800629&gclid=CKKeifiVx7MCFQyDnQodVhAAJw

these plus hand warmers should be in everyone's emergency kit

One real scenario is a warm winter morning where you forget to check the forecast. Temps drop during the day and you have to get home after work.

I normally always travel with some extra clothing in winter.... for example I often have either a rain poncho or a cyclist vest. I never leave home without a balaclava in winter.

And... I try to keep on top of the weather forecast.

Another real scenario. Just below freezing temperatures you ride through a puddle full of half frozen water. Your feet, your socks, your shoes, your legs, your pants everything is soaked and COOLLLD! Reminds something to anyone?

I went through a little emergency few years ago. I went trail riding with my mountain bike and studded tires. After riding trails for about two hours I decided to have some last minute fun and ride on some large frozen floodplain/marshy type of an area. Temperature was -14 celsius below zero. Ice broke and my front wheel went in, I fell in the water just past my knees... boots got soaked, gloves got soaked, pants got soaked. I was about 45 minute ride from home. What to do ??? I knew it was too cold to stand around...adrenaline pumping I just got on my bike and peddaled like crazy. I was warm, I didn't suffer any frostbite, because I was dressed right and I peddaled very intensly... but my pants, gloves and boots were solid sheet of ice. It was a fun experience, a little scary, and I learned my lesson..never ride on a frozen floodplains and marshes.

I've done this same thing. Even in cold weather, swamps and floodplains will have weak spots. Especially around weeds. Ice is fun to ride on with studded tires but you must be very very careful.

The last time I was so cold I couldn't continue was on a winter motorcycle ride. I got to the point where my hands were so cold they couldn't operate the controls in a safe manner. I just stopped at a nearby reststop and sat next to the heater with a mug or 3 of hot chocolate until the feeling returned and then continued home. After that experience I always overdress for a ride - be it motorcycle or bicycle. I wear one more layer than I need and then when it gets hot take it off. That way I have it if I need it.

has anyone else considered packing a one man tent if they are going to ride in the middle of nowhere in the cold? open up the tent, stick a wool blanket or two flat in the bottom, and roll it back up, it's a little bulky but you can strap it somewhere, it might save your life if the weather gets bad suddenly.wool will continue insulating even if it gets wet, and I cant stress enough throw a couple of those mylar emergency blankets in, they weigh almost nothing and fold to a couple of inches,but they reflect your body heat back to yourself

I cant stress enough throw a couple of those mylar emergency blankets in, they weigh almost nothing and fold to a couple of inches,but they reflect your body heat back to yourself

They really work by blocking conduction of heat, and as a vapor barrier. The reflective loss is a lot less than by conduction.

I always pack a spare insulating layer, waterproof pants and a wooly hat. If I know I have a big hill, I sometimes pack a spare base layer so I can change into something dry at the top.
I like to carry some emergency food, it doesn't have to be hi tech energy food (although they have sturdy wrappers). Many people carry a vacume flask of warm drink.
In the UK, our std emergency/survival shelter option is a large, orange polythene bag, they are more effective than reflective blankets. There is a new generation of reflective material (http://www.blizzardsurvival.com/) that is popular with the military, I haven't seen anyone carrying it but it looks interesting. I don't carry this on the bike but If I rode in remote mountain areas, I would. A solo tent and blankets seem like too much prep for an emergency bivouac, I cant imagine carrying my Akto unless I intend to use it.
Solo riding in winter requires extra care, esp if you go off road in the forest or mountains.

i hate the cold, so i tend not to do a lot of recreational riding once winter hits. if i do happen to be out and about once it is cold, i tend to be layered up. very layered up.

Plan b.c and d. Buff and a trash bag, both roll up small. Hand warmers too. I have made mental notes on my commutes for thunderstorm/ lightning cover. Bank atm doors work with any kind of magnetic stripe, have heat and light too. Last lightning storm rolled right into the open bay of a fire station. Nice.

The message to the OP is that if you're riding in the cold and at all away from civilization, you should always be prepared with emergency gear/extra food/etc.

But his point is not ridiculous. Even riding "near" to civlization on a bike can, once you break down, put one some distance from help and in a precarious situation.

When I'm riding out in the country at night and in the cold, I generally think I'm well-prepared, but in truth, I've never had a flat under those conditions, and I do wonder if I would be able to change a tire in the serious cold. Just getting a tire to seat in the rim through thick gloves and mittens seems like it could be more than enough adventure.

Another real scenario. Just below freezing temperatures you ride through a puddle full of half frozen water. Your feet, your socks, your shoes, your legs, your pants everything is soaked and COOLLLD! Reminds something to anyone?

Another example of something I avoid doing. It's not a good idea to ride through any puddle at any time ... you don't know what lies beneath the water. There could be a deep hole which could cause damage to your bicycle. There could be wet leaves or something which could cause you to slip. And if it is cold, the last thing you want to do is to ride through puddles. Stay out of the puddles.

When I'm riding out in the country at night and in the cold, I generally think I'm well-prepared, but in truth, I've never had a flat under those conditions, and I do wonder if I would be able to change a tire in the serious cold. Just getting a tire to seat in the rim through thick gloves and mittens seems like it could be more than enough adventure.

Which is why it is a good idea to remain within walking distance of shelter in those conditions. I can walk, say, 30 minutes, or about 3 km, even in quite cold conditions. So when it gets really cold, I try very hard to remain within about 3 km of some sort of shelter. And that usually means doing short loops instead of a long out and back sort of ride.

Never leave home without the fender mounted flame thrower marshmallows are optional
http://urbanvelo.org/ground-up-designs-flamethrower-bike/
283453

Just getting a tire to seat in the rim through thick gloves and mittens seems like it could be more than enough adventure.

I had to change a tube once at -4 F (-20 C) windchill. Using bare hands and putting on gloves/ mitts when it got too cold worked for me. The flat was caused by pebbles getting inside the tire from riding at very low pressure on a rutted trail (2" tires).
Luckily I decided to wear mitts that were actually too warm for cycling that day (goretex skiing mitts). I had to ride bare handed a few times to dry off my hands.

When I was a kid, I delivered papers on foot in Fairbanks, on a big route. I would frequently get too cold in the winter. It's hard to dress for extended periods of 20-50 below and get it just right. I obviously didn't take extra clothes and I'd be out for a couple hours or so. I'd jog. Fixed me right up. You have to do it for long enough to open the vessels in the extremities, but yet not so fast that you sweat, because that's also bad. On a bike, it's really simple - look for a hill. That'll warm you right up. On the flat or if it's too slick for hills, just pick up the cadence, like someone else suggested. Pick it up to 110 or so in a low gear so your speed doesn't go up or doesn't go up much. That'll have you feeling just fine in about 20 minutes. That's all it takes. If you start to sweat before your hands and feet are OK, open your jacket. Don't sweat.

I've flatted in the snow a couple of times. It's not so bad. Shouldn't take more than 5-10 minutes and then you'll have to warm back up as above, but no biggie. Worst thing is that if it's snowing, your hands will get wet, which will get your gloves wet and that sucks. Just whack your hands on your thighs a few times real hard and get back at it. I ride with a guy who swam under the breakup ice on the Kobuk river when he was a kid. Hey, we're mammals. We live in the arctic. It's just about knowing how.

When I was a kid, I delivered papers on foot in Fairbanks, on a big route. I would frequently get too cold in the winter. It's hard to dress for extended periods of 20-50 below and get it just right. I obviously didn't take extra clothes and I'd be out for a couple hours or so. I'd jog. Fixed me right up. You have to do it for long enough to open the vessels in the extremities, but yet not so fast that you sweat, because that's also bad. On a bike, it's really simple - look for a hill. That'll warm you right up. On the flat or if it's too slick for hills, just pick up the cadence, like someone else suggested. Pick it up to 110 or so in a low gear so your speed doesn't go up or doesn't go up much. That'll have you feeling just fine in about 20 minutes. That's all it takes. If you start to sweat before your hands and feet are OK, open your jacket. Don't sweat.

I've flatted in the snow a couple of times. It's not so bad. Shouldn't take more than 5-10 minutes and then you'll have to warm back up as above, but no biggie. Worst thing is that if it's snowing, your hands will get wet, which will get your gloves wet and that sucks. Just whack your hands on your thighs a few times real hard and get back at it. I ride with a guy who swam under the breakup ice on the Kobuk river when he was a kid. Hey, we're mammals. We live in the arctic. It's just about knowing how.

I live in Minnesota, but you, sir, are tough.

When I was a kid, I delivered papers on foot in Fairbanks, on a big route. I would frequently get too cold in the winter....

When i was a kid, i delivered papers by bike in a place that'd get 12 feet of snow a year. Skied to school regularly (since moving north again, still ski to work whenever possible). As i began to sea kayak, relished the spring break up when you could kayak the ice leads to fish. I remember hauling my boat in and out of open water over the ice flows and ridges, falling in up to my armpits, grabbing hold of the boat, crawling on, slithering to solid ice, moving a few feet, and plunging in again.

We were too young and dumb to recognize frostnip and bit, but sure knew it by how much it hurt when you got back inside. There were a few quite vulnerable places to the cold I'm sure carbon fiber boy knows about all too well.....

As I got to drinking age, an old sourdough trick i picked up from a trapper I knew was if the blizzard was too fierce to make it back to the cabin after a night out on the town, throw up your collar, bundle up, dive into a suitable snowbank and sleep it out.

With the right Mackinaw Cruiser and wool pants on, sleeping off a bender in a snowbank in a snowstorm was remarkably comfortable.

One morning I de-banked from a nice drift that got snowed over during the night by a thick layer of fluffy powder, in full view of the chamber of commerce - I recall faces in the windows of the chamber looking on in astonishment. I waved, stood up, shook the frost and snow off, and tromped home.

As to tips and tricks for the cold, i recommend guys carry a scrap piece of nylon or the like to shove down by the pants yabbies if they start to hypercool - its amazing what a nice windlayer downunder can do for the morale.

When i was a kid, i delivered papers by bike in a place that'd get 12 feet of snow a year. Skied to school regularly (since moving north again, still ski to work whenever possible). As i began to sea kayak, relished the spring break up when you could kayak the ice leads to fish. I remember hauling my boat in and out of open water over the ice flows and ridges, falling in up to my armpits, grabbing hold of the boat, crawling on, slithering to solid ice, moving a few feet, and plunging in again.

We were too young and dumb to recognize frostnip and bit, but sure knew it by how much it hurt when you got back inside. There were a few quite vulnerable places to the cold I'm sure carbon fiber boy knows about all too well.....

As I got to drinking age, an old sourdough trick i picked up from a trapper I knew was if the blizzard was too fierce to make it back to the cabin after a night out on the town, throw up your collar, bundle up, dive into a suitable snowbank and sleep it out.

With the right Mackinaw Cruiser and wool pants on, sleeping off a bender in a snowbank in a snowstorm was remarkably comfortable.

One morning I de-banked from a nice drift that got snowed over during the night by a think layer of fluffy powder, in full view of the chamber of commerce - I recall faces in the windows of the chamber looking on in astonishment. I waved, stood up, shook the frost and snow off, and tromped home.

As to tips and tricks for the cold, i recommend guys carry a scrap piece of nylon or the like to shove down by the pants yabbies if they start to hypercool - its amazing what a nice windlayer downunder can do for the morale.I think folks are still doing that up there. I was up there this July for my 50th HS reunion and Fairbanks has hardly changed. Well then, you're the real deal, sir. I have a treat for you. My friend's brother Seth is an author who still lives in Kotzebue:
http://www.amazon.com/Ordinary-Wolves-Novel-Seth-Kantner/dp/1571310479/
http://www.amazon.com/Shopping-Porcupine-Life-Arctic-Alaska/dp/1571313117/
Might be able to find them at your library. I recommend reading them in that order.
More Seth on his website: http://sethkantner.com/

Back in the day when we skied XC in cotton knickers and a jock strap, your advice about the bit of Nylon was widely followed. It made a huge difference in outcomes.

Remember: after drinking the vanilla and Nyquil, start plucking the pet bird - you'll be hungry.

Knock on someones door and call a taxi.

I wore my Brooks's shower cap under my helmet the other day when my head got cold. Worked great!
I have also used a trashbag o'er the head and under the helmet. Worked just as well.
My nose started getting numb last night, so I made faces for a few minutes and it was warmed up for the rest of the ride home.

My commutes are 25-30 minutes each way. I wear long johns, with layers over trunk, with a rain jacket as windbreaker over that. So far, good down to 35F.

Another example of something I avoid doing. It's not a good idea to ride through any puddle at any time ... you don't know what lies beneath the water. There could be a deep hole which could cause damage to your bicycle. There could be wet leaves or something which could cause you to slip. And if it is cold, the last thing you want to do is to ride through puddles. Stay out of the puddles.

It took my youngest daughter a little while to be able to resist the urge to ride through puddles of unknown origin... explained to her that when she is riding puddles form where there are low spots and depressions and sometimes they contain deep holes where there are trolls that devour little girls.