Lucky07

An older man riding a 70's 10 speed with a rear carrier made out of a.... dish drying rack. Sweet! No dishes in the rack though...

Also, I'm riding home dressed for the 20 degree weather with a balaclava, heavy gloves, fleece layer, etc. I see a guy riding up 2nd Ave in basketball shorts, hoodie, sneakers, no socks, gloves, hat or helmet (natch). I can't imagine he was going very far dressed like that.

Mr. Gear Jammer

I run in cold weather, but as windy as it is in Maryland i ride indoors so don't get sick.

stevel610 

I've seen a rack in the storage section of Home Depot that's 9" high and big enough to hold 2 grocery bags easily for $16 which I've thought about. I just can't figure a quick release type mounting system to hold it. I like the idea of using the bike for shopping but min. $50 for quality panniers would take a bit to make up the cost.

D0ugB

Thread Hijack ------

Why do you believe you will get sick riding in the wind********************?

I find that I almost never(now I've jinxed myself) get sick since I started commuting (2 years) I am not car free but I am not against riding in the cold(and yes the the wind off of Lake Michigan can get reasonably nasty). I firmly believe that exposing yourself to these conditions improves your resistance.

slvoid

I firmly believe you're of the "what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger" type.

Let's remind ourselves how many people are crippled each year, rather than recover.
Let's also remind ourselves how many people succomb to weather conditions each year, without having improved anything.

ItsJustMe

I ride outdoors so I won't get sick.

Seriously, sometimes on the weekends when I haven't ridden for 2 days, I might feel the start of cold symptoms on Sunday night/Monday morning, if there's a cold going around the house. I jump on the bike and hammer through the cold, and it's pretty much gone by the time I get to work, and totally gone after the ride home.

Whenever I have a long weekend, I have a chance that any cold I catch will progress while I don't ride, but getting back on the bike always kills it.

Before I started riding daily a couple of years ago, I was the FIRST one in my family to catch any cold coming through. I honestly haven't been sick enough to even notice much since then. Colds come into our house, everyone else gets them, I don't anymore.

I think it might be because when I'm riding in the cold, I have a huge amount of mucous being generated, and it washes anything bad out pretty effectively.

bikedaddy

I have a cold right now and am choosing not to ride this week. Sometimes I have colds I ride through. Just have to know your body and what is good for it. My current cold makes my whole body ache along with a nice headache... I just dont want to be dealing with the ice, snow, and wind while I feel like this.

I guess it is just a personal preference. No need to argue...

wahoonc

I am convinced that being cooped up in an office all day, then getting into a closed box with the germs you collected in that office are definitely bad for you. I have worked in an office environment and a field environment. I stay much healthier overall if I am out in the field, I seldom get sick and I am convinced that regular exercise and plenty of fresh air are why. Also by not being cooped up in an office with sick people helps

Aaron

CliftonGK1

There's two runners I pass every day on my way home, and no matter how cold it gets they're wearing (what looks like) polypro long sleeve tops, t-shirts over that, no hats, no gloves, and split-side running shorts. It was 22 degrees and they were out like that, bounding along, legs all bright red and wind-burnt. I hurt just looking at them.

ItsJustMe

I wear a long sleeve polypro compression top with a poly alertshirt, then a vented rain jacket over that on top, and bike shorts with a pair of cheap nylon running pants. The rain jacket is necessary because I'm hitting a lot more wind than a runner would. A nashbar poly stretch tube of fabric over my neck and head, and a pair of cheap $10 windproof "sport" gloves. That's kept me down to about -5*F so far. I need to do something about my toes, but the rest of me is fine.

newbojeff

Perpetuating the thread hijack...from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the NIH:

"The weather
There is no evidence that you can get a cold from exposure to cold weather or from getting chilled or overheated.


Other factors
There is also no evidence that your chances of getting a cold are related to factors such as exercise, diet, or enlarged tonsils or adenoids. On the other hand, research suggests that psychological stress and allergic diseases affecting your nose or throat may have an impact on your chances of getting infected by cold viruses. "

Studies in army recruits and people working in an arctic research station showed no association between weather and colds.

bikedaddy

I know that you can't get a cold from merely going outside or from exercise... however extreme weather or workout may not be the best thing once you have a cold. for me it all depends on the particular cold ...

ItsJustMe

I agree, if I actually got to the point where I had a bad achy cold, I'd stay home. I wouldn't drive though. If I'm too sick to ride, I am too sick to go out.

Tom Stormcrowe

The 10 cent quick mount: Zip Tie it to the rack!

BigMacFU

I was just in my shorts and long, winter underarmour shirt on the way in today. Granted I had my helmet and ear muffs on along with a backpack and gloves, it was just perfect for the 20's (FOR ME). Soon as I landed at work though I put the fleece on and zipped on my pant legs to maintain body heat as I folded my bike. Yesterday I needed the wind stopping vest though while riding. Came home in the flurries though and it was comfortable. Some crazy NYC weather we're having.