Glenn1234

I've found myself to the point of where it looks like I'm going to (albeit involuntarily, due to it being crashed up and the economy as it is) be car-free. Unfortunately, that time has come right when the winter is about to commence. I don't necessarily know if the situation will change for me that soon, but anyhow to get to the point of the post.

Are there any good tips for dealing with winter conditions? Obviously, I won't be repeating 50 mile rides daily, but I would at least like to get some advice on how to deal with some of the problems I've had on my colder rides. 38 is the coldest I've rode in, but it's going to have to be colder.

The main issue is being in the cold for an extended period of time and clothing - what kind and how much? I hiked 2 miles recently to go somewhere in 40 degree weather and that wasn't a pleasant thing once I got where I was going (and I wasn't wearing shorts & t-shirt let's just say). The other issue for me is the tougher breathing I encountered on the ride I mentioned before, along with the coughing.

As for the bike, are there any special considerations, or do all the normal ones apply for the warmer weather?

zeppinger

Can you give us any more info? What are the coldest temps you plan to encounter? Where do you live? How far do yo u ride? Do you change cloths at work?

I have been discovering how great wool can be for cold riding lately. I just moved from San Diego where it never drops below 65 to Korea where it snows on a regular basis in winter.

Another great item I just added was a pair of wind pants from REI. The front of the pants are windproof and almost water proof too. The back half of the pants are just spandex or some other such stretchy thing but they block all the wind chill while still allowing my legs to breath, great stuff! Make sure you have a good windproof shell too!

Roody

Another thing it would be helpful to know (besides the things that zepp asked) is how you usually dress for riding. Do you wear cycling-specific clothing, such as spandex shorts and jerseys? Or do you go with regular clothing? How do you currently handle rainy days?

The cough sounds like a medical problem. Your doctor can probably give you better advice than we can. AFAIK, it is not normal to cough or have difficulty breathing on a cold day, unless perhaps the temps are sub-zero.

And let me give you a word of encouragement. It is possible to ride comfortably in cold and snowy weather. I know this because I've been doing it for a number of years.

cerewa

3 problems to solve about cold:
1. It doesn't feel good
2. It can give you frostbite
3. It can bring your core body temperature below normal

Solutions to #1:
A) quit worrying about it, or
B) be better prepared; you want to dress well, eat well, stay hydrated, and otherwise take care of yourself

Solutions to #2
A) Make sure your clothes are warm enough on your extremities. Fingers are often the biggest problem, but in extreme weather you want to make sure to avoid frostbitten nose, ears, and toes too.
B) If the rest of your body is warm, you will be less vulnerable to frostbite. Also, if you can avoid tensing up in reaction to the cold, it'll help your blood continue to circulate to fingers/etc really well, which can prevent frostbite.

Solutions to #3
A) Wear a warm enough coat and, if necessary, wear warmer pants and/or wear something waterproof over your pants.
B) Ride faster, which will burn more calories to warm you up.
C) Avoid being wet if you can; being wet with sweat is possible if you dress too warm at first OR if you wear waterproof clothes that don't breathe well. If you can avoid being tense and scared about the cold, it will help you avoid sweating-due-to-stress.

Roody

Frostbite isn't much of a danger unless the actual air temperature is less than 0 deg F or -18 deg C. Very few people live in climates where these temps are common.

Dahon.Steve

If you're going to ride in the winter, get a good ski mask or two and it will make a huge difference. Hands and feet are the first to get cold so you'll need to find a pair of boots that can keep you warm during a long ride.

Why not look at public transit? Find a bus that gets close to where you work and ride to the stop. There are inexpensive folding bikes out there and you can use one for multimode commuting.

crazybikerchick

I think of it as fortunate, not unfortunate to be car-free in winter! No having to dig the car out of a parking spot in a snowbank. No having to wait for the car to warm up while scraping ice off the windshields. Get warm quickly by pedalling!

You don't say where you are so I don't know if you are just dealing with cold, or if you are also dealing with snow and ice. Some tips:

- Make sure your neck, head/ears, hands and feet are warm
- Don't overdress your torso because trapped sweat will get cold
- Layers! Wicking closest to your skin, and windproof on the outside.
- Acclimatize! If you stop cycling then start up again in winter you'll find it cold, but if you don't stop and get used to it gradually the cold is not so bad.
- For the tougher breathing don't push it in winter, just go at a pleasant aerobic pace

I like main streets in winter because they tend to be better cleared of snow because of more traffic melting away snow. Bike lanes OTOH tend to accumulate snow without car tires to melt it. Some people prefer side streets because of less traffic but then you'll have to make sure you have good bike handling skills for slippery patches and possibly studded tires depending on conditions where you live.

crazybikerchick

I've had frostnip at warmer temperatures than this. I'm sure I would likely have had frostbite if I had stayed out longer. The windchill while biking can affect fingers even when its not that cold. Tips - if your fingers are hurting do not be stubborn and continue to bike (I should have hailed a cab and loaded the bike in). Layers on your hands in cold temps (say below -5C) - insulating first and then windproof shells. Also make sure the rest of you is warm, because the first place the body will lose heat if it needs it for the heart and brain are the fingers and toes.

Roody

I love getting off work on a snowy evening--just shake the snow off the bike and go. As I zoom by my co-workers, who are scrasping snow and ice off their car windows, I give a cheery yell: "Boy, I sure would hate to be driving on a night like this!"

Excellent advice! It sounds like you have a lot of experience riding in the winter. Can you tell us more about this? Why do you do it? How long did it take you to feel comfortable with it?

jpdesjar

Yes, this post made me smile. I park my bike indoors so it's nice to be able to just jump on and go, no warming up the machine or scraping all the ice off of it, it's already warm!

chucky

+1 And you don't have to worry about being all sweaty like you do in the warmer seasons (ride as fast as you want in the winter).

To the OP if you live in a climate where people (bums) can survive most of the winter without fire all you need is gloves, earmuffs, and warm shoes. Other than that even when there's ice on the ground you should be perfectly comfortable riding naked provided you put some hustle into it.

crazybikerchick

When I see someone on my street stuck in the parallel parking in the snow I am half feeling obliged to go help push them out of the snow, and half thinking haha serves you right for driving. (when I live in an area very convenient to public transit)

Why? I live in an urban area where I don't think cars make any sense. I used to take public transit in winter. I found I got too cold waiting for the bus/streetcar to show up Plus I missed the freedom of the bike. It didn't take too long to acclimatize to the cold. It took longer to become more comfortable in more varied street conditions. I used to only be comfortable when the roads were plowed to the curb. (which is much of the winter anyway). Then I realized if there were good clear spaces and I rode there the drivers would not go ballistic even if its the middle of the only driveable lane on a busy street! And got more comfortable with some degree of slippery-ness. (I don't use studded tires as most days the pavement on roads I ride on is reasonably or completely dry, it seems a waste to have them for only a few days) I still hate all the road salt that gets on the bike.

City_Smasher

Wind plays a big part when riding in cold weather. The wind chill can be much lower than the actual temperature.

Cosmoline

You'll get used to it provided you're in good health. I've gone several winters in Anchorage car free. Check out the winter cycling forum for advice on specifics. I prefer to wear typical ski clothes with lots of poly fleece. It's good to about -15 or -20.

People are very different when it comes to tolerance to cold. I ride in shorts and a light shirt until about 35 f.