s4one

It was about 49 degrees here with rain but I decided that I need to get on the bike because I haven't exercised last week and this weekend. Last week was finals week and majority of this weekend I was hungover. Therefore, I pushed my ass out to ride today. The main point of this tread is that, DAMN those windbreaker vest/jackets DO work!!! I think I have a LG one but its in the washer right now. No wonder why they cost so damn much money!!! If you don't have one, get one for the winter training season!

P.S. what are good winter gloves? My fingers felt like they were going to fall off. Full finger gloves?

By the way, 49 degrees is considered cold here in Socal!

mattm

was gonna say, 49F is like a spring day here...

anyway good for you for getting out there!

i like my sealskinz gloves, and ragg wool gloves are really good too.

SushiJoe

Me? I'll pass.

jonestr

I ride LG winter gloves in temps 40F-60F.

For temps below that I wear lobster claws by Trek that are a PI rip off. (The glove not actual lobster claws)

Another good option is a knit glove with a windproof waterproof shell that you can take off an experience the awesomeness of the knit glove.

logdrum

It is snowing in Albuquerque today but I rode to work, almost a couple inchhes on the ground now I think and coming down still. The steep hill going home was a bit icy but I was fine. Cagers I think were more worried than I was. Used the fixed gear today. It is really good in the snow. When I got home after feeding the horses I took my dogs for a walk while I pedalled on gravel, on top of the earth dikes by the irrigation ditches. Somehow the cold makes it easier to bike on terrain otherwise not doable in the summer for 23mm tires. It was a workout though going through the snow. My dogs are happy. I asked my wife to pick up some wax for my xc skis.

Not too cold but snow is snow.

s4one

Cool, i'll look for those brands at the lbs tomorrow, im swapping for new handlebars. Damn now I have to go wipe down my bike, all muddy and wet.

yonderboy

I have an older model of the PI lobster claws that are great. They're not waterproof, but the insulation is good for a small amount of rain. I haven't tried the PI AmFib or Craft Thermal claws, yet. I need to retire my pair, though.

When the temp drops, you need to take windchill into account. I was lucky enough to win my current windvest in a prime. A good jacket is worth every penny in the long run, though. Nothing sucks worse than being an hour from home and cold.

MIN 

I rode this weekend in the low twenties. The faster you go, the warmer it gets.

patentcad

This thread made me think of the Xmas Day ride I did in 2005. 62 miles, and 20 miles into the ride on a 37ºF day, it starts raining. Then it starts raining harder. And harder. And harder. By mile 55 or so, it was coming down in Biblical Epic Sheets. I'm riding south towards Ridgefield NJ (I was meeting my wife at her Uncle's house down there, she as driving), a truck passes me and throws a massive rooster tail from one of the massive pools of water on the road. It was like somebody doused me with a giant friggin bucket, similar to those Gatorade baths the players give the coach when they win the game. But at that point I was already soaked though.

You can't stay dry in heavy rain on a bike, but you do need to stay warm. The last 7-8 miles after getting swamped by the truck my feet and hands were starting to get cold. I figured if I had to go another 30-60 minutes (this was already a 4 hour ride) it would have gotten nasty, but I got there just as my tolerance for cold was wearing thin. Up until then I was OK.

49º and rain isn't really all that cold, but if you're dressed wrong (and it's easy to under dress in the rain) it can be rather nasty.

Machka 

Come back and talk to us when your temps drop to -49 like they've been in Saskatchewan the last few days (-40C temps, -49C with the windchill). I thought it was bad here with -30C temps and -40C windchill.

It's a little odd that your fingers would be freezing at +49F ... did you move your hands around at all? If you suffer from cold hands normally, you might consider a cheap pair of full fingered gloves or mini gloves under your regular cycling gloves.

schnabler1

Anything that shields the wind is good for gloves. Put a wool liner in those and you'll be toasty.

I stay away from the extra super duper thick gloves because the hands will sweat and then end up colder anyway.

Machka 

At 49 degrees, his hands are going to roast in wool ... I don't dig out the wool till it's well below freezing.

Here are the mini gloves I was suggesting - $1 and found in Walmart, your local pharmacies, your local $$ store, your local grocery stores, etc. etc. Wear them under your regular cycling gloves and you're good to go all the way down to the freezing point.

Carry a second pair in your jacket pocket, and if it has been raining, change them for the dry pair.

schnabler1

Yeah me neither. Over 40 I do wool full fingers, no wind protection. Below that I'll carry them both and swap it around.

Jakedatc

I know you are miss hard core cold weather rider lady.. but for people who are not used to cold temps... like... this guy from freaking Cali then 50 degrees is damn cold. and add rain to that it's not pleasant.

i wear nylon/goretex like mittens over my bike gloves when it's 50 and lower. and that is without a cold rain coming down. they are thin enough that they work fine with brifters. They do make drinking a bit tough since they are kinda slippery. when it gets below to 40 i wear liner gloves and the mittens

Not everyone has winter all year round.. eh?

wcoastbikr

I'm currently going through what you went through. Finals week right now, plan to be hung over saturday but will probably still ride.

I went riding last friday and saturday in similar weather. I was still cold even after pushing myself and riding for a while. Oh ya I'm still wearing summer shorts and jersey, that probably has to do with it. I need some winter clothes. After those rides, I contemplated buying a trainer. But from what I've heard hear about how exciting they are I'm probably not.

I'm spoiled in this california weather.

CPREZ150

Riding in the cold makes it hard for me the breathe so i just dont...i need to get a trainer

BikeDork02

I have the LG full finger Wind-tex Gloves. Very comfy and warm for our "cold" days, and some gripping surface on the fingers for the levers

carbonjockey

i was riding up south mountain (phoenix) and it was relatively cold for here (50F). I forgot my armwarmers, and while i had knee warmers, I was not prepared. On the descent it was *****in cold. But my question is this- what do you guys wear to keep your face warm? ive tried ski masks but i hate the condensation that forms around the mouth. I saw a guy going up that had some sort of lotion on that might have been for hte cold

BikeDork02

I dont use one, I just ride harder so I warm up
But hey if your still cold here you go:

https://www.castelli-us.com/pc-1067-4-hannibal-mask.aspx

carbonjockey

yeah, the climb wasnt so bad, it was coming down that got me- the worst is that i had my headsweats hat, wind vest, long sleeve jersey, and armwarmers sittin in a box in my garage... and i can see my backyard from the towers at the top, which added insult to injury since they were so close

Jakedatc

I've always used those TurtleFur fleece neck warmers when i ski.. they don't get slimey like the neoprene face masks. If it wasnt too cold and only for descending you could go old western/Hells Angels style with a bandana

either one folds up small and can be shoved in a pocket and weigh almost nothing.

Machka 

Actually, unless you live in Antarctica, no one has winter all year round.

s4one

I slept around 8am on Saturday and Sunday. When I woke up, I only saw at the most 2 hours of sunlight. Couldn't ride..

To those that don't know, 49 degrees in Socal is pretty damn COLD with the addition of rain, it makes it seem even more cold. Especially since I am usually in San Diego most of the year, its sunny as hell here.

Machka 

Trying to feel sympathetic .........


___________________________________________________________
Condition: Light Snow
Temperature: -17.3°C
Pressure / Tendency: 102.2 kPa / falling
Visibility:13 km
Humidity: 62%
Wind Chill: -24
Dew Point: -22.9°C
Wind Speed: WSW 11 km/h

Tonight: Increasing cloudiness. Periods of snow beginning this evening and ending overnight. Amount 2 cm. Wind up to 15 km/h. Temperature rising to minus 14 by morning. Wind chill minus 33.
Tuesday: Cloudy. High minus 9.
Tuesday night: Cloudy. A few flurries beginning near midnight. Wind becoming northwest 30 km/h overnight. Low minus 20. Wind chill minus 30.
Wednesday: Periods of snow. High minus 17.
Thursday: Cloudy with 60 percent chance of flurries. Low minus 25. High minus 21.
Friday: Sunny. Low minus 27. High minus 20.
___________________________________________________________


Nope ... just not happening.

SunFlower

i rode today in the rain, it was 51 and raining and yes those windbreakers/rain jackets work well. i recently bought one from specialized and it works great. i will ride in the rain anytime now.