PatrickGSR94

Went on a group ride last night, by far the coldest ride I've ever been on. Really put my new winter cycling gear to the test. 25 miles in 34° and under, in the dark.

My layering worked pretty well - arm warmers, tech shirt, sweater, windbreaker, and track jacket up top. Thermal tights and padded shorts below. Legs and upper body felt pretty good the whole time, and didn't sweat much, either.

The problems were my hands, feet, and face. I don't have any wool socks or shoe covers, so I just tried 2 pairs of cotton socks inside the cycling shoes. Toes felt like icicles part of the way, but eventually they warmed up. They actually felt pretty good for most of the way back. On my hands I wore fingerless cycling gloves, with cashmere-lined leather gloves over that. Hands were like ice part of the way, but then eventually warmed up also.

I guess the main problem was my face. I had a thermal skull cap under my helmet and over my ears, so those were good. But I tried using a knit scarf that was too short and just couldn't keep it tucked in around/over my mouth and nose. I guess I need one of those balaclava things, or what other options are out there for protecting the mouth and nose? I also noticed that my clear glasses would fog up while stopped when I did have the scarf over my face, though pulling the glasses down away from my face just slightly seemed to mitigate that a bit.

And yeah, I need to get rid of my POS light. On the city streets I had no problem, but on the pitch dark MUP I had to stay close to others with good lights. Had a couple folks go down from all the leaves and other stuff piled up on the path, one ended up getting his chain all caught up in my right brifter.

miyata man

Good for you getting out there. Sounds like you figured out that you need to start out feeling a little chilly if you are dressed properly. Wiggle your fingers and toes more and you'll get some blood into them sooner.

PatrickGSR94

Yeah I was trying that. This was an out and back ride, and for some reason my hands warmed up quicker going out than they did coming back. But then coming back my feet didn't feel as frigid as they did going out. Weird. Then just as my hands were warming up on the way back a guy took a tumble in front of me, which is when my brifter got caught up in dude's chain. Then we all had to wait around a bit while he got his chain straightened out - it was kinked up in 2 places so another guy with a chain tool just went ahead and broke the chain to make it easier to thread back through the RD.

This was our monthly social group ride we have here in Memphis, where normally there might be anywhere from 30-40 people and once over 100 people riding. The FB event page for this ride said 30+ were going, but then only about 10 to 15 people showed. Oh well, a smaller group is sometimes nice, easier for everyone to keep up and stay together.

RT

Hands, face, feet. If these are all covered properly, you're golden. I have been using Gators for the past seven years (same pair!) and they are the best. Beneath those, shoes and one pair of wool socks and if it is too cold, plastic shopping bag over the toes inside the Gators.

For hands, 80g AT LEAST of Thinsulate in the gloves. Cycling gloves aren't good for me in the cold as they are too breathable. PolyPro liners and Wells-Lamont work gloves for the hands.

This message brought to you by seven seasons of winter commuting.

thechemist

Yea booties and wool socks will make a huge difference! For me, any long finger cycling glove does the job for the most part. They get a little cold under 30F but i dont like more padding