Winter Commuting
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: You have really nice furniture
Posts: 821
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Winter Commuting
I spend most of my BF time in the Commuters section as that is how I use my bike 99% of the time. A topic was brought up in that section about winter coming. I am planning on riding as much as I can come winter and I was curious if you guys had specific things you wear or other techniques to stay warm come winter time and how bad it actually gets here is Sunny So Cal.
My commute is 11 miles each way from North Long Beach to Los Alamitos. I am pretty much a wuss when it comes to cold but my car doesn't have a heater anyway so either way I am going to be cold. Might was well be cold riding too.
Any thoughts on how I should prepare for the time change and cold season of riding?
TIA
My commute is 11 miles each way from North Long Beach to Los Alamitos. I am pretty much a wuss when it comes to cold but my car doesn't have a heater anyway so either way I am going to be cold. Might was well be cold riding too.
Any thoughts on how I should prepare for the time change and cold season of riding?
TIA
#2
Banned.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 6,434
Bikes: '09 Felt F55, '84 Masi Cran Criterium, (2)'86 Schwinn Pelotons, '86 Look Equippe Hinault, '09 Globe Live 3 (dogtaxi), '94 Greg Lemond, '99 GT Pulse Kinesis
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 389 Post(s)
Liked 270 Times
in
153 Posts
Cold?
Winter?
Is there anyone here who can translate this Northern Dialect for me?
Winter?
Is there anyone here who can translate this Northern Dialect for me?
#3
SuperGimp
It never gets that cold here but when it does, my ears, fingers & feet get the coldest, especially if it's wet out. So, long fingered gloves, shoe covers (if you ride clipless) and some sort of ear covers. Add a jacket (water proof in February of course) or a base layer to keep your core warm. I personally rarely get cold enough to make me want to wear pants, so I don't wear anything other than shorts all year, but you can always get some leg warmers if you get chilly knees.
I'm kind of assuming you're wearing normal cycling clothes (bike shorts & jersey) so if you're not this may not apply.
I'm kind of assuming you're wearing normal cycling clothes (bike shorts & jersey) so if you're not this may not apply.
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: You have really nice furniture
Posts: 821
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Sorry, should have clarified about what I was already wearing.
Fingerless gloves, regular shoes, padded shorts but I am wearing some long running shorts over them to protect my decency and Dri-Fit shirt.
What water proof jacket are you using?
Looks like some fingered gloves might be in my future as well as another pair of shoes I can wear once I get to work if my feet do get wet from rain while riding.
Fingerless gloves, regular shoes, padded shorts but I am wearing some long running shorts over them to protect my decency and Dri-Fit shirt.
What water proof jacket are you using?
Looks like some fingered gloves might be in my future as well as another pair of shoes I can wear once I get to work if my feet do get wet from rain while riding.
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: You have really nice furniture
Posts: 821
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#6
SuperGimp
My one water proof jacket is an old performance house brand with "illuminite"... I'm sure there are plenty of suitable jackets out there nowadays.
#7
Just Plain Slow
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Santa Clarita, CA
Posts: 6,026
Bikes: Lynskey R230
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 297 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
My wife and I were talking about this on our 6am ride today. Winter is coming, and sorry folks, it gets pretty cold in Santa Clarita. Full-finger gloves, ear protection, base layer and jacket are in my future. For her, thermals, full-finger gloves with heat packs, ear covers, maybe more ear covers, and maybe more thermals. She doesn't do well in the cold.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 305
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The drivers in SoCal are bad enough in the dry. (2 women killed this weekend in Newport Beach) that I don't think I would take my chances in the rain. SoCal drivers really don't handle rain well at all. Hundreds of accidents on rainy days. Literally. Hundreds.
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: You have really nice furniture
Posts: 821
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My wife and I were talking about this on our 6am ride today. Winter is coming, and sorry folks, it gets pretty cold in Santa Clarita. Full-finger gloves, ear protection, base layer and jacket are in my future. For her, thermals, full-finger gloves with heat packs, ear covers, maybe more ear covers, and maybe more thermals. She doesn't do well in the cold.
I have a Canari jacket that works well and doubles as a vest because the sleeps zip out.
The drivers in SoCal are bad enough in the dry. (2 women killed this weekend in Newport Beach) that I don't think I would take my chances in the rain. SoCal drivers really don't handle rain well at all. Hundreds of accidents on rainy days. Literally. Hundreds.
The drivers in SoCal are bad enough in the dry. (2 women killed this weekend in Newport Beach) that I don't think I would take my chances in the rain. SoCal drivers really don't handle rain well at all. Hundreds of accidents on rainy days. Literally. Hundreds.
#10
de oranje
Leg, arm warmers, wool gear I've tried everything. I finally settled on just gloves and maybe ear warmers. However all the exposed skin can become numb from the cold, a fact that this all-weather-commuting-hard-man-tough-guy found out when the cute 25 year old barista suggested that " you may want to clean that snot trail going back to your ear!"
#11
SuperGimp
cdp8 has a good point. Another thing you may not think about (sounds like you're new down here?) is that it rarely rains, so oil accumulates on the pavement. A little rain is enough to bring that oil up and it rarely rains enough to really wash the streets, so the roads are very slick when the surface is wet - slicker than you may be used to.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 600
Bikes: All-City Space Horse!
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm in Los Angeles, I am looking forward to the "winter", won't have to take 3 showers in a day from commuting.
In "winter" I wear wool socks(all year round), full finger gloves, cycling shorts with knickers(wind/water resistant) over them. Then usually just a wool t-shirt or one cycling shirts as a base layer, with a synthetic cycling hoodie on top, that usually comes off about 2 miles into my commute. I've acquired another long sleeve wool+synthetic shirt which will probably make the rotation this winter. I find that I really don't need that much as I get pretty warm once I start riding
In "winter" I wear wool socks(all year round), full finger gloves, cycling shorts with knickers(wind/water resistant) over them. Then usually just a wool t-shirt or one cycling shirts as a base layer, with a synthetic cycling hoodie on top, that usually comes off about 2 miles into my commute. I've acquired another long sleeve wool+synthetic shirt which will probably make the rotation this winter. I find that I really don't need that much as I get pretty warm once I start riding
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 305
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Leg, arm warmers, wool gear I've tried everything. I finally settled on just gloves and maybe ear warmers. However all the exposed skin can become numb from the cold, a fact that this all-weather-commuting-hard-man-tough-guy found out when the cute 25 year old barista suggested that " you may want to clean that snot trail going back to your ear!"
#14
Senior Member
6:45 am commute
Clothing - Thin base layer, L/s jersey, uninsulated tights, light jacket or rain jacket, fleece gloves.
Bike - add lights and maybe fenders.
Clothing - Thin base layer, L/s jersey, uninsulated tights, light jacket or rain jacket, fleece gloves.
Bike - add lights and maybe fenders.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 600
Bikes: All-City Space Horse!
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Riding my bike at 14 mph or driving my car at 65 mph, either way I still have to deal with SoCal drivers. Sure I am less protected when I am on my bike but I am also around cars less due to the traffic flows of the streets I take to get to and from work. The only time I see a car is when we are both stopped at a red light. Once the light turns green I am relatively alone on the road.
#16
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: You have really nice furniture
Posts: 821
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
cdp8 has a good point. Another thing you may not think about (sounds like you're new down here?) is that it rarely rains, so oil accumulates on the pavement. A little rain is enough to bring that oil up and it rarely rains enough to really wash the streets, so the roads are very slick when the surface is wet - slicker than you may be used to.
#17
SuperGimp
Having spent a large portion of my life elsewhere, this persistence in calling what we have "winter" is cracking me up.
I think another problem to consider is the available light - you should dress your bike up like a Christmas tree. For whatever reason, Californians can't drive at night any better than they drive in the rain.
I think another problem to consider is the available light - you should dress your bike up like a Christmas tree. For whatever reason, Californians can't drive at night any better than they drive in the rain.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,170
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 43 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I have a Canari jacket that works well and doubles as a vest because the sleeps zip out.
The drivers in SoCal are bad enough in the dry. (2 women killed this weekend in Newport Beach) that I don't think I would take my chances in the rain. SoCal drivers really don't handle rain well at all. Hundreds of accidents on rainy days. Literally. Hundreds.
The drivers in SoCal are bad enough in the dry. (2 women killed this weekend in Newport Beach) that I don't think I would take my chances in the rain. SoCal drivers really don't handle rain well at all. Hundreds of accidents on rainy days. Literally. Hundreds.
As far as winter gear for socal-- unless I'm going up in the mountains, it's rare to need more than tights and a wind and water proof shell. I wear full finger gloves, but I wear full finger when it's hot, too. I've never found regular cycling gloves that I liked.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,170
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 43 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
That's why I moved here after 6 years in Minneapolis (and most of my life in other cold snowy places). Winter here is "OMG, I can ride with shorts and a jersey" weather in minnesota. I'm spoiled now, and sometimes won't ride if it's a little cloudy.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Fullerton
Posts: 370
Bikes: Baum Corretto - Felt F1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Last year we had a few days that were crazy cold for CA (low 40s in the early a.m. - probably considered warm everywhere else!) and I quickly went online and bought some Hincapie winter bib tights and wore them twice, both times i practically overheated. Arm warmers, leg warmers and maybe a light base layer is pretty much all you need for 95% of the days
#21
SuperGimp
Yeah, don't go posting in the road forum for advice on winter wear... they'll never stop laughing.
I picked up one of those craft cold weather shirts last year that was pretty fantastic too - I think this is the one.
https://shop.craftsports.us/base-laye...-2-colors.html
I actually thought it was fairly comfortable clear up to 70, when I finally took it off. I got it on sale late in the season so didn't wear it much, maybe $30-$40 at most. It folds up small. The under armor cold wear seems pretty good too.
I picked up one of those craft cold weather shirts last year that was pretty fantastic too - I think this is the one.
https://shop.craftsports.us/base-laye...-2-colors.html
I actually thought it was fairly comfortable clear up to 70, when I finally took it off. I got it on sale late in the season so didn't wear it much, maybe $30-$40 at most. It folds up small. The under armor cold wear seems pretty good too.
#22
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Please read Winter Cycling 101, I believe I covered what one needs to ride in SoCal in the winter.
#23
Seat Sniffer
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SoCal
Posts: 5,626
Bikes: Serotta Legend Ti; 2006 Schwinn Fastback Pro and 1996 Colnago Decor Super C96; 2003 Univega Alpina 700; 2000 Schwinn Super Sport
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 944 Post(s)
Liked 1,980 Times
in
566 Posts
I commute all year long, and pretty much in the same area as you.
I hate being cold, so I wear what it takes to stay warm, and if I need to, remove it along the way.
1. Get yourself an indoor/outdoor thermometer. It's indescribably convenient to see the exact temperature outside before you leave.
2. Add the following in this order to taste as the weather chills:
a. Arm warmers. Get some wool ones from Kucharik.
b. Base layer. I like the Descente base layers, but Craft makes some decent ones that are much less expensive.
c. Light windbreaker - almost any will do.
d. Leg warmers.
e. Windproof/waterproof jacket - must have pit zips and velcroed cuffs for ventilation. Two way zipper is a plus.
I actually got this one for ~$35: https://o2rainwear.com/2011/03/primar...hi-viz-yellow/
I use this one as well: https://www.showerspass.com/catalog/m.../mens-elite-20
f. Long fingered gloves.
g. In even colder weather, I poopcan the shorts/leg warmers and go with tights with brushed interior.
Rain is another story. I generally forego riding in the rain, but I ride along the coast where the fog is unpredictable, and never know when I might encounter fog so thick as to be essentially the same as rain. The waterproof/windproof jacket helps there.
I hate being cold, so I wear what it takes to stay warm, and if I need to, remove it along the way.
1. Get yourself an indoor/outdoor thermometer. It's indescribably convenient to see the exact temperature outside before you leave.
2. Add the following in this order to taste as the weather chills:
a. Arm warmers. Get some wool ones from Kucharik.
b. Base layer. I like the Descente base layers, but Craft makes some decent ones that are much less expensive.
c. Light windbreaker - almost any will do.
d. Leg warmers.
e. Windproof/waterproof jacket - must have pit zips and velcroed cuffs for ventilation. Two way zipper is a plus.
I actually got this one for ~$35: https://o2rainwear.com/2011/03/primar...hi-viz-yellow/
I use this one as well: https://www.showerspass.com/catalog/m.../mens-elite-20
f. Long fingered gloves.
g. In even colder weather, I poopcan the shorts/leg warmers and go with tights with brushed interior.
Rain is another story. I generally forego riding in the rain, but I ride along the coast where the fog is unpredictable, and never know when I might encounter fog so thick as to be essentially the same as rain. The waterproof/windproof jacket helps there.
__________________
Proud parent of a happy inner child ...
Proud parent of a happy inner child ...
#24
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: You have really nice furniture
Posts: 821
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks for the info guys. I realize winter is not really a winter here but it certainly is colder and brings new challenges. I can't just slap shorts and a shirt on to go ride. I knew I had read the Winter 101 article somewhere before but could not find it. Certainly some good info and thank you for sharing it.
After all the suggestions I think I am going to go for an UA brand type of setup. At least a top. I can always push harder when pedaling if my legs get a little cold. I may get some windbreaker pants too just in case. I realized I have some very grippy desk boots that I could probably use for rainy mornings, I run platform pedals. I have only worn the boots once and it was in the snow and my feet were toasty and I would grip the ice and show like a champ so I am guessing I should have little slippage issues with the boots. I may take them for a test ride sometime just to make sure.
Again, thanks for the help/input.
After all the suggestions I think I am going to go for an UA brand type of setup. At least a top. I can always push harder when pedaling if my legs get a little cold. I may get some windbreaker pants too just in case. I realized I have some very grippy desk boots that I could probably use for rainy mornings, I run platform pedals. I have only worn the boots once and it was in the snow and my feet were toasty and I would grip the ice and show like a champ so I am guessing I should have little slippage issues with the boots. I may take them for a test ride sometime just to make sure.
Again, thanks for the help/input.
#25
Slogging along
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: San Fernando Valley, SoCal
Posts: 1,148
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse '06, Mongoose titanium road bike '00--my commuter. Yes, Mongoose once made a decent ti road bike.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
For most of my 'cold' Southern California rides, such as an early morning commute, I wear arm warmers, leg warmers, thin glove liners under my fingerless gloves, and a cycling windbreaker. A base layer and long sleeve jersey also helps.