Winter Cycling in NYC
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Winter Cycling in NYC
I'll be moving to Brooklyn NYC in about 25 days, from Littleton Colorado.
I expect the winters to about the same, with New York probably being a bit more wet.
I'm looking mostly for gear that can double up on uses, and reusing summer clothing for base layers, as I'll be pretty tight on cash. I do expect buy some cycling specific rain/wind resistant tights, and jacket, just for the cuts in the back though.
Any suggestions are welcome, I'm pretty new to winter cycling, and especially new to NYC winters.
Mainly I'm looking for suggestions on feet, hand, and head gear, as they don't seem to be talked about as much as torso and leg clothing.
I ride with clips and straps all year round so I'm looking for a winter boot, I could wear even while not on the bike.
I stumbled upon these on REI's site. They don't look too bulky, and don't have laces, which I find a plus for clips and straps. I figured combined with some wool socks, my feet should be happy warm. Any input here is welcomed.
Gloves I'm completely lost on. They all start looking same, and I'm not sure if I'll need to layer gloves.
As for my head I'm thinking: this + some glasses/goggles. Not sure what is necessary in NY.
I don't want a Balaclava, I already have asthma, anything inhibiting my breathing more just isn't very comfortable. Plus I've gotten by in Colorado for years with just ear, neck, and eye protection.
Thanks for any further input, I've already learned a bunch skimming the threads. And if any NYC'er wanna post their winter setup that could be helpful.
Oh and one more thing, what are good tires for NYC, I'm thinking there wont be enough ice to constitute studded tires, and just using the All Terrainasaurus 700x32C tires that come stock on the San Jose.
Yay for lengthy first posts!
I expect the winters to about the same, with New York probably being a bit more wet.
I'm looking mostly for gear that can double up on uses, and reusing summer clothing for base layers, as I'll be pretty tight on cash. I do expect buy some cycling specific rain/wind resistant tights, and jacket, just for the cuts in the back though.
Any suggestions are welcome, I'm pretty new to winter cycling, and especially new to NYC winters.
Mainly I'm looking for suggestions on feet, hand, and head gear, as they don't seem to be talked about as much as torso and leg clothing.
I ride with clips and straps all year round so I'm looking for a winter boot, I could wear even while not on the bike.
I stumbled upon these on REI's site. They don't look too bulky, and don't have laces, which I find a plus for clips and straps. I figured combined with some wool socks, my feet should be happy warm. Any input here is welcomed.
Gloves I'm completely lost on. They all start looking same, and I'm not sure if I'll need to layer gloves.
As for my head I'm thinking: this + some glasses/goggles. Not sure what is necessary in NY.
I don't want a Balaclava, I already have asthma, anything inhibiting my breathing more just isn't very comfortable. Plus I've gotten by in Colorado for years with just ear, neck, and eye protection.
Thanks for any further input, I've already learned a bunch skimming the threads. And if any NYC'er wanna post their winter setup that could be helpful.
Oh and one more thing, what are good tires for NYC, I'm thinking there wont be enough ice to constitute studded tires, and just using the All Terrainasaurus 700x32C tires that come stock on the San Jose.
Yay for lengthy first posts!
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They must not have told you, there is a dome around NYC. To people outside NYC it keeps the pollution in. To people inside NYC it allows the temperature to stay a balmy 70 degrees all year. It doesn't keep rain out though so buy a good water resistant jacket.
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I do not ride in NYC, but Central, NY (we get more snow)
1. I layer gloves, it helps immensely
2. Unless you need prescription glasses I only wore goggles one day last winter.
3. I wouldn't necessarily say boots are necessary, what about booties and whatever you use in CO?
4. "This" for your head looks good, given your asthma problem.
5. I like the Specialized Borough Armadillo Elite tires in 700x32c
Good luck and take a bicycle tour up to CNY to see us non-city folk.
1. I layer gloves, it helps immensely
2. Unless you need prescription glasses I only wore goggles one day last winter.
3. I wouldn't necessarily say boots are necessary, what about booties and whatever you use in CO?
4. "This" for your head looks good, given your asthma problem.
5. I like the Specialized Borough Armadillo Elite tires in 700x32c
Good luck and take a bicycle tour up to CNY to see us non-city folk.
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I do not ride in NYC, but Central, NY (we get more snow)
1. I layer gloves, it helps immensely
2. Unless you need prescription glasses I only wore goggles one day last winter.
3. I wouldn't necessarily say boots are necessary, what about booties and whatever you use in CO?
4. "This" for your head looks good, given your asthma problem.
5. I like the Specialized Borough Armadillo Elite tires in 700x32c
Good luck and take a bicycle tour up to CNY to see us non-city folk.
1. I layer gloves, it helps immensely
2. Unless you need prescription glasses I only wore goggles one day last winter.
3. I wouldn't necessarily say boots are necessary, what about booties and whatever you use in CO?
4. "This" for your head looks good, given your asthma problem.
5. I like the Specialized Borough Armadillo Elite tires in 700x32c
Good luck and take a bicycle tour up to CNY to see us non-city folk.
2. Sounds like I'll stick with my wrap around aviators from china town.
3. I just have plain ol' tennis shoes, maybe those water proof shoe cover things will be fine after all.
4. Will be purchased then.
5. Those look about as good as what I'm running traction wise, except mine are 700x28c. I'll play the tires by ear.
I'll make sure to ride up there and visit you folk at some point, I have a feeling my fixed gear san jose wont be hip enough for the hipsters and they'll kick me out.
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I generally don't wear boots unless I'm taking the subway and walking. Thick wool socks over thin wicking socks with sneakers works well for me with toe clips. However, just so that I have more options, I'm thinking about removing the toe clips from my touring bike just for the winter so that I can wear any boots or shoes that I want.
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1. What gloves are you layering?
2. Sounds like I'll stick with my wrap around aviators from china town.
3. I just have plain ol' tennis shoes, maybe those water proof shoe cover things will be fine after all.
4. Will be purchased then.
5. Those look about as good as what I'm running traction wise, except mine are 700x28c. I'll play the tires by ear.
I'll make sure to ride up there and visit you folk at some point, I have a feeling my fixed gear san jose wont be hip enough for the hipsters and they'll kick me out.
2. Sounds like I'll stick with my wrap around aviators from china town.
3. I just have plain ol' tennis shoes, maybe those water proof shoe cover things will be fine after all.
4. Will be purchased then.
5. Those look about as good as what I'm running traction wise, except mine are 700x28c. I'll play the tires by ear.
I'll make sure to ride up there and visit you folk at some point, I have a feeling my fixed gear san jose wont be hip enough for the hipsters and they'll kick me out.
EMS glove lingers under my fingerless cycling gloves which are either under a pair of regular winter gloves OR my snowmobile gloves given the condition.
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Awesome. Thanks for all the answers guys.
This pretty much answered the few questions I had. I'll see you guys on the streets this winter hopefully. Ride safe.
@ Dave #4 was just a fleece skullcap with earflaps
This pretty much answered the few questions I had. I'll see you guys on the streets this winter hopefully. Ride safe.
@ Dave #4 was just a fleece skullcap with earflaps