Originally Posted by
James B
How do you fight the cold temperatures? Even with the wind at 10kph, things can get very cold, very quick. (At least to someone who is from North Carolina, like myself)
Your winters are worse than mine, but I ride year-round with a 20-mile one-way commute parts of the winter in the NW US.
I wear warm tights over my shorts, and sometimes also leg warmers under the shorts under the tights. Insulated shoe covers, gloves or mittens, balaclava, helmet cover, layers on upper body. I have made that ride in 15 F (-10 C) weather, though that is about my limit. Cold rain probably is the worst. I wear a rain jacket and otherwise put up with being wet.
I ride in the dark (lots of flashies) but bad fog or other unsafe conditions are a no-go. I worry more about what drivers might do (or not do) than falling myself. Slick roads are one of those times. An out-of-control car will paste me quite nicely regardless of my traction situation.