They're called lobster mitts.

To chefisaac, a few tips ...

Hand Warmth -- Having done quite a bit of cycling in the winter, I would strongly recommend going with mini-gloves or similar as a base layer, and ski-mitts as the over-layer. That way, if something happens to the bicycle which needs adjusting, you can remove the over-mitts and still have some dexterity with the mini-gloves on.

I would also recommend bringing at least two sets of the outdoor gear ... two sets of mini-gloves, two sets of over-mitts, two fleecy headbands, two neck-gaiters, two balaclavas ...

Day 1, you're going to sweat and soak your first set, and you are not going to want to wear it on Day 2. So you dig out your dry set and wear that instead, hoping that your first set will dry by Day 3 when you need them. Keep alternating between the two sets. Oh, don't forget to turn the mitts inside out.


Body Warmth -- At the end of the day, get out of your cycling attire and into something warm and cozy. You might want to bring polar fleece, down jackets, etc.

Then take whatever you're going to wear cycling the next day, and put it in your sleeping bag. You'll sleep on it that night and make it warm.

In the morning, change into your nice warm cycling attire.

If you leave your cycling attire in the pannier out in the foyer of the tent, it will be cold, and very uncomfortable to put on.


Extra Warmth While Sleeping -- Wear your warm and cozy polar fleece to bed ... don't forget good, thick wool socks, put a toque on your head, and you might even want to bring a pair of mini-gloves to sleep in.

If you do want to bring your light-weight down quilt, I'd recommend bringing something in addition to it, such as another just like it.

What is your mattress like? You'll want something good quality that insulates you from the ground.



As you can see from just those three points, the bulk of the stuff you could bring on a winter tour is starting to add up. Are you able to carry all the extra gear?