Originally Posted by
alan s
Year round bike commuters are a rare breed. Anyone who thinks the average person is going to ride a bike in a snowstorm is more delusional than the person riding the bike. I'd be surprised if any urban area in the US had more than 1% "real" bike commuters, meaning (at least to me) people who ride to work 4-5 times a week on average all year. People for whom their bike is the primary mode of transportation for getting to work.
Ahem. I find riding in snowstorms to be pretty and exhilarating. The more intense the better. Only times i do not ride or try to avoid riding is thunderstorms, because that's just dangerous being on a metal object out in the open.
And as for dressing for weather...... You can only strip down so much in the heat. In reality when it gets dangerous hot (100+) you need light and very breathable fabric clothing and LOTS of water, and a very intense cool-down procedure after riding, and preferably cooling rest stops as well.
In the sub freezing cold all you really need are two things, a warmth layer and a wind blocking layer. The wind blocking is very important for neck, elbows, and hands, and the warmth is very important for torso and parts of the head.
- Andy