In Praise of Pogies
I've been bike commuting to work now for several years and have always left off at the end of December because it got so cold, particularly in the extremities, that I didn't enjoy it anymore. (Yeah, I had my htfu moments where I could have toughed it out, but I ride because I enjoy it, dammit, so I'm not going to do so if I'm not having fun.) I tried various types of gloves, including the spiffy, wicked-expensive Assos system consisting of three separate sets of gloves, but nothing kept my hands warm.
This year, though, I broke down and tried a solution I had been putting off - I got pogies. They are fantastic! For the first time, I feel fine riding in Machka-like temperatures because my hands are warm! Yeah, they're a fredlike fashion crime, but at 11 degrees, ask me and my warm hands if we care.
If any of you are having similar reluctance to get out in the winter, I highly recommend them. I got them from a place in Alaska (!) called Dogwood Designs (no website), but there are lots of different makers out there with good products.