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Originally Posted by wphamilton
(Post 20631081)
That's a different sort of winter than we have. Nobody here will have winter boots, wool socks or gaiters. While I have an insulated jacket, I haven't even worn it in years. Although I'll grant that I often see people cycling with insulated coats whenever it gets under 50° :lol:
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For [MENTION=134924]RidingMatthew[/MENTION] and others:
Nine of the best winter mountain bike shoes Mind you, this is on a site that sells stuff, but it seems fair enough. It would be nice if they listed prices, even in pounds sterling. |
Originally Posted by pdlamb
(Post 20631112)
I must be more warm-blooded than some cyclists, although it's more noticeable on weekends. Start a ride of a few hours when it's in the low 60s, and on my way home I'll often pass some folks with leg and arm warmers on (even though by then it's probably middle 70s!). Balaclava at 55F? Man, you need to get outside more often!
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I've been using the Shimano MW7's for three or four years now, they are listed in that review article. Really nice shoes that do a great job of keeping your feet warm and dry in temps down to maybe just below freezing. I have used them on bikepacking trips when temps dipped into the teens and my feet did get uncomfortably cold in those temps, even with heavy wool socks.
I think if you need extreme cold protection for your feet, 45North makes some great stuff. |
Originally Posted by mcours2006
(Post 20628604)
Yep. The endless permutation of clothing combinations is bewidering. Get it wrong and you'll be sweating or just be miserably cold. And then the effect of the cold on battery life for lights and cameras. Needless to say, it's not my favourite time of the year yo ride. But the least favourite time is yet to come.
Originally Posted by CrewFan
(Post 20628974)
The only problem i run in to is trying to keep my feet warm. The rest of me is ok, just my feet start to freeze at mile 8, out of 10.5 mile trip. I wear wool socks and long pants, but can't keep them warm and by the end of my rides ( when it's low 30's) they are painfully cold.
Originally Posted by medic75
(Post 20629276)
To add to that, the variances in temperatures during the day. Yesterday, my ride in was 35 degrees while my ride home was 50 degrees. This creates the need for 2 different clothing combinations.
I've seen some people wear shorts and tshirt down to the 40s... Not sure how they manage to do that. |
Artful layering is the thing. The only difference between my winter commuting layers and my back-country skiing layers is hi-vis accents.
Originally Posted by mcours2006
(Post 20628604)
..... Get it wrong and you'll be sweating or just be miserably cold.
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Originally Posted by Archwhorides
(Post 20632020)
Artful layering is the thing. The only difference between my winter commuting layers and my back-country skiing layers is hi-vis accents.
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Originally Posted by autonomy
(Post 20632862)
I have very little winter bike-specific clothing so I got a $5 reflective fluoro vest that fits really well on top of whatever I'm wearing. Win, IMO!
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Originally Posted by Archwhorides
(Post 20632961)
Precisely, I use an ANSI II mesh construction vest that a contractor friend gave me for precisely the same purpose.
https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5046-937/LED-Run-Vest Very good fit to the body, and the LED strips at the back and front work quite well in concert with my bike mounted lights. I'm in the midst of replacing the commuter duty Norco with a '93 Trek 750, so I'll be installing the studded Schwalbe tires once it starts to get wet and frozen later in November. Today is the first time I've used the balaclava. Not looking forward to the windy winter. |
For shoes
I wear vbl socks under medium weight wool down to about 20F with my Five Ten Freeriders (platform pedals, of course). It's not till it gets into the teens that I switch to my Salomon Toundra boots. At around 0F I'll break out the VBLs for those.
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Originally Posted by mcours2006
(Post 20630189)
it's a lot of little incremental mods
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Originally Posted by autonomy
(Post 20631785)
Yeah, that's a tough one, though 35/50 is not too bad. 40/80 is worse! I usually dress for the lows and bring shorts/shirt for warmer times. Basically, peel of layers as it gets warmer, same as you would do for hiking. I can do 40s without a hat or gloves, or a wind layer, but not on the bike. Moving at 15+ mph the windchill gets you.
I've seen some people wear shorts and tshirt down to the 40s... Not sure how they manage to do that. |
Originally Posted by revcp
(Post 20635727)
I wear vbl socks under medium weight wool down to about 20F with my Five Ten Freeriders (platform pedals, of course). It's not till it gets into the teens that I switch to my Salomon Toundra boots. At around 0F I'll break out the VBLs for those.
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Originally Posted by mcours2006
(Post 20630189)
Shoe covers will still leave the underside of your shoes exposed and cold air will still find its way to your feet eventually. They may delay the onset, but sooner or later.
When it gets down to -3*C or colder I'll use my Specialized Defroster shoes, which are insulated winter road shoes. Combined with a good pair of wool socks they work well. At -7*C I'll have to use the neoprene covers over the Defrosters. And below -10*C, I'll stick a packet of chemical warmers over my toes. Colder than this I'll probably drive. Yeah, it's a lot of little incremental mods and a PITA! |
I have a thin pair of full finger mechanic gloves that work from 50 down to freezing, and a pair of fleece lined sheepskin gloves that work down to 0f. I have some choppers mitts I haven't been able to use yet, too hot even below zero. Hands are biggest struggle below zero. I wear my sneakers pretty much year-round (flat pedals) and vary socks, thin ones in the 3 fair seasons, thick ones in late fall and layer them up in the winter. I have some snow boots I can wear if it gets below 0f but my feet get too warm even then. Over 50f I wear shorts, 50f down to freezing I use fleece joggers, freezing to 0f thin tights under the joggers and below zero thick fleece lined tights and joggers. Up top over 50f is short sleeves, 50f down to freezing a thin long sleeve base layer and jacket, freezing down to zero add a thin hoodie under the jacket and below zero add my coat. My commute is 25mi/day in northern Indiana. By the time I get to work or get home, I'm usually pretty sweaty regardless of the weather.
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Originally Posted by CrewFan
(Post 20628974)
The only problem i run in to is trying to keep my feet warm. The rest of me is ok, just my feet start to freeze at mile 8, out of 10.5 mile trip. I wear wool socks and long pants, but can't keep them warm and by the end of my rides ( when it's low 30's) they are painfully cold.
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And so it begins. I didn't bother to check the weather before leaving this morning and rode the wrong bike :( My only hope is that it doesn't get bad enough that they begin to put salt on the roads. I don't want to expose this bike to any of that crap. That is why I bought a winter beater.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2e64dc2c72.jpg |
Winter is the best season to ride :-)
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It must be winter again
Originally Posted by medic75
(Post 20655231)
And so it begins. I didn't bother to check the weather before leaving this morning and rode the wrong bike :( My only hope is that it doesn't get bad enough that they begin to put salt on the roads.
I don't want to expose this bike to any of that crap. That is why I bought a winter beater. Just three days ago, I replied to your thread of 9-18, “Considering winter commuting - need advise”
Originally Posted by Archwhorides
(Post 20573893)
… I think of winter riding as game in which "winning" is figuring out how to ride more days comfortably and safely. In my experience, if you start winter riding in clear/dry conditions, then gradually ratchet up to conditions with more precip, you get accustomed to the seasonal challenge and learn which gear is appropriate.
For some the bike answer is a beater, for others it can be something quite different.
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(Post 20653629)
Nicely said. My slogan is "Gear and gumption." My take on winning, in any bad weather, is taking the correct bike...my pristine carbon fiber bike on dry (non-salted) roads, and the beater otherwise.
I lose when I take the beater and the roads are dry in both directions, or when I take the carbon fiber on a messy road… |
Originally Posted by medic75
(Post 20655231)
And so it begins. I didn't bother to check the weather before leaving this morning and rode the wrong bike :My only hope is that it doesn't get bad enough that they begin to put salt on the roads.
I don't want to expose this bike to any of that crap.That is why I bought a winter beater.
Originally Posted by cj19
(Post 20647418)
OP here. Have spent more time searching for info and come to the following conclusions:
Originally Posted by alias5000
(Post 20653657)
On salt and corrosion: this is a topic commonly discussed here. Some ideas on how to better deal with this:
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(Post 20653629)
…For Winter however, from about mid-December to late February at the earliest, I entirely use the beater, always with studded tires on.
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Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(Post 20657940)
It must be winter again Hi [MENTION=484437]medic75[/MENTION]
Just three days ago, I replied to your thread of 9-18, “Considering winter commuting - need advise” FWIW, the ride home Friday went without incident. It warmed up a little and started to rain, melting the snow and slush that was on the roads. No fenders meant my feet and ankles got some extra splashing, but I survived. As much as I enjoy riding that bike, it has become a decoration in my basement and will remain there until Spring of 2019. This morning's commute was 20 degrees, sunny, and dry - briskly blissful to say the least. |
Originally Posted by jollynut
(Post 20657895)
Winter is the best season to ride :-)
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Originally Posted by medic75
(Post 20659228)
Yep, saw that. Thanks. I bought a cheap winter bike complete with fenders & disc brakes (see my post about the Schwinn Central). I will be adding a homemade mudflap to the front fender & the Schwalbe Marathon Winter tires should be here in 2-3 weeks (currently backordered).
I really don't like the upright riding position, but for my short commute, it is better than driving… FWIW, the ride home Friday went without incident. It warmed up a little and started to rain, melting the snow and slush that was on the roads. No fenders meant my feet and ankles got some extra splashing, but I survived. As much as I enjoy riding that bike, it has become a decoration in my basement and will remain there until Spring of 2019. This morning's commute was 20 degrees, sunny, and dry - briskly blissful to say the least.
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(Post 20547731)
…For the past few years I have been entirely satisfied with my carbon fiber road bike, aluminum road bike as a beater that accepts 30C studded tires, and a previous moutain bike beater, now in storage.…
This year however has been a bust because this winter I developed a weakness in my neck muscles supporting my head upright (perhaps due to a two month unavoidable layoff) on my previously well-fitted bikes. I had a subsequent fitting on both, with some handlebar adjustments. I recently got an exercise consultation for neck, shoulder and core muscles, and was given an exercise routine, that takes a big chunk of 50 minutes to perform. Exercise may fix it, but that’s a long-term solution. All these remedies have barely allow me to ride my minimum 14 mile one-way commute with slight discomfort near the end. By this time of the year I'm doing weekly 50-60 mile rides easily, and even training for a Century. Just yesterday, I rented a hybrid style bike with flat handlebars, and was comfortable on the commute, even with a moderately heavy backpack So now I’m giving in to the idea of a flat bar bike. .I’m in a quandary if I should replace the drop bars on my aluminum beater (with endurance style geometry) with flat bars, see if I can buy this relatively cheap hybrid since it seems to work, or buy a new quality hybrid to my specifications. The Diverge is already set up as a nice all-weather commuter (see photo). I’m going to my trusted LBS on Saturday to make a decision. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f523265960.jpg |
It must be winter again
Originally Posted by jollynut
(Post 20657895)
Winter is the best season to ride :-)
Originally Posted by wphamilton
(Post 20659976)
I think it kind of sucks to ride in winter, but it's better than not riding.
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(Post 20660016)
…Late in September I bought a Giant Escape with flat handlebars which is an OK, but heavy ride, but is comfortable.
I have ridden my commute a few times, and now I’m gung-ho for winter riding, with studded tires, to make up for lost time.
Originally Posted by tjspiel
(Post 16495625)
Winter is long enough here [in Minneapolis] that I mentally break it into segments.
Usually by Mid March (or not long after) we've had at least one extended thaw where a lot of the snow melts. We may get major snow storms and cold weather after that but those come in between warmer stretches. April is often a mixed bag. 70 or 80 one week, then snow the next but it's possible it won't snow at all.
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(Post 16528059)
The above is a pretty good description of the winter progression here in Boston, though the temperatures and snowfall are less brutal than in Minneapolis.
I would add that the Christmas lights of late November through December along with the slightly higher temperatures, and some residual training effect from summer and fall make that segment enjoyable. The quick disappearance of Holiday lights in January further exacerbates the gloom. Visits to Virginia and South Carolina in March and April have convinced me that Spring in Boston is about one month behind the South, particularly for an early morning commuter.
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(Post 19093062)
I dont’t think of a cycling season, but rather a cycling year with a cycle of seasons.…Not to sound religious, but I like to think of Ash Wednesday as my “New Cycling Year’s Day.”
It occurs usually still well into the Winter and I use that forty-day period of Lent as a marker to define a tolerable length of time to go into a rigorous dietary and training mode to shake off the winter blahs, even though I ride during the Winter anyways. By Easter, Spring is making itself known and I’m particularly ready for it.
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(Post 20650821)
I keep saying “no mas” to replying to this thread, but winter commuting is a favorite subject. :rolleyes:
Originally Posted by Papa Tom
(Post 20651371)
Jim: …As we've both noticed, even a tired old subject like this can draw a good-sized crowd, and it doesn't hurt to know that people are still thinking the same way they did at this time last year.
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I have to bring this thread back after a recent discussion I had with a coworker. For those of you who don't know, I began to commute to work on my bike almost exclusively in June of this year. I enjoyed it so much that I dreaded giving it up for winter, so I adapted and got ready for winter commuting. My habit has become a subject of regular discussion for many of my coworkers, with some beginning to call me "Lance". My recent addition of a new winter bike and studded tires has added to this ongoing discussion. Even though we have only had one icy day and one day of significant snow covering on the roads, one of my coworkers approached me and asked "you don't really ride in the snow, do you?". I explained that the cars are more of a concern than the abilities of me or my bike. Honestly, I thoroughly enjoyed the snowy day and felt like I had conquered the world. It was such a rush that I am actually looking forward to the next time it happens. If everyone else knew this feeling of accomplishment was available, they would all be on bikes when it is snowing.
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Originally Posted by medic75
(Post 20702233)
If everyone else knew this feeling of accomplishment was available, they would all be on bikes when it is snowing.
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Originally Posted by medic75
(Post 20629276)
To add to that, the variances in temperatures during the day. Yesterday, my ride in was 35 degrees while my ride home was 50 degrees. This creates the need for 2 different clothing combinations. A 15 degree difference in the summer is no big deal, but as the weather turns, you can easily get it wrong and be uncomfortable. Add a little rain into the mix and it gets even more interesting.
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Originally Posted by medic75
(Post 20702233)
I have to bring this thread back after a recent discussion I had with a coworker. For those of you who don't know, I began to commute to work on my bike almost exclusively in June of this year. I enjoyed it so much that I dreaded giving it up for winter, so I adapted and got ready for winter commuting. My habit has become a subject of regular discussion for many of my coworkers, with some beginning to call me "Lance". My recent addition of a new winter bike and studded tires has added to this ongoing discussion. Even though we have only had one icy day and one day of significant snow covering on the roads, one of my coworkers approached me and asked "you don't really ride in the snow, do you?". I explained that the cars are more of a concern than the abilities of me or my bike. Honestly, I thoroughly enjoyed the snowy day and felt like I had conquered the world. It was such a rush that I am actually looking forward to the next time it happens. If everyone else knew this feeling of accomplishment was available, they would all be on bikes when it is snowing.
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If it's still raining this afternoon, I'll suffer through another rainy commute on the bike. The last day it was raining like this traffic was snarled really badly on my way home. By bike, my commute is 45 minutes under any conditions. Taking 45 minutes on the bike isn't so bad when the car commute jumps from 20 to 40 minutes!
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[QUOTE=medic75;20702233My recent addition of a new winter bike and studded tires has added to this ongoing discussion. Even though we have only had one icy day and one day of significant snow covering on the roads, one of my coworkers approached me and asked "you don't really ride in the snow, do you?"[/QUOTE]
The novelty of it will wear off, and you are opening their eyes to new possibilities they've not thought of before. |
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