wolfchild

I am good down to about minus 25 Celsius below zero, it doesn't get any colder than that around here....Platform pedals + proper winter boots or insulated hiking boots + 1-2 pairs of wool socks + gaiters has never failed to keep my feet warm during longer rides in very cold weather. No need for chemical warmers, no need for shoe covers, no need for wrapping your feet in plastic bags or aluminium foil.

noglider 

I just read an article with reviews of many winter-worthy SPD shoes. Maybe I'll stop in at an LBS or two to see if they have any of these.

RidingMatthew

Tom can you post the link ? I am interested in winter shoes.I have read they are totally worth it and I have a friend on a cold ride swear by his too. They are expensive but I really like the idea of just putting on a shoe and being dry and warm vs socks, bags or foil, shoes, and shoe covers.

wphamilton

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°

acidfast7

same here.

pdlamb

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!

noglider 

For @RidingMatthew 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.

noglider 

That's one fun thing about the seasons when the weather is changing. People wear all sorts of things. I wore a neck gaiter and hat etc today, at 45F, and there was a woman I see every day, and she was wearing a sleeveless dress!

well biked

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.

autonomy

I am most peeved by the effect of 1+ feet of snow.

Hand/foot warmers? I've never been a fan personally, especially since there's a cost to them. Try two pair of socks but make sure your shoes aren't on too tight, or you'll be cutting off circulation. Works for me down to 10F. And what are you wearing on your feet, hopefully not sneakers? When it gets cold enough for 2 pairs of socks, I put on my waterproof hiking boots. Or, like some, try ziplock bags on your feet! Or you could splurge on winter-specific cycling boots, 45Nrth make some very good stuff.

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.

Archwhorides 

Artful layering is the thing. The only difference between my winter commuting layers and my back-country skiing layers is hi-vis accents.

autonomy

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!

Archwhorides 

I use an ANSI II mesh construction vest that a contractor friend gave me for precisely the same purpose.

Ged117 

I use the NiteIze LED run vest:

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.

revcp 

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.

rumrunn6

agree. time, temperature, speed (aka wind) & precipitation (how much water or snow will gather on my toes)

medic75

40/80 would be much easier for me. I typically wear shorts & a t-shirt under my jacket / pants, so I am prepared for warmer temps. Depending on the wind / sun, I will ride in 50 with shorts & a t-shirt. Unfortunately, that is usually not the case, leaving me a little sweaty when I get home. Honestly, if I start packing a long sleeve t-shirt I think that would solve my problem. For me, 50 degrees seems to be that crossover temperature that could be cold or comfortable depending on other variables.

Archwhorides 

Twin City riders are a whole 'nother breed.......Respect.

Archwhorides 

Aerogel footbeds are the answer to cold SPD soles: Aerotherm Insole They help my feet get down to 25 degrees F with covers, below that I switch to Lake winter shoes.

Phamilton

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.

oOImpulseOo

Neoprene shoe covers will solve your problems. Cold feet and hands are the worst. I used to just double up on the socks, I don't need to tell you how that works. Once I switched to shoe covers I never had cold feet again. I commute year round. Sub_zero temperatures in the winter are common in my neck of the woods. Neoprene shoe covers and lobster gloves are absolute must once it dips below 30.

medic75

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.

jollynut

Winter is the best season to ride :-)

Jim from Boston

It must be winter again

Quote:

Originally Posted by medic75

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.

Hi @medic75

Just three days ago, I replied to your thread of 9-18, “Considering winter commuting - need advise”

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archwhorides

… 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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim from Boston

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…

Jim from Boston

On a more serious note, you may find this thread on the Winter Cycling Forum interesting, "Carbon bike in winter":