Finally broke out the balaclava this a.m. & needed it! Don't mind this cold at all...

I wore mine in today as well.

Same here. Nice brisk morning!

It was only 28F when I left so I didn't need the face mask. Thought about bringing the ear covers, but decided not to look for them.

I dumped the balaclava for a beard, ear bags, and a skull cap. Much better .

Huh? Are you worried about your do??? I won't ride in 50F without something on my ears. Nothing like cold wind hitting my extremities! (which reminds me to double check my fly next cold ride. Geesh--I get chilled think about that.)

I wore my synthetic balaclava in yesterday. After I pulled it off my hair was all over the place and I got made fun of by the entire office. Then we had a client pop in for a surprise meeting and I could see my boss shaking her head in disapproval at my professional appearance. But the client is a cyclist and I'm sure that he appreciated the situation.

Does 5 with -15 windchill qualify as brisk? And it's gonna get worse here anyway.

I started wearing my balaclava begining of this week. Was pretty comfortable on the ride in this morning at 12F. Main problem was that my water bottle froze. Need to get an insulated one!

+1 sub earbags with earmuffs. The kind that wrap around the back of your neck. The skull cap pulls down to my eyebrows.

Never worn a balaclava. I think if it got down below 10° I'd be looking for the full facial coverage. VERY rare here...

The thermometer suggested it wasn't cold enough for the facemask this am, but I was glad I had it. When my glasses fogged I pulled the mask down to cover my mouth rather than completely remove it like I usually might.

I wear a skullcap so I just pull it over the tops of my ears and that keeps them warm. It's not that cold out.

I had mine out yesterday!

Yup, wore my facemask too... I need to get some eye covering stuff too. I don't even have sunglasses.

Just curious about other peoples experiences with a balaclava in public. Do you get any people shielding thier kids, harassment comments, cops with ID checking, store clerks that see you with it before entering the store (I mean you take it off before you enter ANY building, especially banks), etc??

I have been thinking of getting one myself as the temps are chilly but not so sure about the effects.

*Edit*
The one I have right now is a thick knit ski mask. I was thinking of something thinner/smaller so a helmet can fit over.


Zero_Enigma

I'm sporting the double balaclava: one pulled down to cover my eyebrows, and one pulled up over my nose. I just need an assault weapon, and I'll be ready to take hostages. Even better, I've got a bike, so I'll just take the lane...

I've never worn a balaclava in my life...

Cleveland winters are gonna toughen you up Dave!

Wore mine for the 27F/35F commute yesterday. This morning was 17F so I would have added my ski-helmet (ear coverings, c losable vents) and goggles. Today is a 1-way commute so I don't ride till 5:45pm. Above 32F I have a jersey with a nice hood.

I knitted mine myself!

+1 to that. I'd cook in my balaclava at anything above 20F. I probably won't even bother unless it gets below 15F. Now I do tend to wear a skull cap that covers the ears below 40F.
This is the first winter weather we have had since November but now its back above 40F already. Still long term weather forecasts predict low 30s for the highs next week. Still on the mild side for January but atleast it feels like winter.
Craig

I just got mine from Lou at foxwear--gonna try it out first thing in the morning. Its getting down in the high teens/low 20's. Still no snow!

My 5 yr old apparently wore my wife's facemask biking to school today (after the 2 hr delay for snow/ice).

I wear a skullcap below about 60.

I have a very lightweight Craft balaclava that I put on (over the skullcap) somewhere in the 20's. I usually keep it pulled down under my chin, but it works well for the cheeks and neck.

With the way my nose runs I can't imagine wearing anything that covered it.

I have a skiing neck gaiter that can be pulled over your face and has velcro straps on the back... really easy on and off and can just sit on your neck when your inside. The only downside is that its not always easy to get back on your face, you have to figure out a way to wear it that works.