Winter Commuting
 

I'm already starting to think of what I have to do for winter commuting.

My commute is 28 miles round trip. One way is in the afternoon around 3pm and the other ways is in the middle of the night around 3 am. I have several lights/reflectors so I'm good there. I also have winter tires already (mountain bike original tires)

What do you do about extreme cold? Right now I don't have so much as a pair of winter gloves so I'm wondering where I should start as far as gear goes. I am also going to contact my employer about storing my bike inside so the chain doesn't freeze.

I won't go into all the details about layering, lighting, ice, etc. but a particular concern I suffer from is wearing glasses and the problem of fogging, and even icing out my vision. If this is problematic for you or anyone else, I can provide some answers, but will take a while; best illustrated by a photograph.

Please elaborate...I was curious how I was going to see with fogged glasses...I was thinking goggles of some sort...but I would love to hear you input.

Thanks for the thread, I had just started thing this week about winter coming up.

Fogged glasses are a serious problem for me. Usually the breeze as I ride clears it up, but if the temps are below 10 degrees F or so, I prefer wearing a mask. When I do that though, the moisture from my breath goes straight up to my glasses and freezes onto them. Bad news. I have to stop sometimes to scrape the condensed ice off. I tried some stuff that you put on your glasses that supposedly keeps that from happening, but it never really worked for me.

How cold is extreme cold for you? In the winter in Boston, temps are usually around 20-30 in the mornings, with teens and single digits not uncommon. I've found that layering works brilliantly, and I actually have to keep myself from overdressing. I'll be chilly the first five minutes or so, but after that my body starts generating some serious heat.

The biggest problems I have when it's really really cold, like ten degrees or less, are with my hands and feet. I find it difficult to keep them warm, and I think it's a battle I won't ever win. I layer up on the gloves too, which helps. I use a thin liner inside some badass mountaineering gloves. They were expensive, but I think they are worth it. My hands still get cold, but I deal.

Feet are tricky too. All I've ever done is wear multiple pairs of socks. Doesn't work that great in extreme cold, but it's better than nothing.

But that's just my experience.

Consider these: http://www.rxskigoggles.com/

More prescription ski goggle can be found under this search: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search

Also go here for winter biking info: http://www.icebike.org/

Michael

I wear contacts, but will be getting glasses in November. Any de-fogging advice would be much appreciated.

As for the rest of it...
-A balaclava works wonders, seriously.
-I wear mittens over my cycling gloves when it gets really cold.
-Lots of layers.

It's a hard topic to handle in one thread. There's an entire forum on the subject. There's also a website that might be useful: http://www.icebike.org

You didn't say what part of the world you're in. Mountain bike tires are fine for snow (lowering the pressure helps) but don't help at all on ice. For ice you want studded tires. Having said that, there are people here who commute all year on 28c road tires. Doesn't work for me, but if the roads are cleared pretty well where you ride, you may not need to worry much about tires.

People don't all react to the cold the same way so it's hard to make universal recommendations on things like mittens or gloves. Experimentation is the key. Nature is kind in that you're not plunged from summer to winter in one day and you'll have some time to figure things out as the days get colder.

What is fairly universal though is avoiding cotton and dressing in 3 or so thin layers as opposed to a medium layer and a really bulky outer layer.

The base layer (the one next to your skin) would be something like a really good set of long underwear made out of a moisture wicking material. The middle or "warmth" layer is a bit thicker and is usually something like fleece. The outer layer is a windproof shell.

That's what I'll wear in Minnesota to give you an idea. If I'm exerting myself (like riding a bike), my hands and feet don't get too cold. A good set of skiing gloves are fine for my hands. This doesn't work for everybody. For my feet, a good set of hiking boots with wool socks work fine. A bit better is wool socks + running shoes + neoprene booties but the booties are kind of a hassle.

For my head I'll wear a thin balaclava and a helmet. If it's really cold, I'll add ski goggles.

I've never had a chain freeze and any ice that collected on it (in a freezing rain storm or something) would quickly break off once I started riding. A rusty chain is a more common problem because of the salt used here to clear the roads.

Fenders are more important in winter than in the summer.

One thing you really need to think about is visibility. Drivers are not used to seeing bikes around in the winter, especially at 3am. I know you say that you have lights, but I'd really make sure that those provide visibility. You might even use one of those reflective vests, especially if there was snow on the ground. I commend you for doing this at 3am. That takes grit.

As far as clothing goes, there are a lot of great resources out there that you can find with google. Layering and head/neck warmth are key. Keep your head warm, even if it takes two hats or a hat and a balaclava, scarf, whatever you have. Use wool or polarfleece - no cotton.

I use a pretty simple waterproof polyester/nylon outer and then varying layers of polar fleece underneath. For hand warmth I do basically the same thing using mitten shells with gauntlets designed to have a liner on the inside. Then I just use cheap liners or another pair of mittens. It usually doesn't get cold enough for me to have to wear another layer over my jeans, but when it does I just have a pair of nylon zip rain/wind pants that I bought at EMS. If you start to sweat then just shed a layer.

Bringing your bike indoors may prevent your chain from freezing while it's parked, but it won't keep your derailleur from freezing in cold/wet weather, especially on a 28 mile commute. Hopefully it's pretty flat and you can live with one gear. I'm going to convert my snow bike to a single speed this fall for that reason.

Then there's the maintenance issue. Snow, ice, and whatever they put on the road is murder on your parts. I have to do a lot more maintenance in the winter than during the warmer seasons. I've also found that an oil based lube is better than the other ones like teflon lubes. That's just my perception - I'm not a great mechanic or anything.

Other than that, just keep at it. That first cold day in the Fall don't skip the commute. Cooler Fall weather will slowly get you used to the cold so that it's not such a shock. If you stop commuting for a day, it's easy to stop for two days. If you stop for two days, it's easy to stop a week. If you stop a week, well, you can see where I'm going here. Just keep at it, learn what works for you, and good luck!

ps - I've never encountered problems with glasses fogging. It's pretty dry here in Colorado though. You can buy anti-fog rags or droplets traditionally used in ski or swimming goggles.

B@stards. I don't even want to think about winter when it's still summer. Thou shalt not mention winter until at least the day after Labor Day. MAN LAW!

Potatoslayer - it would help if we knew where you lived, and what your idea of extreme cold was.
I have a 28-30 mile commute. I only commute in temps above 0F, so I don't really ride in extreme cold, I layer for my body, arms and legs usually feel cold for the first 2 miles of the ride, then I start to warm up. For temps below 30F I wear a thinsulite hat under my helmet which covers my ears, below 10F I wear a thin balaclava.
I wear ski gloves, haven't found winter cycling gloves that are any good.
In the cold I wear Lake winter cycling boots, a size larger than normal with thick wool socks. Feet still get gold when the temps are below 10F
Glasses fog, cat crap helps, but nothing prevents it.
Lots of lights - I have dinotte headlight and tail light, and a second dinotte headlight on my helmet. I also have a hub dynamo powered headlight and taillight.
Fenders.
I park my bike indoors, and use lots of wet lube in the winter. I put newspapers under the bike in the winter to catch the stuff that drips off the bike as it thaws.

Try the Winter Cycling forum--good info, esp. the stickies at top

http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=53

One thing about riding in winter that may not be obvious is that it's a lot more work, - even if the roads are clear. There are many theories as to why that is, including that the denser air provides more resistance.

Anyway, I have a commute that's only about half the distance of yours. It takes me a good 10 minutes longer in the winter so keep that in mind.

Yeah, I've still got at least 3.5 months of commuting left on my road bike before I get the winter bike out. Winter riding can be pleasant and even fun but I happily violate the commuter tenets of fenders and rack all summer long and prefer it that way.

I carry a thin windreaker for those brutal 47 degree mornings in January. Florida winter is a dream--low 50, high 75 and NO RAIN for about 5 months. Makes up for the humid, rainy summers. I just wanted to make you feel bad, not much help here. If I can remember my time in Ohio, something about layers, and not licking metal. Probably not a good idea to lick your bike, unless it's carbon.

I've been missing winter since the end of May. :p (The heat index here is 108 right now. :lol: )

Edit: Also, it takes me longer to get to work in the summer. Probably because the heat makes me physically ill.

I actually prefer riding in cold weather, although I can do without ice and snow. When it's cold enough, I don't have to shower or even change clothes.

We gotta trade locations...I love the heat...even when I used to live in Yuma, I commuted in 120+ temps. My bonez is to old for teh winterz.

I live outside of Cincinatti but work just accross the Indiana Border. I am originally from Cleveland, Ohio and used to commute around there. But up there there were bike trails I could use and people were more used to driving in the snow. And also I have not been riding to the extreme I am now.

It gets cold here. Good stretch last winter where it didn't get above 20 degrees.

I am asking now because I may be able to get a decent amount of winter gear. My dad just retired from the post office up in Cleveland and he has winter gear I was just wondering what I could use from that source and what I will need to buy.

I just know my t-shirt and athletic shorts I use now will not make it for more than a couple more months.

What tjspiel said .....
I like my bike to stay outside at work (under cover - we have bike lockers) and in the garage at home, I think that having the bike stay below freezing reduces the possibility of ice/snow melting into cables etc. when brought into the heated building and then freezing a few minutes into your ride home.

Do check out the Winter Cycling forum and Ice Bike as above...

Here is my current gear and bike components:

TREK 3700 mountain bike with regular handlebars and front handle bars. Studded tires for winter, smooth tires for summer.

Lighting I don't mess around since I'm out when it's really dark and last call at the bars is only an hour before I leave. What I have is a front headlight about the size of my fist that has 3 settings - flat beam, partial strobe, and full strobe. I usually use partial strobe so I can still see. I also have a dedicated strobe light (not as bright but gets job done) which is mounted low on my frame on the left side of my bike. It is pointed toward the ground with strobe effect thus having a flashing road for about 3 feet to my left.

I have a blinky light on my backpack, and 5 reflectors also on my backpack. I have a rear blinky light underneath my seat that is also the size of my fist and bright as hell.

I actually think this might be overkill, but I'm not messing around.

Gear for winter I have (just found out) will be getting 'rain pants' and ski goggles from my dad and he's going to search what else might be usedful. I have a hood, hoodie, 2 sweatshirts so I guess I'm off to a good start.

No such thing as overkill in the dark with lights!!!
Check out the Electronics thread to see some well light up bikes..you really want to be seen! There are some really nice DIY lighting systems (some made from garden lights) that are pretty cheap..

I like to point a light at the ground too,,,,very visible!

+1

Tomorrow it's supposed to be 102F here with a heat index of 110F... hard to imagine that winter even exists when it's that damned hot! :twitchy:

Of course my brutal winter weather in Georgia is when it gets down to 35F! :D

Its still winter here, although its a sunny, (but cold), day today we are getting more crappy weather within the week :(

still the bulbs are coming up so there's a sign:)

You're just in Wussyville, how cold could it possibly get? :D