extending my "season"
08-06-09 | 03:22 PM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,896
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From: Binghamton, NY
Bikes: Workcycles FR8, 2016 Jamis Coda Comp, 2008 Surly Long Haul Trucker
Last year was the first year I considered myself riding year round (with a few days or weeks off sprinkled in). I used to limit myself based on the weather, but thanks to stories and advice from other riders I broke through my self imposed barriers (thanks guys 
).
My first advice would be to dress in layers. After a few rides you should be able to determine how many layers are needed and in what kind of weather. Plus you can always peel off layers or open and close opennings as needed.
I work overnights so my lighting for my rides are relatively cheap and effective and was built up overtime (about 3 years). Mars had a kit available at some sporting good stores for about $25 which had a 3.0 tail light and a front light both with multiple modes should help as a starter.
This is my setup currently
LHT:
2 MTE P7's from DealExtreme with flashlight holders
1 Nightrider Cherrybomb on rear bag (flash mode)
1 Mars 3.0 on left strut of rear rack (solid mode)
Exile:
2 Fenix Olights with 2 fishlocblocks
1 PB Superflash Stealth (flash mode)
Hope this helps getting you started.
).My first advice would be to dress in layers. After a few rides you should be able to determine how many layers are needed and in what kind of weather. Plus you can always peel off layers or open and close opennings as needed.
I work overnights so my lighting for my rides are relatively cheap and effective and was built up overtime (about 3 years). Mars had a kit available at some sporting good stores for about $25 which had a 3.0 tail light and a front light both with multiple modes should help as a starter.
This is my setup currently
LHT:
2 MTE P7's from DealExtreme with flashlight holders
1 Nightrider Cherrybomb on rear bag (flash mode)
1 Mars 3.0 on left strut of rear rack (solid mode)
Exile:
2 Fenix Olights with 2 fishlocblocks
1 PB Superflash Stealth (flash mode)
Hope this helps getting you started.
Last edited by exile; 08-06-09 at 03:24 PM. Reason: corrections
08-06-09 | 03:24 PM
#27
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Michigan
Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)
Riding in the dark is a heck of a lot of fun, very relaxing, and with good lights, safer than riding in the day. I've started getting up a little early to get my morning ride in mostly in the dark.
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Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
08-06-09 | 03:25 PM
#28
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 6,431
Likes: 44
From: Minneapolis, MN
Early spring and late fall (times that drivers think of as borderline winter) certainly do provide some of the best riding conditions imaginable (but when it rains, yuchhh...). Only the heart of winter is on the tough side; getting dressed and undressed for it can become a big production. And snowbanked roads can bring me to a nearly complete stop. Only if I can time my rides to minimum auto traffic do I even attempt it. But with that said, winter riding can be surprisingly enjoyable.
For lighting I will advise a minimalist approach. "The more, the better" might seem to make sense, but my experience is that it is not so. When I've had a lot of lights on my bike it only seems to confuse the drivers. They know that they are seeing something but they don't know just what. They stupidly keep on at cruising speed. When their perception finally resolves you as a bicycle, they're right on your tail and panic. Rear flashers have a similar effect. All they can see is that flasher and they can't even tell how far away it is.
I use two lights front and rear. Two mostly for redundancy; if one dies, I have something to get me by. They're basic LED bicycle lights. I run the rears in steady mode, though I will run one in flashing mode if visibility is bad. For the rest, rely on reflectors. Drivers understand them. They understand reflective vests terrifically well, too. You can see them (if you have mirrors) moving over a long way back.
For lighting I will advise a minimalist approach. "The more, the better" might seem to make sense, but my experience is that it is not so. When I've had a lot of lights on my bike it only seems to confuse the drivers. They know that they are seeing something but they don't know just what. They stupidly keep on at cruising speed. When their perception finally resolves you as a bicycle, they're right on your tail and panic. Rear flashers have a similar effect. All they can see is that flasher and they can't even tell how far away it is.
I use two lights front and rear. Two mostly for redundancy; if one dies, I have something to get me by. They're basic LED bicycle lights. I run the rears in steady mode, though I will run one in flashing mode if visibility is bad. For the rest, rely on reflectors. Drivers understand them. They understand reflective vests terrifically well, too. You can see them (if you have mirrors) moving over a long way back.
I try to justify the whole ordeal about dressing for winter riding by reminding myself that doing anything outside is kind of an ordeal in the winter, and while time consuming, the nice thing about winter riding is that I'm always either warm or just a touch chilly in the winter - more comfy than walking out to my freezing cold car in the winter! :-) Brrr brrr brrr, hands are freezing, get the key out, turn the car on...brrr, brr, brr while the engine is warming up... :-)
I also agree with "more lights is not necessarily better" - from my own driving experience, the most visible bikes are ones that clearly have a steady light with a not-intense blinking light next to it. Easier to keep track of where the bike is (so, you know, that I don't hit it with my car accidentally). I like the ankle reflectors to - I can always tell it's a bike when I see those. Or the pedals with reflectors. And reflective gear that outlines your shape is good to. I know I find it easier to see the solid reflective jackets or the "shape of a person" reflective tape than the "construction worker straight stripes" for some reason.
08-06-09 | 03:58 PM
#30
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 6,431
Likes: 44
From: Minneapolis, MN
I want to add that riding in colder weather is mostly about the right gear. At colder temps, gear that's windproof but breathable is the key to both comfort and avoiding permanent injury from frostbite.
I could not believe how much more comfortable I become after buying truly windproof gear.
There's 2 things I personally recommend -
1. Gore Windstopper stuff if you never ride when it might rain.
2. Shower's Pass waterproof breathable gear if you ride when it might rain. I can't believe how windproof this stuff is. The one caveat is that it's not breathable enough at warmer temps - like, above 50 degrees. To be fair, nothing's better that I was able to find. It was good for me below those temps. Some people who naturally sweat a lot felt it wasn't breathable enough, but it worked amazingly fantastic for me in the last month or so of winter last year - it was one of those things where I didn't even know how cold it was out until I tried biking with it unzipped.
However, above the actual freezing point, you can also get away with more layer and normal biking gear just fine.
I could not believe how much more comfortable I become after buying truly windproof gear.
There's 2 things I personally recommend -
1. Gore Windstopper stuff if you never ride when it might rain.
2. Shower's Pass waterproof breathable gear if you ride when it might rain. I can't believe how windproof this stuff is. The one caveat is that it's not breathable enough at warmer temps - like, above 50 degrees. To be fair, nothing's better that I was able to find. It was good for me below those temps. Some people who naturally sweat a lot felt it wasn't breathable enough, but it worked amazingly fantastic for me in the last month or so of winter last year - it was one of those things where I didn't even know how cold it was out until I tried biking with it unzipped.
However, above the actual freezing point, you can also get away with more layer and normal biking gear just fine.
08-06-09 | 05:06 PM
#31
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,834
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From: Minneapolis, MN
Bikes: 05 Trek 5200, 07 Trek 520, 99 GT Karakoram, 08 Surly 1X1
What PaulRivers said.
Winter cycling is very comfortable when you get dialed in.
You may want to search the winter forum for ideas on gear and lighting to extend your season.
Daylight is scarce in the winter. Your lighting is extremely important.
Winter cycling is very comfortable when you get dialed in.
You may want to search the winter forum for ideas on gear and lighting to extend your season.
Daylight is scarce in the winter. Your lighting is extremely important.
08-06-09 | 05:39 PM
#32
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 686
Likes: 4
From: Central Illinois
It's true! Rain at 45 deg F is much more comfortable than rain at 60 deg F. Wearing your rain gear when it's that warm is nothing but misery. That moderately cold rain is also much more comfortable than sunny and 90 deg.
Those who don't ride might be surprised to learn that late November and early February have better riding conditions than mid-summer.
Those who don't ride might be surprised to learn that late November and early February have better riding conditions than mid-summer.
08-06-09 | 09:39 PM
#33
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: Somerville, MA
I actually don't have to wait outside long since the bus goes up my street and goes around the block to turn around. I simply just run to the stop down the street when the bus goes by my house. I usually can get a ride home on days I don't have my bike.
I may give the winter a shot this year though. I've been riding like crazy over the summer and don't know if I can go cold turkey
I may give the winter a shot this year though. I've been riding like crazy over the summer and don't know if I can go cold turkey
Lol, well - do you have a heated waiting area where you wait for the bus?
:-) A lot of us who have tried winter biking debate about whether it's more comfortable to bike or drive a car in the winter, but we all seem to feel the same way about the comfort of riding the bus vs biking - winter biking (with decent gear) is waaaaaaaaaaay warmer than sitting around outside at the bus stop waiting for the bus to show up - your body heats up as it gets moving.
(If you don't have a decent route for winter biking, that's a different matter)
:-) A lot of us who have tried winter biking debate about whether it's more comfortable to bike or drive a car in the winter, but we all seem to feel the same way about the comfort of riding the bus vs biking - winter biking (with decent gear) is waaaaaaaaaaay warmer than sitting around outside at the bus stop waiting for the bus to show up - your body heats up as it gets moving.
(If you don't have a decent route for winter biking, that's a different matter)
08-06-09 | 09:42 PM
#34
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: Somerville, MA
I couldn't imagine biking in TX in the summer... 100+ temps are tough to ride in! In many of the Southern/Southwestern state it's much more appealing to go out in the winter.
Have you ever been to Billybobs?
Have you ever been to Billybobs?
Wow, different perspective here. Summer is so hot that I am generally sticking to shorter rides. I enjoyed some really nice long comfortable rides around the December holidays. As I post, sunrise is around 6:30AM and sunset around 8PM - and it's still HOT so it seems unfair to need lights also. But in the winter we do have a little more daylight hours than up north.
The daylight thing - I was able to use a "follow the sun" work flextime schedule last winter and do some work from home or work extra hours on non-bike days. I have HiVis jackets, illumiNITE tights, reflective vests, construction worker mesh T's with broad reflective striping, and lots of lights. I enjoy riding in the dark on quiet streets, but it can make poorly-lit wide intersections particularly scary-creepy. It is easier to see cars that have their headlights on. I don't commute downtown, so most of my route is not well-lit with streetlights.
I strongly advise both a headlight on the bike AND a helmet mount light. I've had lights fail halfway home and was grateful that I had extra batteries and more than one light. Past commutes on a blacktop country road were so dark that even with a $60 headlight I still could not see the edge of the pavement; it was like trying to balance with my eyes closed and was very disorienting. So I velcro an extra light to my helmet - small very bright and expensive-to-run 3"-long flashlight that throws a LOT of light just for special cases - it costs $10 in non-rechargable special lithium batteries for 2 hours use, so I only used it for a few blocks at a time.
Speaking as a car driver, recently some kids rode their bikes across the street in front of me after dark. They were otherwise utterly invisible but those dorky-looking reflectors attached to the bike spokes immediately caught my attention and made it very clear that bikes was moving across my path.
Each season has its ups and downs, try to enjoy the best parts of each one and ride when it feels good.
The daylight thing - I was able to use a "follow the sun" work flextime schedule last winter and do some work from home or work extra hours on non-bike days. I have HiVis jackets, illumiNITE tights, reflective vests, construction worker mesh T's with broad reflective striping, and lots of lights. I enjoy riding in the dark on quiet streets, but it can make poorly-lit wide intersections particularly scary-creepy. It is easier to see cars that have their headlights on. I don't commute downtown, so most of my route is not well-lit with streetlights.
I strongly advise both a headlight on the bike AND a helmet mount light. I've had lights fail halfway home and was grateful that I had extra batteries and more than one light. Past commutes on a blacktop country road were so dark that even with a $60 headlight I still could not see the edge of the pavement; it was like trying to balance with my eyes closed and was very disorienting. So I velcro an extra light to my helmet - small very bright and expensive-to-run 3"-long flashlight that throws a LOT of light just for special cases - it costs $10 in non-rechargable special lithium batteries for 2 hours use, so I only used it for a few blocks at a time.
Speaking as a car driver, recently some kids rode their bikes across the street in front of me after dark. They were otherwise utterly invisible but those dorky-looking reflectors attached to the bike spokes immediately caught my attention and made it very clear that bikes was moving across my path.
Each season has its ups and downs, try to enjoy the best parts of each one and ride when it feels good.
08-07-09 | 05:26 AM
#35
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,381
Likes: 219
To rumrunn6 (just west of Boston), the OP: As a year round commuter in Boston, the above sums it up nicely, but the devil is in the details. I do "enjoy" the challenges of winter riding, but the problem here in New England, is that it doesn't end in March, when it does become tiresome. I've enjoyed reading your posts this summer and I hope you continue with your stories of winter riding.
08-07-09 | 06:01 AM
#36
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,437
Likes: 4,527
From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Thanks Jim from Boston! I've enjoyed getting to know a select handfull of members and you're one of them.
Even if I stop commuting (as of today) I have lots of bike related stuff on my mind. I saw 2 bikes on CL that I asked about and may visit today. I have plans to continue the conversion on this hybrid and will change the shifters and brake levers, and go a bit narrower and harder with tires.
I may even buy a new bike or two ... yikes. Soooo ... tempting. I've had so much fun this past spring and summer.
Big issue for me though are that the fall is our busy season at work. I'm in the office from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm M-F then I'm off to CT every Friday night to work all day Saturday. Yes, that's 7 days a week and this lasts into November. The proverbial sh*t hits the fan at the end of August with a quick work trip to MD. When I'm in the office it's non-stop mayhem and I only get away from my desk at lunchtime. I used to run at the gym 2-3 miles every day to release the stress etc. but we moved further from my gym and I can't do that. Anyway I won't be free to post during the day again 'till January, and then, as I've learned the seasonal riders begin their planning and learn from the year-rounders like yourself.
I'm sure to get some long joy rides in this fall on my free day, Sunday. But that might only be one or two. So if I can get my act together and courage up ... :-) to bike commute a couple days a week into September and maybe even October then I will be very happy indeed.
Thanks for your kind words and encouragement. I'll do what I can. I'm off on vacation next week again - hoping to drag my kids back to the cape for one last camping biking trip. They will complain and I will push. We'll see. Maybe it will turn into a solo trip.
Even if I stop commuting (as of today) I have lots of bike related stuff on my mind. I saw 2 bikes on CL that I asked about and may visit today. I have plans to continue the conversion on this hybrid and will change the shifters and brake levers, and go a bit narrower and harder with tires.
I may even buy a new bike or two ... yikes. Soooo ... tempting. I've had so much fun this past spring and summer.
Big issue for me though are that the fall is our busy season at work. I'm in the office from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm M-F then I'm off to CT every Friday night to work all day Saturday. Yes, that's 7 days a week and this lasts into November. The proverbial sh*t hits the fan at the end of August with a quick work trip to MD. When I'm in the office it's non-stop mayhem and I only get away from my desk at lunchtime. I used to run at the gym 2-3 miles every day to release the stress etc. but we moved further from my gym and I can't do that. Anyway I won't be free to post during the day again 'till January, and then, as I've learned the seasonal riders begin their planning and learn from the year-rounders like yourself.
I'm sure to get some long joy rides in this fall on my free day, Sunday. But that might only be one or two. So if I can get my act together and courage up ... :-) to bike commute a couple days a week into September and maybe even October then I will be very happy indeed.
Thanks for your kind words and encouragement. I'll do what I can. I'm off on vacation next week again - hoping to drag my kids back to the cape for one last camping biking trip. They will complain and I will push. We'll see. Maybe it will turn into a solo trip.
08-07-09 | 08:18 AM
#37
Mad bike riding scientist
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,127
Likes: 6,160
From: Denver, CO
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Many people think that good lights are ones that run 200 lumens. 200 lumens is what a 10W halogen light puts out at nominal voltage. It's about this bright:
A single one of these is almost enough to see a pot hole just as you hit it. It might make a driver think there is something out there on a dark road but in an urban environment it's just lost in the clutter.
This is closer to something useful
When you get to this level, you have damned good lights
Few commercial systems even approach the above light output...okay, it's a little over the top
and a little heavy.
The DealExtreme P7 MTE lights exile mentioned are about half the brightness of the above. Bright and pretty cheap, however I'd stay away from the multimode lights. The driver is flaky on those. Mine switches modes on bumps. Turboferet sells battery holders if you want to extend the run time (from 1 hour to around 3 hr) without having to swap batteries all the time. Geomangear sells a external battery light that is designed around the emitter for a very reasonable $83 a unit if you don't want to mess with DIY.
Get a good helmet mounted light as well as a bar light. To see how I mounted the P7 MTE look here. Always have at least 2 forward facing lights and carry a back up spare (one of the 100 lumen flashlights works as the backup)
__________________
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
08-07-09 | 08:48 AM
#38
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,437
Likes: 4,527
From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
OMG you guys! I'm really just thinking of extending my season a little and NOT night riding. The spring was cool and cold and sometimes wet so I'm used to that. I'm just figuring on going to the other side of summer a little bit that's all. You guys are hard core, for sure. I'm very impressed!
08-07-09 | 11:44 AM
#39
Mad bike riding scientist
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,127
Likes: 6,160
From: Denver, CO
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
OMG you guys! I'm really just thinking of extending my season a little and NOT night riding. The spring was cool and cold and sometimes wet so I'm used to that. I'm just figuring on going to the other side of summer a little bit that's all. You guys are hard core, for sure. I'm very impressed!
__________________
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
08-07-09 | 03:47 PM
#40
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,824
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From: Western Chicagoland
I run 500 lumens up front, and about half that in the rear, with some blinkies scattered about the sides and rear of helmet. Since I leave at 5:30 am, lights are essential to extending my season. Nite rider tri-newt, as well as Dinotte, are worth the hefty price tags.
08-07-09 | 08:42 PM
#42
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Michigan
Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)
Many people think that good lights are ones that run 200 lumens. 200 lumens is what a 10W halogen light puts out at nominal voltage. It's about this bright:
A single one of these is almost enough to see a pot hole just as you hit it. It might make a driver think there is something out there on a dark road but in an urban environment it's just lost in the clutter.
A single one of these is almost enough to see a pot hole just as you hit it. It might make a driver think there is something out there on a dark road but in an urban environment it's just lost in the clutter.
If I were riding in town a lot where there are a lot of lights around, I'd want more light. But out in the country, 200 lumens is quite a lot.
__________________
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
08-08-09 | 10:02 AM
#43
Mad bike riding scientist
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,127
Likes: 6,160
From: Denver, CO
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Interesting then that my 200L light (Dinotte 200L) gets me over 8 miles of badly potholed, washboarded gravel road per day all winter long, and that cars stop and wait for me far too long when I'm coming.
If I were riding in town a lot where there are a lot of lights around, I'd want more light. But out in the country, 200 lumens is quite a lot.
If I were riding in town a lot where there are a lot of lights around, I'd want more light. But out in the country, 200 lumens is quite a lot.
But in an urban situation, your light has to compete with a thousand other light sources, many of which are much brighter than the commonly available 200 lumen commercial system. A typical car lamp (just one
) runs around 1500 lumens. Set a 200 lumen light next to a 1500 lumen source and the 200 lumen lamp will disappear. And there are probably dozens of those intense lights within sight of your lamp at any give time. Factor in street lamps, signs, traffic signals, office lighting, etc. and that 200 lumens gets swallowed up quickly.And many people don't even run as much as 200 lumens. I see lots and lots and lots
of people riding with the Knog Frog lights or something similar. If people ask me if they are adequate...newbies...I tell they that yes they are. They at least gives the cops somewhere to start looking for your body under the car
__________________
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
