Man everything that I was crazy. I rode my bike in this morning and it was 16 degrees out and windy as well. I wasent sure I was going to ride in. I got up, looked outside at the flag and noticed it was blowing a litte but not too much. I showered, still not decided what to do. Then I decided, what the hell.... lets go for it. So I did.

As I was getting dressed in each layer (took a while) my wife was turning on the news and I kindly yelled "stop!" I think the weatherman really get into my head and convince me not to ride in so I dont want to know..... at all!

Got outside, noticed it was really cold, put the scarf on and off I went. Pulled up next to the bank and saw it read 16 degrees.

On the way I noticed after about 3/4ths of the way in, my feet were cold. I had on neapreme socks, cotton socks over that and my shoes. I left my wool socks at work. Damn me.

I also noticed the tops of my hands getting cold. My gloves are goot to about 26 degrees but colder then that, no way. I wonder if I put wool liner on if it would have helped???

The ride took me longer this time around. Usually it takes me 55 minutes but today with the wind and perhaps the cold it took me an hour and 15 minutes.

Upper body was ok. Still getting cold in the chest and I had on bibbs, underarmer base layer, cotton shirt, wind breaker, high vis vest, and scarf. GRRRRRRR.

Legs were ok but some what cold but managable.

Chef,

In my book, you are HARDCORE! Congrats!

Achievement unlocked!

Feels nice doesn't it? At least once you warm up...

I was out in 14 degree weather this morning.

Let me tell you, wool liners in your cold weather gloves are a MUST!!

DOUBLE SOCKS too!!

I had on 2 layers of Army Cold Weather Issue long johns, and one thick heavy weight long john, and then a UA cold gear leggins. Up top, 5 layers, two army issue , face mask, and a wool jacket. I was warm!!

Took half hour to put on, and a half hour to take off..

Your commute is longer than mine. You have to even go heavier than I did. On the gloves, I had extreme cold motorcycle gloves with wool liners..

ceh: I will try the wool liners. Funny thing.... it took me a long time to get ready this morning too. By the time I was ready and dressed, I was sweating. lol. No win situation!

The ride home will be 26 degrees out. Still cold!

Might try hand warmers. How were your feet? Were they cold?

Nope, my feet were warm. From riding in 25 degree weather the day before, with only one pair of socks, it was a no-brainer to put on TWO pair of socks this morning for the colder weather. Also, the gloves I had on yesterday, I have them in my backpack, because the ride home should be warmer. But, I pulled out my extreme cold weather motorcycle gloves for this trip..Cheap dollar store wool gloves/liners and put them inside. My hands were WARM.. Now, it was a little difficult to shift on the brifters, but I got my gear, and gone.!!

Again, my commute is not as long as yours..IMO, you a CHAMPION, if your commute is over an 1 hour or even close. In cold weather, even when we are dressed for it, there is the COMFORT ZONE. The COMFORT zone is how long we can ride before we get TOO COLD. When I reach the end of my comfort zone, I stop to get warm. I do this on the motorcycle and the bicycle. I found out that going past that comfort zone, will make you unsafe, and the ride is not enjoyable. Just what I found out from years of riding all year around on the motorcycle..

One hour and 15 minutes in the cold!! You be doing it!!

I don't know how you guys do it in those temperatures!

Chefisaac - thanks for the reports. I have been enjoying reading them.

Thin socks, regular shoes, jeans, a tshirt, jacket, lightweight gloves, and balaclava this morning, windchill of around 10. Good thing my commute is only 5 miles

Lesson learned the hard way...more material isn't always good. Make sure there is enough room in your shoe for extra layers of socks. If the shoe has them all compressed, the extra layers get compressed an the insulation value of them disappears. I learned this at the turnaround point of a ride in 15 degree weather, 15 miles from home. I did not get frost bite on my feet, but they were REALLY hurting by the time I got to a place to warm them up. Since then I've gotten smart-wool socks and wear 1 layer and have been fine for hours outside at 15 degrees and below.

I ride a sportbike motorcycle. I pulled up in front of my gym one morning and it was 9 degrees outside. It was a 15 mile trip to the gym from my house. Everybody asked me how I do it.. One answer, DESIRE!! Yes, you do have to know how to dress for it, and know how the tires will react in the cold, but you MUST have a TON OF DESIRE!!

We only passing this way one time!!

Points well taken!!

Just like with all the layers of long johns, then covered with US leggins and the bike compression shorts, I make sure I am comfortable and have full moments. Any kind of discomfort that occurs during the trip is noted and corrected next time. IMO, if you are uncomfortable, you are unsafe, and we sure don't want that to happen..

Thanks for the tips..

It was cold this morning (20 here); thankfully, it wasn't windy and my commute is only 7.5 miles. I wear scrubs under office clothes, and a headband and knit hat under my helmet. I was really wishing for wool socks.

See if those zippered sleeveless sweaters can help you keep warm. Me, I'll get too hot w/ your setup
Yesterday I was just wearing an Adidas athletic t-shirt w/ armwarmers under a windbreaker.


Biking during winter by 1nterceptor, on Flickr

Chef, you've arrived! You passed rule number 9!

BTW, you might want to pack some chemical hand or feet warmers in case of emergency. No sense risking frostbite.

I had 19 degrees for my 7 mile commute this morning. I had to strip off some layers half way in. I had a base layer of polyester long johns and long sleeve T, a wool cycling jersey and levis over them, a fleece jacket and windbreaker. I could have skipped the fleece jacket. Feet were ok, but fingers got a bit cold (been thinking about mittens. I wear a fleece beanie thing under my helmet and it works great. Face got a bit cold so I am thinking about a balaklava - I am a bit worried about LEO reaction though.

I'd say that the ride was actually pleasant, but it was too darn dark - the birds were still sleeping for gosh sake.

-G

You know it varies with the body-type as to how much/many layers a rider needs to stay warm.. Example, I am real skinny, and fat is down to 3% of maybe lower (no kidding). I am 6ft 3in tall at 135 lbs. I need layers to keep me warm.. In the teens, I need at least 4 layers down the bottom, and 5 up top..

The main point is, dressing for the cold makes it big fun.. Plus, I am learning all the time how to make riding in the cold better..

At first it is, but by February, I get tired of the routine. "Suiting up for battle" is what I call it, and it can take 10-15 minutes each time.

I did something similar a few winters ago with 2 thick pairs of socks and liner gloves under my lobster gloves. Was too tight and cut off blood flow and limited room for insulating air. One of the dumbest mistakes I've made. Had to stop at a library and dance around in pain while my extremities came back to life. I was lucky there was a warm place to stop.

do you think it is better to add more layers on your hands and feet or slip in chemicals warmers?

I dont have a lot of room in my shoes. I bought a size 50 and I wear 48s in the summer. The neoprene helped some.

I wear a scrub shirt to ride at any temperature, and when it gets below around 15 to 20 degrees I wear scrub pants between my two layers of cycling tights to further cut the wind.

Congratulations, chefisaac. This morning I was stymied, and disappointed, that I couldn't ride at 11 degrees:

whats a scrub shirt?

jim....and thats all you wear? for that low of temp? wow. I am like a fat snowman wearing so much stuff.

Winter dressing is indeed time consuming, but I’m always suiting up with a Talk Show on for amusement. I take such great care to layer up comfortably and seal the gaps, that I envision myself a heroic astronaut preparing for an adventure. When I arrive at work and stride through the halls all suited up, I imagine recreating this scene from “The Right Stuff” (beginning at 2:58):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuR1p7UdI2Y

Can you go over what you wear please Jim?

And can you report back to us on the the things you wanted to try like the booties, etc? thank you!