54 degrees this AM...my ears are cold...
#1
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From: Snow Hill NC
Bikes: Trek Madone 2.1
54 degrees this AM...my ears are cold...
I need to regroup this cold riding stuff here...I guess on my next cold ride it will be a beanie cap and a fleece shirt...I will also find something warmer as far as pants are concerned, The arm and leg warmers were just not warm enough...I am still gonna go out as much as i can the whole winter...
#3
You're in luck ... there's a Winter Cycling forum here for just this sort of discussion:
https://www.bikeforums.net/forumdispl...Winter-Cycling
https://www.bikeforums.net/forumdispl...Winter-Cycling
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#4
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From: Just south of Normal
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix, Specialized AWOL, Salsa Vaya, Surly Moonlander, Surly Big Dummy, GT Gutterball fixie
Everyone is different in their tolerance to cold. I, too, hate cold ears. I use three levels of protection. Below 55 degrees F. I wear a microfiber headband that stops wind. Below 45 degrees I use a Gore Bike beanie that keeps my ears and head warm. Below freezing I wear one of two balaclavas.
Do what you need to do to stay warm and you'll enjoy your rides. Once I discovered how to dress warmly, I began to ride all year round and I love it.
Do what you need to do to stay warm and you'll enjoy your rides. Once I discovered how to dress warmly, I began to ride all year round and I love it.
#5
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2010
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From: northern Deep South
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
I'll go with ear warmers somewhere below 45-50F. However, since I almost always have a sweat band or bandana, I find they work pretty well to pin my ears close to my head and keep the ears warm down through the 50s.
#6
The Recumbent Quant

Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Fairfield, CT
Bikes: 2012 Cruzbike Sofrider, 2013 Cruzigami Mantis, 2016 Folding CruziTandem
Below this I switch to a full face balaclava (and if it's really cold I'll put my ear warmers on over it).
#7
Hogosha Sekai

Joined: Jun 2011
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From: STS
Bikes: Leader 725, Centurion Turbo, Scwhinn Peloton, Schwinn Premis, GT Tequesta, Bridgestone CB-2,72' Centurion Lemans, 72 Raleigh Competition
I have one of these, keeps my beard dry and my ears warm 

https://www.amazon.com/Skull-Bandana-...bike+face+mask


https://www.amazon.com/Skull-Bandana-...bike+face+mask
#9
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From: Snow Hill NC
Bikes: Trek Madone 2.1
Here is the funny part.... I am a Canadian by birth,,, I grew up in New Brunswick Ca and moved to Toronto when i was 21 then at 26 i moved to Norht Carolina... I ride my Harley all winter long and i thought i wouldf be less of a WUSS this morning but i digress... WUUUSSSSSSS.....LOL... I have clothing to wear except for the hi viz sweatshirt,,,The arm and leg warmers are pretty useless so i will get some better stuff.I am bald so the cold wind goes throught the helmet pretty quicly.....I have a few balaclavas and beanies for the head already that i wear on the Harley...I even have electric warmed gloves and socks...LOL...I was just complaining... i will go to the witnter section now and B__ch some more over there...I just have to adjust...
#10
Ha, I agree with the comments of "What?!?" about the 54°, LOL.
My first cold ride was 46°. That was cold, I had no idea how to dress nor do I have wind stopping clothing. I wore a sweatshirt and sweatpants and when it reached above 50, I couldn't wait to get back and take them off (was wearing shorts and t-shirt underneath, but didn't have a way of carrying.)
The next weekend it was 52°. That was perfectly comfortable in my shorts and t-shirt.
Then again, if it wasn't for the snow blowing back on me, I would probably wear shorts and a sweatshirt out snowblowing the typical 12 inches of snow out of my driveway when it was 20° or colder.
My first cold ride was 46°. That was cold, I had no idea how to dress nor do I have wind stopping clothing. I wore a sweatshirt and sweatpants and when it reached above 50, I couldn't wait to get back and take them off (was wearing shorts and t-shirt underneath, but didn't have a way of carrying.)
The next weekend it was 52°. That was perfectly comfortable in my shorts and t-shirt.
Then again, if it wasn't for the snow blowing back on me, I would probably wear shorts and a sweatshirt out snowblowing the typical 12 inches of snow out of my driveway when it was 20° or colder.
#12
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From: Snow Hill NC
Bikes: Trek Madone 2.1
OK , much better this AM, Sweatshirt and balaclava helped...i see myself biking throught the winter now...LOL...Kept a very nice pace and in 9 miles i only stopped 1 time...
#13
You need battery powered gloves and socks ... and a balaclava ... at 54 degrees?
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#14
Thread Starter
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From: Snow Hill NC
Bikes: Trek Madone 2.1
I saw a nice lined starter brand windbreaker yesterday i might go back and get it...My gloves did ok but are borderline cold...i have better ones... the pants i need to work on...i found some for $20 on line...might try them out because the legwarmers are... marginally good at best...Look, what would your response be if i said i am not riding at all because it's 54....At least i am getting out and riding, this is my first winter in over 23 years....
Last edited by Notgrownup; 09-19-13 at 06:25 AM.
#15
..I hope you know i am kidding right? I use them on my Harley for winter touring but only when it drops below 40... We usually do a day ride to the Bluridge Parkway every winter...
I saw a nice lined starter brand windbreaker yesterday i might go back and get it...My gloves did ok but are borderline cold...i have better ones... the pants i need to work on...i found some for $20 on line...might try them out because the legwarmers are... marginally good at best...
I saw a nice lined starter brand windbreaker yesterday i might go back and get it...My gloves did ok but are borderline cold...i have better ones... the pants i need to work on...i found some for $20 on line...might try them out because the legwarmers are... marginally good at best...
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#16
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From: Snow Hill NC
Bikes: Trek Madone 2.1
I have been, i am in both places at the same time...it's like magic.... The other day i rubbed a girls A$$ by mistake and i called myself Mr> Cop a feel....Like i said....Magique...C'est de la magie....
#17
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From: Western kentucky
Bikes: Kickbike, Raleigh M60, Electra Cruiser, Marin Nail Trail, Schwinn Hinge
54 degrees this AM...my ears are cold...
I like wearing the Buff brand head wraps. You can wear them in different ways and they are stretchy.
#18
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From: Wisconsin
Bikes: 2012 Salsa Casseroll, 2009 Kona Blast
It was in the mid 50s this weekend up in Door County, but we still did a family ride through Peninsula State Park. (sort of a tradition that pre dates my son's birth). Anyhow, I was unprepared for the cold, and should have packed a base layer, leg warmers, and a windbreaker, along with my long sleeve jersey. I bought a pair of cycling tights on sale at the LBS in Fish Creek and wore them over my cycling shorts. It wasn't optimal, but I survived.
#19
Senior Member


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From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
it's a matter of degrees, meaning the colder it gets the more stuff you add. for what you mention I was very excited to get my cycling specific headband! :-)
I have a
Pearl Izumi Thermal Headband and I love it!
https://www.rei.com/product/837209/pearl-izumi-thermal-headband,-black?preferredSku=8372090001&cm_mmc=cse_PLA-_-pla-_-product-_-8372090001&mr:referralID=f549ec49-2486-11e3-a88a-001b2166becc
I have a
Pearl Izumi Thermal Headband and I love it!
https://www.rei.com/product/837209/pearl-izumi-thermal-headband,-black?preferredSku=8372090001&cm_mmc=cse_PLA-_-pla-_-product-_-8372090001&mr:referralID=f549ec49-2486-11e3-a88a-001b2166becc
#20
Senior Member


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From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
then, as temps drop you can add a cheap clear motel style shower cap over the helmet for wind protection. you can alternate that with a headsweat, then when colder all a thin knit (wool-like) watch cap, or a cycling specific thermal skull cap. after that you might be getting into the full face mask setup - but yeah - check out winter cycling for the full deal!
#21
It was 51° today when I got off work. I wear thin t-shirts and cargo short for work, I bike directly after work thus was wearing a thin t-shirt and cargo shorts. I was most comfortable, LOL. Loving the low 50° temps for riding. My gloves aren't dripping wet from wiping my brow before it runs into my eyes and stings my contacts making me stop.
Yesterday it was 54° when I rode. Figured I'd wear a pair of sweatpants along with just my t-shirt. Big mistake. It may as well been back to the high 80's and extreme humidity. I was drenched with sweat.
Yesterday it was 54° when I rode. Figured I'd wear a pair of sweatpants along with just my t-shirt. Big mistake. It may as well been back to the high 80's and extreme humidity. I was drenched with sweat.
#23
It was a bone-chilling 67 degrees this morning before dawn!
I almost turned off the air conditioning last night.
Usually in September we get at least a taste of "fall" weather here in Louisiana, but so far, the heat and humidity have been relentless.
You don't know how lucky you are to be chilly in September.
I almost turned off the air conditioning last night.Usually in September we get at least a taste of "fall" weather here in Louisiana, but so far, the heat and humidity have been relentless.
You don't know how lucky you are to be chilly in September.
#25
Commuter & cyclotourist


Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Hadley, MA, USA
Bikes: Boulder All Road, Surly Long Haul Trucker, Bike Friday New World Tourist, Breezer Uptown 8, Bike Friday Express Tikit, Trek MultiTrack 730 (Problem? No, I don't have a problem)
54 degrees is perfect weather! Even for my commute, which is 3 miles one-way, I get too warm when it's over 65, and I have to take off my sportcoat around mile 1.8, or go into work with giant beads of sweat dripping down my brow.
I do need to put on light glove liners below 50 degrees, and when it's under 40, I'll start to layer seriously.
Ears are particular, though. Some people don't mind cold ears; others find them objectionable. If it's only your ears, check out the 180s that xtrajack mentioned, or find a sweatband that covers your ears. You might find that everything else is tolerable if your ears are toasty.
I do need to put on light glove liners below 50 degrees, and when it's under 40, I'll start to layer seriously.
Ears are particular, though. Some people don't mind cold ears; others find them objectionable. If it's only your ears, check out the 180s that xtrajack mentioned, or find a sweatband that covers your ears. You might find that everything else is tolerable if your ears are toasty.
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Brian Ogilvie, Hadley, MA, USA
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Brian Ogilvie, Hadley, MA, USA




