Does anyone know of a glove system that really works for temps like these? My hands are really sensitive to cold, and double bagging isn't working. Maybe I need to try larger fitting gloves?

I've got some Burton snowboarding gloves (including liners) on for days like these... nice an toasty!

I bought some Canadian Tire snowmobile lobster claws that are okay with nothing else on my hands. Down side is they take forever to dry if your hands are sweating. Mine are kinda funky.

My commute in Ottawa is about 5 km and they're fine for that distance at -21 or thereabouts.

pour hot water on 'em! no, just kidding...

honestly though, what layers are you wearing on your legs? the warmer your body is, the more heat that can be sent to your extremities. i've found a marked difference ever since i started wearing rain/snowpants. also, try making sure your hands are warm *before* putting your gloves on, even wearing your gloves inside for a few minutes before you go out the door. if all else fails and you're on the road, put your bare hands against your skin (ie. down yer pants or into yer pits)... once you've pulled over, of course! :innocent:

I have pretty intense snowboarding gloves (thick felt liner with thick wind-braking outside) and still my fingers freeze. I don't know what to do... ski-doo gloves maybe?

i think stewart had posted something about ice climbing gloves being the best? but expensive

The gloves that I mentioned awhile back from MEC are great so far, I think they are called "Transition" gloves. They are polar fleece gloves with a longer nylon glove over top of them so there is good warmth with wind protection. They were about $25 or so.

I think that clear-shield sunglasses are really important on days like these; I tear up almost immediately when it is this cold but the shields help a lot.

Whoops, the gloves are called "Traverse", here is a linky:

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...=1232039162934

I emailed that guy with the Viner road bike. I asked him the size, and he didn't know but said he was 5'9 and it fit him perfectly. That means its too small for me, but I thought someone on here might be interested.

I got a pair of snowboard gloves at Mark's that work wonderfully for wind and cold, although I haven't tried them out in wet conditions yet. As for feet, triple layer socks is the key. regular socks and then two pairs of wool socks. Keeps my feets warm even in paper thin sidi's. I'm kicking winter's ass so far! The only problem I have is having to take my gloves off whenever I lock my bike, as they are too bulky to handle my keys. That and the battery in my radio tends to die every 20 or 30 minutes if I don't warm it up.

How do you fit three pairs of socks in a pair of sidi's, or how do you not swim in those in the summer with one pair of socks on?

Thats what I use, although I took out the fleece liners and use wool gloves underneath instead. My finger tips were just starting to get cool when I got there, took 48 minutes today. Keeping my wrists warm has helped alot, I tuck my jacket sleeves into the wool gloves.

My feet were warm and sweaty when I got there today. I used thin liner socks from Bass Pro, thin merino wool socks, then neoprene with the boots and the MEC covers. Just enough room for my toes and comfy. I agree with Tam, rain pants are great for keeping warm, wore them yesterday and today and was happy.

Only downside so far is that my hat and socks need to dry all day as they get too wet. Sweated right through the balaclava and hat today.

I am pretty sure it is a 56; he has the saddle pretty far forward and the stem as low as it goes while it is a rather long stem, probably 110 or so. Man, I am so tempted....

I have this old double-layer Goretex jacket and I never wear it because it is too hot. I don't think they make Goretex in doulbe-layers because of this, it is just too damn hot.

I ended up trading my previous purchase @ mec in for some Black Diamond mitts and MEC polartec gloves to go underneath. When I was at the return counter some wonderful girl pointed me to the right getup for keeping my hands warm. She mentioned cycling in this weather, and recommended a decent combo. Also got a balaclava tonight, and that makes a huge difference too. Honestly, most MEC employees have good input to provide on purchases, but some are pretty g4n... overall, its fantastic we have a store like that here. Can't imagine having to settle for places like Coast Mountain Sports/Sportchek..

Tam - I'm just getting by with a polartec top base layer, hoodie, and nylon shell for the uppers. Lowers are just biking shorts, tights, then my 3/4 UTWs. The only parts that get really cold are my feet and hands, and I think the winter cycling boots + new gloves are doing the trick...

Where the hell is Wes? That guy hasn't posted in ages!

@somnambulant on Twitter ...

You need to keep your wrists and ankles warm to keep your hands and feet from getting cold.

i broke down today and bought a pair of sorels. now i have no complaints about the cold. the only thing i can't figure out is how to keep my glasses from fogging up while wearing a balaclava - they get so fogged up that i can't see out of them after 30 seconds or so. it seems like when i exhale, all the hot air gets blown up towards my cheeks and onto the lenses...

power's out!

what's that about cycle-powered generators?

As I was charging my batteries the other day I though: what if I could hook-up a trainer or something like that... Sure it's been done before :p

I had that same problem with a number of different balaclavas until I started using a Craft one. It never fogs up when I'm riding, though I do have to pull it down below my mouth when I stop at a light.

My supervisor started her morning with;

"Hey It's Richard. It's 1:30 in the morning and I'm calling from a phone booth. Uh... I don't know when I'm going to make it in since I can't set my alarm clock..."

Apparently a power substation flooded. I can see how that'd take a while to clean up in minus 18 temperatures

lucky I'm Amish and don't believe in technology!

yeah, no doubt...

as soon as the lights went out, i had a feeling that it was going to be a long outage.

i'm finished work for the day, but i'm kinda stalling because i don't know if it's back on yet. if it isn't at least we have lot's of good gear to get by with: hand-crank lantern, bunson stove, good layers etc. ...what was that about winter camping?

also, my theory of starting a ride with already cold feet was tested this morning, and sure enough it was the only time so far this winter that i didn't warm up/over-heat.

I wore the thick balaclava for the first time in years (I usually only need the thin one) with my neoprene skull mask and ski goggles. It's a tad nippy out there today. I too have difficulty with covering the face and my (sun)glasses. I find myself breathing down by putting my upper lip over the lower one so the warm air blows down. Sometimes it helps.