Here I use PI Wind Break Socks. They help me alot with the cold wind, when decending.


Steve

Think of the extra speed you'd gain on the downhill from the extra 5 lbs!
at least that's what the times feels like when I pick it up sunday morning

So many good ideas, and so many funny stories about pros! I think I will try with a wind jacket, I saw one, but I thought it was more for rain, now I understand why the lady insisted on the word "wind". Balaclava I don't have, because couldn't find it in shops here, and because my frozen face is not such a big deal. And Ozrider, you are right, lungs don't really suffer from cold air - at least, I never had any problems with that.

I wear a pair of thick Black Jack socks, and another pair of thick Pearl Izumi cycling socks on top, than the shoes and shoe-covers, which is usually enough. But I noticed one interesting phenomenon: it is either my toes, or my fingers that freeze, never both at the same time. When my toes star hurting of cold, then my hands are fine, and vice versa. Anyone else has the same experience?

With descent from mountains, though, the problem is more with my fingers, also because that particular mountain I mentioned has the narrow road, for some reason full of send and pebbles, with very unpleasant truck riders, and many sharp curbs, so I am on my brake(s) most of the time while going down, and to tell you honestly, I hardly enjoy the descent at all in this particular case. Yesterday I almost have turned around, went back climbing to the top, and I have almost called my husband to come and pick me up from the peak.... but, than I calculated how much he would need to come there..... So, instead, I promised myself to do something and not freeze next time.

Zo

Black Yack socks it is.

I think your toes freeze more on the climb because of the pressure on the pedals and your hands freeze on the descent because of the wind. Try pulling up and wiggling your toes when climbing.

You may not notice it, but most of your body heat is lost from your head. Putting on a hat often will stop the shivering.

On cold days, I always carry a lycra beanie that fits under a helmet (the one I use is made by Pearl Izumi; there are other brands). It's very small but very effective. I used it today on descents. The temperature was in the high 40s, but the air was saturated with water. Add in 35 mph of wind chill, and 20 minutes of coasting. Brrr!

Put the brakes on and pedal hard on the downhills...

You are kidding, right? But, to tell you the truth, I did try this! The problem is that on a very steep downhill it doesn't work that easily - my hands hurt like hell, and finally got cramped! And beside, I was worried that my brakes and rims would get damaged. So, I'll rather try to make myself warmer next time.

Zo

The newspaper suggestion is practical advice, unlike the rest of your suggestions (though wool jerseys are enjoying a new wave of popularity). I left home without my vest a few weeks ago and was about to cut my ride short due to being cold, when I remembered the newspaper deal. Picked up a section of a tabloid and it did the trick. You still see the guys in the TDF doing the same thing as tifosi hand our newspaper at the top of climbs.

Thanks for the hot tea and socks tips. It is actually the throat that gets cold but I should just stay out there and tough it out.

No I'm not. I used to ride in snow all the time during the winter. I try to maintain a constant watt-output to stay warm. So I work just as hard on the downhills as the uphills and flats. In order to not go too fast on the downhills, I just feather the brakes slightly. It doesn't take much braking at all, maybe 5-10% max.