I haven't ridden below -5F (many years ago) but when I did, I rode a fix gear. That had several pluses. Better handling in snow/ice. But more important when it gets that cold; you are always pedalling, especially downhill! Another benefit is the drivetrain is pretty close to completely immune to freezing/rust/ salt issues (though I am guessing you do not have salted roads like they have back east). I could imagine rus\t/freezing being an issue. With a fix gear and good grease in your bearings, the only place that can be an issue on the drivetrain is the chain links. And fix gears are very forgiving there, Frozen link(s)? Just slide the wheel forward in the dropout. And if you have the potentially much more serious issue of frozen brakes, at least you can stop with a fix gear.

Just start riding fixed now if you are going to do it this winter. You want to learn the pedal pickup skills, etc. before it gets cold.

Ben

Yes, a fixed gear can help keep you warm and provide a little extra traction.

My best clothing pick up for winter riding was a shell with gore tex windstopper. The wind is just tough when bike riding and this does the trick.

I like running bmx pedals and using my winter boots.

Hands are tough to keep warm. I found some oversized mitts that I use with liner gloves and this does the trick.

A used mtb will make a fine winter commuter.

This coming winter I'm considering riding/commuting in the snow for the first time.

Does a single speed (or IGH) guarantee that the ice build up on the chain won't affect the chain rotation (assuming it's tensioned properly)?

Are there any other parts of the bike that got affected by ice buildup, like the STI brake levers?

There are no guarantees in winter commuting. A ss or igh will simplify maintenance and cleanup. Disc or rim brakes? Got studded tires?

Riding 5 winters in Calgary now, I have only had my derailleur freeze up twice, which meant I was stuck with a single speed until I got indoors (well, two-speed, actually, because my front derailleur was fine). Never had shifters freeze up. So if you are wondering if you need a SS or IGH drive bike for winter, you may not -- I would suggest you use what you have until you can figure that out for yourself.

And as anecdote, I have an 8-speed Shimano IGH bike, as does an office-mate of mine -- each of us has multiple bikes we use in the winter, but the IGH bikes are the ones that have given us the most problems, surprisingly (but they do require MUCH less maintenance when they are working).

Less is more...you can survive almost anything for 15 min.

Laramie is a great place with plenty of cyclists - a dear friend of mine works for UW. Cycling in the bitter cold is easy, it's all about the layers and studded tires. Winter weather does not necessarily have to beat your bike up, just make an effort to keep it clean; full coverage fenders helps this quite a bit. Personally, I can't wear anything over my mouth while cycling, the rest I cover up with a synthetic balaclava. Other wise, if $$ is a priority for you, hit up the walmart by I80 for layers. A few years ago there was an awesome outdoors consignment store west of 3rd street, south of The Library...I cannot remember the name of it but I scored some awesome cycling, running and climbing gear there for nothing. Sierra Trading Post in Cheyenne has a clearance/returns cave in the back of the 2nd floor, buddy of mine scored a $25 canoe once...

Since you'll be a college student, it is obligatory that you patronize Coal Creek. Sweet Melissa's is also freakin awesome. If you're into volunteering check out Table in the Wilderness, and of course you visit the stunning Vedawoo.

Coal Creek is my go-to coffee shop when I'm around there. Plus it's right next to a taphouse, so double win!

While those of you that ride in the deep south (Laramie...Calgary) might get away with using a "cheap" bike, if you go that route I would recommend having the hubs and bb bearings greased with a good winter grade grease. If you want to do anything much more than a mile, consider panniers or some way to take extra clothing in the event you get stuck and have to walk or fix a flat when it's chilly out. You mention riding in "bitter cold". Did you come up North for a winter vacation? :)

The key consideration when riding in cold, especially extreme cold is total exposure time. If the distance involved is, as you describe, less than a mile you're talking about a five minute dash on a bike, so you should be back in the warm before any issue arise. Therefore your main concern shouldn't be the cold per se, but cold related road conditions, ie. ice.

Where in Alaska are you? Nice region -- hoping to get back soon.

North Pole, just outside of Fairbanks. +6F today with cold coming soon

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=487705

We haven't talked about the best winter lube yet...

Regarding Bar Mitts vs. Pogies.

I own both. I own drop bar Bar Mitts and flat bar Dogwood Designs Winter Pogies (not the plus kind). The dogwood designs pogies are MUCH... MUCH warmer than the bar mitts. The bar mitts simply aren't long enough to prevent wind from reaching your hands. When I ride bare handed using the bar mitts I can feel the wind coming in through the back of the pogie. I mean they're fine for barely above/below freezing weather, but I won't be using them in the winter. Also, if you plan on wearing any type of glove other than a liner with the bar mitts, buy the larges. I bought medium (my glove size) but I can only barely fit my hands in there while wearing medium weight gloves.

The dogwood designs pogies are very, very warm, at the expense of making your forearms very warm as well. I generally wear a sweater in the winter, and I'll usually roll up the sweater and jacket to my elbows to prevent them from sweating when the weather is above 15F. I'd MUCH rather deal with too warm forearms than cold fingers in the winter. The pogies also have a drawstring to prevent ANY wind from flowing back into the pogies when it gets really cold. The pogies also have room for any type of glove you want to wear under them. I usually wear a pair of medium weight swik XC ski gloves when it gets REALLY cold. (-20F - -40) Otherwise I'll just wear a pair of liner gloves and my hands are fine. The liner gloves are more to protect my fingers from the bare metal of my brake levers than to help keep my hands warm. I have worn the pogies in -40 weather with the medium weight gloves under. I just barely started to feel the tinge of cold in my fingertips. I also have TERRIBLE circulation in my fingers, so they're always cold.

If you have cold hands, use the dogwood designs pogies. If you have warmer hands, use the bar mitts (they're cheaper.)

I went to school in Laramie for 6 years and rode a MTB with standard tires but probably would have benefitted from studded ones. They hardly ever plowed the roads down to pavement so you just got used to riding on packed snow which becomes ice at intersections.

I do recall it getting really cold anday my drive train getting all gummed up as the lube got very viscous. Didn't happen too often.

Lots of great opportunities for recreational riding in the area but you will need to get used to the howling wind which multiplies the effects of the extreme cold. Other than that it's a terrific place. Have fun.

Last winter I used pogies for under 10F, and this year I'm experimenting with a new system for warmer. The past weekend in the low-mid teens I wore a pair of Stephenson's Warmlite VBL gloves under a pair of pretty thin Outdoor Research gloves. I stay plenty warm, and the bonus is that at the end of my ride my gloves are not soaked.