Jazzba

I commute all year round...and the only thing that I haven't addressed for warmth is my legs. My thighs suffer on the coldest days...but they are few...and I just bear it.

jgwilliams

Yes and no. I've tried tights and baggies and on the whole I think I prefer tights, but anything that works will suit me fine. The baggies weren't quite so warm but felt looser and have the advantage that I can wear thermal long johns underneath, as I have done when I've been mountain biking in the past.

As for going fast, I'm too old to race anybody but I do go reasonably quick. I had reached the stage during the summer when I could comfortably commute 3 times per week, totaling just over 100 miles. My average speed is something like 17 mph going in to work and 15 coming home. The difference is accounted for both by heavier traffic and the fact that I live 600 ft above where I work. Since I work in central London I spend a lot of time slowing and stopping for traffic lights: I'd guess on an open, flat road in still air I'd be comfortable doing about 20 mph. However, my concern is less about speed than being able to do the commute on a regular basis - the two are connected. On a good day I'd spend about 2 hours and 20 minutes in the saddle. If I'm expending the same effort but going slower then that might be 2 hours and 45 minutes, amounting to an extra 25 minutes of effort. Human nature being what it is, though, I would tend to try and work a bit harder to get nearer to my usual pace, hence ending the week feeling done in.

However, I think it's possible that part of the problem has been that I've been harbouring a bug of some sort. I've not felt totally well for a couple of weeks and I actually had to come home from work early yesterday because I was feeling so rough. Perhaps I need to give the cycling a bit of a rest until I'm totally well again.

John

Archwhorides 

Get well wishes from across the Atlantic! I got the flue shot yesterday, achy all over today.

RiPHRaPH

wear your regular bibs or shorts. Get a pair of cycling leg warmers. There are different thicknesses (mil's) I have several leg armers and knee warmers to choose from.

also, it doesn't get mentioned enough on this forum......wait for it.... embrocation. it will change your life.

GrooveRite

I experienced this exactly last night, lol! 36f and felt like I had flat tires. I had to get off my bike and check This will be my first winter riding through. What am I getting myself into?!?! lol

rumrunn6

here's your proverbial light at the end of the tunnel: "spring thighs" meaning, they will be large & strong

GrooveRite

Thats awesome! I'll look forward to that, thanks!

I'm just concerned about what can go wrong on a long distance ride in really cold weather like teens and single digits....sweaty....and a flat happens!! Should I remove my gloves to work or not?? Would I lose internal heat and if so, how do I keep my core warm??....or do the thermal layers really hold your heat in after you stop pedaling?!? I suppose I should really invest in wool thermal base layers for such rides, lol!

rumrunn6

dressing for active cycling does not protect you if you have to stay in place for more than 15 minutes. I can change a tube in 15 minutes. one time I had to detach my rear derailleur cable clean out the ice from the housing cuz it wouldn't shift & re-attach. temps in the teens before the sun came up on my way to work. got er done in 15 minutes. kept my glove liners on but if it went more than 15 minutes I would have been in trouble. so bring an extra layer in your rack trunk or backpack. I also had a headlamp in my trunk.

layers is key, adjust as necessary to keep sweat to a minimum. venting is key. if you do it right, you can zip up if you have to stop for a 15 minute repair. if you get into a pinch whip out that extra layer & it doesn't have to be thick to be helpful. cheap motel style clear shower cap can go on & off a bike helmet easily to block wind or removed to vent heat. carry two choices for helmet liner in case 1 gets too wet. knit cap &/or a thinner "headsweat" type thing

on another occasion one new year's eve, during a snow storm, after dark, but before party time, temps in the teens, I did a test commute (13mile 1-way) with my newly created winter tank. an old school rigid MTB w wide studded tires & fenders. what normally took 50min in the summer took me 2 hours mostly cuz I did it with low inflation using the sidewalk & grassy areas cuz the plows had not cleared the road to the shoulder, only 2 tire tracks. & I thought the tank could handle it. there was a good 3" maybe more on the ground with more coming down but not hard. the ride was slow. after the first hour my hands & toes were colder than I was used to. after two hours I was lucky to find an open Dunkin Donuts near work. I used the bathroom dryer to warm up my helmet liner, socks, shoes, gloves & hands. took the chemical toe warmers out of my shoes & rejuvenated them w fresh air or opened some new ones, I forget. used my hand pump to get the tires back up close to max pressure & rode the road another 13 miles back home taking HALF the time. if I was not near civilization I would have called for help. I strained my IT band that night & it took 6 months to fully recover. for me 1 hour is a good safe limit for temps in the teens but then I need a warm dry sanctuary like a cafe or something

GrooveRite

Thank you for your help! There are many things I hadn't noticed that I'll be taking into consideration now thanks to you!

02Giant 

Something that has come to mind from reading this thread, I will be adding a chemical hand warmer to my under seat bag for unexpected repairs during cold temp rides. A new for me, low temp ride was successful this last weekend. With the gear I now have I can see single digit temperature rides being a reality.

2manybikes

If you have to take your gloves or mittens off to fix something, if there is room, put them under your upper body clothing. If you just need to take them off for a very short time, put them end to end and push them together to seal the inside from the air.

When finished and putting them back on cold, ride hard and alternate hard sprints and easy cruising until they are warm. High effort will help warm up any part of you. As low effort will cool you off if you are too hot.