paperbackbiker

In the low teens, in fact. But I think I'm ready for it. New studded tires, new light, bring it on!

rob!

Studded tires are most likely a waste now and will get worn and slow you down; it hasn't snowed yet!

FanaticMN

You keep using that word...I do not think that it means what you think it means.

:-D

JeanSeb

Lucky you. It's warm here and I'm not a happy rider.

I want winter, darn it !

Jim from Boston

I note you post from Boston; Boston commuter here too, Kenmore Square to Norwood. I was feeling ill today for the 26 degree commute, but hope I can do it in the 9 degree prediction for tomorrow. I plan to ride the good road bike, not the beater with studded tires.

I do have some new items for riding at less that 20 degrees that I want to try out:

-new Neoprene booties to replace the torn, threadbare faithful old ones

-fleece-lined mittens with fingered liners; I'll wear them with a separate pair of knit fingered gloves

-a "necky."

Yesterday I was at REI in the Landmark Center looking at balaclavas and I saw this last item, a triangular piece of a fleece-like material on a circular band. I figured out what it was and the salesman confirmed it describing it as a "neck gaiter."

I have been looking for a similar type item for a few years called a "dickie," which was a turtle neck with attached front and rear panels of similar material, sort of a turtleneck sweater facade, meant to be worn with a V-neck sweater. A very 1970's look; think "Andy Williams Christmas Special." That's probably why I could never find one.

Bob Ross

Ha! I remember dickies, my best friend had one in 3rd grade (circa 1965). That actually makes a lot of sense for cycling...although it could be itchy and/or not particularly hydroscopic, depending on what it's made of.

Jim from Boston

Well I felt okay this morning (Wednesday), and probably could have ridden in at 11 degrees, but I got hit with a big crunch-time project at work that was so consuming, I decided to stay overnight and save on the homeward and return commuting time. Tomorrow’s (Thursday) predicted commuting temperature is 23 degrees. I sure hope it gets wicked cold again real soon.

paperbackbiker

Twas a tad chilly this am, fer sure. I forgot that I have this circulation issue in my toes and fingers, but it's a relatively short commute at 10k, so I can suffer that fine. Were back up into the 40s in a couple of days! I had on a balaclava, which helped. But it all comes back to digits, doesn't it: degrees, fingers, and toes!

Jim from Boston

Monday’s (1/16/11) commute was at 10 degrees, which is about as cold as it gets around here, rarely into single digits. The mittens described above were purchased in the work clothing section at Meijers, a Walmart-type store in Michigan, for about $20, and kept my hands quite warm. (Wells Lamont Insulated Cowhide Mitten 1425). The have a cowhide, somewhat rigid outer shell. The ends of the mittens extend about greater than an inch beyond my fingertips, and if I keep my hands below my cross-brake levers, the tips of the mittens hit the brake levers, slowing my braking response. So I had to conscientiously keep my fingers on top of the cross-brake levers, since I more likely tend to use those in a “panic” stop.

The mittens are easily put on and off when I need to do something dextrous with my fingers. Though the openings of the mittens are wide and not snug, I keep my wrists warm with some home-made wrist gaiters from a pair of athletic socks. In addition to sealing the wrist gap at my jacket sleeve ends, they keep my forearms warm, and I think that further warms the blood flowing to my hands.

The neck gaiter was very comfortable and well sealed the gap overlying my sternum. I wore thick and thin woolen socks, leather, cleated cycling shoes and the Neoprene booties with open soles for the cleats. My feet started to get cold at about mile 6 of my 14 mile commute, but were tolerable. (See pictures of neck gaiter, mittens, and wrist gaiters, below.)

I have previously posted a lot about my use of safety glasses over my prescription eyeglasses, and that fogging was rarely a problem because of the wide open ventilation while moving. Still, when stopped at such cold temperatures, fogging does quickly occur. I recently posted the strategies I use to minimize that problem:

The eyewear ventilation while riding yesterday morning was excellent, and I could even feel my moist exhaled breath directed over my cheeks and eyes up to my eyebrows, keeping the exposed skin warm without fogging the overlying eyeglasses and safety glasses. Finally as mentioned above, I can securely wear my Take-a-Look mirrors on the rigid eyepieces of the safety glasses. While my neck is swaddled by the gaiter, the neckpieces of my fleece and my winter cycling jacket, and the balaclava, rotating my head and torso is thus restricted, but the mirrors provide an excellent rear view.

So all in all it was a good ride and probably my worst discomfort was “cold-induced diuresis,” requiring a bathroom stop at about 8 miles.

duckbill

Looks like you got your wish!

Calgary



-27 °C


Calgary Int'l Airport

12:00 PM MST Wednesday 18 January 2012

Boozerguyzer

Hehe I came here to post the same thing (just to kid of course), how'd you like that -11 temp this morning?!

Novakane 

-30C here in Ottawa today, which Google says is -22F. Too cold to ride for me, but I suppose you "wicked-cold" fans are pretty happy today.

Boozerguyzer

Ha damn way to one up the MN folks!

rob!

20F this morning and snowing; nice day for the mountain bike I was actually wicked warm on the trails.

I'm really dying to go on a road ride in single digits this winter. One of these days I'll have to go on a ride before work to pull it off.

Ndw76

A little bit of cold would be nice. When the temp drops to 23c here the government declares an emergency.