After a pretty flawed week of riding in the bitter cold and high winds through the mean streets of The Minneapolis, I think I'm starting to get together a nice grip on riding gear.
During the past week if my feet or toes weren't burning and/or numb from the frigid cold, my face/nose & ears were... if not them, it was my hands and fingers.
Finally tonight, and perhaps it was that the winds were a touch less harsh, I was able to put in a decent ride [2.5 hours after dark] of 27.43 miles.
Hands were toasty to the point of dripping sweat ~Military Surplus Shooter Mittens.
Head & Face also toasty ~Riv woolie-beanie and wool balaclava.
Torso, never really experienced much trouble here prior ~wool shirt, t-shirt, fleece vest, fleece jacket, REI windshell.
Legs were solid ~cycling shorts, wool tights, Riv MUSA pants.
Feets stayed very warm with a couple moments of coldness that were easily remedied with Bob Brown's suggestion [from a phone call earlier today] to get off my steed and walk for a bit when my pups started colding up ~SmartWool socks, Keen BlackComb boots and Boot Glove Alpine.
I would like to get it down to a single jacket but that's probably asking too much [without going to some ultra-bulky K2 style parka].
Keep Ridin'... Always
I'm a fan of a very light jacket, say like a windbreaker, then put a few layers under it for winter riding. My zipper height is then adjusted depending on the temperature.
Most people don't make it their first winter, the second winter is much easier than the first, though.
See ya around.
Posted by: mark | November 30, 2007 at 04:31 PM
For cold weather riding I turn to Beans insulated boots or a pac boot and wool hiking socks. My commuter/all around bike has campus pedals, one side spd and one side flat so it is an easy switch. Once the temperatures gets much below 20, I drop the cycling shoes and overboots and switch to my winter boots for every day rides.
You have probably seen it but if you haven't check out www.icebike.com.
Posted by: Larry Powers | December 05, 2007 at 10:32 AM
Hi Scott,
My wife uses plastic bags under her mittens and socks as vapor barriers. I don't know if they're still a big camping thing, but when I first got started backpacking, vapor barrier liners were a big thing. Theoretically, by stopping the ability of the perspiration to evaporate, you stop the heat loss associated with the evaporation. Plastic grocery bags work just as well as fancy shmancy backpacking gear, and it works well enough that I find my wife stuffing her hands and feet into plastic bags before she takes off in the morning. You might give it a try.
Posted by: Paul Cooley | December 06, 2007 at 08:32 PM