Bundle up on Tuesday!

Our Community Forums General Discussion Bundle up on Tuesday!

Viewing 14 posts - 61 through 74 (of 74 total)
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  • #960642
    DismalScientist
    Participant

    @Tim Kelley 41404 wrote:

    Looking back at the past three weeks, we’ve had a good cross section of temperature and weather.

    Here are the numbers from the trail counter at the top of the Rosslyn hill on the Custis:

    Tuesday, 1/22 – 518 daily total riders,
    8am – 9am peak: 108 riders
    High of 32 degrees
    Low of 19 degrees
    Precipitation: 0.0 inches

    Tuesday, 1/15 – 438 daily total riders
    8am – 9am peak: 80 riders
    High of 42 degrees
    Low of 37 degrees
    Precipitation: .79 inches

    Tuesday, 1/8 – 986 daily total riders
    8am – 9am peak: 167 riders
    High of 53 degrees
    Low of 30 degrees
    Precipitation: 0.0 inches

    So, the moral of the story? What most people know anecdotally is confirmed–more riders will ride when it is very cold than when it moderately cold and rainy. 20 degrees and windy is preferable to 40 and raining.

    Of course as the month has gone on, the Freezing Saddles competition is heating up. More people are taking the long way (W&OD and MVT) into work rather than the Custis shortcut.

    #960643
    txgoonie
    Participant

    I’m finding the face area a challenge. I have a balaclava, but I just don’t dig it. With neck gaiter or Buff pulled up and sunglasses, I’m good, if not a tad warm. Combine with regular no-tint glasses, the lenses fog up. Use a scarf to cover the face, something — perhaps the thinness or the not-snug fit against my face — allows exhalation water vapor to freeze on contact and make my face COLDER. I will get the combination right! And then it’ll be 50 degrees.

    #960650
    Dirt
    Participant

    @txgoonie 41413 wrote:

    I’m finding the face area a challenge. I have a balaclava, but I just don’t dig it. With neck gaiter or Buff pulled up and sunglasses, I’m good, if not a tad warm. Combine with regular no-tint glasses, the lenses fog up. Use a scarf to cover the face, something — perhaps the thinness or the not-snug fit against my face — allows exhalation water vapor to freeze on contact and make my face COLDER. I will get the combination right! And then it’ll be 50 degrees.

    I have issues because I’m a little claustrophobic. Balaclavas kinda creep me out a bit, though I used one today.

    I use a cap that covers my ears and forehead, then I use a light neck gaiter or winter collar that goes up to my chin. When I’m prepping, I take a 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil, rub it between my hands and then put it on the exposed skin of my face. This helps get rid of the sting of wind burn and makes me feel a little warmer. That may be a mental thing, but it helps. I do the same thing with my legs when I’m riding with knickers on. Exposed skin is more comfy when it has a little oil on it. Lip balm on the lips definitely helps!

    #960653
    KelOnWheels
    Participant

    @Dirt 41420 wrote:

    When I’m prepping, I take a 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil, rub it between my hands and then put it on the exposed skin of my face. This helps get rid of the sting of wind burn and makes me feel a little warmer.

    May I recommend a nice chili-infused EVOO for this weather? ;)

    I need to get a wind-blocking beanie (my wool one isn’t warm enough for this weather :( ), some sort of face covering, warmer gloves, and warmer feet. Then I can get back out there!

    #960654
    Tim Kelley
    Participant

    Vaseline works well too.

    #960658
    Dirt
    Participant

    @Tim Kelley 41424 wrote:

    Vaseline works well too.

    It does nicely on my legs. My face doesn’t like being smeared with Vaseline. Using olive oil doesn’t seem to mess up my skin.

    #960659
    Greenbelt
    Participant

    @pfunkallstar 41407 wrote:

    I had a distinct superiority complex going this morning huffing frozen ice pelts out of my nose along the GW parkway. Also, my coworkers think I’m nuts, whatever.

    A guy on the NE branch trail this morning gave me the fist pump of cold-weather triumph (superiority) this morning when he passed. Right on, brother!

    #960665
    Dirt
    Participant

    One thing I brought up on the cold toe thread is moving around. We usually clap our hands or wiggle our toes or do other stuff to jump-start our circulation when our hands or fingers get cold. Doing those things BEFORE you get cold helps hold off the cold a little longer.

    #960668
    Greenbelt
    Participant

    Could be some light snow tonight and again Friday afternoon!

    #963186
    Amalitza
    Guest

    @txgoonie 41413 wrote:

    I’m finding the face area a challenge.

    I windburned my face last week. I did not listen to Dirt and Tim and coat it with oil or Vaseline before heading out. Let this be a lesson to the rest of you– I am still slathering lotion and aloe on my cheeks to soothe them.

    I have a gaitor which does a good job of protecting my face and keeping it warm if I keep it pulled all the way up to my sunglasses, but I don’t do that because I absolutely can not stand trying to breathe through it. Makes me feel like I’m suffocating. (Can’t sleep with my head under covers for the same reason). So I rode 90% of the time with it pulled up just covering my chin, and occasionally pulled it all the way up for 30 seconds or so just to warm up my face. This was acceptable for keeping warm enough, but was not sufficient for protecting exposed skin from dry, cold, 20mph winds. Near the end of the week, I had the idea of shifting my headband down to fit across my cheeks and nose. (was wearing a light beanie plus a headband for extra ear protection) So the headband covers my nose and cheeks from the bottom of my sunglasses to my upper lip, and the gaitor covers neck and chin up to my lower lip, leaving my mouth free for breathing and drinking. I expect it looked mildly ridiculous, but it worked. Too bad I didn’t think about it earlier.

    #963189
    dasgeh
    Participant

    @acl 44590 wrote:

    I have a gaitor which does a good job of protecting my face and keeping it warm if I keep it pulled all the way up to my sunglasses, but I don’t do that because I absolutely can not stand trying to breathe through it.

    I accidentally grabbed my husband’s gaitor today. The one he used this weekend on a training ride. STINKY!

    #993605
    peterw_diy
    Participant

    @Dirt 41284 wrote:

    I use plastic bags on the outside of my Moose Mitts when it is raining and I want to keep my hands dry.

    How bad are Moose Mitts in the rain? I’m looking for more warmth in sub-20F weather and find it disappointing to think MM aren’t good in the rain. Must I go for goretex ski gloves? :-/

    #993624
    hozn
    Participant

    @acl 44590 wrote:

    I have a gaitor which does a good job of protecting my face and keeping it warm if I keep it pulled all the way up to my sunglasses, but I don’t do that because I absolutely can not stand trying to breathe through it. Makes me feel like I’m suffocating. (Can’t sleep with my head under covers for the same reason).

    I found this gaiter to be the most breathable yet — and very warm.

    jymeqase.jpg
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003YXZ6I6/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?ref_=pe_385040_30332190_TE_M3T1_ST1_dp_1

    I also use the Smartwool face mask gaiter sometimes which has some mouth ventilation, but it not nearly as good for breathing — or warm.

    On very cold days I pair this with an Under Armour Cold Gear hood and just pull the gaiter up loosely as needed.

    #993625
    vvill
    Participant

    I have one of these for really cold days. http://airholefacemasks.com/airtube/ If you can keep it on just right under your helmet strap and breathe only through your mouth it doesn’t get too moist.

    Otherwise one or two Buffs works well although anything over your breathing passages will get moist.

    @peterw_diy 77252 wrote:

    How bad are Moose Mitts in the rain? I’m looking for more warmth in sub-20F weather and find it disappointing to think MM aren’t good in the rain. Must I go for goretex ski gloves? :-/

    I think the material is waterproof but considering there are huge openings for your hands and along the large velcro strip for adjustment/attachment I think your disappointment is a little ill-founded.

    On shorter rides they are close enough to waterproof, I’ve found.

Viewing 14 posts - 61 through 74 (of 74 total)
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