Missed connection

[sjclaeys]

@Steve O 149298 wrote:

I only partially agree with this sentiment. The more people riding bikes and being counted by the counters, the easier it is for us advocates to make the case for investments in improved facilities. If it’s just a hard-core few it’s easy for the powers-that-be to blow us off. On the other hand, if all sorts of people are riding bikes all year round, it’s harder to ignore.

Hey, I’m all for more cyclists as long as they don’t get in the way when I am riding my bike! :rolleyes:

[hozn]

@Crickey7 149272 wrote:

When I look at the gear I put on as the temps drop into the 20’s, it’s hundreds of dollars of temperature-specific gear accumulated over time (even with being cheap). Casual and newer riders don’t have that.

I count hundreds of dollars with just the jacket and boots — nevermind the other jackets, wool socks, wool base layers, tights (and warmer tights, windproof rights for when less than 20), gators, hats with ear protection, gloves gloves and more gloves. I guess I just figured out why we can’t afford the premium channels

But, yes, you don’t need these things to ride a bike in the cold, but IMO you want them if going for any distance, especially if working up a sweat.

[Crickey7]

I sweat no matter what the temperature is, so I need wicking stuff, and I might as well buy cycling specific gear because I’m going to have to change anyway.

[cvcalhoun]

@Crickey7 149316 wrote:

I sweat no matter what the temperature is, so I need wicking stuff, and I might as well buy cycling specific gear because I’m going to have to change anyway.

Oh, I can understand the advantages. I’m just saying that you can bike in the cold even if you can’t afford that stuff.

[Vicegrip]

@hozn 149304 wrote:

I count hundreds of dollars with just the jacket and boots — nevermind the other jackets, wool socks, wool base layers, tights (and warmer tights, windproof rights for when less than 20), gators, hats with ear protection, gloves gloves and more gloves. I guess I just figured out why we can’t afford the premium channels

But, yes, you don’t need these things to ride a bike in the cold, but IMO you want them if going for any distance, especially if working up a sweat.

This is spot on. The hardest part of winter cycling is getting the gear right. I have $200 in my magic Gore jacket and a bit more than that in the Northwave winter road boots. Add in the thermal bibs, gloves and mitts, sock section, balaclavas and upper torso layers and…well some things are best not quantified. Dear wife watches me do my cycling alchemy of this with that and that over this and then the adjustments and calculations for any packed gear needed for the return ride each evening. Lets just put it in cycling math. C+W/S = SH. Cycling + Winter / Spouse = Shakes Head.
In a car you simply change the settings on the heat or AC. With cycling you have to adjust the insulation on the motor to match conditions including motor output. It took me 2 years of all winter riding to get the science of gear mix and adjustment sort of right. I can fully see why this is a barrier to many but for me it was and still is well worth it. Crisp air and breaking dawn light are way better than scratching frost of the windshield and stoplights.

[huskerdont]

@Vicegrip 149342 wrote:

This is spot on. The hardest part of winter cycling is getting the gear right. I have $200 in my magic Gore jacket and a bit more than that in the Northwave winter road boots. Add in the thermal bibs, gloves and mitts, sock section, balaclavas and upper torso layers and…well some things are best not quantified. Deer wife watches me do my cycling alchemy of this with that and that over this and then the adjustments and calculations for any packed gear needed for the return ride each evening. Lets just put it in cycling math. C+W/S = SH. Cycling + Winter / Spouse = Spouse Shakes Head.
In a car you simply change the settings on the heat or AC. With cycling you have to adjust the insulation on the motor to match conditions including motor output. It took me 2 years of all winter riding to get the science of gear mix and adjustment sort of right. I can fully see why this is a barrier to many but for me it was and still is well worth it. Crisp air and breaking dawn light are way better than scratching frost of the windshield and stoplights.

I’m like this too*, but some people do seem to be able to make do without cycling-specific kit. I often see people riding downtown without gloves when it’s in the 20s; I don’t know how they do it, even for short trips. So I think there’s room for both types (with cycling-specific kit and without), even while I can’t do without.

*My GF used to laugh at me having five different types of gloves/mittens for incredibly specific temperature ranges, where I’d look at the thermometer and have to think a bit (Is 25 degrees the regular gloves or the lobster gloves?), but now I think she understands, or at least just puts up with it.

[Vicegrip]

Agree. Some of my gear is stuff like snow boarding mitts. They were problem solvers for me. You would think they would make shifting and stopping hard but I was surprised to find I can feel and work the levers and controls just fine. Tune the inner layer to dial in from your standard goodandcold to jebezusitsstupidcold conditions and leave the mitt off when it is nice out.

[huskerdont]

@Vicegrip 149349 wrote:

Agree. Some of my gear is stuff like snow boarding mitts. They were problem solvers for me. You would think they would make shifting and stopping hard but I was surprised to find I can feel and work the levers and controls just fine. Tune the inner layer to dial in from your standard goodandcold to jebezusitsstupidcold conditions and leave the mitt off when it is nice out.

Yeah, I use ski mittens when it gets down below 10 degrees. There is some loss in shifting dexterity, but when it’s down below 10 degrees, shifting seems to not be at the top of my priorities anyway.

[OneEighth]

What is this “shifting” that you speak of? Sounds like it’s more trouble than it’s worth.

[Vicegrip]

@OneEighth 149359 wrote:

What is this “shifting” that you speak of? Sounds like it’s more trouble than it’s worth.

Shifting + born in the 1960s = Working knees.

[cvcalhoun]

@Vicegrip 149416 wrote:

Shifting + born in the 1960s = Working knees.

Or, you know, born in the early 50s.

[huskerdont]

1964. I still love my single speed, but can only do so once, maybe twice a week now. 😮

[cvcalhoun]

@huskerdont 149423 wrote:

1964. I still love my single speed, but can only do so once, maybe twice a week now. 😮

I was born in 1953. Being in Maryland, every one of my rides involves going uphill on either the way out or the way back. I do not do single speeds.

[Judd]

1980. Still outwardly pretending to be invincible but secretly picking up specialist physicians.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[streetsmarts]

That definitely is the sign of getting older .. picking up specialist physicians.
it’s surprising how quickly the talk amongst friends my age goes to “ailments”.
and we’re not even that OLD!

[Author]

Posts