My Morning Commute

[vvill]

I’m the same with balaclavas (or beanies, etc.). I can wear them but they tend to be too much unless it’s a really casual paced ride.

For these 20F with windchill days we’ve had I usually have a buff for head and ears, and then goggles, and another buff around my mouth/nose/neck (usually this one gets pulled down and up depending on headwind/hills/etc.). My hands are good with mitts although if I take them out of my gloves for some reason (using a phone, etc.) they tend not to warm up again for a long time.

My feet are the only thing I can’t keep reliably warm on long, cold rides. I go with regular winter non-biking shoes on flat pedals for the worst of days, and they don’t get precipitously bad.

My core is the opposite. Once I’m warmed up I usually have to unzip whatever jacket/outer layers I have and I’ll just have one or two wool/base layers between my torso and the air, without feeling cold. Otherwise my back will get too sweaty and clammy.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Tania 132703 wrote:

I see riders in balaclavas (or buffs pulled up around their nose) when it drops below 40F. Dontgetit. :confused:

Like bar mitts, I find them unnecessary (I run pretty hot). I use a buff when it’s below 20F but more to cover my ears; my face is completely exposed.

My FEET on the other hand are always an issue and only when on a bike.

I use a balaclava starting around 20 degrees, mainly to cover my chin and the sides of my face, although I have a wool base layer with the hood build in, and that is awesome and I wear it around freezing. What I do not do, pretty much no matter how cold it is, is cover my mouth and nose…the cold makes it hard enough to breathe already, so trying to breathe while sucking in polyester is extremely unpleasant for me.

On my motorcycle I wear a thin balaclava pretty much always up to about 60 degrees, just to keep the air off my neck and to keep my face warm in my helmet…higher speeds + no self-heating and all that.

[Rockford10]

I have an old cotton stretchy buff thing I use when it’s this cold. I hate covering my nose and mouth when I ride. I use it mainly for my neck and to pull up over my mouth at lights or otherwise when stopped.

[huskerdont]

I used a balaclava once last year on a 6-degree morning. Hated it, stopped and ripped it off, haven’t used it since. My ugly mug doesn’t care, but my delicate flower hands, on the other, um hand…

[americancyclo]

I use what REI calls a Performance Headliner, and I wear it below 45 to cover my ears and neck. My ears get cold first, so this provides ear, neck, and head coverage while keeping my face exposed.
On days below 30, I’ll add on a Seirus Innovation 6810 Neofleece Comfort Masque that protects my nose, lips and chin. It also acts an an extra layer for my neck, and if needed, I can hike it up for a second layer over my ears.

Days like today also include a super warm fleece lined beanie I got from a buddy that does adventure races. Its warm enough that I’ll start sweating if worn in temps over 30 degrees.

[dasgeh]

@trailrunner 132670 wrote:

The worst part of my commute is that someone parked a utility or golf cart on the bike path. Don’t know if some kids stole it from Greensprings retirement home or from the country club and took it for a joyride or what. I can get around it, but just barely and I have to unclip and shuffle my bike between it and jersey barriers. I sure hope that it is removed before the snow comes, because on that part of the path the plows push snow from the road to the path, and if that cart stays there, the combination of snow and the cart will completely block the path.

Which bike path? Have you reported to the authorities?

[KWL]

One of the regulars on the MTV I usually pass around TR Island was wearing shorts this morning! Brrrrr.

[trailrunner]

@dasgeh 132740 wrote:

Which bike path? Have you reported to the authorities?

The bike path on the Franconia-Springfield parkway, just east of Rolling Road and Hunter Village Drive.

I did report it. Since it was there still this morning, I called Greenspring, but they said it wasn’t theirs. Then I called FFX county police and reported it. When I rode home, it was gone, but since I called the police only about an hour or so before I rode home in the day, I don’t think they had anything to do with. Regardless, the problem is gone now.

[mstone]

@huskerdont 132699 wrote:

I see people everywhere these days in their balaclavas. I don’t believe in them.

I use a very thin one. Mostly it’s a wind stopper & nose/ear warmer. It’s also nice to have something between the helmet buckle and my neck, because that thing gets really cold. I usually have it pulled down under my mouth unless I’m stopped for a while.

[huskerdont]

#8 on the Rosslyn counter, but I’m not sure it works all the time when there’s snow on the trail. To whoever was likely #7, you are badass. I dropped on the trail just after you at Buchanan, and even though I’m fairly confident on the Bianchi crossbike, you were a distant blur in no time.

Trail conditions were good. Nice snow. A little ice on the roads from car tires. Maybe should have taken the mountain bike with its fatter tires and lower center of gravity, but it worked out.

[DrP]

Commute in was quite nice. Skipped the Custis (as per my trail conditions report) and took the W&OD to work. I rarely take that stretch in that direction – usually I do a loop from home – office – home. Not bad and definitely fewer steep hills when I wasn’t sure of the conditions. Clear, cool, and a beautiful sun rise.

Only problem was group of folks with their large dogs off leash. They tried to reign them in, and I could pass them all slowly, but why are you on a major trail with unleashed dogs?

[TwoWheelsDC]

Studs were overkill, but there were a couple icy spots where I didn’t have to slow down or really worry because I had them, so that was nice. I imagine they will be very useful, however, once I hit the W&OD on my PM commute.

[Tania]

So…basically, I’m just a total chicken. But the thought of going out at 5:45am for my first snow ride (even with studs) made me stay under the covers.

[KWL]

@Tania 132813 wrote:

So…basically, I’m just a total chicken. But the thought of going out at 5:45am for my first snow ride (even with studs) made me stay under the covers.

I find weather conditions in my mind at 5:45am (yeah, I know how that reads) are much worse than they actually are. Every single time I listen to myself, I regret it.

[bobco85]

I had some fun this morning on my ride to work. The trails I took (Holmes Run between Beauregard and Chambliss, W&OD between George Mason Dr and Park Dr) were covered in mostly unpacked crunchy snow, so climbing the hills had little to no slippage. I could see the path of the only cyclist who beat me to the Holmes Run Trail along with a few footprints and animal tracks (dog, squirrel, and even a deer).

On the W&OD in Glen Carlyn Park just west of the duck pond
[ATTACH=CONFIG]10541[/ATTACH]

Getting to the roads, when I was on Park Dr climbing the hill on the street portion (the trail access, though steeper, had better grip) from W&OD to Route 50, things were a little slippery and I felt my back tire spin out twice (not good when you’re out of the saddle climbing a hill).

I did slip and fall on the ice once, though. As I approached the Park Dr/George Mason Dr intersection (downhill leading to a stop sign with a good amount of speeding cross traffic) I noticed the road was shiny (i.e., icy), so I along with a jeep that was passing me slowed to a crawl. I tried to stay on my bike, and before I knew it I slipped and hit my left side on the road. Luckily, neither I nor my bike was injured (small bruise on my left arm was the worst of it), and after sliding for a couple of feet I immediately stood up and laughed it off so no potential witnesses would worry I was hurt.

Other than that bit of excitement, it was a nice day for a ride

[Author]

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