Winter Is Coming!

[consularrider]

Tonight’s the night, overnight low predicted of 7°.

[Crickey7]

@consularrider 123767 wrote:

Tonight’s the night, overnight low predicted of 7°.

I admit to seeing the picture of AFHokies’ bitchin new Lake boots and thinking how awesome those would make winter riding.

[KayakCyndi]

@consularrider 123648 wrote:

Get ready! Overnight lows this week down to the single digits! Ok, that’s in Kyiv and in centigrade, but my 26″ studded tires are here for the old Raleigh.

94 degrees and soupy here. I’m ready. Bring on winter (or at least fall) already!

[DismalScientist]

And now for some helpful cold weather riding advice from our friends in Gainesville:

“
Cold Weather Riding Advice

by Roger Pierce

On many winter mornings we will get an opportunity to practice our cold weather riding. It is important to know how to dress in order to be reasonably comfortable during the ride. On a typical winter ride we expect temperatures in the low 40’s at ride start, going up into the 50’s before ride end. As spring approaches, starts in the 50’s going up into the 60’s and 70’s will become common.
BODY

Layering is important in these conditions. You will probably want to remove one or two layers as the day warms up. The best material for your base layer is a modern “technical” fabric such as coolmax, thermax, thermalactyl, polypropylene, or something similar. For temperatures not expected to get out of the 50’s, I will use a long sleeve base. Other materials to consider are wool and silk; cotton is not a good choice as it will keep cold moisture directly in contact with your skin.

The next layer should go only on your front. I have a wool item with a velcro fastener that goes in back of my neck. Any non-cotton t-shirt should do the job. Over this (keeping it in place) is your jersey. The final layer on your body should be a jacket or wind shell (something with one layer, not a lined jacket). If your jacket is not wind resistant, you may want to put a large tyvek envelope or part of a paper shopping bag under the front of your jacket.
ARMS

If temperatures are expected to get above 65 during the ride, you will want to be able to remove everything from your arms. This means wearing short sleeve t-shirts/jerseys. Arm warmers are all you will need for temperatures starting in the mid-50’s. Below that, the sleeves on your jacket will complete the job. If temperatures are not expected to get out of the 50’s, a long sleeve t-shirt or jersey can be used to provide a permanent arm covering.
HANDS

You will need a glove that covers your fingers. A glove liner under your regular cycling glove will work. Heavy gloves will probably get too hot before the ride is over.
LEGS

For most of us, shorts with leg warmers will be sufficient for the lower parts. If you have lightweight tights these will also work. Thermal tights may get too warm when temps reach into the 50’s.
FEET

Wear two pairs of socks. If you have toe covers for your shoes this might be a good time to use them. If you have really cold feet, shoe covers may help, though they may feel very hot when temps get into the 50’s. Plastic sandwich bags over your socks will help for temps in the 40’s.
HEAD

Something to cover your ears will be welcome if temperatures stay in the low 40’s very long. Some riders can tolerate a head covering for temps in the 40’s; I get too hot with something on my head at around 45 degrees.

Have some way to carry stuff that you take off during the ride. As it warms up, you will want to remove layers to keep from overheating. Your jacket and the extra layer on the front will probably go, as will ear protection and shoe covers. If you are wearing heavy gloves, you will need to switch to lighter ones before finishing. Your jersey pockets can only hold so much. Consider bringing a fanny pack, rack pack, or expanding seat bag.

Winter rides meet at 9 am Saturdays and Sundays. With proper clothing, you can get a good, brisk workout.

[KayakCyndi]

@DismalScientist 123811 wrote:

And now for some helpful cold weather riding advice from our friends in Gainesville:

“
Cold Weather Riding Advice

by Roger Pierce

On many winter mornings we will get an opportunity to practice our cold weather riding. It is important to know how to dress in order to be reasonably comfortable during the ride. On a typical winter ride we expect temperatures in the low 40’s at ride start, going up into the 50’s before ride end. As spring approaches, starts in the 50’s going up into the 60’s and 70’s will become common.
……..

Winter rides meet at 9 am Saturdays and Sundays. With proper clothing, you can get a good, brisk workout.

Isn’t that cute. Personally, I think if we’re not talking about studded tires, bar mits, and Lake/Northwave/Shimano winter boots versus hiking boots, and how much below zero the windchill will be then we’re not talking about winter cycling!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]9579[/ATTACH]
Are you ready?

[rcannon100]

@KayakCyndi 123845 wrote:

Are you ready?

[ginacico]

@KayakCyndi 123845 wrote:

Are you ready?

Oh, sure. But only if all snow days are this pretty!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]9621[/ATTACH]

That was the day Cyndi’s Volagi was delivered by elves so she could go ride in the snow.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]9622[/ATTACH]

[Vicegrip]

The second photo requires further explanation please.

[consularrider]

Those winter riding tips were very useful this morning for my half century. Thanks Mr. Pierce! (ride start 51°F, ride end 62°F)

[KayakCyndi]

@Vicegrip 124065 wrote:

The second photo requires further explanation please.

Gina, Peter, Dave and I took the stream train from Cumberland to frostburg (fittingly named) that day. It was around Christmas and everyone working on the train was in costume.

When we boarded on Cumberland it was cold but not snowy. We disembarked in Frostburg where the ice storm the previous day and the snow made it a winter wonderland. Coasting back to Cumberland was amazing!

[ginacico]

@Vicegrip 124065 wrote:

The second photo requires further explanation please.

But that takes all the fun out of it

We took the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad from Cumberland to Frostburg, Thanksgiving weekend Nov 2013. Santa was aboard the train and the crew dressed up like elves.

We were just going for a day trip, but Frostburg lived up to its name, we really had no idea the GAP would be that snowy. We rode as far as the Big Savage Tunnel, and as we gained elevation the trees looked like they were encrusted in Swarovski crystal. Crazy unexpected conditions, so beautiful and so fun!

[Steve O]

@ginacico 124078 wrote:

But that takes all the fun out of it

Agreed. You should have left vicegrip scratching his head.

[Vicegrip]

@Steve O 124081 wrote:

Agreed. You should have left vicegrip scratching his head.

Why hold back on a good story when asked?

….and that reminds me. Who in their right mind makes a bike helmet with air holes too small to get a finger through in order to get to an ich? Giro is one.

[GovernorSilver]

@ginacico 124057 wrote:

That was the day Cyndi’s Volagi was delivered by elves so she could go ride in the snow.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]9622[/ATTACH]

That’s the color of Brian’s Volagi at Bikenetic. So that’s two of them in the area with that color. I guess I’ll go for blue when the time comes.

I’m having a trekking bar installed on my current city commuter bike. Got a quick response from Bar Mitts after an email inquiry – they say they can do a custom pair for the trekking bar after I send them a photo of the completed job (bar with brake levers, shifter, etc.).

I’ve coped with the summer rain by wearing quick-dry shirts, shorts, socks, etc. but have been warned that cold weather rain is a different beast. I need to go for a ride at least once in my Vasque hiking boots to make sure they’re suitable for cold-weather riding.

[AFHokie]

@Vicegrip 124082 wrote:

Why hold back on a good story when asked?

….and that reminds me. Who in their right mind makes a bike helmet with air holes too small to get a finger through in order to get to an ich? Giro is one.

How big are your fingers?

[Author]

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