In the past I simply parked my bike indoors during the winter months, but now I am a bike commuter, and I am determined to ride all year long (at least whenever possible). The other day I had my first experience of riding in the cold. I got out of bed put on my base layer of shorts and a t-shirt, then added a long sleeve t-shirt, a fleece pullover and topped it all off with a fleece pair of sweats. Then I added my bandanna to my head and put on my helmet and I was off to the gym. However, I was missing two very important items. One, I did not have any gloves, strange when you think about how much trouble I went through to add layers, I had no gloves. That’s because I don’t on any, a mistake that I have since corrected with the purchase of new gloves. The next item missing was something for my ears. So yesterday I purchased a some ear protection, a Performance Earband.
My next cold ride should be nice and toasty, I do hope down the road to invest in lighter gear that is equally warm, but doesn’t make me look like I’m in a fat suit.
What kind of base layer did ou use? I used to ride year long using cotton, until I went down a hill @7am. I lost all my heat and was colder until I got home. So now I ride Craft, synthetic base layer or Rapha.cc, thin wool base layer. I bought them 6 years ago and they still work fine. A burden fo money but worth every penny…
Two things also, baby powder and mouse.The baby powder has a little perfume and absorbs the sweat at the same time. Mouse helps to shake off the helmet head look and works well with sweat…..
I use to live in Vermont, and ride year round and in the snow, It all started when I lived in Maine and did snow mountain biking, then when i moved to VT, it just went to riding year round. I would suggest, when you do get some extra $$ invest in better cold gear for bikes. I usually wear carharts, which are not bike gear, but they hold up to the abuse of winter riding in the snow salt and ice. during the spring summer and fall, i ride a fixed, well two fixed, in the winter one of the fixed get cycle cross tires, and i built a SS mountain bike with Down Hill mud tires for the deep snow. Stick with the SS bikes, they hold up to the ice and snow better than geared bikes.
Winter cloths, a good shell!!!!!! and under that long sleeve and a base layer, tights for the legs with a good shell or rain pant over them, neopreen socks work great for a little while, then they get cold, use wool!!! i ride without sox year round, but i got good mountain shoes and road shoes, and i dont get cold easy. head, jsut a good winter hat. and something to cover the nose and mouth too. glasses with clear lenses work wonders!
good luck and have fun with it, go out for fun rides, and on a big storm night, when everyone is at home and there is one or two feet of snow on the ground go play in it with the bike!!!
cheers
squid