need advice on cold or wet weather cycling

[Sanity Claws]

I started riding in April when the weather started getting nice. I'm now hooked and want to continue riding year round, if possible. I'm in Seattle where the fall temps are often in the 50s and some light rain. In the winter, temps are in the 30s and 40s and more rain.
Any recommendations for windproof/ waterproof wear? How do you keep your ears and head warm in cold or windy weather? Do you wear a sweatshirt hood under your helmet?
I would particularly like to hear from petite sized women on recommendations of clothes.
Thanks!

[Kolesar]

1. My eyeglasses fog when the temperature is below 40F

That is about the worst problem for winter cycling for me. I have to pull the balaclava off my nose at stop lights to keep the vapor from condensing on the inside of the cold lenses.

Under your helmet, I would recommend a balaclava or a "Headsweats"-type beanie. Get the one with a sweatband. Bring a waterproof/breathable (Goretex-brand or other) helmet cover for use if it rains.

I recommend a form fitting waterproof/breathable jacket. These days, there are lighter jackets that don't need a liner like old Gore-tex-brand. Some have waterproof zippers. Cool. Www.nashbar.com has dozens of jackets. I bought one last month and I had too many to chose from! I went with a Bellwether-brand jacket. It has pit zips and a ventilated yoke. Nashbar's cheapest product, the polypropylene jacket, looked interesting.

I wear fiberfilled winter gloves or polypro liners under my fingerless gloves. Don't wear gloves like gardening gloves. I found that my cut-leather (suede-like) had so much friction that I was twisting the covers on my break/shifter levels out of shape (does that make sense?).

I bought pile-lined winter tights with a windproof front surface. They are wonderful. They are great for xc skiing too. I have never used them in rain.

[Gregorian]

2. A few stupid thoughts.

I'm beat from a fantastic ride today. And my commuting years are behind me. But I rode sun, rain, snow for nearly ten years. So I have a bit of experience.

Fenders are important. Good ones. I've had a front fender come off, and it's ugly.

I used plastic bags for my feet. But you can buy things that will keep splashing water from soaking your shoes.

Oh, once you get rolling, you'll find that your body keeps you pretty warm. I've riden long distances in the snow with very little on. And I'm 135 pounds.

Tights. And waterproof tights. I used both. The waterproof tights on the outside.

Eyes were always a problem. Glasses get wet or fog up. No glasses are tough. I'm not sure what I ended up with.

Gloves. They make great gloves out of wetsuit material. They get soaked, but you stay warm. And very wrinkled skin.

Hopefully that will give you a bit of help.

I loved commuting. The only thing I really wanted was to see the whole society on bikes. What a great world it would be. In another biking forum we had a tragedy. And I think it's very important to choose your route carefully. And a rear view mirror might be helpful. But just be very very vigilant.

And know that it's a noble thing to do.

Gregg

[happyslug]

3. This was discussed last November, here is the site:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=324x1029

[bvar22]

4. Layers, layers, layers.

I rode through the Minnesota Winter last year.




Most of my winter riding was below freezing, so "wet" wasn't a real problem. I really dislike the transitional temps (30-40F). Those temps feel colder to me than below 25F where it is dry. I am not a RAMBO type. I believe in comfort, and was able to ride in comfort through a winter down to temps in the low teens. I wanted to ride into single digits, but never had the opportunity (mild winter). I felt my clothing was good for another 10 degrees, but would have needed ski goggles for my face.


Some of my suggestions go against common knowledge, but they worked for me.
Your mileage may vary.


My personal experiences and suggestions:


*Get a good waterproof bag (I prefer handlebars) big enough to carry everything you might need if it gets colder. This bag should also have enough room to store any layers you might shed as you ride. I modified a waterproof gym bag by cutting off the top handles, and sewing webbing straps with bayonet clips (plastic buckles) on the side.

*LAYERS***
The outer layer MUST be breathable, and should not be lined. Lightweight. Avoid anything "waterproof". You will swelter inside waterproof outers.
I didn't ride in the rain (only snow), so you may need to make some decisions about waterproof outerwear.
Avoid heavy parkas and padded pants. The outer layer is only to deflect the wind. The under layers will keep you warm.


I bought a pair of loose breathable (synthetic, water resistant) sport pants from WallyWorld. I sewed a plastic bayonet clip (two piece buckle) on the right leg that would keep any loose fabric from the chain. When I got off the bike, I could unclip and take my pants off over my boots. The pants had a drawstring waist, but I added suspenders because something about the interaction between my saddle and the pants caused them to creep down. The suspenders fixed that.


*Top layer, a bright red, unlined "PUMA" synthetic windbreaker with back vents. I added a large round "key ring" to the zipper so that I could use the zipper without taking off my gloves. I used the zipper to regulate my body temp. Open the windbreaker on the uphills, close it for the downhills. If my layers were right, this worked perfectly.

When temps were above 25F, I wore two piece silk long johns under the wind breaker. Sometimes I would add a long sleeve cotton undershirt above the silk. (This seems light for below freezing, but its not....and I'm a wimp.)

When the temps were below 25F, I wore a regular cotton sweatsuit under the windbreaker tops.

Into the mid teens, I would wear both (Silk long johns under sweat suit under wind breakers).

http://www.wintersilks.com/search.aspx?searchterm=long%20underwear
I swear by the silk long johns!!! They are light weight, WARM, and comfortable.
The silk longjohns were worth every penny. I also got silk glove liners that I used a few times, and a silk "ninja" hood that I never used.


Hooded Sweatshirt:
I don't use the hood unless I get off the bike. It really interferes with peripheral vision when checking for traffic. It also catches air and forces it down your neck.
I used a number of different hats and caps, all of which fit under my helmut. My favorite is a wool watchcap that has a face mask that I can pull down and cover my mouth and throat. If I pull it over my nose, my glasses fog.

I always carried a Throat Warmer in my bag. It could cover my throat, chin, and nose, and would also keep drafts from sneaking down inside my windbreaker. I only used this a couple of times when it got really cold, but I carried it always.

I wore leather combat boots and "over the calf" cotton Soccer Socks . This gave me good "overlap" of layers with no gaps for the cold to get in. I used chemical "toe warmers" inside the boots. I love them. Cold toes make me miserable. These little warmers kept my feet comfortable all winter. I bought mine at Menards. I also carried several extras in my bag "just in case".

I wore thin leather (dress?) gloves all winter. I bought them "off the rack" at Menards. They are common leather dress gloves with a light lining. When it got really cold, I added silk glove liners. My finger stayed warm all winter. The light leather gloves were great for dexterity.
I carried heavier gloves in my bag, but never used them. I have a great pair of gore-tex ski gloves, and some wonderful HEAVY leather, fleece lined mittens with gauntlets that spent the Winter in my bag. I never needed them, but was glad to have them with me just in case.

Some things to consider:

*I found that it was easy to stay warm on the bike as long as I was working. I had an uneventful Winter, and always made it home OK. It would have been deadly if I had had an accident or breakdown in an unprotected place with no help close by. A couple of times, I got off to take pictures or play in the snow, and I got cold really fast. All of my Winter riding was in an urban environment where I could have gotten out of the cold if necessary. I always carried a cell phone, and someone with a 4WD always knew where I was going and when to expect my return.


*When the temp drops below 40, I use platform pedals, no toe clips.

*It gets dark early. Drivers windshields are fogged up and icy.
Expect all cars to be driven by a drunk idiot on a cell phone.
Wear bright colors, and stay off busy streets when ever possible.

*Wind Chill is a product of airspeed. If you feel chilled, slow down, drop to a lower gear and increase your RPM.

*See your dentist for a checkup. Freezing air sucked over a bad tooth can induce exquisite pain. :(

*Have Fun.

Bob
St Paul, MN

[elocs]

5. I congratulate you for riding in the winter and surviving.

I have lived in Wisconsin nearly all my life and although my city is very safe for bike riding I would have to have a death wish here to ride in winter. I can remember as a kid riding in the snow and ice and my heart was always in my throat anticipating when I would hit ice and wipe out. Along with this, visibility to other traffic is poor. Now, with a bike that cost me $1000, I will not risk it to ice, snow, and salt by riding it in the winter. Plus, wearing glasses makes bike riding problematic to me even in the rain. I do enjoy walking in the winter, so that is how I get my outdoor exercise then.

[bvar22]

6. I use studded tires in the winter.

I wouldn't consider riding in the Winter without studded tires.
They are fun and safe on ice, very solid, but high rolling resistance on dry streets.

:hi:

[happyslug]

7. A few years ago I biked on ice with slicks.

After a few accidents I switched to Studded tires.

[bvar22]

8. One of my VERY BEST rides was on studs.

Last Winter. Temp about 18F, no wind, bright winter sun.
The ground was frozen hard, and a very light coating of powder snow had fallen. I was riding on a dedicated asphalt bike path around a golf course.

I normally stick to the bike path, but an obstruction forced me to take a small detour off the path on to the golf course. The snow was only an inch deep, so it offered almost no resistance, and the hard frozen ground was perfect for the studs. Normally, the snow is too deep to ride through, but not on this day.

It was wonderful. It was like riding on a cloud. Pedaling was almost effortless. The snow was so light that it puffed up around me like a cloud with the Winter sunlight refracting off the crystals. I had some minor guilt about leaving my bike trtacks across this frozen, virgin beauty, but...
The "off-road" excursion lasted about an hour as I toured the golf course. I will NEVER forget that ride.
It snowed again that night, and the next day the snow covering was about 6", too deep to ride on. The ideal conditions never occurred again.


The only thing one needs to remember while riding on studs is that there are none on your shoes.