How cold for a Balaclava - Page 17

11-14-2004, 02:19 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
"Roger Zoul" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> writes:
> I'm wondering at about what temp you folks decide you need something like a
> balaclava while riding? Seems like 40 degrees F is enough for me.

Well, it's 11 C (which is about 52 F) and raining here,
with winds out of the east at 19 km/h. I just got back
from the laundromat. During the ride home I started to
feel the cold right behind my eyebrows, sort of like an
ice cream headache. If the ride was longer I would have
been wishing for my clear cycling glasses. If the wind
was out of the west, it would have come from the ocean
and it would have been a "warmer" 11 C ;-)

cheers,
Tom

--
-- Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

11-14-2004, 03:02 PM

"Super Slinky" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] t...
>
> Doesn't sound much different from what I said. I did a 95min, 28 mile
> ride late last night at 25º with about a 9mph wind. I was expecting only
> low 30s, but overdressed because this would be the first real cold
> weather ride of the year. I wore two base layers and a windbreaker, two
> pairs of tights, thick wool socks with neoprene booties, neoprene gloves
> and my thin balaclava. I forgot to bring appropriate eye wear for night
> riding, so I didn't use any, and that turned out to be the only trouble
> spot. My left eye got blurry about a half hour in. Hypothermia of the
> eyeball? You learn something new every day. My index fingers felt like
> they would freeze for the first half hour, but warmed up nicely after
> that. Feet felt OK, but toes were numb when I changed shoes at the end
> of the ride. Didn't bother me during the ride.
>
> It turned out that two thin base layers were adequate with a windbreaker
> at 25º and two pairs of tights were OK as well, though a third thin
> layer wouldn't have hurt there. The coldest part was the ride back home
> when I wasn't doing any exercise.

We went out Sat. morning in 30 degrees, snowing, bit of a wind. I had a
heavy jersey, jacket, single heavy tights, no booties or balaclava. I would
have been over-dressed, but I got covered from head to toe in slush from a
passing car. That soaked through my tights and ran into my shoes, and
soaked my gloves (light fleece) when I tried to brush/scrape it off. I
didn't really get too cold, we did 35 miles on mountain bikes with studs.
The fenders helped a lot.
http://trailwatch.net/11-13-04.jpg

11-14-2004, 03:02 PM

"Super Slinky" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] t...
>
> Doesn't sound much different from what I said. I did a 95min, 28 mile
> ride late last night at 25º with about a 9mph wind. I was expecting only
> low 30s, but overdressed because this would be the first real cold
> weather ride of the year. I wore two base layers and a windbreaker, two
> pairs of tights, thick wool socks with neoprene booties, neoprene gloves
> and my thin balaclava. I forgot to bring appropriate eye wear for night
> riding, so I didn't use any, and that turned out to be the only trouble
> spot. My left eye got blurry about a half hour in. Hypothermia of the
> eyeball? You learn something new every day. My index fingers felt like
> they would freeze for the first half hour, but warmed up nicely after
> that. Feet felt OK, but toes were numb when I changed shoes at the end
> of the ride. Didn't bother me during the ride.
>
> It turned out that two thin base layers were adequate with a windbreaker
> at 25º and two pairs of tights were OK as well, though a third thin
> layer wouldn't have hurt there. The coldest part was the ride back home
> when I wasn't doing any exercise.

We went out Sat. morning in 30 degrees, snowing, bit of a wind. I had a
heavy jersey, jacket, single heavy tights, no booties or balaclava. I would
have been over-dressed, but I got covered from head to toe in slush from a
passing car. That soaked through my tights and ran into my shoes, and
soaked my gloves (light fleece) when I tried to brush/scrape it off. I
didn't really get too cold, we did 35 miles on mountain bikes with studs.
The fenders helped a lot.
http://trailwatch.net/11-13-04.jpg

11-14-2004, 03:02 PM

"Super Slinky" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] t...
>
> Doesn't sound much different from what I said. I did a 95min, 28 mile
> ride late last night at 25º with about a 9mph wind. I was expecting only
> low 30s, but overdressed because this would be the first real cold
> weather ride of the year. I wore two base layers and a windbreaker, two
> pairs of tights, thick wool socks with neoprene booties, neoprene gloves
> and my thin balaclava. I forgot to bring appropriate eye wear for night
> riding, so I didn't use any, and that turned out to be the only trouble
> spot. My left eye got blurry about a half hour in. Hypothermia of the
> eyeball? You learn something new every day. My index fingers felt like
> they would freeze for the first half hour, but warmed up nicely after
> that. Feet felt OK, but toes were numb when I changed shoes at the end
> of the ride. Didn't bother me during the ride.
>
> It turned out that two thin base layers were adequate with a windbreaker
> at 25º and two pairs of tights were OK as well, though a third thin
> layer wouldn't have hurt there. The coldest part was the ride back home
> when I wasn't doing any exercise.

We went out Sat. morning in 30 degrees, snowing, bit of a wind. I had a
heavy jersey, jacket, single heavy tights, no booties or balaclava. I would
have been over-dressed, but I got covered from head to toe in slush from a
passing car. That soaked through my tights and ran into my shoes, and
soaked my gloves (light fleece) when I tried to brush/scrape it off. I
didn't really get too cold, we did 35 miles on mountain bikes with studs.
The fenders helped a lot.
http://trailwatch.net/11-13-04.jpg

11-14-2004, 03:02 PM

"Super Slinky" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] t...
>
> Doesn't sound much different from what I said. I did a 95min, 28 mile
> ride late last night at 25º with about a 9mph wind. I was expecting only
> low 30s, but overdressed because this would be the first real cold
> weather ride of the year. I wore two base layers and a windbreaker, two
> pairs of tights, thick wool socks with neoprene booties, neoprene gloves
> and my thin balaclava. I forgot to bring appropriate eye wear for night
> riding, so I didn't use any, and that turned out to be the only trouble
> spot. My left eye got blurry about a half hour in. Hypothermia of the
> eyeball? You learn something new every day. My index fingers felt like
> they would freeze for the first half hour, but warmed up nicely after
> that. Feet felt OK, but toes were numb when I changed shoes at the end
> of the ride. Didn't bother me during the ride.
>
> It turned out that two thin base layers were adequate with a windbreaker
> at 25º and two pairs of tights were OK as well, though a third thin
> layer wouldn't have hurt there. The coldest part was the ride back home
> when I wasn't doing any exercise.

We went out Sat. morning in 30 degrees, snowing, bit of a wind. I had a
heavy jersey, jacket, single heavy tights, no booties or balaclava. I would
have been over-dressed, but I got covered from head to toe in slush from a
passing car. That soaked through my tights and ran into my shoes, and
soaked my gloves (light fleece) when I tried to brush/scrape it off. I
didn't really get too cold, we did 35 miles on mountain bikes with studs.
The fenders helped a lot.
http://trailwatch.net/11-13-04.jpg

11-14-2004, 03:13 PM

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 00:02:42 GMT, Peter Cole
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> "Super Slinky" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] t...
>>
>> Doesn't sound much different from what I said. I did a 95min, 28 mile
>> ride late last night at 25º with about a 9mph wind. I was expecting only
>> low 30s, but overdressed because this would be the first real cold
>> weather ride of the year. I wore two base layers and a windbreaker, two
>> pairs of tights, thick wool socks with neoprene booties, neoprene gloves
>> and my thin balaclava. I forgot to bring appropriate eye wear for night
>> riding, so I didn't use any, and that turned out to be the only trouble
>> spot. My left eye got blurry about a half hour in. Hypothermia of the
>> eyeball? You learn something new every day. My index fingers felt like
>> they would freeze for the first half hour, but warmed up nicely after
>> that. Feet felt OK, but toes were numb when I changed shoes at the end
>> of the ride. Didn't bother me during the ride.
>>
>> It turned out that two thin base layers were adequate with a windbreaker
>> at 25º and two pairs of tights were OK as well, though a third thin
>> layer wouldn't have hurt there. The coldest part was the ride back home
>> when I wasn't doing any exercise.
>
> We went out Sat. morning in 30 degrees, snowing, bit of a wind. I had a
> heavy jersey, jacket, single heavy tights, no booties or balaclava. I
> would
> have been over-dressed, but I got covered from head to toe in slush from
> a
> passing car. That soaked through my tights and ran into my shoes, and
> soaked my gloves (light fleece) when I tried to brush/scrape it off. I
> didn't really get too cold, we did 35 miles on mountain bikes with studs.
> The fenders helped a lot.
> http://trailwatch.net/11-13-04.jpg
>
>
Maybe it's me, but I am finding out that if you start out under-dressed
to the point of being cold then start riding you will reach a point of
thermal equilibrium in about 5 miles. Of course I keep a jacket in my
ever present back pack in case I have to stop or it gets really
nasty outside. Fenders would help eliminate that stripe of grime on
my back but they don't have a cool factor. I now just creep through
water then speed up slowly so most of the gunk goes back on the road.
Bill Baka

--
Just Bill again

11-14-2004, 03:13 PM

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 00:02:42 GMT, Peter Cole
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> "Super Slinky" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] t...
>>
>> Doesn't sound much different from what I said. I did a 95min, 28 mile
>> ride late last night at 25º with about a 9mph wind. I was expecting only
>> low 30s, but overdressed because this would be the first real cold
>> weather ride of the year. I wore two base layers and a windbreaker, two
>> pairs of tights, thick wool socks with neoprene booties, neoprene gloves
>> and my thin balaclava. I forgot to bring appropriate eye wear for night
>> riding, so I didn't use any, and that turned out to be the only trouble
>> spot. My left eye got blurry about a half hour in. Hypothermia of the
>> eyeball? You learn something new every day. My index fingers felt like
>> they would freeze for the first half hour, but warmed up nicely after
>> that. Feet felt OK, but toes were numb when I changed shoes at the end
>> of the ride. Didn't bother me during the ride.
>>
>> It turned out that two thin base layers were adequate with a windbreaker
>> at 25º and two pairs of tights were OK as well, though a third thin
>> layer wouldn't have hurt there. The coldest part was the ride back home
>> when I wasn't doing any exercise.
>
> We went out Sat. morning in 30 degrees, snowing, bit of a wind. I had a
> heavy jersey, jacket, single heavy tights, no booties or balaclava. I
> would
> have been over-dressed, but I got covered from head to toe in slush from
> a
> passing car. That soaked through my tights and ran into my shoes, and
> soaked my gloves (light fleece) when I tried to brush/scrape it off. I
> didn't really get too cold, we did 35 miles on mountain bikes with studs.
> The fenders helped a lot.
> http://trailwatch.net/11-13-04.jpg
>
>
Maybe it's me, but I am finding out that if you start out under-dressed
to the point of being cold then start riding you will reach a point of
thermal equilibrium in about 5 miles. Of course I keep a jacket in my
ever present back pack in case I have to stop or it gets really
nasty outside. Fenders would help eliminate that stripe of grime on
my back but they don't have a cool factor. I now just creep through
water then speed up slowly so most of the gunk goes back on the road.
Bill Baka

--
Just Bill again

11-14-2004, 03:13 PM

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 00:02:42 GMT, Peter Cole
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> "Super Slinky" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] t...
>>
>> Doesn't sound much different from what I said. I did a 95min, 28 mile
>> ride late last night at 25º with about a 9mph wind. I was expecting only
>> low 30s, but overdressed because this would be the first real cold
>> weather ride of the year. I wore two base layers and a windbreaker, two
>> pairs of tights, thick wool socks with neoprene booties, neoprene gloves
>> and my thin balaclava. I forgot to bring appropriate eye wear for night
>> riding, so I didn't use any, and that turned out to be the only trouble
>> spot. My left eye got blurry about a half hour in. Hypothermia of the
>> eyeball? You learn something new every day. My index fingers felt like
>> they would freeze for the first half hour, but warmed up nicely after
>> that. Feet felt OK, but toes were numb when I changed shoes at the end
>> of the ride. Didn't bother me during the ride.
>>
>> It turned out that two thin base layers were adequate with a windbreaker
>> at 25º and two pairs of tights were OK as well, though a third thin
>> layer wouldn't have hurt there. The coldest part was the ride back home
>> when I wasn't doing any exercise.
>
> We went out Sat. morning in 30 degrees, snowing, bit of a wind. I had a
> heavy jersey, jacket, single heavy tights, no booties or balaclava. I
> would
> have been over-dressed, but I got covered from head to toe in slush from
> a
> passing car. That soaked through my tights and ran into my shoes, and
> soaked my gloves (light fleece) when I tried to brush/scrape it off. I
> didn't really get too cold, we did 35 miles on mountain bikes with studs.
> The fenders helped a lot.
> http://trailwatch.net/11-13-04.jpg
>
>
Maybe it's me, but I am finding out that if you start out under-dressed
to the point of being cold then start riding you will reach a point of
thermal equilibrium in about 5 miles. Of course I keep a jacket in my
ever present back pack in case I have to stop or it gets really
nasty outside. Fenders would help eliminate that stripe of grime on
my back but they don't have a cool factor. I now just creep through
water then speed up slowly so most of the gunk goes back on the road.
Bill Baka

--
Just Bill again

11-14-2004, 03:13 PM

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 00:02:42 GMT, Peter Cole
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> "Super Slinky" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] t...
>>
>> Doesn't sound much different from what I said. I did a 95min, 28 mile
>> ride late last night at 25º with about a 9mph wind. I was expecting only
>> low 30s, but overdressed because this would be the first real cold
>> weather ride of the year. I wore two base layers and a windbreaker, two
>> pairs of tights, thick wool socks with neoprene booties, neoprene gloves
>> and my thin balaclava. I forgot to bring appropriate eye wear for night
>> riding, so I didn't use any, and that turned out to be the only trouble
>> spot. My left eye got blurry about a half hour in. Hypothermia of the
>> eyeball? You learn something new every day. My index fingers felt like
>> they would freeze for the first half hour, but warmed up nicely after
>> that. Feet felt OK, but toes were numb when I changed shoes at the end
>> of the ride. Didn't bother me during the ride.
>>
>> It turned out that two thin base layers were adequate with a windbreaker
>> at 25º and two pairs of tights were OK as well, though a third thin
>> layer wouldn't have hurt there. The coldest part was the ride back home
>> when I wasn't doing any exercise.
>
> We went out Sat. morning in 30 degrees, snowing, bit of a wind. I had a
> heavy jersey, jacket, single heavy tights, no booties or balaclava. I
> would
> have been over-dressed, but I got covered from head to toe in slush from
> a
> passing car. That soaked through my tights and ran into my shoes, and
> soaked my gloves (light fleece) when I tried to brush/scrape it off. I
> didn't really get too cold, we did 35 miles on mountain bikes with studs.
> The fenders helped a lot.
> http://trailwatch.net/11-13-04.jpg
>
>
Maybe it's me, but I am finding out that if you start out under-dressed
to the point of being cold then start riding you will reach a point of
thermal equilibrium in about 5 miles. Of course I keep a jacket in my
ever present back pack in case I have to stop or it gets really
nasty outside. Fenders would help eliminate that stripe of grime on
my back but they don't have a cool factor. I now just creep through
water then speed up slowly so most of the gunk goes back on the road.
Bill Baka

--
Just Bill again