Bicycling in Cold Weather

12-10-2004, 08:20 PM

I want to bicycle at casual speed for 5 to 10 hours a day in
temperatures 20F-35F. How should I dress? This is what I think:

1. Wicking base layer
2. 100 wt fleece top
3. Waterproof shell
4. Midweight running tights
5. Warm streamlined winter boot/shoes
6. Woll socks
7. Fleece hat
8. Windproof gloves

Is this ok? I don't want to freeze and I want to have a comfortable,
painless ride.

12-11-2004, 12:15 AM

10 Dec 2004 21:20:24 -0800,
<1102742424.513028.70870@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups. com>,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

>I want to bicycle at casual speed for 5 to 10 hours a day in
>temperatures 20F-35F. How should I dress? This is what I think:
>
>1. Wicking base layer
>2. 100 wt fleece top
>3. Waterproof shell
>4. Midweight running tights
>5. Warm streamlined winter boot/shoes
>6. Woll socks
>7. Fleece hat
>8. Windproof gloves
>
>Is this ok? I don't want to freeze and I want to have a comfortable,
>painless ride.

If the "waterproof" shell isn't ventilated or breathable it might not
be comfortable. Make sure it doesn't get stiff when frozen.

Consider carrying lightweight warm-up pants for wind breaking or when
you're off the bike.

Finger tips and toes can get uncomfortably cold. You need extra room
in your shoes for heavy socks. If you're unaccustomed to temperatures
in the lower end of that range you might appreciate mittens.

Dressing in layers let's you fine tune for comfort but you can't add
layers you don't have. If you're comfortable wearing everything you've
got while actively pedalling, you can get real cold real fast trying
to change a flat.
--
zk

12-11-2004, 12:15 AM

10 Dec 2004 21:20:24 -0800,
<1102742424.513028.70870@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups. com>,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

>I want to bicycle at casual speed for 5 to 10 hours a day in
>temperatures 20F-35F. How should I dress? This is what I think:
>
>1. Wicking base layer
>2. 100 wt fleece top
>3. Waterproof shell
>4. Midweight running tights
>5. Warm streamlined winter boot/shoes
>6. Woll socks
>7. Fleece hat
>8. Windproof gloves
>
>Is this ok? I don't want to freeze and I want to have a comfortable,
>painless ride.

If the "waterproof" shell isn't ventilated or breathable it might not
be comfortable. Make sure it doesn't get stiff when frozen.

Consider carrying lightweight warm-up pants for wind breaking or when
you're off the bike.

Finger tips and toes can get uncomfortably cold. You need extra room
in your shoes for heavy socks. If you're unaccustomed to temperatures
in the lower end of that range you might appreciate mittens.

Dressing in layers let's you fine tune for comfort but you can't add
layers you don't have. If you're comfortable wearing everything you've
got while actively pedalling, you can get real cold real fast trying
to change a flat.
--
zk

12-11-2004, 12:15 AM

10 Dec 2004 21:20:24 -0800,
<1102742424.513028.70870@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups. com>,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

>I want to bicycle at casual speed for 5 to 10 hours a day in
>temperatures 20F-35F. How should I dress? This is what I think:
>
>1. Wicking base layer
>2. 100 wt fleece top
>3. Waterproof shell
>4. Midweight running tights
>5. Warm streamlined winter boot/shoes
>6. Woll socks
>7. Fleece hat
>8. Windproof gloves
>
>Is this ok? I don't want to freeze and I want to have a comfortable,
>painless ride.

If the "waterproof" shell isn't ventilated or breathable it might not
be comfortable. Make sure it doesn't get stiff when frozen.

Consider carrying lightweight warm-up pants for wind breaking or when
you're off the bike.

Finger tips and toes can get uncomfortably cold. You need extra room
in your shoes for heavy socks. If you're unaccustomed to temperatures
in the lower end of that range you might appreciate mittens.

Dressing in layers let's you fine tune for comfort but you can't add
layers you don't have. If you're comfortable wearing everything you've
got while actively pedalling, you can get real cold real fast trying
to change a flat.
--
zk

12-11-2004, 12:15 AM

10 Dec 2004 21:20:24 -0800,
<1102742424.513028.70870@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups. com>,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

>I want to bicycle at casual speed for 5 to 10 hours a day in
>temperatures 20F-35F. How should I dress? This is what I think:
>
>1. Wicking base layer
>2. 100 wt fleece top
>3. Waterproof shell
>4. Midweight running tights
>5. Warm streamlined winter boot/shoes
>6. Woll socks
>7. Fleece hat
>8. Windproof gloves
>
>Is this ok? I don't want to freeze and I want to have a comfortable,
>painless ride.

If the "waterproof" shell isn't ventilated or breathable it might not
be comfortable. Make sure it doesn't get stiff when frozen.

Consider carrying lightweight warm-up pants for wind breaking or when
you're off the bike.

Finger tips and toes can get uncomfortably cold. You need extra room
in your shoes for heavy socks. If you're unaccustomed to temperatures
in the lower end of that range you might appreciate mittens.

Dressing in layers let's you fine tune for comfort but you can't add
layers you don't have. If you're comfortable wearing everything you've
got while actively pedalling, you can get real cold real fast trying
to change a flat.
--
zk

12-11-2004, 06:39 AM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

>I want to bicycle at casual speed for 5 to 10 hours a day in
>temperatures 20F-35F. How should I dress? This is what I think:
>
>1. Wicking base layer
>2. 100 wt fleece top
>3. Waterproof shell
>4. Midweight running tights
>5. Warm streamlined winter boot/shoes
>6. Woll socks
>7. Fleece hat
>8. Windproof gloves
>
>Is this ok? I don't want to freeze and I want to have a comfortable,
>painless ride.

I hope "comfortable and painless" indicates you're also not planning
on getting much of a workout. If I were to dress like that for a 35
degree F (2 degree C) ride, I'd be "comfortable" for about the first
couple hundred revolutions of the crank, after which I'd be in serious
danger of overheating (which isn't comfortable or painless).

My own experience is that if you're comfortable for the first half
mile (1 km) you're overdressed. This assumes that you're riding hard
enough to generate quite a bit of heat.

FWIW, last time I did a ride in that temperature range I wore shorts
and a short sleeve jersey, with half-finger gloves. My fingers did
get a little cold though. ;-)

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Home of the $695 ti frame

12-11-2004, 06:39 AM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

>I want to bicycle at casual speed for 5 to 10 hours a day in
>temperatures 20F-35F. How should I dress? This is what I think:
>
>1. Wicking base layer
>2. 100 wt fleece top
>3. Waterproof shell
>4. Midweight running tights
>5. Warm streamlined winter boot/shoes
>6. Woll socks
>7. Fleece hat
>8. Windproof gloves
>
>Is this ok? I don't want to freeze and I want to have a comfortable,
>painless ride.

I hope "comfortable and painless" indicates you're also not planning
on getting much of a workout. If I were to dress like that for a 35
degree F (2 degree C) ride, I'd be "comfortable" for about the first
couple hundred revolutions of the crank, after which I'd be in serious
danger of overheating (which isn't comfortable or painless).

My own experience is that if you're comfortable for the first half
mile (1 km) you're overdressed. This assumes that you're riding hard
enough to generate quite a bit of heat.

FWIW, last time I did a ride in that temperature range I wore shorts
and a short sleeve jersey, with half-finger gloves. My fingers did
get a little cold though. ;-)

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Home of the $695 ti frame

12-11-2004, 06:39 AM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

>I want to bicycle at casual speed for 5 to 10 hours a day in
>temperatures 20F-35F. How should I dress? This is what I think:
>
>1. Wicking base layer
>2. 100 wt fleece top
>3. Waterproof shell
>4. Midweight running tights
>5. Warm streamlined winter boot/shoes
>6. Woll socks
>7. Fleece hat
>8. Windproof gloves
>
>Is this ok? I don't want to freeze and I want to have a comfortable,
>painless ride.

I hope "comfortable and painless" indicates you're also not planning
on getting much of a workout. If I were to dress like that for a 35
degree F (2 degree C) ride, I'd be "comfortable" for about the first
couple hundred revolutions of the crank, after which I'd be in serious
danger of overheating (which isn't comfortable or painless).

My own experience is that if you're comfortable for the first half
mile (1 km) you're overdressed. This assumes that you're riding hard
enough to generate quite a bit of heat.

FWIW, last time I did a ride in that temperature range I wore shorts
and a short sleeve jersey, with half-finger gloves. My fingers did
get a little cold though. ;-)

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Home of the $695 ti frame

12-11-2004, 06:39 AM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

>I want to bicycle at casual speed for 5 to 10 hours a day in
>temperatures 20F-35F. How should I dress? This is what I think:
>
>1. Wicking base layer
>2. 100 wt fleece top
>3. Waterproof shell
>4. Midweight running tights
>5. Warm streamlined winter boot/shoes
>6. Woll socks
>7. Fleece hat
>8. Windproof gloves
>
>Is this ok? I don't want to freeze and I want to have a comfortable,
>painless ride.

I hope "comfortable and painless" indicates you're also not planning
on getting much of a workout. If I were to dress like that for a 35
degree F (2 degree C) ride, I'd be "comfortable" for about the first
couple hundred revolutions of the crank, after which I'd be in serious
danger of overheating (which isn't comfortable or painless).

My own experience is that if you're comfortable for the first half
mile (1 km) you're overdressed. This assumes that you're riding hard
enough to generate quite a bit of heat.

FWIW, last time I did a ride in that temperature range I wore shorts
and a short sleeve jersey, with half-finger gloves. My fingers did
get a little cold though. ;-)

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
Home of the $695 ti frame

12-11-2004, 07:38 AM

On Sat, 11 Dec 2004 08:39:00 -0700, Mark Hickey <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

>FWIW, last time I did a ride in that temperature range I wore shorts
>and a short sleeve jersey, with half-finger gloves. My fingers did
>get a little cold though. ;-)
>
>Mark Hickey

Beware of taking cold weather gear advice from someone located in
Florida.

I'll never understand why people think it is impressive to be under
dressed in cold weather. Wearing shorts and a short sleeve jersey in
temps of the range 20F - 35F is just silly.

For the Op, you should do some shorter rides, if possible and make
some adjustments, as you personally see fit. What works for some does
not work for everyone. I have found if my hands, feet, and/or head are
cold, I'm miserable. Consider some those disposable toe warmers for
the feet. They sure do work for me.

Life is Good!
Jeff