Hands

I spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out what would be the best way to keep my hands warm while winter biking. There are a lot of expensive options out there.  Finally, I settled on the reliable leather choppers I've been using to keep my hands warm my whole life.  The leather stops the wind and the lining keeps things warm.

On the colder days, I found my choppers kept my hands warm, but the biting wind caused my wrists to get cold.  My wife is a knitter. She knitted up these wrist warmers and since then I've not had any issues. Thanks Angie!

Last week I rode to work on a day when the temp was -6F and the windchill before adding bike speed was -24F.  Added to that there was 3 inches of new snow.  My body stayed warm the whole trip. The only issue was a frosting over of my goggles.  I have a few ideas to try our for a solution...

Staying Visible

Anytime we bike in the dark, it is essential to be seen.  Over the years I have done this by wearing a reflective vest and by having flashing red lights. This year I was able to combine the two by finding a reflective safety vest with flashing red led lights embedded in the vest. I got it for $20 online at Walmart. http://www.walmart.com/ip/MAXSA-Reflective-Safety-Vest-with-16-LED-Lights/10756693

Tomorrow morning's commute looks like a doozy.  The ambient temp at 6 AM is predicted to be -2F. There will be an 8 mph headwind.  This weekend we got about 4-5 inches of snow and as of this evening, the roads I take to work have not yet been plowed.  This IS winter biking - Minnesota Style.

Jacket and Pants

This biking jacket has a wind resistant front and sleeves (black) and a breathable back (blue).  I bought the jacket several years ago at Ski Hut in Duluth. It is great for biking from 50 degrees down to below zero.  The pants are lined wind pants.

So to recap, for temps below 30:

• Arm sleeves
• Knee sleeves
• Underwear
• Long sleeve synthetic shirt
• Biking jersey
• Biking shorts
• Jacket
• Windpants

Next time, I'll show the layers that get added when temps get below 20.

The Next Layers

For temps below 30 F (anything above 30 just isn't winter biking), these next 3 pieces go on after my underwear and sleeves. They are the only layers that go on before my jacket and wind pants.  They are my regular bike shorts, a Champion synthetic long sleeve shirt, and my regular biking jersey.

Notice I show the bike shorts inside out so we can see the pad. Layers are important in most winter outdoor activities. Biking fits into that category and some parts of our bodies need more layers than others - thus the importance of the pad.

Protect Your Joints

While researching winter riding last year, one of the messages I took to heart was to protect my elbows and knees.  These important joints need proper lubrication. Keeping them warm keeps them lubricated and helps prevent injuries.  I found compression type sleeves on eBay for about $10 per pair. They work great at keeping me warm and have lasted very well.  Below are my arm and leg "sleeves".

P.S. I will hit a milestone on the way to work tomorrow morning. My total mileage for the year will reach 2500.  While lots of cyclists ride 3-4 times this amount, it is a PR for me by more than double.

Life Changing Underwear

For 45 years I have worn cotton briefs.

Cotton is not the right material to wear while sweating.  I've run marathons wearing cotton underwear. The inability of the cotton to eliminate sweat results in chafing and discomfort at a high level.  Last January, I found that the moisture generated while biking near zero degrees quickly turned very cold. Sweat turns to ice pretty darn quickly. Cotton underwear were the biggest issue I had while riding last winter.  The answer came this summer when I found Adidas synthetic boxer briefs while training for a half-marathon.

This synthetic material wicks away all moisture eliminating an unwanted cooling while riding. Now my entire wardrobe is synthetic.  I should have been smart enough to figure this out last year.

Staying Warm

Acquaintances who discover that I have been riding my bike to work for 12 straight months usually assume that I get really cold while biking.  Not true.  When it comes to being cold outside, I have a rather low tolerance.

In the 1980's I lived in Florida for 4 years.  Summer in Florida was way hot and way humid.  I've always told people that I would rather live in Minnesota in the winter than Florida in the summer. When it gets colder outside, a person can put on more clothes. Whereas, when it gets hotter outside, you quickly run out of clothes to take off.

The key to staying warm while biking has been to find the right combination of clothes for the conditions. Over the next few posts I will provide details on clothing and the combinations.

The morning forecast looks good. 28 F and 8 mph tailwind.