rumrunn6

misplaced it about a month ago so I ordered another cuz I like it so much. found the original last week (bottom of some clean laundry) so now I have two

EDIT: 10/19/18 now I can't find either one of them, & I think tomorrow morning will be a good day to start using it ARGH!

SylvainG

I bought this for exactly that temperature range.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's not fleeced so it's not as warm as a fleeced one but blocks wind really well.

rumrunn6

interesting. what color?

SylvainG

Black

Bikewolf

I’m hoping a thin summer skull cap, earband, and helmet cover will do this autumn / early winter.
Later I might add a merino skull cap (if I can find one).

carlos danger

I'm running a gore tex beanie from seal skins pretty much all year round except from summer. its really good. very tight fitting and slim.

srestrepo

I've done the merino buff under the helmet and over the ears like some kind of balaclava, or just under the helmet and over the ears with the top of my head kind of out. helps to keep the sweat down but also out of my eyes.

the other one that i've gone with is Columbia had a sale on thin polyester hats. picked up three of those and those fit great as well. they're very warm.

noglider 

Yeah, the merino buff was a godsend this past winter. It's comfortable in a very wide range of temperatures.

fietsbob

Lost too much heat under my Sou'wester rain hat in the winter deluges without the extra on my head

may go to a Bike-Ski helmet this winter , which has built in top of head warmth and warm ears..

Bikewolf

Anyone who has experience with the GripGrab WINDSTER skull cap?
[ https://www.gripgrab.com/collections...l-cap-windster ]

salcedo

rumrunn6

extra points for style

Carbonfiberboy 

I'm partially bald, so I wear a white poly Halo beanie all year when it's above about 50°. Below that, I change to a PI black skullcap, which I wear in all other conditions, including down to 40° and pouring rain. Always under a helmet of course. If it's windy and getting down below 40° I might wear a black balaclava, but only then. Otherwise I overheat. The helmet and those 3 items are all I ever wear for cycling head covering. They are all thin.

Bikewolf

Overheating is something to be aware off, yes.

I’m trying a thin Woolpower tubular (à la Buff) now and I love it.

Viich

That looks really warm for that temp. (Wait - are we talking 40F / 8C, or well below freezing?)

SylvainG

No it's not fleeced so it's good for those 3C to 9C. Below those temperatures, I wear a microfleece balaclava. Below -10C, it's cold enough that it snowed and snow stayed on the ground so the bike is stored until next Spring

Viich

Fair enough. I throw on studs or cross tires and keep going.

SylvainG

The way the streets are plowed here, unless you want to mess with traffic, which are not accustomed to see bikes in winters, not a good option.

rumrunn6

saw some 29 x 3.35 studded tires at REI today. they were insanely expensive at $130 ea

Viich

I come from Ottawa west (inside greenbelt) to Hull, average twice a week all winter, should do better this year with some work changes. I found some decent routes on the bike Ottawa winter biking gmaps layer.
I get mine in the spring - side of the road or kijiji. One pair 622x35, one 26x2.0. $25 total so far.

Those seem like an odd size though. If I was going past 2" I would think about fat bike to ride unplowed snow - on paved streets and sidewalks I have never wanted more than my 35s.

SylvainG

I live in Gatineau East and work in the Ottawa East end (20 km ride). On both sides of the river, there is no paths cleared during Winter for me. There are supposedly going to clear Fournier MUP so from my place to McDonald-Cartier bridge, I could get a nice cleared path for about 75% of my ride on that side of the river but once I reach Ottawa, beside Sussex, there is nothing cleared up going towards were I work (still about 10 km left to do). I would need to take high traffic roads and that's not something I'm willing to do. Still, 8 months riding out of 12 isn't a bad ratio

rumrunn6

haha yeah I've used (700x) 35mm studded Marathons for years & very happy. last year, or maybe the winter before last? I got a set at 40mm. beefy monsters. just got an older 29r type MTB which can take bigger tires. so I'm just considering the possibilities. was looking for a disc brake rack adapter & saw those tires. I was like: "yeah, I'll stick with what I got"

Viich

I understand that some places there just isn't a good way to get there in the winter by bike, just suggesting that there may be a better route than you think - I dodge around through several neighbourhoods on my way to the bridge that I wouldn't have found without the map I linked below - they're generally plowed fairly well but are very low traffic. My winter route is a little shorter than my summer at 16-18km depending on which bridge I take, but with a lot more stopping, and at winter speeds is normally about 15-30 min longer than biking in the summer.

The map of winter cycling routes in Ottawa that I mentioned : bikeottawa winter bike map

Bike Ottawa winter cycling page

SylvainG

My 'Summer' route is actually the shortest possible route between my house and my work. On the Québec side, I'm on MUP/bike lane once I reach La Verendrye but once I switch to Ottawa, beside the Rideau River Eastern pathway, I'm mostly on low traffic road (may be I'm passed by zero to three cars the whole Ottawa route once I leave Sussex) but that also means those roads are not really well plowed during Winter. Better plowed roads would mean higher traffic and nope, not for me, especially during Winter.

rumrunn6

was at a favorite outdoor shop this weekend (Outdoor Gear Exchange 37 Church St, Burlington, VT) & saw this item & thought I would share it if it struck anyone as having potential for them... worth noting is the small brim ...?

Giro Ambient Skull Cap



had my arms full (from their consignment & bike depts.) so didn't try it on or price it, sorry but looks like it's approx $25.