I'm liking the cold weather commuting better than I thought I would.
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When people are amazed that I bike in the rain, I tell them that I have the superpower of not being harmed at all by water. I even occasionally get completely naked and on purpose stand under a stream of water and get completely soaked. Once a month, whether I need it or not!
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You could also mention it to them that About 70 percent of human body is made of water anyways! ..... Cheers
Last edited by Eds0123; 12-22-14 at 08:40 PM.
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I usually quit my 3 days a week or so bike commuting when the temperature drops below freezing due to being worried about falling on the ice and snow as well as not wanting to get salt on my bike. But the weather this year has been drier, and I've been able to keep riding even after the temperatures dropped below freezing. It's cold enough now to where I dress differently with that 10 degree or so decrease in temperatures, but it's more enjoyable than I thought it would be. And it's generated the "you rode today" comments that I hadn't heard in a while too, I guess everyone got used to my riding when it was in the 30's and 40's.
#31
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I have a tradition of biking around town here looking at all the decorations on xmas eve, but it seems rainy and warm, so.. postponed till next time.
In summer i don't really have to think about what i'm wearing, shorts and a tshirt..... when it gets colder you gotta figure out which combination will work best, and take any precip into account. I'm simply not into cool and wet, i want freezing cold..... way more fun.
- Andy
In summer i don't really have to think about what i'm wearing, shorts and a tshirt..... when it gets colder you gotta figure out which combination will work best, and take any precip into account. I'm simply not into cool and wet, i want freezing cold..... way more fun.
- Andy
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On Tuesday we had a great time, my wife's brother&wife were in town, so the five of us, the two of them, and the two in-laws, all went for a group ride through the light spectacle. It's nice because there are hundreds of other pedestrians there occupying the road, and the cars go super slow, partly for the pedestrians, and partly because they're there to see the lights too.
My stable was just large enough to accomodate 4 extra adults! It was an adventure because the four of them had not ridden any bikes in years, and I don't think had shifted a bike ever, and we had to go about half a mile up a steepish (3-5pct?) hill to get there. FIL fell twice (but was not injured), we all made it out alive, I was super pumped to get everybody out on bikes together, and that they had fun and didn't hate me for it.
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I'm glad to have inspired so many to keep riding, this year has been easy for me to keep riding as the weather has cooled off and it sounds like it's been that way for others too. I got to work today and heard "I can really see you dressed up like that" as I walked in, and I also realized the only thing that makes people wonder more about people that ride in the cold is seeing the people that ride in the cold start peeling off layers out in the cold because they are too warm.
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I expect your attendance at the winter bike to work day this year:
Winter Bike to Work Day returns Jan. 18 | Active Transportation Alliance
Last year (me and my friend in second photo):
Commuting to work on a bike takes a lot of scarves ? and a lot more creativity, cyclists say
Winter Bike to Work Day returns Jan. 18 | Active Transportation Alliance
Last year (me and my friend in second photo):
Commuting to work on a bike takes a lot of scarves ? and a lot more creativity, cyclists say
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I expect your attendance at the winter bike to work day this year:
Winter Bike to Work Day returns Jan. 18 | Active Transportation Alliance
Last year (me and my friend in second photo):
Commuting to work on a bike takes a lot of scarves ? and a lot more creativity, cyclists say
Winter Bike to Work Day returns Jan. 18 | Active Transportation Alliance
Last year (me and my friend in second photo):
Commuting to work on a bike takes a lot of scarves ? and a lot more creativity, cyclists say
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Biggest drag I've found in the winter commute is changing a flat at 20something F
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When I started commuting in September 2013, I honestly expected to be a fair weather commuter. The first surprise rain shower cured me of that. Then I thought I'd be a warm weather commuter, but three polar vortexes later, I was still going at it. There is something liberating and exhilarating about doing it. I can remember thinking "hey, I'm not so fragile after all!"
And this year I'm better equipped! A new pair of polar shield pants from Foxwear just arrived in the mail today. Now I'm almost hoping for a cold and wet day to try them out
And this year I'm better equipped! A new pair of polar shield pants from Foxwear just arrived in the mail today. Now I'm almost hoping for a cold and wet day to try them out
I commute just outside Memphis in Desoto County and one of the main things that keeps me off the bike is cold rain, just above freezing. I really have no solutions for type of weather.
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@Giant Doofus have you tried those pants yet? Are they Polar Shield, or Power Shield? I don't see pants called "Polar" on the Foxwear website.
I commute just outside Memphis in Desoto County and one of the main things that keeps me off the bike is cold rain, just above freezing. I really have no solutions for type of weather.
I commute just outside Memphis in Desoto County and one of the main things that keeps me off the bike is cold rain, just above freezing. I really have no solutions for type of weather.
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Rain just above freezing is one of the worst conditions. We get a lot of that, too. Ick.
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Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
...walked to Kensington Market where I bought some hopefully waterproof gloves for cold wet rain riding.
#46
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Cold is not bad, wet is not bad, but the two combined are deadly.
Marc
Marc
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I've ridden through many a ice storm. I've had little icecicles on my helmet bill. You get the right gear and you can check off one more challenge from Mother Nature. I use the O2 Rainsheild rain pants and they do a great job of keeping me dry in those conditions. In cold weather for the hands I just use my mittens. In a freezing rain, they're good for about 45 mins or so before they start getting wet inside. If your riding longer than that I suppose you could use a Glacier glove for a liner. I use a gaitor and a toe warmer to cover up as much of my hiking boot as I can. It all works well when riding in icy conditions. That and studded tires. Without those, then forget it.
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@PatrickGSR94 - I tried out the pants for the first time today. It was only 36, and there was no rain and not much wind, so not exactly the conditions I bought them for, but I did like them a lot. The articulated knee is very nice. They are breathable on back and the wind blocking material on front really did seem to make a difference. They also have a reinforced butt, which is nice. So, first impression is good. They kept me toasty warm, but not overheated. I'll post again when I've had a chance to wear them in the windy/rainy conditions I bought them for.
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And then add darkness, and it's what you could call bad weather.
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I had been kind of half looking forward to a little bit of wet/cold weather so I could give the pants a good test. Well, you can put this in the "be careful what you wish for" file. My ride home was six miles of light, steady rain. It was about 38-degrees, so not super cold, but it would have been pretty uncomfortable to ride in with wet pants. The Foxwear pants did great. Kept me warm and completely dry. In more than a drizzle, I've also started using Bogs rain shoes (like these: Bogs Seattle Solid Mid Chocolate - Zappos.com Free Shipping BOTH Ways). They work really well too.