Bracing for Winter

It will not be my first New England winter, but it will be my first biking winter. Currently the weather is unusually fall-like but I am trying to wrap my head around approaching cold and snow. After some research and talking to people it sounds like I am supposed to buy a lot of stuff until I look like this:

Winterizing

However what I have learned so far in my years of biking is that no matter what I always take the wrong advice and I always buy the wrong stuff.

So I have been very concerned about researching, being cautious, and making the best decision about the right gear for my commute style. I expected a long process ahead of me. I made a trip to the local sports equipment store to review my options starting with gloves. However I discovered that my gear decisions may not be that hard after all.

Sports Gear?

Apparently they don’t expect women to go outdoors until spring.

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50 comments

  • Fritzescu December 8, 2011  

    Hi,
    I bike to work in regular winter clothes (wool, tweed, cachemere or even heavy cotton); I give special attention to keeping my head, hands and feet warm (wool cap, wool socks, winter gloves for bikes).
    But, other than that, no need to over-stuff yourself – i totally subscribe to what was said: ‘You warm up as you ride, just as a car engine does’.
    However your metabolism important – help it, by helping yourself to a larger breakfast than usual (or a more complete one, including fruit especially) . It really matters in winter.
    Have a cup of tea, hot chocolate (i’m sure you’d like that) , or a few spoons of honey at destination. Your throat will thank you 🙂
    Avoid overheating and taking in too much cold air in your lungs of course.
    Note: I’m a guy, from E Europe – Bucharest, Romania.
    Nice blog – a regular read for me, along with Lovely Bycicle (thanks Velouria for recommending this)
    You guys are doing a good job, and showing the better side of the US of A

  • Brian December 8, 2011  

    Definately get the mask. I had a long commute one winter and got frostbite on my nose. Not only was the skin damage very uncomfortable, the fact that the tip of my nose had a red “glow” to it let to the inevitable associations to a certain reindeer given the holiday season.

  • Carl December 8, 2011  

    Now you know how men feel when shopping for shoes. Or clothes. The typical mall has 400 options for women’s clothing and shoes, and 1 sad, lonely and overpriced men’s clothing store. (Adult men, not logo-wearing fratboys.) But in addition to all the other suggestions here, I’d say that any good pair of slim cross-country ski gloves will do the trick in most temperatures.

    The challenge of cold-weather riding (other than not falling on ice) isn’t so much staying warm — it’s keeping from overheating and soaking your clothes. My short ride involves some steep hills and getting there without breaking a sweat is a real challenge.

  • I find it easier to ride in regular clothes in the winter than spring and summer, since i don’t feel like I’m sweating to death. A windbreaker and the winter beard (you weren’t kidding about that, it makes a difference!), are the main additions to my cold-weather riding gear.
    Probably the handiest cold-weather accessory I’ve got is this thing called a Buff. It’s just a tube of slightly stretchy fabric about the size and weight of a bandanna, but it’s thin enough to wear under my helmet and keep my ears covered when it’s cold, and I can reconfigure it like a balaclava if I need to. I got it as a giveaway at a bike race years ago, but I’m pretty sure you can buy them in some shops or online.

    • Phil Miller December 8, 2011  

      I have one made of stretchy fleece, called turtle fur. Also known as a neck gaiter. Great stuff.

  • Dave December 8, 2011  

    Every time I see the word balaclava, I think of baklava, and then I get hungry. I love baklava.

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