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:
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.
Apparently they don’t expect women to go outdoors until spring.
And I wish that face masks came in a color besides *black*!
Some tips from Minneapolis (we’re expecting a high of 3 F this weekend).
1. A baklava–with goggles for very cold /rain/snow (ski goggles work great)
2. Mittens, not gloves. Individual fingers don’t generate enough heat by themselves.
3. Warm boots/two sock layers (one wicking)
4. Don’t worry much about the body–pay attention to feet, hands, and head. (way too many layers)
5. Studded tires are worth the price (at least where there is a fair amount of ice/snow.
I don’t understand bike-specific winter clothing (for commuting; it makes sense for training). I REALLY don’t understand “lobster gloves.” Are your hands actually more useful than with regular mittens? I will sing the virtues of a ski helmet over a regular bike helmet. People prop their summer bike helmets on top of so many hats and balaclavas that I wonder whether they would still work as intended in a fall (and all of my falls have been in winter, usually because DCR scoffs at the idea of keeping the SW Corridor ice-free). A ski helmet has the insulation built in, and works perfectly with ski goggles, which are a delight to use on the coldest and windiest days.