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Nice first ride in the COLD.

 

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Saturday WAS a beautiful day for a ride--my first in a couple weeks b/c I just don't seem to have any enthusiasm for riding in the cold AND the dark. But more importantly, yesterday's ride gave me the courage to ride downtown to work today--8 miles each way--wahoo! Other than my hands getting unforgivably cold despite trying multiple glove combos among the four pairs I had with me (including a pair bought out of desperation en route), I was amazed at how enjoyable and surprisingly not-cold it was, even at 15-degrees! Sad that it is still technically Bike Fall, though... ; )

judy s said:

Saturday, was a wonderful day in the morning to ride to work because no one was out.  I had the roads to myself.  Watching the sun come up while riding is always an amazing thing to see, more so in the winter.  The late afternoon ride home wasn't an easy one.  Riding in the dark while all the people are out frantically driving, and not watching where they are going.  I had two older ladies turn right, right in front of me, almost knocking me out of the way.  I live in the burbs and don't see alot of people out on their bikes in the winter.  But boy in the summer they are all dressed in their best biking clothes and looking cool.

Hi, I am really glad to hear your luck with these.  My hands are now my only bad part, and I have tried way too may combinations of gloves/liners....none work for me.  How do you find them?  I can't think of an Army Surplus store anywhere by me.  Can you get them online?  How about Ebay or something like that.  My only other thought would be a Google search to try and find a store somewhere close.  Thanks for the tip.  The price is right; what is one more try in hope something works.  I also do volunteer work, much of which is outside, and my hands are always cold, painful and numb.  Thanks again.

David606xx said:

I'll say it over and over again--Army Surplus Sniper Mittens beat the hell out of any glove on the market.  On the worst days you can double them up and be absolutely bulletproof.  They're only about $6.00 a pair, so you've always got some fresh from the dryer and they're wool, so they work wet or dry.  A dude I know who served in Afghanistan tells me that the leather shell they're often sold with actually makes them less warm, somehow, though.

Boiled wool mittens are hard to beat (made by some company in Austria, I think - gray rag color, usually, and thickly felted). More than $6 but still cheap. They have to fit your hands well to be comfy but if you get them wet you can mold them to your hand a bit. I use them in real cold with waterproof covers. Lately though I've just been using the thicker Seirus gloves that look like neoprene, and getting tolerably cold but not really comfortable hands.

We got our early January deep freeze 3 weeks early this year.

Bike Winter starts when most people put their bikes away, it doesn't only exist when we're in the midst of a blizzard.

If you made it this far, you're golden.


Nancy Easton said:

Saturday WAS a beautiful day for a ride--my first in a couple weeks b/c I just don't seem to have any enthusiasm for riding in the cold AND the dark. But more importantly, yesterday's ride gave me the courage to ride downtown to work today--8 miles each way--wahoo! Other than my hands getting unforgivably cold despite trying multiple glove combos among the four pairs I had with me (including a pair bought out of desperation en route), I was amazed at how enjoyable and surprisingly not-cold it was, even at 15-degrees! Sad that it is still technically Bike Fall, though... ; )

judy s said:

Saturday, was a wonderful day in the morning to ride to work because no one was out.  I had the roads to myself.  Watching the sun come up while riding is always an amazing thing to see, more so in the winter.  The late afternoon ride home wasn't an easy one.  Riding in the dark while all the people are out frantically driving, and not watching where they are going.  I had two older ladies turn right, right in front of me, almost knocking me out of the way.  I live in the burbs and don't see alot of people out on their bikes in the winter.  But boy in the summer they are all dressed in their best biking clothes and looking cool.

Air pockets between layers, and the ability to wiggle fingers and toes are key.

 

I can't exactly tell what road you're going down here, but stuffing an inadequate pair of gloves with more layers of glove to the point where you can't freely wiggle your fingers is guaranteed failure.

 

Glenn said:

Hi, I am really glad to hear your luck with these.  My hands are now my only bad part, and I have tried way too may combinations of gloves/liners....none work for me.  How do you find them?  I can't think of an Army Surplus store anywhere by me.  Can you get them online?  How about Ebay or something like that.  My only other thought would be a Google search to try and find a store somewhere close.  Thanks for the tip.  The price is right; what is one more try in hope something works.  I also do volunteer work, much of which is outside, and my hands are always cold, painful and numb.  Thanks again.

David606xx said:

I'll say it over and over again--Army Surplus Sniper Mittens beat the hell out of any glove on the market.  On the worst days you can double them up and be absolutely bulletproof.  They're only about $6.00 a pair, so you've always got some fresh from the dryer and they're wool, so they work wet or dry.  A dude I know who served in Afghanistan tells me that the leather shell they're often sold with actually makes them less warm, somehow, though.

Light traffic, cars and bikes, today; holiday week.

The ride to work today was really nice- not too cold, no wind, and very light traffic along Lincoln and Wells due to the holiday coming up.  I heard it will snow later on my way back home- Woo Hoo! 8 miles each way is sometimes a challenge in the cold, but as long as the roads are clear of ice, it's hasn't been too bad this year.

It was a nice bike day today, I agree with Melanie, not much wind and lighter traffic. Relaxing.

H3N3- Glad to hear that if what we just biked through these last few days we're golden for the winter. I've been biking almost every day, so I guess the rest of winter will be about the same.

Hi, no actually, it is just that I have tried quite a few brands.  I really never would overstuff a glove or mitten, as I know about air space and "wiggle room" very well.  I do have one pair of index finger mittens that worked tonight while shoveling the snow..they have promise.  Plenty of room inside as well.  I did order a pair or two of the Army Surplus sniper mitten liners online, and they are on the way.  I will let you know how it works out.  So you know why I am having so much trouble, I have had Raynaud's disease for a great number of years.  With it, your extremities get cold very fast.  This year I found the perfect pair of slip on boots that keep me completly warm...hands/fingers are the last point of pain.  Thanks for all of your help.

H3N3 said:

Air pockets between layers, and the ability to wiggle fingers and toes are key.

 

I can't exactly tell what road you're going down here, but stuffing an inadequate pair of gloves with more layers of glove to the point where you can't freely wiggle your fingers is guaranteed failure.

 

Glenn said:

Hi, I am really glad to hear your luck with these.  My hands are now my only bad part, and I have tried way too may combinations of gloves/liners....none work for me.  How do you find them?  I can't think of an Army Surplus store anywhere by me.  Can you get them online?  How about Ebay or something like that.  My only other thought would be a Google search to try and find a store somewhere close.  Thanks for the tip.  The price is right; what is one more try in hope something works.  I also do volunteer work, much of which is outside, and my hands are always cold, painful and numb.  Thanks again.

David606xx said:

I'll say it over and over again--Army Surplus Sniper Mittens beat the hell out of any glove on the market.  On the worst days you can double them up and be absolutely bulletproof.  They're only about $6.00 a pair, so you've always got some fresh from the dryer and they're wool, so they work wet or dry.  A dude I know who served in Afghanistan tells me that the leather shell they're often sold with actually makes them less warm, somehow, though.

This looks like it's gonna be an interesting ride home at 1030/11 pm from downtown. Woot! ;-)

The chemical warmers might be an option for you.  I used to think that those were too wasteful as I'm not outside for 8 hours at a time. Last year, someone told me that you just put them in an air tight container (like a ziplock bag), and then you should be able to get 3 or 4 bike rides out of a pair.

 



Glenn said:

Hi, no actually, it is just that I have tried quite a few brands.  I really never would overstuff a glove or mitten, as I know about air space and "wiggle room" very well.  I do have one pair of index finger mittens that worked tonight while shoveling the snow..they have promise.  Plenty of room inside as well.  I did order a pair or two of the Army Surplus sniper mitten liners online, and they are on the way.  I will let you know how it works out.  So you know why I am having so much trouble, I have had Raynaud's disease for a great number of years.  With it, your extremities get cold very fast.  This year I found the perfect pair of slip on boots that keep me completly warm...hands/fingers are the last point of pain.  Thanks for all of your help.

Started riding from the loop around 830 and just arrived to Little Village around 15 minutes ago. Such an epic/intense ride! Hope you make it home safely! 

Gabe said:

This looks like it's gonna be an interesting ride home at 1030/11 pm from downtown. Woot! ;-)

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