2013 Winter Biking: What I Learned Today

So, not trying to take over for the I Rode Today forum, but it's got a million comments, so let's start a Winter Bike thread for this season.

What I learned today, riding from Rogers Park to 5600 West on Belmont, and back, via various side-streets (and then lots of Montrose) and Hopleaf:

When rats are road-killed in this weather, they freeze into little blocks of bloody ice (2800 block of West Montrose).

When I'm cold enough, I will aim for the jets of steamy air coming up from the storm sewers--quite refreshing (1900 block of West Winona).

Biking in the city is a constant learning experience. What'd you learn lately?

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Permalink Reply by Kara B on January 15, 2013 at 6:59am

i am trying to learn not to get too attached to any piece of winter gear, no matter how awesomely breathable or reflective or wickable it may be, because i am probably going to lose it. really not sure what it is about balaclavas or [matching] gloves or arm warmers or extra headbands, but i can't seem to hang on to the dang things for more than a season or two.

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Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on January 15, 2013 at 7:01am

lose it or permanently stain it :))

Kara B said:

i am trying to learn not to get too attached to any piece of winter gear, no matter how awesomely breathable or reflective or wickable it may be, because i am probably going to lose it. really not sure what it is about balaclavas or [matching] gloves or arm warmers or extra headbands, but i can't seem to hang on to the dang things for more than a season or two.

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Permalink Reply by Holly on January 15, 2013 at 7:03am

I learned that I'm not doing anything right this year. Yesterday was miserable for me.

I had on a pair of heavy-ish synthetic bike tights, corduroys pants, a wool sweater with cashmere sweater over that, windrproof jcket, wool socks, winter boots (!!), hat, scarf and ski gloves. My face was too cold and the scarf was too hot so I had to keep adjusting it. My legs were frozen from the knee up. I learned that I need to get a gator and something to keep my legs from feeling like frozen tubes. I think I could have had surgery on my legs and wouldn't have felt it. It wasn't even that cold!

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Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on January 15, 2013 at 7:29am

Hopefully that gator doesn't bite your legs off. :-)

Holly said:

I learned that I need to get a gator and something to keep my legs from feeling like frozen tubes.

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Permalink Reply by Holly on January 15, 2013 at 8:09am

Is it gaitor? I never know. I do know that I lost a perfect one last year around the end of winter riding season. I never replaced it because I didn't need it until yesterday when my face nearly cracked in half. If anyone finds a fugly Trek brand gaitor/gator/gaiter that's olive green very thick fleece with a navy stripe, let me know. I miss it so much.

Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

Hopefully that gator doesn't bite your legs off. :-)

Holly said:

I learned that I need to get a gator and something to keep my legs from feeling like frozen tubes.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 15, 2013 at 8:13am

Wrong kind of gator, perhaps? ;) Maybe gaiters would do the trick, but they're more effective from knees to ankles because that's what they're designed for. Rain pants might also work if you don't work up too much heat and end up getting sweaty.

I've often found that riding at slower speeds in rain pants during colder temps can be a good combination. The rain pants block wind well and create an extra air insulation layer between regular pants/tights and outer shell. Pedaling slower reduces chance of sweating and wind chill factor.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on January 15, 2013 at 8:21am

For the legs, I will preface this by saying that I only ride about 4 miles (see user name). I am of an age so that I still wear nylon stockings every day. That is my base. I then put on a midweight synthetic layer or wool blend layer and then my usual lined wool work slacks. Even early morning yesterday and today, that worked for me. I am not saying that my upper legs were toasty warm, but they were not frozen or even uncomfortable and the little feeling of cold warmed up in the time it took me to get from the entrance to my building up to my office.

Holly said:

I learned that I'm not doing anything right this year. Yesterday was miserable for me.

I had on a pair of heavy-ish synthetic bike tights, corduroys pants, a wool sweater with cashmere sweater over that, windrproof jcket, wool socks, winter boots (!!), hat, scarf and ski gloves. My face was too cold and the scarf was too hot so I had to keep adjusting it. My legs were frozen from the knee up. I learned that I need to get a gator and something to keep my legs from feeling like frozen tubes. I think I could have had surgery on my legs and wouldn't have felt it. It wasn't even that cold!

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Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on January 15, 2013 at 8:26am

I wear thermal bike tights under jeans which serves me well down to 10° F. I have yet to ride in colder temperatures.

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Permalink Reply by Anika on January 15, 2013 at 9:51am

I am loving fleece lined tights this year.

There is a sheet of ice under one of the bridges on the channel trail that you can't see until you round the corner and get taken out.

Apparently it's not too cold for the high schoolers to seriously make out in the grass along the channel trail.

And my favorite thing learned today - there is a beaver living along and cutting down trees on the sculpture trail between Howard and Oakton.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 15, 2013 at 10:03am

There are beavers in more places than you might think: Goose Island, Jackson Park lagoon (Wooded Island), and various river/canal locations. If you see any waterside trees wrapped in chainlink fencing, nearby beavers are the reason.