So last week I attened the cold weather cycling class at REI.
My one complaint was that they kept saying 'if you have a long commute...' but they never defined what they meant by a long commute. [Usually in reference to needing better lights, packing handwarmers, etc.]
I don't think of my commute as being overly long (it's abt 24 miles total...12 each way), at least in the summer time. But I imagine that what constitutes a 'long' commute changes with the shorter hours and colder weather.
So what would be the shortest 'long' winter commute?
I would say anything farther than you'd want to walk, for example in case of a breakdown. In my case about a mile or so. Or to put it another way, the distance where your counting on your bike and if something happens to it ... its bad news.
I do around 10 a day and it can really feel like 20 when there is heavy snow or bitter cold wind.
During the blizzard last year I actually almost didn't make it through the park.
I don't really know the context, but for reference, my commute is 25-50 minutes each way and I don't think that's "long". But in any case, if you go out in cold weather (on a bike, skis, or in a car) you should have a plan for what you're going to do if you need to sit in one place for an hour. My own plans involve layers, cellphones, taxis, friends, and rack-and-roll.
I think my soon-to-end job at FedEx in Moon would qualify. See this thread for the historical details.
I did it at least partway by bike three times last winter before a broken street ended my bike riding for about three months. It was about 17 miles each way. I ended up riding the whole distance at least one way maybe 10 times, maybe 10 more with a bus getting me as far as Ikea. Climbing FedEx hill or even Hookstown Grade Rd was workout enough.
I guess I can be proud of having biked there more times than I drove there.
Equipment: Fenders, mudflaps, ear protection, helmet heat loss protection, redundant blinkies rear, redundant lights front, protection from slop, really good treads front and rear, thermal undies, two layers of hand protection (including protection from wind). Most importantly, at least one change of clothes and dry dress shoes at work. Niceties are some way to wash and dry off socks in 8 hours, someplace to change that's close to the entrance door, and a lock that won't freeze. Actually, on winter days I didn't even bother with the lock.
At home, someplace inside to hose off the bike of salt and road crap, and similarly someplace to change into home clothing, at least to get you as far as the shower.
How's that for starters?
Add this to the existing definition: "Stu (n) - glutton for punishment."
Just to 2nd something that Stu mentioned:
Do invest in a pair of glove liners (I like the silk ones, ~$12). When you have to fiddle with metal parts in freezing weather, you absolutely want something that protects your skin. You do not want to have your fingers sticking to your bike.
I believe the threshold for short/long commutes is when the warmth you received from home has worn off - where all your gear is at room temperature - and you must contend with the elements; wholly provide the warmth you need to safely commute when your gear is at the prevailing ambient air temperature.
I'm going through a reassessment of this because of my new commute. I used to have a 20 minute skip over to the Strip from the Southside. Now, I have to slog up to Greentree. I'm already adding layers from the ~30F mornings up Noblestown. Shoe covers already - when I didn't need them until the midteens before -, midweight wool base layer, fleece gloves and a tossy cap.
My commute is 10 miles each way now.
Just numbers: The typical winter trip was about 100 minutes. Even the Ikea-to-FedEx trip, though only 15 to 20, featured an eyeball-freezing, earlobe-shattering plummet down to cross the Montour Trail. Or whatever the wind chill would be on a 10-degree morning, flying past IHOP at 30 mph. Not just cold but ccccold.
OK, I am feeling like a really big wimp right about now!
This year marks my first attempt at winter bike commuting. I've been patting myself on the back this week for riding 6 miles each way in the chill and drizzle. I've already broken out the base layers.
Holy cow, Mary, don't use Stu as a guage, he's a "hors categorie" commuter. Whatever you're doing is great.
I did a 40 mile round trip commute a few years ago. That distance officially sucks, particularly given our topography.
My clothing philosophy is that I should be cold for the first bit of the ride. That allows me to reach a comfortable temp by the time I reach the office, rather than being a sweaty mess under many layers. Over 20 hilly miles, however, I did end up feeling pretty cold and miserable at various points due to ascents followed by descents.
Thanks for the advice, guys.
I tend to over-bundle. I do it when XC skiing, too, mostly because I really, really hate to be cold.
@Mary- I do it too. I'm starting to learn though that too many layers makes me too hot by the time I'm at the end of my street and I'm scaling back.
For extra craziness I've been adding a cold blast to the end of my showers to help me acclimate to the cold. It works, I swear. It does take some time though.
For extra craziness I've been adding a cold blast to the end of my showers to help me acclimate to the cold. It works, I swear. It does take some time though.
Ooohkay.
Helmet covers, layers with full length zippers, and pit zips are all great ways to regulate the temperature while you're riding.
Another thing - wraparound eye protection so you don't tear up on cold descents and hit something.
I like to keep feet, calves, hands and sinuses warm, everything else (well, almost everything) I try to keep cold. I still sweat though.
@Lyle- you could just roll your eyes at the computer screen like everyone else 
Also doing it to help get ready for polar plunges, you know when it get cold enough.
Y'all are making me feel like a coward; I haven't biked in to the office in a full week now. I guess I should toughen up and give it a try. Anybody know if REI is going to be offering a second session of that winter biking course?
@tabby Also doing it to help get ready for polar plunges, you know when it get cold enough.
Will you really do the polar thing?
I went swimming in Yough reservoir on Oct 30. I'm vaguely preparing for a cold water distance swim.
The Triathletes, even with their wetsuits, seems to ahve given up the river swims. 
I was surprised when I voted and the poll workers were all "You're biking in this cold?" I'm not sure what I will do if it gets cold this year, but it sure hasn't yet.
yeah, I totally will. I won't bike to/from any polar bear plunges though. That would be nuts.
@Tabby
That would be nuts.
Right
Last year I bought one of those merino wool winter hats from Spokepunchers. I layer that underneath a balaclava. It makes for a really snug but breathable head covering. Before that, I had just been using the balaclava by itself for keeping my ears/head/face warm, and I found that cold air would often creep in and freeze my ears. Other than that, I really just have a merino wool sweater that I wear over a t-shirt (it's the kind with a turtleneck that unzips, good for heat regulation), a pair of heavy gloves, and jeans or corduroy pants. It has to be pretty darn cold for me to wear more than that, but I think using as much wool as possible gives you a really wide range of temperatures you can be comfortable riding in.
No matter what you do I can't recommend having eye protection enough, it's the single most important accessory. I got a pair of ski goggles, not the huge blocky kind, but the kind that look like swimming goggles. There's nothing worse than having snow or sleet hit your eyeballs, even at slow speeds.
Link to those hats at spokepunchers: http://spokepunchers.com/hats/
you totally can though, I just can't. I know my limits.
Having done the polar plunge 3 times, with the first having an air temp of 16, it was not too bad. Then most uncomfortable was the year it was raining- those cold raindrops were much more uncomfortable than jumping in and immediately climbing out of the river. I recommend it to anyone if for no other reason than the notoriety of having done it.
Jamesk, just do it! A hat under your hard lid and some heavier gloves were all that was necessary so far. As with many things, it is the anticip..................ation that is much worse than the actual experience. In other words, getting out the door is the hardest part.
@ whoever asked about the rei thing. lol
YES there is one on November 4th. I went and I thought it was really helpful.
This week marked the first day of many where I put on an extra pair of pants, haha.
My commute is only 6 miles one way, but it's mostly downhill, and the wind is KILLER.
REI winter cycling basics course, December 2nd from 7pm to 8pm at Settler's Ridge -- http://www.rei.com/event/13192/session/16254 -- I just registered and there are still 38 spots left.
im such and idiot, yesterday WAS november 4th. I can't believe how time flies.
glad there's one at Settlers Ridge!
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Fine - this is an old thread, but revived...
my view some things missed :
- your bike -
-internal brakes (coaster brakes, drum brakes), or maybe disks (haven't tried them in cold and snow). Ice and snow doesn't effect their stopping capabilities. REALLY a bad thing if you use rim brakes and the rims are iced over.
-depending on distance and terrain, crusers are great for this.
- for deep winter - Studded tires. There are some sold the market - i just looked and the pricing is *stupid*.
- You can make your own. take an old tire of the right size for your bike, cut off the bead (the part that holds the tire on the rim) this becomes a liner. Take a tire you don't care a lot about, and a bunch of sheet metal screws. Drive the screws through the "don't care" tire (points out). Place the tire without the bead inside of the now spiked tire - this keeps the screw heads from puncturing your tube. Install and inflate.
- you -
- forget shoe covers and plastic bags and such for your feet. Gor-Tex and Thinsulate. Get shoes/boots that have both of these. The Gor-tex keeps your feet dry, the Thinsulate keeps them warm (more grams = more insulation). Hiking/hunting boots will be taller (up to mid calf if your really serious, but even a 4" boot comes up over your ankles.
- mitten gloves are great above about 10 or so. They are mitten covers over fingerless gloves - often made from wool. Gor-Tex and Thinsulate are good here too.
-Fairings - these help by keeping the wind off. (
- for *REALLY* cold temps - you want something like a scarf/muffler wrapped around your mouth and nose, to 'pre-warm' the air.
When Cycling in the winter - things to remember :
- as invisible as you may be/feel in summer - you DO NOT EXIST in winter. No driver expects to see, nor looks for a bicycle when there is snow on the ground.
- If something, fingers, toes, nose etc, starts to go numb from cold - it is time to find a coffee shop (or something) to get warmed up.
- no matter what the driver thinks (this includes YOU) no one can stop when they need too if there is snow and/or ice on the road. Don't expect cars to be able to stop.
if your fingers are dry, you do not have to worry about bare fingers 'sticking' to bare metal above about 20 degrees F.
---
I've been out, on a bike, commuting in air temps as low as -22 F, with wind chills reaching - 50 F. And yes there are minus signs in front of both of those numbers.
@BTDT "You can make your own."
Well know secret with pictures.
http://thickbikes.com/blog/?p=173
http://thickbikes.com/blog/?p=187
http://thickbikes.com/blog/?p=205
http://thickbikes.com/blog/?p=258
" for *REALLY* cold temps - you want something like a scarf/muffler wrapped around your mouth and nose, to 'pre-warm' the air"
You gotta be very careful with it. I used to live at places where normal day temperature is -25-30C -- (with some occasions to -35-37C) and winter is 120-140 days. And sometimes you can get frost bites even worse than you have mouth and nose open. one of the best solutions, IMHO, would be something like this:
Most my friends living in Siberia and biking during winter (mostly MTB rides in Tayga or crossing lake Baikal) prefer full mask helmet with a special cup under and huge goggles. According to them it provides better protection from wind while leaving enough space for vapors to escape (the problem with scarf around mouth and nose). But again this is about extreme and may be not applicable in normal life. Not a lot of people live in places where temperature stays to -37-42C and it's considered as a decent (not very cold).
Let's not go crazy. We basically skipped last winter, remember? This is one of the few benefits of global warming. It would be really surprising to get anything below -10 F here.
From a design blog:
