BURN FAT FAST - Winter Bicycling Does It

jbuch said:

Skiers don't even think of skiing until it is cold enough to snow or
make snow.

how would they ski if there wasn't any snow?

jbuch said:

Sports in the Winter:

Its summer here.

gtoomey

I went bicycling yesterday in about 20F weather...but pretty different from
what is described below! I was wearing jeans and long underwear, shirt,
wool sweater, socks with tennis shoes, polar fleece jacket, waterproof
jacket, gloves, scarf, hat, and ear-covers. No helmet (no one in Holland
wears them except for children of other expats), and I was COLD. It wasn't
raining, but it was pretty windy.

Sort of a different sport from what I picture to be "cool" bicyclists as
you've described. Of course, on my trip I got on a giant Dutch bike and
took all of the glass and paper recycling to the center in our neighborhood.
There was nothing remotely cool about what I was doing - or how I looked
while doing it. 🙂 I could probably take some of the advice you've given
to help stay warm while letting sweat out, which sounds like it would be
much more comfortable than what I always do.

S t a c i

"jbuch" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Sports in the Winter:

Most bicyclists are warm weather wimps. They hang their bikes up in the
Fall.

A growing number of bikers like to extend their bicycling through the
winter, and don't like to spend a lot of money on expensive bicycling
bibs, expensive bike jerseys, expensive bike shoes, expensive .....
fashionable clothing of all sorts.

You can stay warm outdoors in the winter for not too much money.

Runners run through the winter in all states in the USA and further
north. These runners don't run to feel cold.... they have learned to
dress to stay warm and dry. The biggest problem is to get rid of sweat
(perspiration) and not soak the clothes through, which will make you cold.

Skiers don't even think of skiing until it is cold enough to snow or
make snow. They have clothes that are designed to keep them warm.
Skiers need to stay warm not only when actively skiing (easy, you are
burning up calories like a small stove), but for those rides up the
mountain in cold ski lift chairs. That is when you get cold, when you
are just sitting.

LINKS TO INFORMATION

Here are some links to winter sports clothing, including bicycling...

Fairbanks Alaska Cycling Club [GOOD]
http://www.fairbankscycleclub.org/Winter/

A Forum on Winter Bicycling [GOOD]
http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?forumid=53

http://www.bicyclinglife.com/Recreation/wintercycling.htm

Recreational Equipment Incorporated REI

http://www.rei.com/online/store/LearnShareDetailArticlesList?categoryId=Cycling&url=rei/learn/cycle/howbclothf.jsp&vcat=REI_EXPERT_ADVICE_CYCLING

Quoted message said:

http://www.rei.com/online/rei/learn/noDetail.jsp?URL=rei/learn/crosstrain/howclothesf.jsp#outdoor

Quoted message said:

CyclingSite.com
http://www.cyclingsite.com/lists_articles/weatherization.htm

Team Estrogen - a women's bicycling store.... (expensive)
http://www.teamestrogen.com/winterclothing.asp

http://www.allweathersports.com/winter/winter.html

Bicycling Federation of Wisconson - "Loving Winter"
http://www.bfw.org/new_bfw/articles/lovingwinter.php

http://www.bikeline.com/feature/Winter%20Clothing/winter%20clothing.htm

http://www.bikewinter.org/main.php
http://www.bikewinter.org/tipsAndResources/ginstips.php

Utah Winter Mountain Biking [GOOD]
http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/goodies/winter.htm

Some Chit Chat on bicycling newsgroups about winter bicycling

Top 100 Reasons To Ride In The WINTER
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=62294

Women's Tights Recommendations
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=75490

One Windbreaker To Rule Them All
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=78095

Let's Bike All Year Long
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=78327

NEED MOMMY... How To Dress?
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=38601

FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS For Winter Biking
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=75618

-----------------------------------------------

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

anyone who knows, please refer me to a site that gives
>> comprehensive reviews about cycling cloths.

Quoted message said:

www.icebike.com

For cycling related information on cold weather gear, this is the best
source.

------------------------------

Certainly, as someone who skied in New England for many years, I don't
understand the fuss people make about winter cycling. We commonly skied

all

Quoted message said:

day in conditions much colder than the worst winter ride, and those rides
are usually only a couple of hours.

My bike club has seen a striking increase in the popularity of winter
cycling. We have a Saturday morning ride that just celebrated a 400 week
unbroken streak. The coldest ride was -1F last year. Saturday's ride was
the coldest so far this year, 18F at the start. We had ~70 riders. We were
led out by Mark McCormack, pro cyclist, winner 2003 USPro road race
championships & NE cyclecross champion -- clearly a guy comfortable riding
in the cold. We split into several groups, the fastest averaging over 20
mph on a rolling course.

At the post-ride party, I got the attendance award (as I have every year).
I remember back at the start of this series when the common wisdom was
hanging up the bikes for the winter. Being a newbie, and ex-skier, I

didn't

Quoted message said:

get it, so I just kept riding; over time, more & more people have been
joining in, discovering that it's really a lot of fun. I think the
challenge of figuring out how to dress for the variety of winter

conditions

Quoted message said:

makes it more interesting.

-----------------

If you have the right gear it isn't that difficult to be comfortable
riding in the winter. In the past 25 years that I've been riding
through the winter the improvement in winter clothing for cycling has
been amazing. My 6 mile ride into work today in 12F weather was
comfortable, and I believe pretty much any cyclist who would do the
same ride with the same gear would agree. It's no big deal. I'll
agree with other posters that your road speed is lower in the winter
for similar effort, but you can be comfortable.

Madison, WI USA

-----------------------

Quoted message said:

I commute all year round by bike, but I worry about icy conditions.

Quoted message said:

--

Have you tried the Nokian Hakkepeliitta studded tyre? It is very good
on ice. More rolling resistance than a slick high pressure tyre but
this "feature" will help keep you warm in the winter .

------------------------------

I've considered it, but it's not worth it. It is hardly ever icy here -
once or twice a year - and the roads are well gritted. On my commute we
are literally talking about dismounting and walking for thirty feet in
order to avoid the risk of a fall.

-------------------------

Quoted message said:

OTOH, it seems like I read somewhere that optimal body performance

happens

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

somewhere in the mid fifties.

I've heard that runners do best with the temperature in the mid 50s
and high humidity. In other words, a cool misty day.

------------------------------

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I have been too cold to ride more than about 1.5 hr (normally I like
to ride 2-3 hrs). The weather is only about mid 50's, but a 20 mph
wind chill just makes me want to come in after an hour or so. What is
the best way to dress for this?

Lotta layers, with polypro base, wool and/or fleece for air trapping
insulation and a shell for wind blocking. I was out last night with the
Bicycle Club of Philadelphia for the annual Christmas lights ride. The

ride

Quoted message said:

was 15 miles at an avg rolling speed of 8 mph - so no opportunity to build
up heat.I was comfy in a poly pro base layer, light wool sweater, 200

fleece

Quoted message said:

jacket, cheap nylon vest with mesh sides and back, Smartwool cap, gortex
gloves with silk liners and wool socks. I added a smartwool gaiter for

ride

Quoted message said:

home after supper. Temps were in the 20's and I was toasty. If it had

been

Quoted message said:

cooler, I'd add polypro long underwear under my nylon zip offs.

Philadelphia, PA

------------

Begin by covering your head.

I use a 'balaclava', a cheap but effective substitue for which is a
painter's 'Spray Sock' (about 3 bucks).

Next is a shower cap (hotel type) which are as thin a a sandwich bag,
weigh less than a feather, and cost about 1 buck for 6 of them. This
can be used to cover the airholes in your helmet or put over the
balaclava.

After this I put a large sheet of paper, cut from a grocery store sack,
in front of my chest, under my outermost garment.

These few, _CHEAP_, tricks will make a LOT of difference to your
comfort level.

-----------------------

I read here the suggestion of wearing a shower cap over a helmet in the
rain. I would like to now report my experience in trying this, for the
benefit of all who have considered it. There are three factors:

1. Effectiveness in keeping head dry. It performed marvelously. I have a
cheap helmet with only a few vents, so rain leaking in wasn't a huge
problem, but it was still noticeably drier to use the shower cap. I could
also put the shower cap over the seat while it was sitting on the bike

rack

Quoted message said:

on the bus (elastic kept it on, even at freeway speeds) or when walking

the

Quoted message said:

bike, and keep the seat dry as well.

2. Noise. I didn't expect this. At about 30 mph the thing started to flap
noisily. At 35 mph + the thing was going thwappa-thwappa-thwappa so loud

all

Quoted message said:

normal auditory cues were completely obliterated. I do not recommend

wearing

Quoted message said:

a shower cap if you have a lot of steep hills to descend for safety

reasons.

Quoted message said:

3. Dweeb factor. You gotta admit, wearing a shower cap in public, even for

a

Quoted message said:

good reason, makes you look totally ridiculous. I don't mind looking

totally

Quoted message said:

ridiculous, so I was able to cope. However, when I got to my children's
school, I took it off. It's one thing for me to humiliate myself, another

to

Quoted message said:

humiliate my children. They still think it is cool to have mom meet them

at

Quoted message said:

school on the bike. It might be another thing to have mom meet them at
school on a bike wearing a shower cap.

Conclusion: considering that ...
a. I got the shower cap free with my night at the Ramada Inn
b. its weight and size is negligible
... I think that keeping it in my bike bag is worth it for those rainy-day
commuter trips.

-----------------

S t a c i said:

I went bicycling yesterday in about 20F weather...but pretty different from
what is described below! I was wearing jeans and long underwear, shirt,
wool sweater, socks with tennis shoes, polar fleece jacket, waterproof
jacket, gloves, scarf, hat, and ear-covers. No helmet (no one in Holland
wears them except for children of other expats), and I was COLD. It wasn't
raining, but it was pretty windy.

Sort of a different sport from what I picture to be "cool" bicyclists as
you've described. Of course, on my trip I got on a giant Dutch bike and
took all of the glass and paper recycling to the center in our neighborhood.
There was nothing remotely cool about what I was doing - or how I looked
while doing it. 🙂 I could probably take some of the advice you've given
to help stay warm while letting sweat out, which sounds like it would be
much more comfortable than what I always do.

S t a c i

With jeans and long underwear, your legs would likely get cold in a good
breeze, and that would cool off the whole body.

I was ridng at about 22 F yesterday with long underwear and cotton cord
pants --- looked nice, but it was borderline cold when the wind kicked
up to gusts of 25 MPH. Oh, light long underwear, fleece shirt and
windproof shell with the armpit zippers open for ventilation.

I used to poke fun at these "armpit zips". Then I finally got a
snowboarder "fashion" coat cheap which had these zippers. I was sold on
the importance the first time I unzipped those zippers after getting a
little warm riding. No more poking fun at this formerly foolish style.

My mistake on the cord pamts, I misread the thermometer before I left,
and was too lazy to have gotten into some better pants, of which I have
several. Good synthetic underwear, middle weight or even light weight,
( polyester or polypropylene , NOT cotton) would have done well under
good windpants, for example.

There are lots of expensive "cool" biking outfits one can buy, but not
all of us can afford them. I have read of some very nice biking tights
for $200 USD........ but most of us can't afford that expensive way of
dressing.

Construction workers work outdoors through the winter, and none of them
have expensive "work outfits" of custom made, high fashion, work clothes.

Winter runners, cross country skiers, snow shoers, ice fishermen....
most often buy affordable clothing to enjoy the outdoors and stay warm.

For the last few years, I have worn athletic shoes and WOOL socks with
no problems for the feet. This year, I am using my old hiking boots
(waterproofed with "snowseal"😉and wool socks. Warmer feet and much
better crunching of the snow.

It is amazing what you can find in the discount clothing stores.

Hope that the information in the links helps you stay warm, and stay fit.

Jim

Quoted message said:

"jbuch" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Sports in the Winter:

Most bicyclists are warm weather wimps. They hang their bikes up in the
Fall.

A growing number of bikers like to extend their bicycling through the
winter, and don't like to spend a lot of money on expensive bicycling
bibs, expensive bike jerseys, expensive bike shoes, expensive .....
fashionable clothing of all sorts.

You can stay warm outdoors in the winter for not too much money.

Runners run through the winter in all states in the USA and further
north. These runners don't run to feel cold.... they have learned to
dress to stay warm and dry. The biggest problem is to get rid of sweat
(perspiration) and not soak the clothes through, which will make you cold.

Skiers don't even think of skiing until it is cold enough to snow or
make snow. They have clothes that are designed to keep them warm.
Skiers need to stay warm not only when actively skiing (easy, you are
burning up calories like a small stove), but for those rides up the
mountain in cold ski lift chairs. That is when you get cold, when you
are just sitting.

LINKS TO INFORMATION

Here are some links to winter sports clothing, including bicycling...

Fairbanks Alaska Cycling Club [GOOD]
http://www.fairbankscycleclub.org/Winter/

A Forum on Winter Bicycling [GOOD]
http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?forumid=53

http://www.bicyclinglife.com/Recreation/wintercycling.htm

Recreational Equipment Incorporated REI

http://www.rei.com/online/store/LearnShareDetailArticlesList?categoryId=Cycling&url=rei/learn/cycle/howbclothf.jsp&vcat=REI_EXPERT_ADVICE_CYCLING

http://www.rei.com/online/rei/learn/noDetail.jsp?URL=rei/learn/crosstrain/howclothesf.jsp#outdoor

Quoted message said:

CyclingSite.com
http://www.cyclingsite.com/lists_articles/weatherization.htm

Team Estrogen - a women's bicycling store.... (expensive)
http://www.teamestrogen.com/winterclothing.asp

http://www.allweathersports.com/winter/winter.html

Bicycling Federation of Wisconson - "Loving Winter"
http://www.bfw.org/new_bfw/articles/lovingwinter.php

http://www.bikeline.com/feature/Winter%20Clothing/winter%20clothing.htm

http://www.bikewinter.org/main.php
http://www.bikewinter.org/tipsAndResources/ginstips.php

Utah Winter Mountain Biking [GOOD]
http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/goodies/winter.htm

Some Chit Chat on bicycling newsgroups about winter bicycling

Top 100 Reasons To Ride In The WINTER
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=62294

Women's Tights Recommendations
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=75490

One Windbreaker To Rule Them All
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=78095

Let's Bike All Year Long
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=78327

NEED MOMMY... How To Dress?
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=38601

FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS For Winter Biking
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=75618

-----------------------------------------------

Quoted message said:

>anyone who knows, please refer me to a site that gives
>>> comprehensive reviews about cycling cloths.

>
> www.icebike.com

For cycling related information on cold weather gear, this is the best
source.

------------------------------

Certainly, as someone who skied in New England for many years, I don't
understand the fuss people make about winter cycling. We commonly skied

all

Quoted message said:

day in conditions much colder than the worst winter ride, and those rides
are usually only a couple of hours.

My bike club has seen a striking increase in the popularity of winter
cycling. We have a Saturday morning ride that just celebrated a 400 week
unbroken streak. The coldest ride was -1F last year. Saturday's ride was
the coldest so far this year, 18F at the start. We had ~70 riders. We were
led out by Mark McCormack, pro cyclist, winner 2003 USPro road race
championships & NE cyclecross champion -- clearly a guy comfortable riding
in the cold. We split into several groups, the fastest averaging over 20
mph on a rolling course.

At the post-ride party, I got the attendance award (as I have every year).
I remember back at the start of this series when the common wisdom was
hanging up the bikes for the winter. Being a newbie, and ex-skier, I

didn't

Quoted message said:

get it, so I just kept riding; over time, more & more people have been
joining in, discovering that it's really a lot of fun. I think the
challenge of figuring out how to dress for the variety of winter

conditions

Quoted message said:

makes it more interesting.

-----------------

If you have the right gear it isn't that difficult to be comfortable
riding in the winter. In the past 25 years that I've been riding
through the winter the improvement in winter clothing for cycling has
been amazing. My 6 mile ride into work today in 12F weather was
comfortable, and I believe pretty much any cyclist who would do the
same ride with the same gear would agree. It's no big deal. I'll
agree with other posters that your road speed is lower in the winter
for similar effort, but you can be comfortable.

Madison, WI USA

-----------------------

Quoted message said:

I commute all year round by bike, but I worry about icy conditions.
> --

Have you tried the Nokian Hakkepeliitta studded tyre? It is very good
on ice. More rolling resistance than a slick high pressure tyre but
this "feature" will help keep you warm in the winter .

------------------------------

I've considered it, but it's not worth it. It is hardly ever icy here -
once or twice a year - and the roads are well gritted. On my commute we
are literally talking about dismounting and walking for thirty feet in
order to avoid the risk of a fall.

-------------------------

Quoted message said:

OTOH, it seems like I read somewhere that optimal body performance

happens

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>somewhere in the mid fifties.

I've heard that runners do best with the temperature in the mid 50s
and high humidity. In other words, a cool misty day.

------------------------------

Quoted message said:

> I have been too cold to ride more than about 1.5 hr (normally I like
> to ride 2-3 hrs). The weather is only about mid 50's, but a 20 mph
> wind chill just makes me want to come in after an hour or so. What is
> the best way to dress for this?

Lotta layers, with polypro base, wool and/or fleece for air trapping
insulation and a shell for wind blocking. I was out last night with the
Bicycle Club of Philadelphia for the annual Christmas lights ride. The

ride

Quoted message said:

was 15 miles at an avg rolling speed of 8 mph - so no opportunity to build
up heat.I was comfy in a poly pro base layer, light wool sweater, 200

fleece

Quoted message said:

jacket, cheap nylon vest with mesh sides and back, Smartwool cap, gortex
gloves with silk liners and wool socks. I added a smartwool gaiter for

ride

Quoted message said:

home after supper. Temps were in the 20's and I was toasty. If it had

been

Quoted message said:

cooler, I'd add polypro long underwear under my nylon zip offs.

Philadelphia, PA

------------

Begin by covering your head.

I use a 'balaclava', a cheap but effective substitue for which is a
painter's 'Spray Sock' (about 3 bucks).

Next is a shower cap (hotel type) which are as thin a a sandwich bag,
weigh less than a feather, and cost about 1 buck for 6 of them. This
can be used to cover the airholes in your helmet or put over the
balaclava.

After this I put a large sheet of paper, cut from a grocery store sack,
in front of my chest, under my outermost garment.

These few, _CHEAP_, tricks will make a LOT of difference to your
comfort level.

-----------------------

I read here the suggestion of wearing a shower cap over a helmet in the
rain. I would like to now report my experience in trying this, for the
benefit of all who have considered it. There are three factors:

1. Effectiveness in keeping head dry. It performed marvelously. I have a
cheap helmet with only a few vents, so rain leaking in wasn't a huge
problem, but it was still noticeably drier to use the shower cap. I could
also put the shower cap over the seat while it was sitting on the bike

rack

Quoted message said:

on the bus (elastic kept it on, even at freeway speeds) or when walking

the

Quoted message said:

bike, and keep the seat dry as well.

2. Noise. I didn't expect this. At about 30 mph the thing started to flap
noisily. At 35 mph + the thing was going thwappa-thwappa-thwappa so loud

all

Quoted message said:

normal auditory cues were completely obliterated. I do not recommend

wearing

Quoted message said:

a shower cap if you have a lot of steep hills to descend for safety

reasons.

Quoted message said:

3. Dweeb factor. You gotta admit, wearing a shower cap in public, even for

a

Quoted message said:

good reason, makes you look totally ridiculous. I don't mind looking

totally

Quoted message said:

ridiculous, so I was able to cope. However, when I got to my children's
school, I took it off. It's one thing for me to humiliate myself, another

to

Quoted message said:

humiliate my children. They still think it is cool to have mom meet them

at

Quoted message said:

school on the bike. It might be another thing to have mom meet them at
school on a bike wearing a shower cap.

Conclusion: considering that ...
a. I got the shower cap free with my night at the Ramada Inn
b. its weight and size is negligible
... I think that keeping it in my bike bag is worth it for those rainy-day
commuter trips.

-----------------

--
................................

Keepsake gift for young girls.
Unique and personal one-of-a-kind.
Builds strong minds 12 ways.
Guaranteed satisfaction
- courteous money back
- keep bonus gifts

http://www.alicebook.com

S t a c i said:

I went bicycling yesterday in about 20F weather...but pretty different
from
what is described below! I was wearing jeans and long underwear, shirt,
wool sweater, socks with tennis shoes, polar fleece jacket, waterproof
jacket, gloves, scarf, hat, and ear-covers. No helmet (no one in Holland
wears them except for children of other expats), and I was COLD. It
wasn't
raining, but it was pretty windy.

Sort of a different sport from what I picture to be "cool" bicyclists as
you've described. Of course, on my trip I got on a giant Dutch bike and
took all of the glass and paper recycling to the center in our
neighborhood.
There was nothing remotely cool about what I was doing - or how I looked
while doing it. 🙂 I could probably take some of the advice you've
given
to help stay warm while letting sweat out, which sounds like it would be
much more comfortable than what I always do.

S t a c i

I just went this morning. It was about 20F out and I rode in the dark the
entire time. Even though my feet had three pairs of socks on them, a pair
of shoes, toe booties, and regular booties, they are still cold two hours
after the ride. My hands, with one thick liner and lobster gloves were
also cold. My body, with 4 layers on both top and bottom and three layers
(not including helmet, which has a plastic bag taped around it to cover
the holes AND a goretex cover) on my head was cold during about the first
1/3 of my ride, as it's mainly downhill. I finally start to sweat when I
get to the last 1/3 of my ride, which is all uphill.

--
Bob in CT

You ride too slow.

--

Eat less, exercise more. -- MFW

--
"Bob Mauri" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

S t a c i said:

I went bicycling yesterday in about 20F weather...but pretty different
from
what is described below! I was wearing jeans and long underwear, shirt,
wool sweater, socks with tennis shoes, polar fleece jacket, waterproof
jacket, gloves, scarf, hat, and ear-covers. No helmet (no one in Holland
wears them except for children of other expats), and I was COLD. It
wasn't
raining, but it was pretty windy.

Sort of a different sport from what I picture to be "cool" bicyclists as
you've described. Of course, on my trip I got on a giant Dutch bike and
took all of the glass and paper recycling to the center in our
neighborhood.
There was nothing remotely cool about what I was doing - or how I looked
while doing it. 🙂 I could probably take some of the advice you've
given
to help stay warm while letting sweat out, which sounds like it would be
much more comfortable than what I always do.

S t a c i

I just went this morning. It was about 20F out and I rode in the dark the
entire time. Even though my feet had three pairs of socks on them, a pair
of shoes, toe booties, and regular booties, they are still cold two hours
after the ride. My hands, with one thick liner and lobster gloves were
also cold. My body, with 4 layers on both top and bottom and three layers
(not including helmet, which has a plastic bag taped around it to cover
the holes AND a goretex cover) on my head was cold during about the first
1/3 of my ride, as it's mainly downhill. I finally start to sweat when I
get to the last 1/3 of my ride, which is all uphill.

--
Bob in CT

On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 14:43:39 GMT, JC Der Koenig <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

You ride too slow.

Actually, when I'm going downhill, I'm maxing out the speed of the bike.
I can't go faster without putting on a bigger front chainring. When going
uphill, my HR is near maximum. Additionally, it just snowed here. Even
if I could put a bigger chainring on my bike (which is easy to do), I'm
not sure that I want to risk falling at 40+ mph on a dark road at 5am in
the morning at below freezing temperatures on a relatively untraveled road
(at that time). All it takes is one raised icy patch (I have studded
tires, so flat ice is no problem) or debris in the road, and I'll be
down. Furthermore, while I ride with a 10W headlight, this light output
isn't great for high speeds. I also have a 20W bulb, so I could hit it
(or have 30W total), but then the riding time plummets. I have over 2
hours with 10W but less than an hour with 30W. Also, any debris, like
bottles, tree branches, etc., are harder to see the faster you go.

--
Bob in CT

Those are all good points.

If you could find a way to hit some uphills sooner it would help in keeping
you warmer throughout the ride.

--

Eat less, exercise more. -- MFW

--
"Bob Mauri" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 14:43:39 GMT, JC Der Koenig <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

You ride too slow.

Actually, when I'm going downhill, I'm maxing out the speed of the bike.
I can't go faster without putting on a bigger front chainring. When going
uphill, my HR is near maximum. Additionally, it just snowed here. Even
if I could put a bigger chainring on my bike (which is easy to do), I'm
not sure that I want to risk falling at 40+ mph on a dark road at 5am in
the morning at below freezing temperatures on a relatively untraveled road
(at that time). All it takes is one raised icy patch (I have studded
tires, so flat ice is no problem) or debris in the road, and I'll be
down. Furthermore, while I ride with a 10W headlight, this light output
isn't great for high speeds. I also have a 20W bulb, so I could hit it
(or have 30W total), but then the riding time plummets. I have over 2
hours with 10W but less than an hour with 30W. Also, any debris, like
bottles, tree branches, etc., are harder to see the faster you go.

--
Bob in CT

Bob Mauri said:

I just went this morning. It was about 20F out and I rode in the dark
the entire time. Even though my feet had three pairs of socks on them,
a pair of shoes, toe booties, and regular booties, they are still cold
two hours after the ride. My hands, with one thick liner and lobster
gloves were also cold. My body, with 4 layers on both top and bottom
and three layers (not including helmet, which has a plastic bag taped
around it to cover the holes AND a goretex cover) on my head was cold
during about the first 1/3 of my ride, as it's mainly downhill. I
finally start to sweat when I get to the last 1/3 of my ride, which is
all uphill.

If your shoes aren't oversized, then three pairs of socks will likely
cause your feet to be cold because there isn't enough room for the
socks, your feet, and warm blood to flow into your feet. Compressed sox
aren't as warm ..... much like down insulation is warm until you
collapse it from tight outer clothing.

Insulation is trapped dead air inside the clothing layers.

Also, if you are riding with those metal pedal attachments, the metal is
a grand way to suck heat right through the thin sole of a biking shoe.

I used to use regular athletic shoes and wool socks - worked ok. Now I
use old hiking boots with wool sox. Even warmer.

If you don't have your feet get real cold when walking, then there is
something about your foot clothing situation that is likely to cause the
feet to be cold.

All the biking sites appear to recommend 3 layers as adequate for even
subzero (F) weather.

Constructin workmen, Highway workmen, cross country skiers, runners, ice
fishermen, snow mobilers ,,,,,,, are able to enjoy the outdoors without
freezing.

Since you are a 4 layer guy at 20 F, there is likely to be something
about the 4 layers that contributes to your discomfort. Perhaps is it
sweating the insulation, perhaps tight compressed ineffective layers,
perhaps something else.

However, you could be one of those extra cold people, in which case you
would be cold just walking or otherwise being outdoors.

Can you stand the outdoor cold under any conditions? Other than being in
a warm car?

If you can just walk in the clothes (with warm walking shoes or boots)
and be comfortable, then you have a clue as to the nature of the problem.

Bob Mauri said:

I just went this morning. It was about 20F out and I rode in the dark
the entire time. Even though my feet had three pairs of socks on them,
a pair of shoes, toe booties, and regular booties, they are still cold
two hours after the ride.

I went this morning too. A cool 73 degrees when I started, of course
had to get back home by 9:00 cause it was heating up too much.

Xtile said:

Bob Mauri said:

I just went this morning. It was about 20F out and I rode in the dark
the entire time. Even though my feet had three pairs of socks on
them, a pair of shoes, toe booties, and regular booties, they are
still cold two hours after the ride.

I went this morning too. A cool 73 degrees when I started, of course
had to get back home by 9:00 cause it was heating up too much.

Are you in AZ? I lived there for 15 years. I couldn't take it after a
while -- every day was hot and sunny.

--
Bob in CT

Bob M said:

Xtile said:

Bob Mauri said:

I just went this morning. It was about 20F out and I rode in the
dark the entire time. Even though my feet had three pairs of socks
on them, a pair of shoes, toe booties, and regular booties, they
are still cold two hours after the ride.

I went this morning too. A cool 73 degrees when I started, of course
had to get back home by 9:00 cause it was heating up too much.

Are you in AZ? I lived there for 15 years. I couldn't take it after a
while -- every day was hot and sunny.

Thailand, outside of Bangkok.....even worse! ;>😉

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Skiers don't even think of skiing until it is cold enough to snow or
make snow.

how would they ski if there wasn't any snow?

Why rollerskis of course....

http://www.xcskiworld.com/training/rollerguide.htm

Rob