Winter Cycling

I remember doing a 4.5hour ride last february. It was 20 degrees F and windy. Not the most pleasant conditions for a road ride. I guess I was just out there convincing myself that it would be worth it to get in the miles. I had to remove my gloves on every climb, otherwise my hands would sweat and latter freeze. That is always the case when it is cold out.

This winter I am not going too crazy with those long freezing rides. Maybe I will take up xc skiing if it's not too expensive.

I heard one method is to stuff hot-potatoes in the gloves to keep the fingers from freezing. I may even take a hot water bottle with me for emergencies.

velomanct said:

I remember doing a 4.5hour ride last february. It was 20 degrees F and windy. Not the most pleasant conditions for a road ride. I guess I was just out there convincing myself that it would be worth it to get in the miles. I had to remove my gloves on every climb, otherwise my hands would sweat and latter freeze. That is always the case when it is cold out.

This winter I am not going too crazy with those long freezing rides. Maybe I will take up xc skiing if it's not too expensive.

you can purchase little gel packets that heat up when you twist them (or whatever). you can get them from outdoor type shops (camping, mountaineering etc).

additionally, some decent winter gloves such as e.g., Goretex with a thermal layer inside and maybe a thin glove liner will help. I suffer badly with Raynaud's in the winter, but with the appropriate clothing can ride in temps down to about 0oC

ric

Cheers for the advice. There's a camping shop in my town so I'll ask about the products. Last year I rode without gloves and it was a lousy experience.

ric_stern/RST said:

you can purchase little gel packets that heat up when you twist them (or whatever). you can get them from outdoor type shops (camping, mountaineering etc).

additionally, some decent winter gloves such as e.g., Goretex with a thermal layer inside and maybe a thin glove liner will help. I suffer badly with Raynaud's in the winter, but with the appropriate clothing can ride in temps down to about 0oC

ric

We`re lucky because we have just one our to the coast so when there is snow and temperatures below 0 (32F) we`re training in the coastal region at the weekends, u-23 team even from thursday to sunday every second week! We`re not riding outside when temperatures are below 0! It`s not good for the lungs and it`s not so important! You can go to the trainer or running, fitness twice a week, gym, ..!

Indurain doesn`t need to ride all the time, I`m sure he was doing that first couple of seasons after retirement, but not anymore! All biggest teams are usualy in the Mediterranean in the winter, USPS in Cali, Australians at home...where is warm enough to ride comfortably and healthy..

Привет!
The weather in the U.K. is lousy so I'll be forced to ride over Winter regardless. Where Indurain lives in northern Spain, yes, it's colder than London sometimes. I'm still amazed he takes Winter off, though, and does nothing at all.

Virenque said:

We`re lucky because we have just one our to the coast so when there is snow and temperatures below 0 (32F) we`re training in the coastal region at the weekends, u-23 team even from thursday to sunday every second week! We`re not riding outside when temperatures are below 0! It`s not good for the lungs and it`s not so important! You can go to the trainer or running, fitness twice a week, gym, ..!

Indurain doesn`t need to ride all the time, I`m sure he was doing that first couple of seasons after retirement, but not anymore! All biggest teams are usualy in the Mediterranean in the winter, USPS in Cali, Australians at home...where is warm enough to ride comfortably and healthy..

Eh..why would he? He doesn`t need to and I think he had enough riding in cold and rain over his career! I`m sure he has many other things to do🙂

Hi - The tip about goretex gloves is a good one. I would also recommend investing in a pair of tights that include a wind barrier. You can get them for less than $100 and it is money well spent if you do any riding in seriously cold weather. As for your torso, layering is the key. I like to wear a turtle neck (made of something that wicks sweat, not cotton) and a fleece vest under a very light weight gortex running jacket.

My biggest problem is keeping my feet warm. I use good old duct tape to cover the vents in my shoes and that helps some.

[font='Times New Roman']One final thought. It is hard to go out on those cold windy days, but the since of accomplishment that comes from beating the elements is really neat. [/font]
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ric_stern/RST said:

you can purchase little gel packets that heat up when you twist them (or whatever). you can get them from outdoor type shops (camping, mountaineering etc).

additionally, some decent winter gloves such as e.g., Goretex with a thermal layer inside and maybe a thin glove liner will help. I suffer badly with Raynaud's in the winter, but with the appropriate clothing can ride in temps down to about 0oC

ric

I don't know. I was stunned that I'm doing more cycling at 40 than big Mig. The interview will make interesting reading as well as it's quite a few pages long.
I recall that the undoing of Miguel Indurain was the very rainy weather of his last tour. Apparently he doesn't function in cold weather and likes to ride in the heat.

Virenque said:

Eh..why would he? He doesn`t need to and I think he had enough riding in cold and rain over his career! I`m sure he has many other things to do🙂

Carrera said:

I don't know. I was stunned that I'm doing more cycling at 40 than big Mig. The interview will make interesting reading as well as it's quite a few pages long.
I recall that the undoing of Miguel Indurain was the very rainy weather of his last tour. Apparently he doesn't function in cold weather and likes to ride in the heat.

You cold weather guys are crazy! I'll take 100 degree temps any day of the week over 0F.

I'll be going 5 days a week all winter long - of course Austin, TX doesn't get too cold. Leg warmers and arm warmers - that's all I know.

Current temp - -2C (yeah, not that cold, but colder than it gets in a lot of places...)

Current conditions - snowy. 5 inches down, three or more coming next 24h

Current location - at my desk, wishing I was out bombing through the snow.

People talk about cold weather cycling like it's some sort of hellish experience akin to being beaten with bats or having your naughty bits waxed. Fact is, with proper preparation and equipment, it's some of the most fulfilling riding I do during the year. I've biked comfortably down to -25C, and uncomfortably down to -35C. -25 is beautiful - it's pure, it's clean, you're not in a car crawling along, your coworkers gaze at you with awe (I think it's awe). You show up at the office refreshed and ready to go.

I've never been to northern Spain. Maybe it drops below -25C. Maybe Miguel Indurain has a point. Personally, I figure we should all ride whenever the hell we want to and not ride for whatever reasons we cook up. But if I was him, and had hills to climb, and temps that never went below freezing, man, I'd be out there every freaking day.

Cold hands? Buy mitts, not gloves. Gloves aren't great when it gets really snappy. Mitts keep your hands warm down to -30C or so. Below that, you're getting cold hands no matter what.

We're likely to keep this snow until April. Until then, I'll be damned if I'll den up in the living room on a trainer like a damn gopher waiting for the pitiful sliver of time we call summer here in the frozen north. Ride, dammit! Ride all the time!

O.K, rant mode off.

D.A.D.

Dark Alley Dan said:

Current temp - -2C (yeah, not that cold, but colder than it gets in a lot of places...)

Current conditions - snowy. 5 inches down, three or more coming next 24h

Current location - at my desk, wishing I was out bombing through the snow.

People talk about cold weather cycling like it's some sort of hellish experience akin to being beaten with bats or having your naughty bits waxed. Fact is, with proper preparation and equipment, it's some of the most fulfilling riding I do during the year. I've biked comfortably down to -25C, and uncomfortably down to -35C. -25 is beautiful - it's pure, it's clean, you're not in a car crawling along, your coworkers gaze at you with awe (I think it's awe). You show up at the office refreshed and ready to go.

I've never been to northern Spain. Maybe it drops below -25C. Maybe Miguel Indurain has a point. Personally, I figure we should all ride whenever the hell we want to and not ride for whatever reasons we cook up. But if I was him, and had hills to climb, and temps that never went below freezing, man, I'd be out there every freaking day.

Cold hands? Buy mitts, not gloves. Gloves aren't great when it gets really snappy. Mitts keep your hands warm down to -30C or so. Below that, you're getting cold hands no matter what.

We're likely to keep this snow until April. Until then, I'll be damned if I'll den up in the living room on a trainer like a damn gopher waiting for the pitiful sliver of time we call summer here in the frozen north. Ride, dammit! Ride all the time!

O.K, rant mode off.

D.A.D.

Props to you - you guys are hardcore.

"there is no bad weather, just bad clothing"
Ok so its the dead of winter, 0 degrees f and 20mph wind. Do you need to be
wearing full spandex? Is it going to make you that much faster or flashier or
whatever? I wore a gortex mountaineering jacket, heavy sking gloves, thick gortex socks with spd shoes that were a size too big. Oh yeah, rainpants too. I live in Pittsburgh which has a pretty brutal winter... I rode at least 30 miles a day 5 days a week last winter. ...
I honestly think people believe if they have on their 110 dollar campy bib tights it will make them warm. WRONG.

steevo said:

"there is no bad weather, just bad clothing"
Ok so its the dead of winter, 0 degrees f and 20mph wind. Do you need to be
wearing full spandex? Is it going to make you that much faster or flashier or
whatever? I wore a gortex mountaineering jacket, heavy sking gloves, thick gortex socks with spd shoes that were a size too big. Oh yeah, rainpants too. I live in Pittsburgh which has a pretty brutal winter... I rode at least 30 miles a day 5 days a week last winter. ...
I honestly think people believe if they have on their 110 dollar campy bib tights it will make them warm. WRONG.

Amen, Brother Steevo. Preach!

"But if I was him, and had hills to climb, and temps that never went below freezing, man, I'd be out there every freaking day."

Hills? Absolutely, they're everywhere in northern Spain. Near where I lived you have Moncayo with the snowy peaks. Outside of Pamplona there are mountains. I camped up there once. My bet is that's how Indurain got so good - the terrain and his genetics. Back then I wasn't into cycling so I guess I missed out but I'm hoping to head back to northern Spain to try out some real mountain climbing.

One thing's for sure. The weather in the U.K. is enough to [censored] anyone off.

Dark Alley Dan said:

Current temp - -2C (yeah, not that cold, but colder than it gets in a lot of places...)

Current conditions - snowy. 5 inches down, three or more coming next 24h

Current location - at my desk, wishing I was out bombing through the snow.

People talk about cold weather cycling like it's some sort of hellish experience akin to being beaten with bats or having your naughty bits waxed. Fact is, with proper preparation and equipment, it's some of the most fulfilling riding I do during the year. I've biked comfortably down to -25C, and uncomfortably down to -35C. -25 is beautiful - it's pure, it's clean, you're not in a car crawling along, your coworkers gaze at you with awe (I think it's awe). You show up at the office refreshed and ready to go.

I've never been to northern Spain. Maybe it drops below -25C. Maybe Miguel Indurain has a point. Personally, I figure we should all ride whenever the hell we want to and not ride for whatever reasons we cook up. But if I was him, and had hills to climb, and temps that never went below freezing, man, I'd be out there every freaking day.

Cold hands? Buy mitts, not gloves. Gloves aren't great when it gets really snappy. Mitts keep your hands warm down to -30C or so. Below that, you're getting cold hands no matter what.

We're likely to keep this snow until April. Until then, I'll be damned if I'll den up in the living room on a trainer like a damn gopher waiting for the pitiful sliver of time we call summer here in the frozen north. Ride, dammit! Ride all the time!

O.K, rant mode off.

D.A.D.

I see none of you have asthma. I'm sure as hell not going to go out and ride when it's cold. No thanks. There is nothing quite as much fun as having your lungs seize up from breathing in cold air.

Just bought a CycleOps Fluid 2 to remedy the problem. Boring? Perhaps. Cold? Nope. A nice cumfy room temperature. Besides, my favorite programs are on in the evenings when I'll be riding so I'll get to kill two birds with one stone. Intervals will be done during the commercials. 😄

Carrera said:

I don't know. I was stunned that I'm doing more cycling at 40 than big Mig.

i'm not sure what you don't understand... but the man has *retired*. lets say you retire from teaching, ok? now, how often do you go to school/college/uni/whatever to teach compared to non-retired teachers? you might go in once or twice a year, if they're short of staff, you enjoyed teaching and they need a relief teacher. right?

ric

I have the opposite problem - chronic hayfever in Summer. So, I'm forced to ride where there are lots of trees and plants - no other option.
Winter cold may also cause me some problems as I had a serious chest infection some years ago and this left me with a persistant cough. Still, I guess I'll be doing Winter rides regardless but I guess it's high time I purchased myself some proper cycling clothing (waterproofs and gloves).
Another point is I'm not a car driver (and don't want to be for that matter). Everywhere I go, I go by bike. Last year I had to cycle to work at 5.00 a.m. in freezing conditions and remember bursting into the canteen and sticking my hands right under the hot water tap to thaw them out.

Doctor Morbius said:

I see none of you have asthma. I'm sure as hell not going to go out and ride when it's cold. No thanks. There is nothing quite as much fun as having your lungs seize up from breathing in cold air.

Just bought a CycleOps Fluid 2 to remedy the problem. Boring? Perhaps. Cold? Nope. A nice cumfy room temperature. Besides, my favorite programs are on in the evenings when I'll be riding so I'll get to kill two birds with one stone. Intervals will be done during the commercials. 😄

Doctor Morbius said:

I see none of you have asthma. I'm sure as hell not going to go out and ride when it's cold. No thanks. There is nothing quite as much fun as having your lungs seize up from breathing in cold air.

Exactly!!! My lungs seize up just walking down the street in the cold weather, I can't imagine what would happen if I were cycling.

Even if I did not have asthma though, I'm not sure I could cope with the winter cycling and I live in Canada! I think I'd rather have my naughty bits waxed as someone put it....😉

I am a new cyclist, just started over the summer, and now the days are incredibly short, and COLD! It's about 7 degrees C here now, which the hardcore types will think is nothing, but with the sky a dark mercury colour, and the rain spitting out here and there...I can't think of anything less apetizing than going on a ride. 🙁

I need a motivational coach or something!