Cold weather gear

[gopherhockey]

This is the first year that I've really been actively biking after temps drop below 40. I'm loving it! However.. I could always use your tips on what kind of gear you use to keep warm out there.

My feet, for example, get cold WAY too fast. I have the Pearl Izumi towster booties which help, and often put in some small feet warmers. I see that a few companies make shoes just for winter riding that do not require messing around with these shoe covers - does anyone have experience with these?

Anything else anyone uses to keep warm?

[gopherhockey]

Thats a good point. I find myself shoving larger socks into my shoes then they are so tight they hurt. I finally figured out that sticking with my smaller socks wasn't really too much colder if I put foot warmers in with them - but it would be nice to have thicker socks and/or 2 layers in there.

Gee.. not sure they make shoes one size larger than I already wear! :p

[bikergirl]

I also find that duck taping the vents of shoes helps a lot. It cuts the wind without have to wear pesky shoe covers that make it hard to clip in and clip out. Also, at REI we sell Smartwool socks for biking - still thin enough to wear with riding shoes, but have a high wool content to keep the feet warm.

Kristin

[BrightYellow]

When the weather starts getting really cold, I use a Balaclava, like the one at REI:

http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=2324&parent_category_rn=5227673

Otherwise I wear a little beanie like this one:

http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=10812978&parent_category_rn=5227673

White Lightning doesn't work so well below freezing...

[pwpatton]

I like wearing "wiki'ing" ski socks and full over the shoe booties. Keep my feet completely warm to well under 30 degrees. My biggest problem is my ears so I recently got a Baclava and that seemed help alot. My only problem now is keeping my eyes from watering... I thought about wearing ski goggles but opted to leave them at home for fear of looking stupid. :)

[gopherhockey]

Hey, you aren't alone in the ski goggles thing. Actually I started to look at my snowboard helmet and goggles and thought it might make for nice winter biking gear. Those vents made to cool a person's head down are doing just the opposite these days :cool:

Perhaps the helmet wasn't built for the same sport, but it almost seems the ski helmets are built stronger than mountain bike helmets.

Hmmm... yea, it might look crazy but... sure would be nice not to have to have my eyes freeze shut on the downhills any longer.

[BrightYellow]

Funny you should mention that. I was looking at getting a Giro Nine.9 for snowboarding, so I thought I would ask Giro what they thought about using it for winter mtb riding. Here is their response:

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

Dear Don,

We do not recommend using the same helmet for both sports. I guess it is possible but there's a safety issue that you need to be aware of. The Nine.9 is not tested to bike standards. Therefore it may not be as safe if you were to have an accident on your bike. It is tested to snowboarding and skiing standards. Just so you know.

Sincerely,
Jason
Customer Service

-----Original Message-----
From: Don Dornfeld
Sent: Tuesday, December 10, 2002 9:28 AM
To: feedback@giro.com
Subject: Giro Nine.9 - Okay for winter mtb riding?


I'm thinking of hooking up a Nine.9 for snowboarding. I want to know what Giro thinks about using it for winter mtb riding. Would there be any problems?

Thanks,

-Don

[gopherhockey]

Interesting! The design of the Nine.9 appears much stronger than my E2 or any other bike helmet... I wonder just what differences there really are, or if that was a CYA type of response.

I mean... hit a tree on skiis at full speed, or hit a tree on a mountain bike at same speed. Almost seems like the same potential for impact... not that the sports are the same, but it seems as thought the speeds involved and the hazards seem almost identical.

Hmmm... interesting though, thanks for posting that!

[MNbiker]

Originally posted by gopherhockey
I see that a few companies make shoes just for winter riding that do not require messing around with these shoe covers - does anyone have experience with these?

Anything else anyone uses to keep warm?

I have a pair of Lake MXZ300 shoes that are headed into their 3rd Winter. They're very well made, water resistant & pretty warm. They're good to about 10 degrees F for me, without any shoe covers. For colder weather, I add a pair of Pearl Izumi Typhoon booties, which are probably the best winter booties out there. Expect to pay >$150 for the Lakes, but they ARE very nice.

http://www.lakecycling.com/mxz_300.html

General rule for shoes - wear shoes AT LEAST 2-3 sizes larger than normal during the winter. You need space for thicker socks and any tight spots WILL get cold.

Balaclavas are invaluable, and are small enough to be tucked away almost anywhere. I have several - a light lycra one, a Windstopper one and a full-face one that covers my nose & mouth.

Layering is the best way to go, as you can more easily adjust things, if you get too hot. DON"T wear GoreTex or other breathable waterproof fabrics, if you can help it. They get clogged up in cold weather, and you'll get wet from sweating. Breathable knit fabics are best. Zippers are your friend! Most of my base layer shirts also have zippers, as it's a great way to regulate body heat as you get warmed up.

Cheap helmet insulating trick - Saran makes these cool (read cheap) elasticized plastic wrap covers for putting over plates & bowls. The large size is a perfect rainproof, windproof cover for helmets. They also tuck away most anywhere.

Mycoal Toe Warmers & hand warmers (available at Menard's or almost anywhere) are great to have along, in case you get chilled or caught out in exceptional cold weather. They are for one-time use. I've used the toe warmers stuck to the bottom of my socks in very cold weather (-28 degrees F), and my feet stayed toasty. The hand warmers are good to tuck in you armpits or elsewhere to get re-warmed, if you catch a chill.

Here's a link to lots of winter cycling info from some crazies I know up North.

http://www.enteract.com/~icebike/


--Steve

[Don Youngdahl]

Most people know about layering clothes, avoiding cotton, and using a shirt made of good synthetic wicking fabric against your skin. The many brands of synthetic are sometimes generically called "polypropylene" (polypro for short), but I have found that all fabrics are not equal in wicking effectiveness.

The original polypro (Lifa is the best known brand) is the most effective for wicking sweat from your body, but it has some other drawbacks: a bit scratchy like wool, odor retention, not dryer friendly, etc. The successor fabrics, (polyesters) are more comfortable for lounging around, odor resistant, dryer friendly, etc, but they are less effective in the main function many of us wear them for - to wick away sweat in hard cold weather workouts.

To confirm this, try a couple of tests. Do a hard workout where you work up a good sweat in cold weather, and check your layers of clothes. The genuine polypro next to your skin will likely be dryer that the outer layers you are wearing. Then try the same workout with a polyester shirt next to your skin, and compare the difference.

Another test is to check the dampness of your duds when you take them out of the washing machine. You'll find that the genuine polypro will be drier than all the rest.

Don Youngdahl

[Crash]

For moisture transfer, I have found that the Pearl Izumi Ultrasensor tank is one of the best products out there.
http://www.pearlizumi.com/pearlizumi/catalog/product.asp?iProductTypeID=1&iProductTypeSubID=14&iProductID=1986&iProductColorsTB=3675

It is light weight and does a great job of keeping you dry. I even wear one in the summer under a jersey.:D

[gopherhockey]

Originally posted by dennis porter
The best for cold feet (believe me I know due to frost bitten feet numerous times) is Lake Winter shoes and those charcoal heat packs.

Anyone know how the Sidi Storm or the Gaerne Polar Winter MTB shoes stack up against the Lake brand? I'm having a hard time finding a Lake in my size (extra huge feet). I see the Gaerne won a Velonews award this December and looks interesting. I have heard conflicting reports on the Sidi shoe (but it looks cool hehe)

[MNbiker]

Originally posted by gopherhockey
Anyone know how the Sidi Storm or the Gaerne Polar Winter MTB shoes stack up against the Lake brand? I'm having a hard time finding a Lake in my size (extra huge feet). I see the Gaerne won a Velonews award this December and looks interesting. I have heard conflicting reports on the Sidi shoe (but it looks cool hehe)

The Sidi's aren't as good as the Lakes (don't insulate as well, not as waterproof). I don't know much about the Gaerne's.

-Steve