3 ms·

What kind of clothes do you use for rainy and cold/snowy weather conditions? Do you use different equipment (spikes) if it snows or there ice on the road?

by frik 11y ago

analog31 11y ago
I have a similar commute -- 30 minutes each way, in south central Wisconsin. I'm equipped specifically for my commute: For warm weather I ride a venerable old touring-style bike, and carry rain gear in a bag. For winter, I have an old mountain bike with studded tires. There's a lot of athletic clothing available for winter riding, but I just wear a ski jacket and snow pants. If it gets real cold, like below -10F, then I wear a ski helmet and goggles. I'm lucky that I don't sweat a lot. During the summer, I just start from home earlier than usual, and ride slower, so I don't have to take a shower when I arrive. Some kind of layer system can be helpful, because there are months where the temperature changes by 30 degrees from morning to afternoon. Granted it takes some space to have more than one bike, but I have a garage. On the other hand, some folks just keep a second pair of wheels with the studded tires. When buying a bike for commuting, it's good to make sure that there's enough clearance for fenders and wider tires if desired.
jabl 11y ago
I just have a "normal"(?) all-weather biking jacket (gore-tex or some similar material). For pants, I'm not into spandex tights (which seems all the rage these days), so I just have a pair of "out-doorsy" pants of some similar material as the jacket. If it's cold, I just put more layers underneath. For the undermost layer, it's worth to use these "technical" underwear, as you'll freeze like heck once you start sweating if you use cotton underwear. I find that I manage with surprisingly little clothes even if it's cold, the main thing is to be covered up so that the cold outside air doesn't enter from sleeves etc. Aside from that, the most critical for me is shoes and gloves, I easily start freezing my toes even though I'm otherwise Ok. And if it's colder than, say, around -15C, some kind of face mask and glasses are good, otherwise your face freezes. As for equipment, I have winter tires for my bike. I haven't bothered to acquire another pair of wheels, I just change the tires in the autumn and spring. My winter tires aren't any wider than my summer tires, so it gets a bit tedious if there's loose snow on the path. Most of the time it's fine, though. I don't have a separate "winter bike", I use the same bike both summer and winter (a cyclocross/touring kind of thing with drop handlebars etc.).

What kind of clothes do you use for rainy and cold/snowy weather conditions? Do you use different equipment (spikes) if it snows or there ice on the road?

by frik 11y ago

What kind of clothes do you use for rainy and cold/snowy weather conditions? Do you use different equipment (spikes) if it snows or there ice on the road?

analog31 11y ago

I have a similar commute -- 30 minutes each way, in south central Wisconsin. I'm equipped specifically for my commute: For warm weather I ride a venerable old touring-style bike, and carry rain gear in a bag. For winter, I have an old mountain bike with studded tires. There's a lot of athletic clothing available for winter riding, but I just wear a ski jacket and snow pants. If it gets real cold, like below -10F, then I wear a ski helmet and goggles. I'm lucky that I don't sweat a lot. During the summer, I just start from home earlier than usual, and ride slower, so I don't have to take a shower when I arrive. Some kind of layer system can be helpful, because there are months where the temperature changes by 30 degrees from morning to afternoon. Granted it takes some space to have more than one bike, but I have a garage. On the other hand, some folks just keep a second pair of wheels with the studded tires. When buying a bike for commuting, it's good to make sure that there's enough clearance for fenders and wider tires if desired.

jabl 11y ago

I just have a "normal"(?) all-weather biking jacket (gore-tex or some similar material). For pants, I'm not into spandex tights (which seems all the rage these days), so I just have a pair of "out-doorsy" pants of some similar material as the jacket. If it's cold, I just put more layers underneath. For the undermost layer, it's worth to use these "technical" underwear, as you'll freeze like heck once you start sweating if you use cotton underwear. I find that I manage with surprisingly little clothes even if it's cold, the main thing is to be covered up so that the cold outside air doesn't enter from sleeves etc. Aside from that, the most critical for me is shoes and gloves, I easily start freezing my toes even though I'm otherwise Ok. And if it's colder than, say, around -15C, some kind of face mask and glasses are good, otherwise your face freezes. As for equipment, I have winter tires for my bike. I haven't bothered to acquire another pair of wheels, I just change the tires in the autumn and spring. My winter tires aren't any wider than my summer tires, so it gets a bit tedious if there's loose snow on the path. Most of the time it's fine, though. I don't have a separate "winter bike", I use the same bike both summer and winter (a cyclocross/touring kind of thing with drop handlebars etc.).