Gray Guys/Girls Masters Focus Triathlete Forum (all levels welcome)--CLOSED (Page 21)

Good luck, you are better than I.

Bike commute report - well today it was pretty frigid in the AM.  Around 12F.  But I really wanted to get back into my bike commute routine after a week off.  The trails were clear so it was just the cold to deal with.  I have now figured out everything except my toes and my thumbs.  They were pretty cold by the time I got to work.  The other area that had been an issue was my eyes.  I wear glasses and my regular glasses just don't give enough coverage on the really cold days.  The last time I rode in very low temps it was a BIG issue.  So I ordered some new glasses from a discount online place.  Got some prescription inserts for some goggles where I can change the lenses.  They worked really well although I can tell they are the greatest quality but prescription sunglasses for about $40.  Not bad.   The ride home was better but longer (I get dropped off in the morning nearer work and have to ride all the way home).

I am impressed! Having the right gear makes all the difference though.

Winter Bike Commuting and/or Training

It’s not that hard to do if you are well equipped.  I started bike commuting about four years ago when a major improvement was made to a highway crossing.  I borrowed a friend's bike for a month to see if I would like it.  Loved it.  Bought the bike from her for $50 and still ride it every day.  I get dropped off at a bike trailhead in the morning and my morning commuted is 5.5 miles and all on the bike path.  My evening commute is 9.7 miles and 1/2 bike path, 1/2 roads.  I only have one really busy road section and one really big intersection.  So the road miles are not too stressful.

So here is my setup for winter temps.  Note that I don’t commute in the snow since I have one commuting bike only and don’t have ability to switch to fat tires.  I must admit I probably wouldn’t do any training in temps below 25F but I try to bike commute whenever I can.  I’ll commute in the rain if the weather is warm or it is not night-time.  Night-time commuting in the rain is just not safe given limited visibility of drivers and the raindrops on my glasses.  

Head:  Beanie or balaclava under the helmet.  I wear the balaclava when the temps dip below 40F or so.  I wear a full face mask balaclava for temps below 20F.

Feet #1:  Good shoe covers.  Mine are made out of neoprene.  You don’t have to spend much to find something that works.  I got mine on Amazon (Vaude) for less than $20.

Feet #2:  Wool socks and a thin liner.  I only use the liner when the temps dip below 30F.

Eyes:  I finally gave in and bought some goggles that take a presciption insert.  I can switch out the outer lenses to match conditions.  They look ok w/ the dark lenses but kind of weird with light lenses but they make a big difference in protecting my eyes.  My normal prescription glasses have too small a lenses to be protective.

Hands:  Lobster claw gloves with liner.  I wear both when the temps dip below 40F.  Just the liner below about 50F.

Legs:  Winter weight tights.  I’ll add an extra layer when the temps get below 30F.

Torso:  Depending on temperature up to four layers.  1^st layer = LS silk undershirt, 2^nd layer = LS performance turtleneck, 3^rd layer = wool sweater or fleece vest, 4^th layer = outer jacket.

Lights:  Rear blinkie, front blinkie near tire, front light w/ spare battery.

Rain:  Good outer rain jacket w/ hood that goes over helmet.  Cheap outer rainpants if commuting in rain and cold weather.

Other:  Refective tape on my panniers, safety vest during dark commutes.

Here is the link to the glasses I ordered.  The cost me about $45.  I have a pair of prescription sunglasses but one of the lenses falls out periodically.  This isn't an issue for casual use but I'm afraid that it will happen during a race.  So I'd been thinking about new glasses for some time but prescription sport glasses are really expensive.  I had looked at glasses with the inserts at stores in the past but these seemed really unattractive and still expensive.  I also just didn't know if I would like the how the insert functioned within an outer frame.  After looking online I found a few places that offered these at pretty reasonable prices.  So far I have worn them twice with the yellow lenses.  I can tell that they are not the highest quality -- at least the frames -- but they work fine.  After a year or so, I may splurge for a higher end product.  The retailers that I found that offered sport 'goggles' with inserts were Marvel Optics, Zenni Optical, and Eye Buy Direct.  Make note of the size of the glasses.  The ones I have are small and would not work very well on a guys head.

With respect to prescription swim goggles, I have AquaSphere Eagle Swim Goggle with the Eagle Optics.  I am really happy with these.  I did a review for BT and you can find it here.  Best $$ spent on triathlon gear so far.  The only issue with them --- I need bifocals so can't read my watch.  Haha!  Luckily my pool has a big digital clock to help me keep track of rest periods.

No bike commute again today.  Temps still really low and not enough melting occurred even though there was very little snow.

Melanie.

Thanks for all the info.Your list helps those of us who don't often bike in colder weather. I need to start up again when my foot is finally healed.

I am jealous of your ability to commute and on BIKE TRAILS. There none in my local area, heck, our roads are too narrow for even bike lanes.

I do have a home office so the need to commute is nill, so I can't complain too much. Plus, I live in paradise

Same here.  I would love to be able to commute to work on my bike (although I'm enough of a wuss that I would only do it during nicer weather ).  It would only be about 6-1/2 miles for me but it's all on busier streets.  They are starting to put bike trails in but they don't quite make it as far as my neighborhood yet. 

I haven't tried the neoprene inserts yet.  I just looked them up.  I think I will order a pair!  I didn't know these existed.  Thanks.

Note --- If I didn't have bike trails for most of my commute, I probably wouldn't do it.  Road riding more than a few miles every day just wouldn't be very fun.  So I'm very lucky.  My work also provides a separate parking area for bikes and showers & lockers specifically for bike commuters.  Last year the bike subsidy ($20/month) was started.  The local business district is sponsoring this.  So I get $240/year to spend on bike supplies and gear.  Pretty cool.

WOW, how progressive is that? I have never heard of neoprene toe inserts either. I may have to look into them. My feet get so darn cold.

I wouldn't take a nice bike out on the roads with all the salt that' s out there either!

I am off to an endurance sport symposium that is sponsored by my tri club and a few others.  Speakers include Michellie Jones and Chris Carmichael.  

Hope you had fun at the symposium.  There is one coming our way in March!