WINTER BIKE COMMUTING - WHAT TO WEAR.

Another long holiday weekend, so it's a good time to write about a subject I deal with all winter long.

Before my first winter of commuting by bike, I remember that my biggest hesitation about giving up my car was "what if it's just too cold to ride?". I have learned that with the right winter clothing, cold weather is almost never an excuse not to ride... even in northern Vermont.

My descriptions of my clothing/gear below are all generic - I haven't called out any of the brands or models I use. Don't worry about brand or models - if you outfit yourself with stuff that matches the basics descriptions below, you will be fine.

From top to bottom...

Bicycle Helmet: I have a bike helmet with a quick-adjust headband and rain cover. I bought a complete kit that included "plugs" to fill in the ventilation holes - but I have never found the need to use those. The rain cover keeps the wind out, and I wear a hat underneath (see below) when the temps are 40 degrees F or below. I HIGHLY recommend getting a helmet with a rain cover. I also recommend finding a helmet that has an easily adjustable headband, so that you can quickly adjust for no hat, thin hat, or thick hat.

Hat: I have three in rotation. One is a regular thin-medium-weight winter hat. The other two are balaclava style hats (one thin/silky, one medium-weight) that cover the entire head except my eyes (and nose if I choose). None of them are cotton. You shouldn't be wearing ANY cotton.

Glasses/Goggles: I wear sunglasses in warmer weather, but I don't wear anything over my eyes once the cold weather sets in. Everything just fogs up immediately. I keep thinking about trying ski goggles, but haven't tried that yet - they may resist fogging better than regular sunglasses. They would also provide complete protection for my face (in combo with the balaclava) on extremely cold days.

Upper Body - Under Layers: NO COTTON! Everything I wear is synthetic or wool blends that are designed to wick moisture from my skin and keep me dry. One of the tricky things about biking in extreme cold is the delicate balance between too hot (from exertion combined with overbundling) and too cold (from being wet and/or underdressed). It can happen so quickly, and it can be a matter of just one layer too much or too little. So, dress in layers, and always have an extra layer with you in case you get chilled. I typically wear a polypro t-shirt, followed by a medium-weight long-sleeved polypro thermal underwear with a zip-up collar. Depending on the weather, I add a fleece vest, and then another one or two long-sleeved fleece shirts. If it's a really cold day, and I'm wearing ALL of this, I have to get it on quickly and get outside before I roast!

Upper Body - Outer Layer: To be comfortable in the winter, you must have a breathable, waterproof shell. This will probably be the most expensive part of your wardrobe. Don't get anything too complicated... your warmth is coming from the layers underneath. You just need something to protect you from the wind and water... while allowing at least some of the moisture to escape.

Gloves/Mittens: I swear by "lobster" style gloves. These gloves keep your fingers together in twos... which I find keeps me much warmer than regular gloves that separate each finger. It still gives me the mobility you need to shift and brake. I find that my hands are warmer in thin lobster gloves than in thick regular gloves.

Lower Body - Under Layers: Again, NO COTTON... including underwear! I wear running shorts (synthetic/polyester) for my first layer, followed by medium-weight long underwear. If it's really cold (single digits F or below), I add a pair of fleece bottoms.

Lower Body - Outer Layer: Same as for the top outer layer, you really need to have waterproof, breathable pants in order to be comfortable all winter. It's not just water from the sky (rain, wet snow)... it's water from the road. You will get splashed by passing cars and trucks, and you will get wet from your own bike - even with fenders.

Socks: Yet again, NO COTTON! Choose a wool blend, or some other synthetic blend that will wick moisture away and keep your feet dry and warm.

Shoes/Boots: In moderate/dry winter weather, I wear a pair of regular low hikers. In colder weather, I wear a pair of waterproof duck boots. They keep my feet dry - which is the key to staying warm.

That's all! None of this stuff is complicated. If you already spend a lot of time outdoors in the winter (skiing, snowshoeing, etc.), you probably already have much of what you need. Don't put this entire package together at a fancy bike or ski shop - you will spend WAY more than necessary!

BIKING WITH HOLIDAY CHEER... NOT.

'Tis the season for weekday holiday parties, and we had some friends over for dinner and drinks last night. Lots of laughs... and LOTS of wine. Ouch. To add insult to injury, the wet snow from last night was even wetter this morning, and I got SOAKED. I have a waterproof jacket, but my snowpants are apparently made from the same material as sponges. My rear tire threw up a roostertail of water and wet snow for six miles - giving me a cold, wet, and dirty behind.

MORNING RIDE (6 miles)
Temperature: 33 degrees F
Skies: Cloudy
Bike Path Conditions: 2-3" of wet snow/slush.
Road Conditions: 2-3" of DIRTY wet snow/slush on the shoulder/bike lane.

EVENING RIDE - Getting a ride with John B. instead. Tired, cranky, and my biking clothes are still wet from this morning. Thanks John!

REVIEW - NOKIAN MOUNT & GROUND W160 (studded bike tires).

Last year around this time, I realized that I would need to get studded tires if I wanted to avoid pain and injury during my daily winter commute. It's not the snow (studs don't help much with snow)... it's the ice. Bike paths in our area are plowed but not salted in the winter, so any remaining snow melts down during warm/sunny days and then freezes into ice at night. Without any sand or salt to provide traction, these paths become a hilly, winding ice skating rink.

I'm thrifty by nature, so I went the cheap route last year when choosing my winter tires. I poked around online and found the Innova Tundra Wolf (110 studs). I was able to pick them up from Bike Tires Direct for about $25 each. My initial excitement upon receiving them was quickly tempered after my first ride around the parking lot. These tires are HEAVY (1060 grams)! To top it off, the aggessive tread pattern made it feel like riding in sand - the rolling resistance was brutal. I literally had to pedal down hills! I tried inflating them to max pressure (around 65 psi), and that helped. Anyway, the tires themselves were effective on ice and snow - so that part was fine. However, I noticed the effectiveness on ice decreasing throughout the winter and into early spring. That is because riding them on the asphalt each day wore the studs down until all that remained were rounded metal nubs. I found out that you can replace the studs, but I couldn't swallow the idea of throwing more money at these tires ($20 for a bag of 100 studs... but the tires have 110!).

This fall, I shopped around for the best winter commuting tire... not the cheapest. I ended up with the Nokian Mount & Ground W160 studded tire (160 studs). You can find them online for about $50 each (plus shipping), but I decided to support my local bike shop and paid $65 each (mounted free). I've been riding them for about a month, and I'm pretty satisfied so far. They weigh just 850 grams... about 20% less than my old Innova tires. The tread pattern is not as aggressive as my old Innova tires, but they roll much better on dry road. The only disappointment so far has been the tires' performance in packed snow and slushy road slop - the stuff you have to deal with for a day or two after a snowstorm. As much as I disliked my old Innova tires for being slow and heavy, they really cut through road slop and seemed to be able to find the road through 2-3 inches of packed snow. Not so with my Nokians. I've found them to be very sketchy on packed snow and slush. I'm speculating that I actually chose the wrong Nokian studded tires for my needs. I was going to get the Nokian Hakkapeliitta W106 (106 studs), but I thought the W160 would do a better job in snow/slush. However, I think that the tread profile of the W106 would do a better job cutting through road slush and packed snow - allowing the studs to contact the asphalt beneath. The W106 is also a lighter tire (820 grams) and has even better rolling resistance than my W160s.

A big plus for either Nokian tire, which I have yet to confirm from my own experience, is that the Nokian studs last for many seasons. The studs on my Innova tires were toast after less than one season. The bike shop owner I talked to (who has W160s on his winter ride) said that he has SEVEN seasons on his tires, and they still bite into ice! So, overall I can recommend the Nokian Mount & Ground W160 studded tires for bike commuters, but I would advise you to check into the Nokian Hakkapeliitta W106. It may be a better choice for commuters who primarily ride on asphalt.

Here is the manufacturer's site for the Nokian tires:

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

MORNING RIDE (6 miles)

Temperature: 29 degrees F

Skies: Cloudy

Bike Path Conditions: Mostly clear, some remaining icy patches.
Road Conditions: Clear roads, and plenty of shoulder to the right of the white fog line.

EVENING RIDE (6 miles)
Temperature: 31 degrees F
Skies: Snowing pretty hard... big wet flakes
Bike Path Conditions: 2-3" of fresh snow - lots of fun! The remaining snow and ice from last week's snows was cleaned up, and riding on fresh snow on top of asphalt is a breeze with these tires.

Road Conditions: A little scary. I was fine and was able to stay in the bike lane, but cars were sliding. I stayed in the painted bike lane for the 2-mile stretch where I have to share the road, but a painted line won't stop a car from sliding into you! It was a relief to get on the bike path.

THANKS SANTA!

The jolly guy brought me a mixed bag of riding conditions - but even the bad parts were a breeze after last week. Some bike path sections were pretty icy and chunky after several daily rounds of thawing and re-freezing (top picture). It made for a rough ride, but WAY easier than last week when the bike paths were unplowed or badly plowed. My studded tires found plenty to grab on the icy stuff. Most of the bike paths were actually dry with just a few icy spots (bottom picture), and the roads were mostly clear. After slogging through snow and slush all last week, it was nice to get back into the groove of my commute with an easy ride.

The highlight of this morning's ride was seeing a Great Horned Owl fly from the ground near the bike path about 20 yards ahead of me and land in a tree just off the path. He didn't hang around long enough for a picture, but it was a pretty awesome sight.

MORNING RIDE (7 miles)
Temperature: 27 degrees F
Skies: Cloudy
Bike Path Conditions: Mostly clear, except for the section along Kennedy Drive.

Road Conditions: Clear roads, and plenty of shoulder to the right of the white fog line.

AFTERNOON RIDE (6 miles)
Temperature: 31 degrees F
Skies: Partly Cloudy
Bike Path Conditions: Mostly clear, some ice. I hit one section less than a mile from home that was about 100 yards of inch-thick glare ice (on a hill!). An older lady, a young man and a dog were VERY carefully making their way down. I zipped right by on my studded snow tires!
Road Conditions: Clear roads, but wet on the side of the road/bike lane where the snow banks are melting. I was completely speckled with road grime by the end of the ride.

CHRISTMAS VACATION.

Off the bike for the long Christmas weekend (Saturday - Tuesday). Back in the saddle tomorrow. Merry Christmas!

BIKE RAGE.

In general, I've found motorists in the Burlington area to be very respectful of my bike commute - and I try to repay the favor by being respectful of motorists. I obey the traffic laws and I stay on the shoulder or in a bike lane whenever possible. I also have two blinking tail lights, a bright head light, and plenty of reflectors. If you are going to share the road with objects more than 10 times your weight... it's best to be seen!

Anyway, as I rode home on Friday afternoon on a section of road with a designated bike lane, someone going in the opposite direction in a pickup truck yelled out the window, "Get off the road!". It wasn't a big deal, but I'll admit it really got under my skin. I was actually riding in the bike lane (choosing to ride in dirty snow slush in the bike lane instead of clear asphalt in the road), and traffic going in my direction was able to pass by me unobstructed. So, it made me wonder - why does someone take the energy to roll down the window and yell something like that?

Now I'm not giving this guy an excuse - because he's clearly an a-hole. But did he have some pent-up anger from another encounter with a bike? Did he follow a group of road bikers riding two abreast in the travel lane on a narrow and windy Vermont road? I've had this experience before, and I've found it irritating when cyclists continue to use the entire travel lane when it is unsafe for cars to pass. Or, was the guy cranky because he almost got clipped by a kid riding his bike on the sidewalk right through the middle of pedestrian traffic?

Whatever the reason, respect goes both ways, and bicyclists as a group need to be respectful of motorists and pedestrians so that we don't give folks a reason to yell out the window (or worse) at cyclists who are actually following the rules.

BIKING ON THE MOON.

This was my view (looking over my handlebars at my headlight beam) riding to Masters swim practice this morning at 5:15am. The bike path was strewn with little snow boulders - it looked like the moon! It's a little easier to see if you click on the image above for a larger picture.

WINTER POSTCARD.

This was the view from the bike path this morning around 7:10am - heading from swim practice to work.

PRODUCT TESTING. This morning, I got to try a fixed-gear and a three-speed bike. Well, actually it was my 24-speed mountain bike. Both of my shifters froze, leaving me in a single gear (1 gear above granny) for the first 2 miles of my ride, before I was finally able to use my front derailleur shifter for the remaining 5 miles. Oh yeah, I also tested "no brakes" - they were frozen too.

MORNING RIDE (7 miles)

Temperature: 15 degrees F

Skies: Cloudy

Bike Path Conditions: Mixed bag. Some paths were plowed pretty well, while others are still a mess. I was able to ride on a crucial "connector" path this morning that got me to work on time, so I was happy.

Road Conditions: Still really mucky, as the picture above illustrates. I was able to find the white fog line (and stay on or to the right of it) most of the way, so it wasn't a bad trip considering all the snow we got this week.

AFTERNOON RIDE (6 miles)
Temperature: 23 degrees F
Skies: Cloudy
Bike Path Conditions: Slowly improving. As the remaining snow packs down and ices, it is becoming rideable. I'm still taking alternate routes through neighborhoods when possible.

Road Conditions: Pretty clear, although still plenty of gunk in the bike lane/shoulder.

MORE SNOW... SUPER. Usually I'm excited to see fresh snow in the morning, but the plows never caught up from the last storm. I figured they would plow this snow and the remaining slop from the last storm into the bike lane, so I reluctantly called a co-worker for a ride (thanks Mike!). Turned out to be a good decision. The bike path and bike lanes were mostly unrideable - so I would have been forced into the travel lane. This would mean a line of angry drivers behind me waiting for an opportunity to pass on slippery roads. This is why I don't ride in these conditions. Hopefully, they will clean this mess up today so I can get one more ride in tomorrow before the long Christmas weekend. I took this picture from Mike's truck this morning on Kimball Avenue - my least favorite part of my bike commute. The bike lane is about 6' to the right of the right tire path, buried under plowed road slop and last weekend's storm leftovers.

Thanks to Ken for the ride home! I should be able to bike in tomorrow.

YUCK. The remnants of last weekend's 16" snow, combined with a (relatively) warm 25-degree day, a big helping of road salt, and lots of road grime have made a sloppy mess. I haven't taken the 10 minutes necessary to put fenders on my new winter bike setup, so I got plenty dirty today. This is the sleeve of my waterproof shell that I wear for 4-5 months each year - now speckled with road puke.

My winter bike is a Schwinn Homegrown with Nokian Mount & Ground W160 studded snow tires. I scrubbed most of the slop off with some clean snow this morning. Gotta get fenders on this thing...

MORNING RIDE (7.3 miles)
Temperature: 26 degrees F
Skies: Cloudy
Bike Path Conditions: Still crappy (not plowed down to asphalt)... so I stayed on the road this morning.
Road Conditions: Dirty slushy slop. No problem to ride in, but it's all over my bike and gear. Yuck.
Route Map: www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1504066

EVENING RIDE (6 miles)
Temperature: 25 degrees F
Weather: Overcast
Bike Path Conditions: Range from crappy to unrideable.
Road Conditions: More dirty slushy slop.

AFTER THE STORM. Over the weekend, a storm dropped 16" of snow on the Burlington area. This pic is view looking up Church Street. I hitched a ride to work with a co-worker (thanks Shane!) on Monday, but the roads were looking pretty good on the way home Monday night. It looked good enough to try biking in on Tuesday...

MORNING RIDE (7 miles)
Temperature: 4 degrees F
Skies: Clear/Sunny
Bike Path Conditions: Mostly snowed in. The bike path that connects my neighborhood with the most direct road route to work was unplowed, so I hiked the bike through the snow in the direction that got me to ANY plowed road the fastest... which was really on the way to work. At least the activity warmed me up. Even though it was my coldest ride this winter season, I had to take my jacket off by the time I reached the road.
Road Conditions: Plowed. Mix of packed snow, ice, and clear road. Not bad.
Route Map: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1503247

EVENING RIDE (5.5 miles)
Temperature: 20 degrees F
Skies: Cloudy? (Dark)
Bike Path Conditions: Terrible. Plowed, but they left 3-4 inches of packed snow on top of icy asphalt. Some of it has footprints. My tires don't know whether to ride on top, fall through to the ice layer, or do something in-between. The studs are useless on this stuff.
Road Conditions: Plowed. Pretty clear... some muck. I can mostly stay on or to the right of the white painted fog line - which is my happy place when I have to ride on the road.
Route Map: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1504033

SOLD MY CAR - COMMUTING BY BIKE NOW.

Fast-forward about a year and a half since my first and only post to this point. We sold our second car (the car I used to commute to work) soon after my first post in July 2006, and I've been commuting by bike full-time since then (about 18 months). Since then, I've biked approximately 300+ work days (about 85% of the time), and between 11-14 miles each day, depending on the route. My total mileage since ditching the second car is over 3,600 miles. I've biked in pretty much all conditions (rain, sleet, snow, heavy winds) and quite a range of temperatures (low of -9 F and high of +96 F). I've learned that, like any outdoor activity, it's all about being prepared and having the right gear. It also helps to have a flexible workplace that allows me to "cool down" in my sweaty bike attire before changing (after a sink clean-up... no shower) into casual work clothes.

Of course, there are days that I don't ride my bike for one reason or another... usually due to dangerous road conditions. I almost never ride when visibility is low (i.e. snowstorm), or the day after a big snowstorm when the roads are a mess and cars are sliding all over the place. On those days, I get a ride from one of several co-workers who live close by. I estimate that I ride my bike 85-90% of the time overall.

From now on, I'm going to use this blog to keep track of my daily rides. We'll see where this goes...