Web site offers tips on cold-weather riding
In years past, I've written about a group of local cyclists that have banded together to encourage all-weather cycling. They are the Chicago Bike Winter organization, and they host dozens of cold-weather bike events. The group's Web site, www.bikewinter.org, has a variety of tips about cold-weather riding as well as a full schedule of upcoming events.
I really applaud the work that they're doing to promote winter biking and there are several interesting comments that I gleaned from their site.
They feel that winter biking raises your tolerance for cold; is more comfortable than standing around waiting for the bus; and because pollution rises faster in cold air, it's safer to breathe the city air than during the summer.
They also point out that among the many advantages of cycling year-round, you don't have to re-condition your rear-end for sitting on a bike seat again in the spring!
They say that the three most important areas to consider when dressing for cold-weather riding are the feet, the hands, and the head. It's often just as tricky to keep from overheating as it is to stay warm.
Every year brings new advances in synthetic fabrics, and there are a wide variety of fall/winter cycling clothes available. I'm not an expert on the different materials, but I can tell you what has worked well for me over the past 13 years. In fact, I've ridden relatively comfortably in temperatures down to 14 below.
Layers are indeed the key to cold weather riding, and I wear thermal long underwear as my first layer on the coldest days. The traditional cotton types are fine, but I have a set made of "Thermastat Polyester" that works great. Called Ventalayer, this fabric is more adept at wicking perspiration away from the body.
On top of the long johns, I wear thin stretch tights that I purchased at my local bicycle shop. The tights are great for temperatures from 30 to 50 degrees by themselves.
I cover my shoes with a pair of stretch 'booties' from my local bike shop. Feet tend to get the coldest, and while the booties may look dorky, they really help keep in the warmth.
For my hands, I have winter cycling gloves that are composed of two independent layers. The inner liner is fine for temperatures down to about freezing, and I wear the two of them together in colder weather.
I wear a ski stretch headband over my ears and a ski facemask from my neck up to my eyes when it's really cold. This lets me remove the facemask independently if the air warms up during my ride. The beauty of riding in the clear air after a fresh snowfall far outweighs the extra work involved in getting dressed appropriately!
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Now before I sign off for the winter, I'd like you all to mark June 20-22 on your 2008 calendars. The 27th annual Bike MS "Tour de Farms" ride benefiting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society will take place that weekend. As a veteran member of the volunteer team helping to plan it, I can guarantee that it's going to be another great one! For more information, visit www.RideForMS.org to register and keep informed.
In the meantime, I hope you all have a great winter and aren't afraid to hop on your bike just because it's cold outside. You'll be surprised how quickly you can warm up!