What do you look forward to about winter biking?

There's just a touch of chill in the air, but the days are much shorter and fall and winter are on their way. What do you most look forward to about cold-weather biking?

Me, it's the amazing feeling of hot coffee on a cold ride. I have a coffee-cup-holder mounted on my handlebars, and for my 5 mile ride to work, I have hot Alterra coffee ready to go. Stopping at lights and having a swig of it makes my day. And drivers and other cyclists often comment to admire this cup-holder, which my girlfriend got me at K-Mart two or three years ago.

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Permalink Reply by h' 1.0 on February 24, 2013 at 5:53pm

I was lucky enough to be able to act on this tip from a chainlink user:

http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/heads-up-great-waterproof-...

These things are the perfect outer shell-- except for spring-like days I wear a thin windbreaker underneath. I also have the "sauna" problem when I wear anything that's not particularly breathable-- but the material of these, while thin, has some stiffness to it, so it doesn't cling to your arms and such; I've decided the stiffness helps keep it breathable more than the pit zips (which it does have).

Wish I could find a link to the same jacket-- I'd still recommend if it cost 3 times more than I paid.

Joe Guzzardo said:

I think I may have found a solution. Last fall I bought an inexpensive shell for about $35.00 that I found on the web. I wear that with an underarmor like inner layer and I'm fine. Problem is, that it turns into a sauna after riding a few miles. I took the jacket to my local alteration shop but she wants $45.00 to install vented pits with velcro fasteners, more than I paid for the jacket itself. I figure $80 isn't that bad of a price for what I want, so I may go with that option, but I think she's asking a bit much.

kiltedcelt said:

I sweat just as much in the winter so there's no relief there. However, I enjoy my daily LFP commute a lot more as the days get colder because I deal with far less traffic from oblivious peds and inconsiderate fellow cyclists, of the variety who like to come into my lane as they pass people in their own. I still wish I could find inexpensive cycling apparel that wouldn't cause me to overheat so much, but would still breathe and keep me warm.

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Permalink Reply by Duppie 13.5185km on February 24, 2013 at 8:27pm

I look forward to winter biking being over.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin K on February 24, 2013 at 9:17pm

Winter biking is a fun challenge. Can I do 20 degrees with these gloves? Is this balaclava gonna be enough in this wind? Basically -- how cold can I go?

Towards the end of this winter I actually started hoping for COLDER days, so I could get a chance to test my system. Not many more sub 20 degree days left this winter.

Winter is nice if you commute on the LFT, b/c trail is nice and uncrowded. The city does a surprisingly good job of keeping the trail cleared and salted, too.

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Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on February 24, 2013 at 9:43pm

Crunching salt under my tires. It is almost as good as popping bubble-wrap.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio 4.0 mi on February 25, 2013 at 6:25am

+1. Another snow day (and its nasty aftermath) on the way and I won't ride my bike.:-( Today should be nice, though.

Duppie 13.5185km said:

I look forward to winter biking being over.

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Permalink Reply by dan brown on February 25, 2013 at 9:40am

I agree with this one. today I chose the layers pretty well....also I still love passing busses. not sure why...

DB

Kevin Kelly said:

Winter biking is a fun challenge. Can I do 20 degrees with these gloves? Is this balaclava gonna be enough in this wind? Basically -- how cold can I go?

Towards the end of this winter I actually started hoping for COLDER days, so I could get a chance to test my system. Not many more sub 20 degree days left this winter.

Winter is nice if you commute on the LFT, b/c trail is nice and uncrowded. The city does a surprisingly good job of keeping the trail cleared and salted, too.

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Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) on February 25, 2013 at 3:43pm

What do you look forward to about winter biking?

Spring.

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Permalink Reply by MagMileMarauder on February 25, 2013 at 5:01pm

"Spring" in Chicago can mean 39 degrees with wind and rain :). Today the weather feels like a reward after enduring a pretty chilly week. I look forward to days like this, sunny and low 40s.

Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said: