I rode today. Did you?

Nice first ride in the COLD.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David Barish on November 13, 2013 at 11:31am

Linocln Ave. had some commuters. I picked up a pack of 4-6 that pretty much rode together from about Belmont to the loop. The cold weather only leaves the dedicated on the road. Nobody shoaled, nobody talked, nobody ran intersections. It was nice. I wore a pair of mittens today. I have been using my road bike on a trainer for the last couple weeks and it was nice to get outside today. It was weird to have it cold but the wind out of the south. I hope it stays that way throughout the day to give a little push on the commute back north. The only time I felt cold was when the mittens were off and I was locking up.

But weirdly, Milwaukee was nearly empty this morning. Maybe everyone took a day off?

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Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on November 13, 2013 at 11:43am

Bez, my fingertips get cold, too, so I do (while still riding) this: With your left glove still on your hand pull your fingers out of the glove-fingers and press them up to the palm of your hand. Hold them there for a few minutes. When they feel warmed up, place the fingers back inside the glove-fingers. At first they will feel cold, but will warm up right away. Now switch to the right hand and repeat. Cheap and easy solution.

Bez said:

Anyone have suggestions on fingertips? I'm currently wearing Smartwool liners and Head running gloves and I just couldn't get my fingertips to warm up.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Newald on November 13, 2013 at 11:51am

I wore my new Sugoi Firewall Lobster gloves today. Got them for $37.48 from Backcountry. My hands were almost hot! Really like them so far. I had glacier gloves, which were warm and water proof, but hard to keep dry on the inside. These seem way better.

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Permalink Reply by Rich Evans on November 13, 2013 at 12:36pm

I agree. Glaciers are great when it's really wet, but do get pretty icky inside.

Mark Newald said:

I wore my new Sugoi Firewall Lobster gloves today. Got them for $37.48 from Backcountry. My hands were almost hot! Really like them so far. I had glacier gloves, which were warm and water proof, but hard to keep dry on the inside. These seem way better.

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Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on November 13, 2013 at 12:58pm

re: cold fingers...

I like Bar Mitts. I'm out of town for a few days, but will likely put mine on shortly after I get home...

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Permalink Reply by Jenn_5.5 mi on November 13, 2013 at 1:08pm

Do you leave them on your bike all the time (in the winter weather)? I really need to understand how these work! Are they easy on/off to take with you when you lock up?

I want some!!

Skip Montanaro 12mi said:

re: cold fingers...

I like Bar Mitts. I'm out of town for a few days, but will likely put mine on shortly after I get home...

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on November 13, 2013 at 1:29pm

Here are a couple of threads talking about cold hands and other cold body parts:

http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/winter-2013-who-s-still-ri...

http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/can-we-talk-winter-hand-so...

http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/need-advice-on-frozen-fingers

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Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on November 13, 2013 at 4:22pm

Yep. A friend is borrowing my Divvy fob, otherwise I would have just locked my ride up at Addison and continued on a Divvy.

Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

Divvy is a good backup bike, too.

Duppie said:

If you ever needed an excuse to get a second bike for commuting, this is it. Act on it.

in it to win it 8.0 mi said:

Yes.

Montrose to Addison. Back caliper LOCKED up hard. Rode dragging brake back home (not fun), changed and got on the train...

Unplanned trip to UBS tonight...

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Permalink Reply by Duppie on November 13, 2013 at 4:30pm

You're missing the point here. 'Course Divvy is a good backup. So is the train.

But it was a good reason. You should have acted on it.

I bought a new saddle today. Why? Because it is Wednesday. All the reason I needed...

in it to win it 8.0 mi said:

Yep. A friend is borrowing my Divvy fob, otherwise I would have just locked my ride up at Addison and continued on a Divvy.

Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

Divvy is a good backup bike, too.

Duppie said:

If you ever needed an excuse to get a second bike for commuting, this is it. Act on it.

in it to win it 8.0 mi said:

Yes.

Montrose to Addison. Back caliper LOCKED up hard. Rode dragging brake back home (not fun), changed and got on the train...

Unplanned trip to UBS tonight...

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Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on November 13, 2013 at 8:05pm

Jenn_5.5 mi said:

Do you leave them on your bike all the time (in the winter weather)? I really need to understand how these work! Are they easy on/off to take with you when you lock up?

I don't have a lock-up issue (secure parking in the building at work and basement at home), so I leave them on through the winter, but they do come off pretty easily. Takes a couple minutes.

They make two types, one for drop bars, one for flat bars. I just switched from one bike to another, so will now be using the drop bar mitts. I may decide to get rid of my flat bar mitts, but probably won't decide for the next week or two.