Too cold to bike?
Jan. 22nd, 2004 02:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dmazeI'm looking at this clear but vaguely chilly weather we're having, and wondering what it's like to bike in it. I certainly survived skiing in sub-zero temperatures pretty well. Boston tomorrow is expecting a high of 22 and a low of 8; adding in wind of 20 mph gives a wind chill around 4 degrees, which isn't terrible (just remember to dress warmly). So maybe tomorrow I want to try biking to work and to the evening SFB run, and then not have to deal with the T afterwards. And if that works I can think about taking more involved trips; if it doesn't, I'm not so far from home that I can't just give up.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-01-22 11:46 am (UTC)Here's what I was wearing this morning:
* my amazing ubergloves (totally crucial -- if you do not have hardcore gloves in this weather your hands will fall off as they bear the brunt of the cold -- but my fingers are very warm with my ubergloves)
* tights, jeans, socks, shoes -- this was OK. Yesterday I did not have the tights and my toes and legs got quite cold, though not frostbitten or anything. Still, not enough safety margin. Layers are my friend.
* torso, speaking of layers: short-sleeved shirt, flannel, fleece jacket, windbreaker. I was too warm on my torso this morning, though yesterday it was about right (maybe because I was losing so much heat through my legs, though?).
* warm hat with earflaps under helmet. I have one helmet which was stretched out from riding last winter, so it fits over the rather bulky hat though it's not much good for summer riding any more. (I can't find my thin biker hat, but the flaps are providing some warmth to the sides of my face, which is probably good.) A balaclava would be better.
Biking is a bit more strenuous in the cold because I find it harder to breathe when the air is so cold and dehydrated, but I get used to it. The key point is wearing layers and having good ways to keep your extremities warm.