October_30th's Journal: Cold weather biking

It's getting colder every morning now, but since I just hate cross-country skiing, don't care that much about skating and can't handle indoor sports, I intend to keep on biking as long as I can. Here's something I learnt from the last year.

A balaclava is essential when biking in cold and windy conditions with rain, sleet and eventually snow flying around. It keeps your face warm and relatively dry, kind of warms up the air your breathe in, protects your neck from cold and, let's face it, it looks cool. Just make sure you can wear a helmet on top of it.

What to wear? Dress in layers starting with sports underwear that doesn't soak up sweat but sort of wicks it away towards outer layers instead. Add a college shirt or two depending on how cold it is, and then, on top of it all, wear a wind-resistant jacket with a high collar to protect your neck. Your legs will be working hard, so you can wear fewer layers down there, but having a top layer that effectively blocks out the wind is a must.

Contact lenses are great if you can wear them. They don't mist up, get obscured by rain or ice. Unfortunately, after my two eye operations, I most likely can't wear contacts anymore.

Studded bike tires. No, I'm not kidding. Get at least one at the front. Black ice can be treacherous.

So that'd be my gear at the moment. What I'm probably going to get at some point is a Darth Vader mask and a studded rear tyre to complement the one I've already got in front.

don't forget to make yourself visible!

[tuxette]

Reflective something or other on your clothing, battery-powered front and rear lights on the bike.

Re:don't forget to make yourself visible!

[October_30th]

Ah, a good point.

My jacket has reflective fabric in the back, arms and front, but I really should upgrade my lamps. The original lamps that I got with the bike [nishiki.se] are just utter crap.

wow!

[powlow]

wow...what a site you must be on a grey winter morning! or what a site you will be with the darth vader mask...although the balaklava is enough already...! children run screaming and I would probably give you a double look...like a look, someone on a bike in icy cold weather with a face mask...its a ninja!! :)

Re:wow!

[October_30th]

Just the way I like it... ;-)