Winter Commutes Not Far Off...

[skudupnorth]

I got asked for a towbar for a Porsche once ... and not that 4x4 rebadged Volkswagen thing either!

I've had that enquiry too,Porsche owners seem to go from very normal to total freaks with a little bit of footballer in the middle !

 

[MacB]

Well the Pomp should be fully kitted out, including dynamo lights, so that will be main commuter. When the first frost comes the Surly will get shod in the Marathon Winter tyres and they'll stay on until Spring. Hopefully Surly will get dynamoed by mid Winter as well and it'll be no more battery chargers etc. Both bikes running hub gears, full mudguards, racks and big tyres.

Weather....bring it on

 

[martint235]

I always look forward to the first couple of weeks commuting home in the dark just for the change of scene, something different. Then the night riding soon turns into a grind and I'm aching for lighter evenings again.

Hey come on! It's only 3 months till it starts getting lighter in the evenings!!!

 

[potsy]

Hey come on! It's only 3 months till it starts getting lighter in the evenings!!!

With the hours I work I only ever see daylight 1 way so it doesn't matter too much to me.
Got your arm warmers ready Martin?

 

[fossyant]

Quite enjoy the colder days on the bike,though it's very tempting to have an extra 30 mins in bed when it's freezing cold

Nah,.............. just think of the cars getting out of your way with the Hope 1's on.............. they shift at the moment........

Have 'bright' lights and the driver's don't know what's coming...............

TBH the Aldi winter tops are great..... I used a base layer and an Aldi winter/air proof top for most of last winter....... On the -15C days it was usual kit and waterproofs as I had fun through the snow....................

 

[ThePainInSpain]

I shall probably be cycling all year, even though the temperature can get as low as 15c.

After riding in 30c, like it was today, 15c to us is a tad fresh...........

 

[martint235]

With the hours I work I only ever see daylight 1 way so it doesn't matter too much to me.
Got your arm warmers ready Martin?

NEVER!!!!!

 

[skudupnorth]

Nah,.............. just think of the cars getting out of your way with the Hope 1's on.............. they shift at the moment........

Have 'bright' lights and the driver's don't know what's coming...............

TBH the Aldi winter tops are great..... I used a base layer and an Aldi winter/air proof top for most of last winter....... On the -15C days it was usual kit and waterproofs as I had fun through the snow....................

Niteriders strobbing makes them scatter too ! Sometimes feel a tad guilty when i pass them......honest

 

[automatic_jon]

I ride all year although the distances I have to cover vary greatly. Last winter I was only doing 3 miles each way which is hardly a warm up, I'm doing 22 each way at the moment.
Having just discovered arm-warmer (which are small enough to stay up on my skinny arms) I'm quite taken with them. Although I generate so much body heat it has to be pretty cold first thing for me not to die of heat exhaustion with them on. I get the feeling I'm massively under prepared for when it gets really cold but I suppose I shall burn that bridge when I come to it.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

All year round, all weather cyclist here, have been for about thirty years. When the clocks change at the end of October the geared Sunday best bike goes in the shed till spring and I do all my winter miles on my fixed, Pearson Touche.

 

[decca234uk]

I use my bike all year unless the weather is really bad. I work shifts and came off last year after I hit a patch of ice on a back road at 2.20 in the afternoon. If we have a bad icy patch I might leave it for a while, the trouble is I get bike sick after a few days and want to get out. I love a ride after a shift at work. It clears the head and gets rid of the stress.

 

[alasdairgf]

This will be my first winter, so no idea how I'm going to handle it. Would like to sound as hard as the rest of you frostbitten old souls, but we'll see...!

I'm more worried about rain than cold. I went out in the rain the other day to test my existing anorak. Disaster. Nearly drowned. As am skint, not sure that buying decent waterproof kit is really on the cards, unless people have suggestions for a v tight budget?

 

[automatic_jon]

As am skint, not sure that buying decent waterproof kit is really on the cards, unless people have suggestions for a v tight budget?

Get wet, but make sure you stay warm and dry off as soon as you get in. Perhaps not the most useful suggestion but it works for me.

 

[cyberknight]

Suggest early Christmas present?

I have in the past ,it might be cheeky but at least i stayed reasonably dry and warm .
edit..
As for waterproofing you can buy stuff to waterproof clothing cheap
something like?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikwax-TX-D...?ie=UTF8&s=garden&qid=1285490168&sr=8-1-spell

 

[alasdairgf]

Get wet, but make sure you stay warm and dry off as soon as you get in. Perhaps not the most useful suggestion but it works for me.

Yeah, I guess that would actually be fine. Did a bit (tiny bit) of sailing in my yoof, and was advised on a couple of times that when the weather was crap that you can just get out of your oilies and into a sleeping bag in your wet clothes at the end of a watch. The killler is cold, not damp.

Suggest early Christmas present?

Worth a go! What do I ask for?!