Winter Commuting

[Chopper the ex Copper]

Autumn seems to have struck early, which for real men (or masochists) has us turning out thoughts to winter commuting. Personally I love the crisp, cold mornings, and seeing Orion dipping towards the horizon on a 5am commute.

Anyway, who's commuting by bike this Winter, and what bike and kit will you be using?

 

[bren]

I need to.
Cultivating a food baby at the moment, about 4 months gone by the looks of it.
Will probably have three bikes on rotation but the Dawes will only see dry use, it's too minty to get wet and salty.

 

[Chopper the ex Copper]

I'll be using my Pinnacle Dolomite again for the commute. Aside from the frame, handlebars and front wheel, everything else has been changed. 105 gruppo, 540s, just finished rebuilding the rear wheel with stainless tandem spokes. I've removed the rack and I'm going to try a backpack to centralise the mass away from the rear rim a bit.

I'm up for suggestions on new tyres. I'll probably go up a size to 25C if anyone has experience of a good rolling, light tyre with decent wet weather performance.

 

[Mike Muz]

Re:

I know it's a '97 , but I'll be using my Fisher for the winter , with Cree lights on the front , and some likkle Lezyne for the rear . or for the road bike option , the Trek Madone . Being as it's plastic .

Mike

 

[Chopper the ex Copper]

And my new rucksack cover has today arrived. So bright I suspect it may be mildly radioactive.

 

[suburbanreuben]

Re:

What gloves to just keep the nip off your digits?
Ihave a bit cold and wet, and deep nordic winter covered, but using either of these in autumn results in a nasty G love Funk.

 

[Chopper the ex Copper]

I use Seal Skins when its really cold, but most of the time I find lightweight full fingered Kona gloves are plenty warm. In really wet weather I use neoprene divers gloves.

 

[hamster]

I use Conti Gator skins, there were stories of bad batches 5 or so years ago, the latest ones seem good and roll fast. If you have a lot of broken glass then probably something tougher as the sidewalls are the weak point.

 

[dyna-ti]

Ill be using.....
My bus pass

Hands
Seriously Neoprene lobster claws are about the warmest ive come across yet, spesh makes or used to make them . A combination of glove and mitten(keeper cord optional ) not waterproof really but bloody warm and ive had mine in use in -15c and a strong wind, probably not far off -20c :?
Legs - Any waterproof will do, breathable preferred but not essential
Tootsies- Neoprene overshoes are good for keeping the cold out and dont impede you in any way, sealskin socks are fine if you like that squelching sound
Top- Endura make some great wet weather gear and ive been using their stuff for years but decided to go for a raceface waterproof for the bext couple of winters. Not as long as the endura and the tail is non existent whereas the endura is way long, and studs out of the way for dry
And im now no longer sure why i chose raceface :facepalm:

 

[greencat]

Re:

Finally got my slightly too small Sunn Exact titanium how I like it (with the addition of BMX bars & stem) so I think that'll be my winter commuter as the drive chain/wheels are nothing special. The titanium frame will still look great after a winter of nastiness.

I'll have at least 3 waterproof jackets in rotation so two can be drying while one's being worn. You can have weeks of heavy rain and wind in these parts. I quite like the Navy surplus long waterproof. Doesn't scream ex-military and is goretex. Also has a liner you can you can detach on warmer days. I use RAF surplus goretex overtrousers too. Both are good value for the price.

Gloves - for me extreme cold there's nothing to beat British army arctic gloves. Goretex shell mitten with detachable fluffy lining (which can be worn separately on cold but dry days. Both have a trigger finger so you can operate rapid-fire shifters although I tend to use thumb shifters and not bother.

Layers wise - I really like On-one's merino although it does tend to wear quite quickly and starts to look a bit shabby after a couple of years.

Walking boots when it's extremely wet or snowy. Occasionally paired with goretex gaiters.