Layers… so many layers!
This is a session re-cap from Grease Rag’s 6th Annual Winter Skill Share (2014).
Presenters Christina and Casey shared their tips for surviving the MN cold while managing the heat your body’s generating during the ride. This can be a tricky balance, and different for every body-type, but can be managed with smart fabric choices and efficient layering. It doesn’t have to be expensive or uncomfortable. Somewhere between the presenter’s tips, experimenting, and determining your favorite combo, lies the answer!
In her amazing handout, Christina shared her know-how about the varieties and qualities of different fabrics, as well as sources (buy, craft, re-use!) for finding these essential winter riding items. Casey performed a show-and-tell by dressing from base layer, to outer shell, with her own winter riding wardrobe.
Read Christina’s handout on fabrics and DIY clothing sources.
Here is a rundown of Casey’s demo of “What to Wear: How! Why!”
I wrote down a few random tips from the Q/A that followed this presentation:
- Big plus in all those layers = falling in all the extra padding isn’t as rough as it could be!
- Get in the habit of NOT putting keys and sharp objects in your winter gear pants – this will prevent ripping!
- Keeping warm tips:
- keep hands and skin lubricated
- chronic cold or poor circulation could be caused by saddle tilt – try readjusting the tilt
- bar mitts with reusable warmers = great
- DON’T DRESS TOO TIGHT… blood-flow = good/warm
- Consider swapping out metal pedals for “platforms” – metal conducts cold and the platforms are typically made from plastics (also affordable!)
- Timing: do some putzing around inside (adjust seat, wait for a slower prepper, etc.) before going outside. This will get you warmed up before getting out in the cold.
About Casey: Lives on Cedar and 37th by Minnehaha Creek, learned how to winter bike in Fargo, ND. My favorite thing about winter riding is your body heats up faster than your car’s engine block. When you go outside it smells good and your cheeks get rosy, and the exercise makes winter “doable.” And she enjoys how tough winter bikers are. This presentation is about how to layer up and stay warm on the coldest days, using what you have already!
About Christina: Christina is a cyclist, a knitter, and mother to 2 cats and 4 chickens. In the summer she enjoys gardening and camping, and in the winter keeping her sidewalk cleaner than everyone else’s.