Return of cold weather commuting

It’s that time of year in Colorado when the leaves and the wind changes.  This is the lead into the winter biking season.

There is a Norwegian saying. There is no bad weather, just bad clothing. When you see how much time Scandinavians spend outside you start to understand how important it is. Dressing for bicycling commuting requires that you take into account wind and possible rain.

Depending on where you live and the season, clothing might vary during the day. I live in Colorado, and the spring and fall seasons can have drastic swings before sunrise to the afternoon. It can be near freezing in the morning for the commute and then sunny and 65 degrees in the afternoon. Rain can seem to come out of nowhere, like the wind.

Layering clothing, the art of using different types of clothing that you can add or take off as the weather changes, is a must for the spring and fall seasons.

Here is the trick. You want to be warm, but not hot.  Once you get hot you sweat. On a short ride, 10-15 minutes, this isn’t too much of a problem. On a longer trip, the wet becomes cold after a while. This is why wool is one of the better choices. Even when wet, wool stays warm.

A bit of the best advice is that you should feel a bit of a chill when you start. You will warm up. The exception should be your hands, a chill in the hands doesn’t go away

Outer layer

Let’s start with the outer layer. Since my commute is more likely to deal with wind or rain, I tend to put the most stock in the outer layer. I like something that is wind and water-resistant. Usually, these go hand in hand, but not always. I prefer a lighter jacket. If it’s colder I will add a mid-layer for insulation. One problem with a water-proof jacket is that it’s water-proof both ways.  They tend to hold the sweat in. Even the best jackets that claim to breathe get clammy.

Mid layer insulation

This is the layer you are most likely to add or remove. The mid-layer is your warm clothing. Since the temperature can vary a lot between my morning commute and evening, this is the one that I tend to wear in the morning but not in the evening.

Fleece, wool sweater, a lot of things work great for this layer. Depending on the outside temp, it might be a thin layer or a thick one. The point is to trap some more heat in between the outer layer and your other clothes

Baselayer

Most of the time these are the clothes that I’m going to be wearing for work or the store. I don’t get into really putting base layers on until it gets really cold out.

Hats, gloves, and accessories

All the proper layering is useless once your hands, feet, or head get cold. For the hands and feet, I always side on the side of warmth.  Having hot hands and feet is not the worst unless you start to get sweaty.

Conclusion

Getting your clothing right takes time.  Usually, about the time that spring shows back up again.  But after a few years of doing this, I can look at the forecast and nail what I need to wear.  Being able to do this has taken quite a number of rides being too hot, too cold, or too wet.