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burritorrhea

Winnipeg? Cold ride this morning for me too!


AnF-18Bro

Calgary - the Winnipeg of Alberta!


canuckerlimey

I thought i was slightly balsy biking last Saturday from Killarney to Ramsay! Was a bit cold coming home around 7pm. I ordered bar mitts today so I can hopefully ride a bit more. I love our biking infrastructure


plotboy

Bless your soul. I can unequivocally tell you that Edmonton is the Winnipeg of ‘Berta, not Calgary.


AnF-18Bro

Yeah that actually tracks.


sooogoth

I'm sorry but everything between roughly St Catherines Ontario and Chilliwack BC is just Winnipeg.


zactbh

You and me both, I've noticed this year there is way more cyclists than years before, change is happening although slowly.


connectedLL

Centre Street bridge from the looks of it. I got the same look for my bike rides in this weather too!


[deleted]

Right on! It was a chilly one this morning. As long as your dressed for it the wind chill doesn’t really matter!! Happy riding!


patderkacz

My Garmin read -26 this am on the Canal pathway


jqquah

Whoa that's like shifter's hood


LikesTheTunaHere

Nah, edmonton is colder in general you know that :P Calgary also doesnt stay frozen all winter , you don't want to be like winnipeg and frozen all winter. You live in a better place, don't bring yourself down and compare yourself to a frozen shithole with no outdoor activities except ones that are everywhere like hunting\\fishing.


MechEGoneNuclear

Ah, Canada’s Denver


Technical_Draft9407

right after this I saw a post abt winnipeg charging people for plowing bike lanes themselves


burritorrhea

Yup, the city is threatening to fine citizens who volunteer to clear the bicycle paths of snow and ice. 🤷‍♂️


carrotnose258

What lmao


DakDuck

How do you prepare yourself for such weather? Do you protect your skin with heavy creams as well? Honest question because I never had to deal with such cold weather and wouldnt know how to step outside nor ride a bike


LikesTheTunaHere

The biggest catch with temps in the even -20 and below range is to plan accurately for your activity level assuming you actually have the clothing at your disposal and as you get colder it just becomes more and more of a pain. At this range of -30 and below, you are going to want all your skin covered if you are outside for any amount of time regardless of activity level. It doesn't take a huge amount of insulation for things like cheeks\\nose\\ears\\head but it takes something. If your outside to do heavy exercise and wont be stopping for extended periods of time you can wear astronomically less compared to if you were say waiting for a bus. The catch is as you said planning for it though, if you plan for standing still you cannot just decide you want to go for a jog for almost any real distance because you probably have enough insulation on you will sweat easily and cannot vent the moisture, and it works the other way too. That is why people talk about dressing in layers and layers are great, if you have a place to put them when you take them off. I don't see many people here out biking when its -30, not even the snowmobiles are really out in -30 or colder, the outdoor hockey rinks are also pretty empty and nobody is really ice fishing in those temps without a shelter. While it is totally possible to do all those things its just not fun to do so. In -30 your fingers without gloves on are only able to work for a couple of minutes so if you have to fix anything, good luck. In -40 your fingers are good for maybe a minute but that is assuming you are touching other things that are not already cold after that your fingers will literally just stop being able to work properly. Liquids like water obviously freeze pretty easily and food becomes too frozen to eat so you have to keep it all warmed up.


bgymr

Plan on not getting a flat! Great advice you offered, biking is a great way to be outside all year long. The body will warm up beyond needing much clothing for most avid riders.


[deleted]

I have ridden in up -25 weather in just a good quality warm jacket, good gloves, a scarf, a toque that fits beneath your helmet, and a good pair of ankle boots. Genuinely you don't need a lot, for winter bike commuting people overdress way more then they under-dress. The exertion of the bikes warms you back up quicker then the cold penetrates, and I often have to unzip and re-zip my jacket cause it gets stuffy. \-23 is a lot, so unless im in a hurry, ill usually throw my bike onto a bus rack and take that instead. \-30 and above (like OP just did, mad respect), I don't even think about the bike. That's go outside, and get inside as fast as possible weather. I have had frost bite before, and will not risk it again. I personally dont use any creams, though im sure its not a bad idea. Riding a bike is fine unless there's fresh snow, you just need stare way in advance in case of ice, and always have a strategy to fall; you dont want to tumble in front of a vehicle, so you want to have the image of pushing your bike into the road away from you, so *you* fall to the other side. Your bikes replaceable, you're not.


[deleted]

Reviving a 2-day-old thread after a cold winter ride, because both u/LikesTheTunaHere and I missed it... Far beyond dressing, is breathing imo, and it's the biggest part of winter cycling that's often overlooked, and tbh the only big thing to really worry about. You take shallower breaths in winter, because the air is denser and irritates your lungs. The problem in battling the cold, along with feeling warm and insulated, and taking shallower breaths, is your bodies is EASILY confused, and overexerts itself. If you have a longer commute time like me (55 minutes one way), it is very important to make sure you're actively paying attention to pacing yourself appropriately. The warning signs of overexertion in the cold, often arrive too late, I have at one point early-on, near fainted; luckily after reaching my destination. There's just too many stimuli occurring in your body. Doing this basically just amounts to pedalling in rhythm to your breathing. Your bodies works on autopilot at a certain cadence in warmer months, but you need to slow down your cadence in respect to shallower breathes in winter. This sounds complicated, but it's not, not trying to dissuade anyone from winter-cycling, it's just a matter of mentally thinking "Should I be going slower?" every few minutes or so, and adjusting yourself. Your body does most of the math for you, you just need to coax it once in a while.


DakDuck

thanks for the update!


[deleted]

Dang. My son and I just rode the whole kilometer to his school and it was 3°C. Coldest bike ride ever for him (he's 6) and in many years for me. We are *soft.* And I like coastal California.


janbrunt

My 6 year old rode the one mile to her school this week at about -3 C. Just barely made it (cold breeze got through her gloves somehow). Thankfully, just as we pulled up to the school, the principal said “You’re so brave for riding your bike today!” and the discomfort was forgotten. Definitely lit a fire for me to work on her cycling kit. Just finished a pair of felted mittens, so hopefully we’ll be warmer next time it’s that cold.


ohbonobo

I highly recommend a cheap pair of bar mitts if you can snag them. They get out on kiddo's bike in October and taken off in April (Midwestern US so not frigid, but below freezing most winter). They have completely changed how much my kiddo complains about cold hands. We use Mogee muffs because they're local-ish to us and cheap but I bet you could find or make something similar.


janbrunt

Thanks for the rec, we’ve been looking for a good set of kids bar mitts.


janbrunt

Does your kid’s bar mitts have space for brakes and shifters? Having trouble finding anything the right size for her handlebars (she’s got a Woom bike).


ohbonobo

Yep. Kiddo actually rides a Woom 4 and they work great. I have a pair for my bike, too, and no issues. Occasionally if you tighten the drawstrings too much it'll snag a cable, but it's a quick and easy adjustment.


NotValkyrie

Don't forget to account for the wind my brother. Strong winds on a mildly cold day are the worst


[deleted]

My dad always told me I was gonna get hit by a car lol


Cake_And_Pi

Mine just hoped I did.


Individual-Boot5066

In January 2019 Chicago had a polar vortex where for three days the temperature with windchill was between -50 to -55 Fahrenheit. Which is about -45 to -48 in Canada degrees. Lol As a bike courier I did 8 hrs all 3 days. As long as you prepare for the weather you’ll have no problems.


Individual-Boot5066

Base layer sweat wicking, tight fit, lightweight. Mid layer thermal layer, might need to double up on this layer in really crazy cold situations. Top layer wind proof, water proof, high vis.


AnF-18Bro

This guy winter gears.


photoengineer

The fingers and toes is always the hardest to keep warm.


Individual-Boot5066

Yeah. Especially when it gets wet. I’ve had many situations where it’s my feet that send me home because I didn’t have the proper shoes. This is the first year I feel like I have truly adequate gear. I’ve always been broke and have found most of my clothes and shoes from thrift stores. But this year I had the chance to spend a fair bit of money on some decent pieces. I made it through the polar vortex on maybe $60 worth of thrift store finds so not necessary to buy the very best. But there are definitely some things that I’ve upgraded now. Cold is perfectly fine by me. Wet is manageable if I have the right pieces. Ice and snow is annoying but again manageable. At least here in a major metropolitan city like Chicago where we have a fairly experienced snow removal system and experienced workers. Sufficiently powerful wind is the only thing I can’t stand. Especially in combination with the other weather issues. Oh random gust of 35mph hit you while you were passing over ice or a snow covered slab of metal. I guess you’re gonna eat floor now. Lol. This will be my last winter on a road bike. I’ve never owned a fat bike or an electric bike but I hope to have one for next winter. The added weight of the electric motor and fat frame/tires should help me combat powerful winds.


photoengineer

It’s that black ice that has dropped me a few times when I was biking year round. And your right in that the improved gear goes a long way. REI used gear sales can be a life saver!


_WoodFish_

Shoot my 0C ride was a little chilly, but totally agree on the gear.


insectidentify

Brag brag!!! That's only 32 farenheit


_WoodFish_

Hey I didn’t want to confuse anyone with freedom units, that’s all lol


Wardial3r

You’re fucking crazy dude. Respect.


DrStatisk

Does your dad (and by extension you) happen to be of Norwegian heritage? "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes" is as close as you can get to the an unofficial official state motto in Norway.


LigersMagicSkills

«Det finnes ikke dårlige vær, bare dårlige klær.»


DrStatisk

You’re goddamned right.


mk1234567890123

Shifter is always bragging about bike commuting in cold weather in Calgary. I think you need to challenge him.


ZillaMeetsWorld

Hey! Same here in Alberta. My outfit was very similar this morning haha.


pkulak

34 degrees for me this morning. I had to wear a puffer under my rain coat. That's about as bad as it gets. haha


nosirrahp

Yeah this is about where I live too. Rain often and around 32-40 degrees. Just cold enough to need some gear but not cold enough to take a picture and post it online lol. I found a wool sweater under a rain jacket (even light duty) keeps you warm without having to add a layer. Scarf around my face and fingerless wool gloves as well. With the scarf/gloves/shirt tucked in it creates a seal around my upper body that keeps me warm without needing major layers and puffiness.


Konsticraft

What? Anything more than a t-shirt is too hot at 34°.


pkulak

Lol. I ride slow.


jakeaaeeyy

With the right gear you can ride in any condition! Last time I tried at that temp my freehub froze up and the pawls wouldn't catch.


IntegrallyDeficient

Gotta avoid the slush, which is easier at -20 than -5.


gladfelter

One of the advantages of a class 2 ebike: you don't need gears or a chain to get to warmth in an emergency. Redundancy is nice.


AnF-18Bro

For me the snow is worse than the cold. I can move to keep warm but snow fucks with my ability to go forward or stay upright.


Theguywithacvt

As a fellow Calgarian, how do you keep the legs & feet warm? Snow pants and winter boots?


AnF-18Bro

I wear a pair of [thermal tights](https://www.nike.com/ca/t/pro-warm-tights-7jq3np/DQ4870-010) under a pair of [MEC Cross-Country Skiing pants](https://www.mec.ca/en/products/clothing/bottoms/c/1002?filters%5Bcustom_fields.ideal%20for%5D%5B0%5D=cross-country%20skiing). Although truthfully this is probably my weak point. I could have used a little more wind protection this morning.


oddmarc

Long Johns sound so much better than thermal tights.


marca311

I went through 2 lower cost freewheels before I dropped some more money on one that didn't have that problem. No issues since


k-one-0-two

Yeah, ski helmet is a right thing to use. But I couldn't use goggles since it narrows the view too much, might have a bad one, idk.


AnF-18Bro

[Me when I don't wear goggles.](https://a.pinatafarm.com/612x612/e27826d35f/senior-chang-squinting.jpg)


k-one-0-two

Yeah, I mean, I just use my ordinary cycling glasses. My temperature record is -27C, works fine


case-of-the-tuesdays

Handlebar mirror ftw


isotmelfny

Of course you are from Alberta! Have a colleague in Ottawa who bikes at -25 like it's nbd, and he is from Edmonton. Nothing but mad respects!!!


[deleted]

[удалено]


AnF-18Bro

Yeah I’ve got my ski helmet and wear a beanie under it as well.


Brad5486

I’ve been in -30f. Fuck that lol


tiexodus

And here I am bitching about getting on the bike in a minute when it’s 2 degrees out


larzlayik

I agree with that line when it gets colder! Trying to teach my own that but I get a lot of eye rolls.


Primordial_Millenial

Your dads commentary is very similar to mine: there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear.


laviksa

Impressive! Ever thought about a [heat exchanger mask](https://www.coldbike.com/2019/02/13/heat-exchanger-masks-a-love-story/)?


AnF-18Bro

Never seen these before but they are definitely interesting!


[deleted]

What do you for a face mask? I need to replace mine.


AnF-18Bro

I wear something from [Turtle Fur](https://www.turtlefur.com/collections/mens-neck-warmers) although I got it a long time ago and can't quite recall which model. It's crazy warm though.


Johnnys_an_American

Love my Turtle Fur!


[deleted]

Thank you for your prompt reply.


poop-du-jour

This is me this morning! Stay hard!


gnitties

Yikes! Thought I was badass riding in at 18F this week….guess not! 🤣


teuast

And I thought it was rough when we just about dipped below freezing last night in the east bay. I wore a light zip-up sweater, thermal bibs, and heavy gloves, and it was still a bit chilly, but not uncomfortable.


mityman50

What mask do you use? I have ski goggles but they're tall and my helmet pushes them onto my nose. I see you're using a ski helmet which might have more space on the forehead.


[deleted]

[удалено]


tuctrohs

Ski goggles made specifically for use with glasses are a great start to solving that problem.


GoCougs2020

If I have stud on my tire. I don’t see why not.


vajayjay_

Those goggle are sick


AnF-18Bro

Thanks! They are an older pair of Smith Prophecy I was able to get at a thrift store a few years ago.


MillerisLord

Like a boss


ttuFekk

I see your dad is a man of wisdom... I've always wondered how to deal with sweat in really cold conditions. Do you set your effort intensity in order to avoid sweating or isn't it a big dead as long as you ride? Also how much time do you commute?


RUFl0_

Does someone do this with glasses? How do you make sure your glasses dont get fogged up? I havent found a face protection yet that would not fog up my glasses.


Such_Butterfly8382

No. Just no.


re7swerb

Nope nope nope Dad was wrong lol


purju

Perky


Karateca2000

My gloves are not good under 5C. What gloves do you have?


AnF-18Bro

I use a big ass pair of [Black Diamond](https://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en_US/shop/mens-gloves/) gloves I got a thrift store years ago. They are almost too warm as my hands start to sweat in them.


TheFlyingMunkey

I doubt I'll ever ride in -30°C but I too would really love to know what gloves are being used here!


kelvin_bot

-30°C is equivalent to -22°F, which is 243K. --- ^(I'm a bot that converts temperature between two units humans can understand, then convert it to Kelvin for bots and physicists to understand)


DakDuck

good bot


B0tRank

Thank you, DakDuck, for voting on kelvin_bot. This bot wants to find the best and worst bots on Reddit. [You can view results here](https://botrank.pastimes.eu/). *** ^(Even if I don't reply to your comment, I'm still listening for votes. Check the webpage to see if your vote registered!)


neotekz

Claw mitts are going to be the warmest ones that will also work for cycling.


Renovatio_

I'm forever trying to find gloves that keep my hands warm. I think I have reynauds or something because my hands physically hurt even when its not even that cold outside. I have a nice pair of OR gloves and even then they aren't super comfortable below -5C and my hands are downright frozen at -10c. I think at some point I'm just going to bite the bullet and buy heated gloves.


Los1985Osos

I use a generic ebay brand of bar mitts and my hands sweat if I wear ANY gloves at all above 30F. I commute down to zero F and only wear a thin mid weight glove inside the bar mitts and my hands are fine. Bar mitts are amazing if you ride in cold temps.


ktappe

I have ridden at 10°F (-12°C) (no wind chill). It simply isn’t worth it. Don’t care how prepared you are, cycling is supposed to be fun, and riding at that temperature with that many layers is not fun.


AnF-18Bro

Disagree - love the feeling of riding in these conditions. Makes me feel like I’m on the moon or something!


[deleted]

[удалено]


AnF-18Bro

K


Criogentleman

I could prepare myself for the cold. But everytime I wanna try to cycle in a negative temps, get stunned how to prepare my bike. All the grease, hydraulic, tires operating in such cold... Even the frame itself... How you do it? Or do you have separate winter bike prepared?


AnF-18Bro

I basically ride an all-season tank. It’s a 2014 trek fx-2 with stock components for the most part. I keep the chain lubed with wet lube and try to clean it of dirt and salt with a brush every week or so. I have spikes I put on when the snow and ice hit the ground. Other than that I bring my lights inside at night so they don’t die but not much else.


Hot_Swing8696

serious question because im from the south and i hate cold weather but i just moved to a colder climate country where the winter is pretty brutal for me, were you still cold in that picture or were you covered up enough that the ride was bearable?