oh my god it's windy and sunny

Just arrived home - current temp 8 (feels like -8) - from my first reeeeeeeally cold BIKE WINTER commute (again: first time winter bike commuter here). Upon arriving at my apartment, the manager was out front freezing his ass off having a smoke.

Him, to me: “Holy shit.”

Me: “If I can do this, I can do anything.” (feeling pretty much like ArcticSuperman here)

Him: “Amen.”

I am also wondering: do all winter bike commuters have fleeting thoughts of Arctic or Antarctic explorers/researchers? At one point, when I realized my (pretty hardcore and heavy-duty!) gloves were not exactly cutting it in the wind, I thought: “How do those people in Antarctica even deal???” I mean, f’real.

annicka replied to your photo: First below freezing bike ride into campus earlier…

have you thought about getting winter shoes or winter shoe covers?

Well, I have a pair of sick North Face winter boots that are pretty mobile and super warm - I was planning on using those once the snow/slop hit, but was hoping some combination of sock layering would suffice for the non-boot days. Both layers of socks were just regular athletic socks, though - they stayed nice and dry, for sure, just not warm enough. Maybe I’ll scout out some skiing/snowboarding thermal socks before going all out on winter shoes?

First below freezing bike ride into campus earlier this morning meant the first chance to try out most of my new winter biking base-layering gear. Didn’t really need the arm warmers, but it didn’t get unbearably toasty. The two layers of socks with my cycling shoes was just barely warm enough though - gonna have to rethink the footgear situation before things go sub-20.

First below freezing bike ride into campus earlier this morning meant the first chance to try out most of my new winter biking base-layering gear. Didn’t really need the arm warmers, but it didn’t get unbearably toasty. The two layers of socks with my cycling shoes was just barely warm enough though - gonna have to rethink the footgear situation before things go sub-20.

I am, admittedly, a newbie when it comes to biking winter, and I also recognize that it has been a pretty mild winter for biking so far, but…

…can I just take a second to tell you how awesome baby changing stations in public bathroom stalls are for helping one change into and out of winter biking gear? Real awesome, that is how awesome.

Oh, and apologies in advance to any babies who have to wait to get their diaper changed because I am swapping out my CLIMALITE for an actual t-shirt.