Banish winter blues

​The Norwegian saying, “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing,” is often cited by people who want to encourage new cyclists to stay the course. Especially when I first started riding year-round, this too-often-quoted-saying annoyed and confused me. Duh! Yes, it’s how you dress. BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN??
If you’re out and about some winter’s day in Iowa City you’ll probably see me rolling by. If the streets are clear, my trusty Dutch bike, Fanny Fiets, is my townie of choice. If there’s snow, I’ll probably be on Goldie, my fat bike. If there’s ice and one of us absolutely has to go out, Larry and I share an older studded-tire, fendered Fuji.
But, enough about me and how I name my bikes. We were talking about how it’s possible to ride a bike in cold weather. Here are a few tips to help you get outside, in all but the worst weather.

• Read labels: Think fleece and wicking fabric, which both trap heat and pull sweat and moisture away from your skin. That’s right, sweat, because when you’re out there exercising you will sweat and, just like in the summer, you will regret starting with that cotton t-shirt. My favorite cold-weather sweater is merino wool, which is not only lightweight and wicks moisture, but doesn’t need to be laundered terribly often.
• Dress in enough layers to keep body parts covered, but not so many that you feel don’t feel a bit cool the instant you step outside. Because you’re going to exercise and, hopefully, raise your body temp, too many clothes mean you get sweaty AND cold.
• Think layers.
• What’s your archilles heel? Mine are my fingers, which react to cold by turning white and losing feeling.  To combat this I wear full-fingered gloves at the first sign of cool fall weather. I have a slew of gloves and mittens that I layer on, depending on the temp. In the deepest, darkest days of winter I wear a pair of insulated “lobster claw” gloves like those shown below. 
• If you have cold feet or hate it when your neck is cold, outfit yourself accordingly: a fleece neck gaiter or fleece-lined boots can keep your frigid parts cozy and keep you rolling.
• Layers. Dress in layers. I may carry an additional light jacket or liner in my bag. Just. In. Case.
• Besides the lobster gloves your Local Bike Shop sells Bar Mitts for your handlebars. They’re designed so you can shift and brake easily, but are protected from the chill. They’re so good that I can wear thin glove liners.
• ​Don’t forget a handkerchief or a stash of tissues for when you get to your destination. A runny nose and eyes are a small price to pay for a lovely ride through quiet streets.
• Also in your LBS, a slew of insulated and weather-proof clothing. But, if you want to learn from the people who made winter-time riding look like nothing special, check out copenhagecyclechic.com for photos of regular people out and about in the weather.

It wasn’t that long ago that an outside temp of 30 deg was my limit for outdoor bicycling. My collection of cold weather gear means I’m good ‘til about zero, depending on the wind. Do what feels best for you, but give it a try. There’s nothing like a quick ride in the neighborhood to bring home the beauty of a cool, crisp winter day in Iowa.

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