Weather Out There

A few months back I switched from your classic Bell bike helmet to a Nutcase helmet. It was mostly for vanity, although perhaps not what you think: the Bell left uglier helmet hair than the Nutcase (whose helmet hair is more “tussle” than “W”). The downside is that the nutcase fits snugly and will not accept a hat or cap underneath, which I truly missed today. My solution a few weeks ago was to wrap a scarf around my face, but I simply didn’t realize how cold it was today when I left.

Weather: 17 degrees and clear.

Clothing: Heavy winter jacket, no extra covering on pants or face. I regret the latter, as my ears were cold. Heavy wool gloves.

Bike: The Crosscheck. I like using panniers much more than bags, which restrict airflow way too much.

The bike is in dire need of some chain cleaning. I forget how much love it needs in the winter between salt, rain and ice.

Today was a pretty easy day for using the bike. Yesterday’s snow is almost all gone already; the trip home yesterday was rainy, not icy, and by this morning the pavement was dry. It was a little windy and that is meant to increase later. Temp around 35.

Clothing: I went for the rain jacket with a sweater. Heavy gloves, nothing else special. I was quite comfortable.

Last night brought Boston about an inch of snow. While the roads were plowed and salted this morning, for bikers that mostly meant wading through small piles of slush.  Tonight and tomorrow will inevitably bring ridges of ice to contend with. This morning I rode the dirty laundry to the laundromat, which meant extra time on the road. And although the temperature was supposed to be in the 30s, the extra biking, greater weight, and heavy winter coat caused me to break an unseasonable sweat.

Clothing: As in the other winter modes, I wore my work outfit with a heavy winter coat, rain pants, and waterproof shoes. I definitely overheated today, although I’m not sure why.

Slushy ground is definitely a time when you will bless your fenders. It also means you need to get on top of your maintenance, as that wet, dirty, salty sludge is toxic to moving parts.

Given the unseasonably warm weather in Massachusetts, I managed to persuade my fiance to go on an overnight bike tour around the Quabbin Reservoir spanning New Years. We followed the Seven Hills Wheelman King’s Tour of the Quabbin starting and ending in Barre, and staying in Amherst. (We made a wrong turn right at the beginning and added a few miles that way, and then darkness fell while we were still in Belchertown, and we took a cab to the Amherst Inn, where we had an awesome stay.) The trip was awesome, and I’d love to do more all-weather touring.

The weather on the first day was around 40, very hazy and damp, but the rain had stopped by the time we started (around noon – is it a wonder we ran out of sunlight?). I basically wore my normal commuter outfit in those conditions — breathable shell, sweater, one short sleeve wicking shirt, one long sleeved shirt, wool gloves, jeans, long johns, two pairs of wool socks, timberland shoes. I wore the same combination the second day, minus one shirt (it was around 50 that day). My feet still got cold after four hours in the cold, but everything else was very comfortable. I packed extra layers for when we were off the bike.

My fiance had a similar setup, although she tends to run colder, so she had one some extra layers on top. She had less on her feet — one pair of socks and canvas shoes — and even on the second, warmer day, she described her feet after a couple hours as “blocks of ice”.

Today was cool but not cold, about 40 degrees, lots of water on the pavement but no rain. My prediction that the wet, cold, windy storm from yesterday scared away all the bikers for the season has one data point of support.

Clothing: Same as yesterday, no fleece. Perfect temperature, not a cold or warm moment. Kind of like riding in a bubble.

Equipment: Same as yesterday, rode the studded commuter bike. The unused studs put me in the odd position of hoping to see ice so I can poke it in the eye.

Weird observation: the wider, treaded tire throws up less water (or am I going slower?) than the road tires I normally ride. Further investigation is warranted.

I enjoyed the ride in to work today.

Clothing: Marmot rain jacket with a sweater and fleece underneath, EMS rain pants. I put the hood under my helmet. I closed the bottom of the rain pants with reflective velcro bands. Waterproof Timberland shoes. Heavy woven wool gloves.

Bike: I was afraid of ice today, so for the first time I put my studded tires on (Nokian A10 32mm). No ice, but maybe tomorrow. Fenders. Typhoon pannier on the back rack.

Conditions: Moderate rain, heavy winds. I think it was in the 30s coming in today. I got quite the blast of wind approaching the river and coming up Cambridge street downtown. I was warm, and actually started to break a sweat. It would have been frustrating to be in a rush, and I took it easy. Totally dry, as usual.

Overall thoughts: I stayed dry and warm today. I like biking in the rain because the drivers are usually in a panic to see you (when they see you), and there are no other bikers to contend with. I may ditch the fleece next time around – you gotta compensate for the heat output.