Question for the bike riders here

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

Bet he rides 700x19c

Bet he's got a Pinarello F with deep dish Enve wheels and custom paint and Di2 DuraAce.

[zakthor]

A few weeks ago I got some on sale leatt mtb 4 pants. They’re stretchy, really well made and have tapered ankles. Also the knees have room so you can bend your legs. They’re great to wear around but have stupid logos up the side. I like them so much I bought a second pair.

I’m not really understanding the bike path thing. If this is casual and not exercise then what exactly is wrong with regular clothes? Wool sweater and a hat?

My fashion tip: Wearing short over lycra is weird.

[Flatbutt1]

Originally Posted by zakthor

A few weeks ago I got some on sale leatt mtb 4 pants. They’re stretchy, really well made and have tapered ankles. Also the knees have room so you can bend your legs. They’re great to wear around but have stupid logos up the side. I like them so much I bought a second pair.

I’m not really understanding the bike path thing. If this is casual and not exercise then what exactly is wrong with regular clothes? Wool sweater and a hat?

My fashion tip: Wearing short over lycra is weird.

You DO NOT want to see me in spandex!

[LEAKYSEALS951]

I think keeping the spandex hidden for most would be a good idea!

I'm bringing sexy back.
I um, found a silly pic a few years back of some east german surplus rhompurs that I picked up for biking. Ridiculously cheap, wool/polyester blend. Loose in thighs, tight at calves, these work about as good as any expensive high dollar cycling pants I have. For off road/gravel, they are perfect. They are warm, comfy, breathable, and do well in moderate wet conditions. They do soak in super wet conditions, but wth? They were about $4 a piece when I got them. They are up to $14 now.

Styling off the charts. I am looking up some "Shooting socks" to set these off right now.



Deciding on the socks- quite the challenge. I'd go for the tassle delete option. Not liking the exchange rate right now:

https://www.shootingsocks.co.uk/

[CurtEgerer]

Originally Posted by zakthor

A few weeks ago I got some on sale leatt mtb 4 pants. They’re stretchy, really well made and have tapered ankles. Also the knees have room so you can bend your legs. They’re great to wear around but have stupid logos up the side. I like them so much I bought a second pair.

Just checked out Leatt. Yeah, seeing some pretty good deals. Most MTB pants are stupid expensive.

[stevej37]

I wear eye glasses when biking and it's no problem in normal weather. When the colder weather comes....my eyes water so much that I sometimes can't see.

'What's the best solution...goggles?

[look 171]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I wear eye glasses when biking and it's no problem in normal weather. When the colder weather comes....my eyes water so much that I sometimes can't see.

'What's the best solution...goggles?

No matter what, you eyes will tear up a bit in the cold wind. Sporting or riding sun glasses will help some but if you get them to seal up most of the air, it will fog up. I have been battling that my entire life.

I have prescription sun glasses or riding glasses. I also have another pair with prescription inserts.

This style seems to be in now, big with plenty of protection. Personally, I hate them. Too big for my taste. https://opticalfactor.com/products/teo-rectangle-acetate-prescription-cycling-sport-sunglasses-kit?currency=USD&variant=44084226031840&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&stkn=907c0a0f5240&gad_source=1

[look 171]

Oh the other thing I dislike about the big glasses is that when the tears need to be wiped up so you can see become cumbersome. Its difficult get get my finger in there due to the damn thing being so big.

[stevej37]

^^^ Thanks
I have a pair of plastic frame prescription sunglasses that I've never tried during the cold rides. I'll see how they work....it's going to be a while.

[herr_oberst]

On the "Winter Storms" thread, you'll see me in a pair of goggles. That's not what I ride with unless it's 14ş with winds gusting at 35 mph and snow blowing around like millions of tiny white gnats.

These days I ride with prescription glasses, just my normal clear lenses mostly. I've pretty much gotten away from using any tinted lenses while I'm cycling because I want to see the road as well as I can, in all kinds of light, or shadow.

[Flatbutt1]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I wear eye glasses when biking and it's no problem in normal weather. When the colder weather comes....my eyes water so much that I sometimes can't see.

'What's the best solution...goggles?

I have prescription sunglasses made into wrap around sport glasses. Works great.

[CurtEgerer]

Being in FL, forgot all about the cold weather tear issue That always sucked.

And I no longer need prescription glasses so that's opened up a whole new world of options for me. Finding riding glasses was always a major PITA before!! I find yellow lenses to be the best for me, even in bright sunshine.

[rwest]

I used to commute 20 miles each way to work pretty much year round here in MN. My record was -25F!

I found that ski goggles got me about five miles until I hit a hill and my heavier breathing would fog them up and then freeze making them worthless.

Just ended up putting up with half frozen eyeballs and lashes- heat of my breath would keep them from total freeze up.

I think shorter slightly warmer rides and possibly more of an upright riding position could work on ski goggles.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by rwest

I used to commute 20 miles each way to work pretty much year round here in MN. My record was -25F!

I found that ski goggles got me about five miles until I hit a hill and my heavier breathing would fog them up and then freeze making them worthless.

Just ended up putting up with half frozen eyeballs and lashes- heat of my breath would keep them from total freeze up.

I think shorter slightly warmer rides and possibly more of an upright riding position could work on ski goggles.

You win West. Crazy -25. I jsut came in from a 40 mile ride with my kid. We were up at the foothills and we froze our butts off with just a long sleeve jersey and knickers. It was about 52-55 degrees up there. We had to stop off to get something to eat to keep us warm. I am out of shape, couldn't pedal with a damn to keep myself warm after 30 miles of riding and a couple of long hills. The four mile down hill back to civilization had us shaking like a leave.

When I was up in Calgary, it was around -15 to -20C and I see people riding their bikes like the snow and the cold wasn't even there. I am sure they are used to it like you and go about their business. I didn't want to get out at -20. It hurts

[LEAKYSEALS951]

You guys win. 14 is about my cutoff. I did commute about 5 miles each way on 12-14 weather "back in the day" - but no more.Today, it was in the 30's but with high gusty winds. I'm an old fart. No fun. No bueno. I sat and ate chili. I am the cat. Or maybe the dog. Either way.. a faint memory of my former self

[look 171]

I had ridden at about 32-35 degrees at the Rosebowl around midnight with a few guys and a lot of lights mounted on the handle bar(I don't like riding at night, too dangerous, too many nutty drivers). We needed to ride and train back then. I haven't done it in years. I don't know how you guys do it at those temps?

The wind was blowing like crazy last Sunday. One thing about LA or socal, we don't have wind but a slight breeze, normally. I have been to other places that wind just rips my face off and its often. Last week, both my legs cramped up because I was about 20 miles out, turned around and felt the 14-15 mph wind in my face. Made it home but I had to call my wife to rescue my fat ass at the bottom of our hill. I had nothing left.

I need to drop some weight and get back in shape. Doc's order, two more months, I can get out and ride more.

[rwest]

Best tip I ever got for cold riding was to get ski boot heaters and put in my cycling shoes. Therm-ic or Hottronics make decent units.

[herr_oberst]

Latex gloves that I keep in my seat bag for use during repairs saved my fingers once during a freak snowstorm.

I now also throw in a couple packs of hothands just because of how scary it was to be 20 miles from civilization in a blizzard. You can put them in your gloves and your shoes.

Shackleton I ain't.

[Flatbutt1]

Originally Posted by rwest

Best tip I ever got for cold riding was to get ski boot heaters and put in my cycling shoes. Therm-ic or Hottronics make decent units.

I may have to try those. No matter what I've done in the past I cannot keep my feet from turning into bricks. The other thing I do is wear a blue surgical mask when it's really cold to pre-warm the air a bit. My chest can't handle sucking in very cold air.