🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Oct29.101217.6050@gw.wmich.edu>, 898watz@gw.wmich.edu writes:
> Hey netters,
> 
> I'm planning on riding my bike through the winter.......anybody have any
> imperative do's or don'ts for me?  I would like to get as much advice as
> possible from everyone regarding everything from preventing rust (salt on roads
> sucks!) to keeping warm......or maybe some think it isn't a good idea at all
> (riding in winter).  I live in SW lower Michigan, so we probably will get our
> fair share of snow, but roads are usually kept fairly clean -- so we'll see!
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> -Mike-
Winter Riding?  You must be a serious rider.  Well I live in Memphis, Tn and it
does not get as cold here as it does in Michigan.  I normally ride around 120
miles a week usually that is two 60 mile rides on the weekends.  In the winter,
I ride during the hottest part of the day between 11:00am and 4:30pm.  Don't 
ride after it gets dark, don't ride in any weather below 35 degrees.  35
degrees is very questionable.  The best way to keep warm is to wear a pair of 
biking tights to absorb your sweat.  And a pair of thick sweat pants over them.
A tight turtle neck and loose sweat shirt.  And of course, some type of wind
breaker jacket.  The tight pair of clothing keeps your outer clothing dry.  And
the loose sweats will keep the cold air from freezing your sweat.  The tight
clothing keeps the sweat on your body and as long as you work hard on your bike
the sweat will stay warm from you body heat.  It is very important to keep 
your sweat warm.  Well this covers how to keep you body warm.  There are three 
other areas you must keep warm.  Your face, your hands and your feet.  As for
you face, I wear ski mask, glasses, ear muffes and a hood.  And of course your
helmet.  You helmet will be hard to get on but you can manage.  For the hands,
I wear a thin pair of gloves to aborb the sweat and a thick pair to keep them
dry.  Most important part of staying warm.  Your feet.  I have purchased a 
pair of thick thermal socks.  I wear a pair of normal socks, plastic bags over
those socks, thermal socks over them, pair of shoes, and there are some boots 
you can buy in a bicycle store.  Most of the time during a ride my entire body
will stay warm, except for my feet.  I usually get about 20 miles before my 
feet start to freeze.  Usually after getting off my bike I go in to a tub of
hot water where I stand to warm my feet up.  Winters are hard on bikers, but if
you dedicated enough you'll make it though.  And if you find a good way of 
keeping your feet warm let me know.

                                             Winter Biker
                                             John Smith