New Tights! (tight tights)
I got some new Perl Izumi Amfib tights… Went for a short 7 mile ride down to the post office tonight (it was 25 F when I left the house).
They weren’t sweaty hot nor were they cold… they felt very comfortable for being out riding. Previously I had leg warmers and gortex pants. The previous combination was a good solution for cool summer nights down in the 50’s with the leg warmers and a little cooler or with rain for the gortex pants. Now I can use the pants for an outer layer with my tights if it gets too cold.
Last weekend I went out and it got really cold. Maybe in the low teens I’m not sure. I almost froze my toes and fingers. I have some really good gloves, but the metal on the bike was just sucking the heat out of my hands. If I stopped and let go of the bike my hands would warm up. My feet weren’t warming up though. Mostly due to the shoes being to tight and hindering circulation. I think I got fairly close to frostbite as my fingers and toes took a while to thaw and felt strange for the next few days. So to address the feet, I got new MTB shoes. I wanted new shoes anyway and since I was at the store I got the tights. I asked them about staying warm and they suggested the little chemical foot / hand warmers. What a well duh idea! I picked some up at wal-mart for a few bucks, well worth being able to avoid frostbite. It shouldn’t be too much of a problem since it rarely gets that cold around here.
After further research I found that there are winter biking shoes out there… sad thing is that they start around $250. So, next on my list of gear is better layering for my upper body, some serius storm socks, some Perl Izumi amfib booties, (my current booties aren’t that good). Oh and I want a good headlight ($100 and up).
Some people might suggest just putting biking off for the winter, but nah… that would be boring and then I’d have no reason to get all toe cool gear.