Great winter commuting article in recent Urban Velo

For those considering testing your grit in the snow and cold, or even for those already out there doing it, there is a really informative tip-sheet sort of article in the latest Urban Velo:

For many people, the cold temperatures and slippery conditions make winter cycling a daunting proposition. For other people, it’s an exciting opportunity to test their meddle [sic]. And yet some people simply have no choice but to do it. The following tips are primarily aimed at beginners, but may be of use to more seasoned cyclists.

Full article here.

It's cold, but it's been colder.

Winter commuters rejoice! We successfully got through the darkest day of the year, and even though it'll be another month or so before the thermometers bottom out for the winter, it sure seems that it's all downhill from here. From here, the days grow longer--mornings brighter and evening shadows shorter on the homeward bound.

So, how is everyone holding up? What are your breaking points? For me, it doesn't matter the temp, so long as it's dry. Snow is okay and even welcome in my book. Commuting in snow actually might be a favorite winter past time, but give me wintry mixes or 35 degree rain, and I turn to slush and my Toyota.

Good morning and good winter, everyone!

I keep hearing everyone in the office talking about how horrible their drives to work were this morning, how slick the roads and annoying the other drivers. For me, other than a couple of slippery turns, I was whistling and singing, "White Christmas," on the way in today. People think I'm crazy for riding in the snow, people ask where I live, if I'd like a ride to work.

But, I'm the one with the dumb grin on my face on a Monday morning. I'm the one who got to stop at the Monon Bridge over the White River and just gaze at the world for 5 minutes before continuing on to work, for no other reason that it was stunning in its serenity.

So, who all rode today despite the snow? What was it like for you? I'll admit, I'm probably spoiled as a good 90% of my commute is on the Monon, but I'd love to hear some other reactions.

Hopefully Good News

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving weekend! Just thought I'd share with you a little something I heard on the late night WTHR broadcast the other night, a hopeful forecast for a mild winter because of a new El Nino. They don't seem to have it posted on their site, but there is this article from August:

This winter's outlook across the U.S. shows warmer and drier conditions in the Pacific Northwest, with a cold and snowy pattern setting up on the East Coast. In central Indiana, below normal temperatures and below normal precipitation is expected.

The other night they seemed more hopeful that we're looking to have milder temperatures as well, and given these projections from the NOAA, we're smack in the middle of having an equal chance of having a warmer or cooler winter.

I wish they'd have posted it. I remember he predicted 11 snowfalls of at least 1" this winter at the end of the segment--even had a fancy chart printed up of his prediction. Did anyone else see this segment? Or was I just high on tryptophan and hoping?

Gear Review: Swobo Merino Beanie

We don't tend to do many gear reviews here at INDYCOG, and what reviews we have done tend to be winter gear, for one primary reason:

Most seasonal commuters are seasonal only because they don't realize riding in the cold doesn't have to be miserable. All you need is the right gear.

So, keeping with tradition, I will start this winter's reviewing by presenting the Swobo Merino 6 Panel Beanie.



It's a rather dapper hood ornament that doubles as being functional. Merino wool is renown for its wicking and warming capabilities, and also for its natural "can absorb a lot of sweat and not smell like feet" capabilities, particularly handy when you sweat like I do, which is a lot.

Note also: I am sweating, a lot, from my head, in the winter, on a bike. This hat does it right and real.

My only qualm with this beanie isn't actually with the beanie at all, but with my big dome of a skull-noggin. For any normal-headed human being, the ear flaps probably extend low enough to fully cover the ears, but for me, they don't quite do the job, resulting in stinging lower ears for the first few miles before I get warmed up.

I imagine though, once it gets cold enough to couple this beanie with a balaclava, this won't even be a problem anymore. So, tit for tat, this beanie is INDYCOG approved.