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Still Figuring out Dressing for Cold Weather Cycling
After getting far too cold on two of my bike rides this past week, it’s obvious that I’m still figuring out what to wear when cycling in cooler temps. I don’t have a lot of experience with cold weather riding and have learned quickly how much the breeze of gliding through the air at a much faster speed than when running keeps me from warming up in the same way. I have the gear necessary to keep me warm, but I’ve got to learn to use it and the huge pockets on the back of my jersey just waiting to hold layers as I shed them.
Overview of the Week
Before discussing each day’s workouts, here’s an overview of my workouts from this past week. Scroll down for daily details…
Sunday
Cycling: 34 miles
• Average speed: 11.8 MPH
• Bike: Cannondale Topstone
• Surface: mostly gravel
• Elevation gain: 2,766 feet
• Start time: 8:55 AM
• Location: Loudoun and Fauquier Counties
• Weather: 52° and overcast, climbing to 63° and sunny
• What I wore: bike short bibs, s/s jersey, arm sleeves, jacket, ear-warmer headband, fingerless gloves over light gloves (removed jacket and base gloves around mile 20)
We joined three other friends for a beautiful gravel ride on a loop around Middleburg, The Plains, and Marshall. With heavy rain all day Friday and into Saturday morning, our ride was transformed from recent dustiness to a muddy mess. The roads seemed to have deteriorated with washed out areas, potholes aplenty, and increased washboards.
On a side note, I gave my new saddle (affiliate link) its first official ride and it felt great! Neither my sit bones nor my girl parts complained and I’m so glad Kim‘s husband suggested it as an option.
Monday
Strength Training: 1 hour of total body
Walking (with a little running): 2 miles
• Average pace: 13:45
• Start time: 9:32 AM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 52° and sunny
• What I wore: capris, s/s tee, fleece jacket, visor, and gloves (removed jacket last half mile)
I got out for my walk a little later than planned and had to run the final half mile to get back to my house in time to train my next client, thus the faster walking pace. I wasn’t wearing my preferred running shoes and my left heal complained when I ran. Luckily, it was fine once I stopped and hasn’t bothered me since.
Tuesday
Cycling: 32 miles
• Average speed: 15.1 MPH
• Bike: Specialized Roubaix Comp
• Surface: paved
• Elevation gain: 925 feet
• Start time: 7:29 AM
• Location: W&OD Trail and roads to Hamilton
• Weather: 43° and overcast, dropping to 39° and rainy
• What I wore: bike short bibs, s/s jersey, arm sleeves, jacket, ear-warmer headband, winter gloves over fingerless gloves
With no rain in the forecast until 11 AM, Bill and I headed out to vote before continuing on with our ride. We were dressed comfortably… until the rain started. About eight miles into our ride we felt a few sprinkles, then a few more, and finally a steady rain fell while chilling us to the bone.
My hands and toes were completely numb and I was nervous I wouldn’t be able to stop my bike with my frozen hands unable to squeeze the levers of the wet squeaking disc brakes. We made it home safely and I even set a few Strava segment PR’s in the process as I pedaled as hard as I could to our warm dry house.
Wednesday
Running: 5K
• Average pace: 9:14
• Start time: 6 AM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 33° (feels like 29°)
• What I wore: capris, s/s t-shirt, nylon shell jacket, heavy ear warmer headband, winter gloves covered with mittens
The air temperature wasn’t below freezing, but the feels like was 29° so I had my first test of choosing the correct layering after a summer of shorts and a tank. I felt slightly overdressed (I would have preferred a tank to my tee), but felt I might get too cold if I removed my jacket. It was my first run since spring wearing gloves covered with mittens and my fingers never felt too hot.
Strength Training: 1 hour of total body
Foam rolling: 10 minutes
Stretching: 10 minutes
Thursday
Cycling: 38 miles
• Average speed: 14.2 MPH
• Bike: Specialized Roubaix Comp
• Surface: paved
• Elevation gain: 1,932 feet
• Start time: 1:10 PM
• Location: W&OD Trail and roads to Hamilton with Thomas Mill Climb
• Weather: 49° and partly cloudy, climbing to 51°
• What I wore: bike shorts, s/s jersey, arm sleeves, ear-warmer headband, fingerless gloves over light gloves
I immediately knew I’d underdressed as I pulled out of my neighborhood, but assumed I’d warm up once I got moving. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen and by the time I realized I wasn’t warming up as expected I was too far from home and too stubborn to turn around. The only time was wasn’t shivering was while climbing Thomas Mill Road, a 1.55-mile long climb with grades up to 15%. Thanks to the lack of shade and extra energy I was expending, my body warmed up… slightly. The fun speedy trip back down was offset by my teeth chattering – the wind really blows past you when your speed get ups to 32 MPH. A warm shower post-ride has never felt so good!
Friday
Strength Training: 1 hour of total body
Balance and Stretching: 45 minutes
Saturday
Running: 5K
• Average pace: 9:42
• Start time: 10:28 AM
• Location: neighborhood trails
• Weather: 41° (feels like 38°) and sunny
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, nylon shell, and gloves (took gloves off one mile into run)
Walking: 1 mile
• Average pace: 15:49
• Start time: 10:28 AM
• Location: neighborhood trails
• Weather: 45° and sunny
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, nylon shell, and gloves (put gloves back on)
I didn’t head out for my run until after it had warmed up from a 29° early morning low. It was a delightful fall day and the later start made it much more comfortable. When I finished my run I didn’t want to go back inside so I walked for a mile.
Foam rolling: 10 minutes
Stretching: 10 minutes
Last Week’s Blog Posts
In case you skipped checking in on my blog this past week, here’s what you missed…
- • Sunday – Weekly Rundown: October 24 – 30 / A Reset with a Lighter Workout Week
- • Friday – Catching Up Over Coffee: A Jealous Dog, Dog Poop, and Walking into a Bar
Questions:
- • Have you ever had one of those runs or rides where you were underdressed and regretted not turning around to add a layer?
- • How’s fall shaping up in your neck of the woods? Do you still have leaves on the trees?
- • Did you run in a race this weekend? If so, was it live or virtual?
And that’s my rundown… Have a great week!
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I’m linking up with Deborah at Confessions of a Mother Runner and Kim from Running on the Fly for their Weekly Run Down. Be sure to check out not only the hosts’ posts, but those of the other great bloggers joining in on the fun!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on the blue product link and then make a purchase, I will receive a small commission for referring you. You will pay no more or less for the product; however, Amazon will show their gratitude for my referral by paying me.
I’m definitely a fair weather cyclist! I run outside all year long but biking really ups the wind chill factor. You are brave!
We have peak colors right now and perfect weather. I’m going to head out shortly for a longish walk/run to take it all in before they all drop this week.
I’m really trying hard to keep cycling outside until after our Miami to Key West ride in early January. After that I’ll stay inside on my spin bike until it warms up again.
Enjoy your beautiful fall while it lasts!
No race until next Sunday.
The common theme seems to be dressing right in the Fall.
I ran early yesterday and froze so added second pair of gloves, beanie and a vest. Then continued. I was too warm. Ugh.
It’s so hard to figure out the right layers. I seem to do much better when running than when cycling, though.
Love the creative leaf pics! So pretty. Fall is gorgeous in your neck of the woods!
Thanks, and yes, we’re having a very pretty fall.
Oh yes! Cycling in cold weather is hard. With running, you can be cold at the start but warm up as it goes on. Not so on the bike! Some of the coldest moments of my life have been while cycling (back in the day.) I guess it’s the type of thing you get better at the more you do it. By January you will have it all figured out!
In January I’ll be riding in sunny warm Florida so I won’t need to think about what to wear. LOL Once the Miami to Key West ride is behind me, I plan to hunker down in the basement on my spin cycle until it gets warm again. LOL
Oh yes, the cold temps are outright frigid on a bike! I was doing so much more outdoor cycling last year (#StressFracture) and I very well remember the layering game (not that I ever mastered it).
Kimberly Hatting recently posted…BRRRing It!
I don’t think I’ll ever master layer on a bike because there are so many external factors involved. Like today, for example, I was dressed perfectly until the wind whipped up. Fortunately, that was near the end of our ride when the temperature had climbed a bit warmer so I only got cold, not frozen. 😉
The transitional months are always really tricky! I thought I’d overdressed this morning (mainly because I got out later than intended) but in the end it was fine and I don’t mind getting sweaty.
I can only imagine how cold it must be to ride in the rain!
Yeppers, I know we all go through the same thing in the spring…
The wind definitely makes it tricky for dressing. I am not a fan of cycling outside in the cold. Don’t mind running though I would rather be cold than hot
Deborah Brooks recently posted…Weekly Run Down A Jam Packed Visit to the Windy City
Agreed, I like cold weather running and warm weather cycling.
Dressing for cycling is challenging for me too! I don’t mind needing to warm up a bit, but I hate being cold for long, but also hate being too warm. My husband usually needs 2-3 more layers than I do, so I can’t go by what he wears. I’m sure you’ll figure it out!
That’s funny that you can tell what to wear based on what your husband is wearing. Similarly, when I was coaching marathoners for Worldgate, my runners said they’d wait until I got out of the car for our long run to see what I was wearing and then they’d add one more layer for themselves.
I struggle to ride when it gets cold. The helmet is so claustrophobic (for me), and then I start adding layers and it’s a mess. Then again, I can barely manage t deal with running clothes when it’s cold, so I guess it all tracks.
It sounds like you live in the perfect climate so you don’t have to layer as much as if you lived where it’s colder.