It Is "That Week" Here

I have a confession to make. I am not an indoor cyclist. I tried it several times over the years, but....... Nope! Not for me. I understand many can Zwift, spin cycle, or treadmill their way through a cold snap, but this doesn't work for me. 

You might think I am just being stubborn, or maybe that I am not trying the right thing. Yeah.......no. See, my makeup is that of an outdoors exerciser, and being indoors is excruciatingly boring and limiting to my mind. So, I'm going outside even if it is just to go around the block. 

But this is not to say I am fanatical or insane. There are times I won't go outside, because, well.......it is stupid. Like this week. It is that week we usually get every Winter here where it is just not a very good idea to be outdoors exercising. 

Now, today, for instance, it is great at 32° for a forecast high temperature. I will ride today. Today is an outlier and the best day all week to ride.  However; on Thursday through until sometime on Sunday morning, our air temperature will not get above zero for the entire stretch. That is Fahrenheit, by the way, not Celsius. Add to this the winds and well......this equals "stupid". Stupid cold weather. 

This makes writing about cycling a bit challenging some days. I guess I manage to find something to talk about though! But soon things will improve weather-wise. February brings more heat, longer days, and more riding opportunities. This is but one week where, yeah, being outdoors is extremely challenging. 

Except for today. I'll ride today. 

Getting Acquainted With Frozen Toes Again

 So, with Fall well underway, we've been hit with our first hint of Winter this week. Yesterday it was cold, blustery, but really pretty out. So, I figured I may as well take this cheerful looking day to get myself reacquainted with being in cold weather. I also was wanting to get back into a groove of cycling with all that stuff ya gotta put on now. 

Sometimes it is really hard for me to find the motivation to put on 'all of that stuff'' just to get in a short-ish ride. You know the drill if you are a cold weather rider. Base layer, long tights or bibs, a wool jersey or long sleeved thermal jersey, something for under the helmet, a "buff", probably, (since you have twice as many as you used to now- Thanks pandemic!), and ya gotta drag out the booties or thermal shoes again. "Which jacket should I wear?" "Where are those nice gloves at again?"

The dance to get kitted up. gah! But I have to get into it again if I want to ride a bicycle in Iowa from October to April-ish. I know the drill. It's just kind of a drag, that's all. So, on this bright, happy looking day, (with temperatures hovering around freezing and a gusty Northwest wind), I decided to give myself a kick in the pants and just get on with it. I knew I'd be a happier fellow if I did. 

Time for "Senior Pictures"

And you know I was happier that I did get out. You especially know if you live where there are four seasons and each has a different set of rules for cycling gear. But in case you don't have such issues, trust me- You have to get geared up mentally for this as well. It's a whole different ball game when it gets cold versus when it is warm out in terms of what to wear. 

But now I have crossed that line where I know I can do this again. I got all the gear out and put away the Summer stuff. I got out there and did battle with the wind. I survived. I even smiled. And yes, I did feel a whole lot better for it. 

What's that? It's supposed to be in the 70's this weekend?  (sigh!)

Getting Acquainted With Frozen Toes Again

 So, with Fall well underway, we've been hit with our first hint of Winter this week. Yesterday it was cold, blustery, but really pretty out. So, I figured I may as well take this cheerful looking day to get myself reacquainted with being in cold weather. I also was wanting to get back into a groove of cycling with all that stuff ya gotta put on now. 

Sometimes it is really hard for me to find the motivation to put on 'all of that stuff'' just to get in a short-ish ride. You know the drill if you are a cold weather rider. Base layer, long tights or bibs, a wool jersey or long sleeved thermal jersey, something for under the helmet, a "buff", probably, (since you have twice as many as you used to now- Thanks pandemic!), and ya gotta drag out the booties or thermal shoes again. "Which jacket should I wear?" "Where are those nice gloves at again?"

The dance to get kitted up. gah! But I have to get into it again if I want to ride a bicycle in Iowa from October to April-ish. I know the drill. It's just kind of a drag, that's all. So, on this bright, happy looking day, (with temperatures hovering around freezing and a gusty Northwest wind), I decided to give myself a kick in the pants and just get on with it. I knew I'd be a happier fellow if I did. 

Time for "Senior Pictures"

And you know I was happier that I did get out. You especially know if you live where there are four seasons and each has a different set of rules for cycling gear. But in case you don't have such issues, trust me- You have to get geared up mentally for this as well. It's a whole different ball game when it gets cold versus when it is warm out in terms of what to wear. 

But now I have crossed that line where I know I can do this again. I got all the gear out and put away the Summer stuff. I got out there and did battle with the wind. I survived. I even smiled. And yes, I did feel a whole lot better for it. 

What's that? It's supposed to be in the 70's this weekend?  (sigh!)

Ridiculous

Urban gravel on the Ti Muk 2

The last two weeks have been pretty crap around here as far as the weather goes. Of course, I got sick the weekend before last, and so during my recovery we had two nice days. Now I feel great again but.....

The weather is ridiculous.

30mph winds with gusts to 50mph? Really?! And it has been way below average in terms of temperatures. March thinks April is on break so it just kept on with things. I dunno......

I've been sticking around in town of late. It's just too cold and windy for me to have any fun out in the country, so I'll wait, and wait.... 

The good news is that it is supposed to start straightening out again. Plus, what do I have to complain about? At least we didn't get any snow, tornadoes, or flooding rains. You folks who did- all the best to you! You've got it harder than I do here! 

I just feel like a bum sitting around town and I sense time slipping away. I was sure hoping to have had some nice, longer rides in by this point. I guess that will come. I just have to be a bit patient. Meanwhile the winds howl and it is hovering around the freezing mark here as I write this.
 

Ridiculous

Urban gravel on the Ti Muk 2

The last two weeks have been pretty crap around here as far as the weather goes. Of course, I got sick the weekend before last, and so during my recovery we had two nice days. Now I feel great again but.....

The weather is ridiculous.

30mph winds with gusts to 50mph? Really?! And it has been way below average in terms of temperatures. March thinks April is on break so it just kept on with things. I dunno......

I've been sticking around in town of late. It's just too cold and windy for me to have any fun out in the country, so I'll wait, and wait.... 

The good news is that it is supposed to start straightening out again. Plus, what do I have to complain about? At least we didn't get any snow, tornadoes, or flooding rains. You folks who did- all the best to you! You've got it harder than I do here! 

I just feel like a bum sitting around town and I sense time slipping away. I was sure hoping to have had some nice, longer rides in by this point. I guess that will come. I just have to be a bit patient. Meanwhile the winds howl and it is hovering around the freezing mark here as I write this.
 

A Little Catching Up: Part 3

More 'spin therapy' on the Blackborow DS.

 Okay, we've just gone through a spell of pretty cold weather, and I've not been doing any rides out in the country, or in the woods, for that matter. That's all because I am still nursing a knee back into shape. The same injury I incurred due to a bump while doing my side-hustle as a mover. 

It's been progressively getting better, but this moving gig, while not a steady job, seems to put a lot of stress on that knee. Well....both knees, if I am honest. Going up and down ramps and stairwells carrying heavy loads or pushing two-wheeled carts with heavy stuff on them is probably why that is.

This won't be a long-term hustle. Like I mentioned earlier, I told this particular individual I would help when I could and well, I wanted to uphold my word. Plus, I'm not doing much of anything else during this time anyway. But things will change. They always do, and I have been working on something that would get me into a different job. I cannot say anything yet, but I should know one way or the other before the end of the month here. 

Meanwhile I have been doing fat biking and a lot of walking. I seem to be making steady improvement with the knee so that's great. Plus I get outside. The snow, while it isn't much, is perfect for traversing by fat bike where it hasn't been trodden down, or compacted into a sheet of shiny ice/snow. I am trying to find the least beaten down paths and tracks of snow machines or whatever two tracked vehicles have been up on the flood dikes. Of course, now the weather flipped and the snow is about gone- and we're supposed to get 3-6" on Friday.

I'm keeping things 'spinny' and that's been great therapy. I'm hoping to get out on the gravel here during this "January Thaw" we have on tap right now, so we'll see......

A Little Catching Up: Part 3

More 'spin therapy' on the Blackborow DS.

 Okay, we've just gone through a spell of pretty cold weather, and I've not been doing any rides out in the country, or in the woods, for that matter. That's all because I am still nursing a knee back into shape. The same injury I incurred due to a bump while doing my side-hustle as a mover. 

It's been progressively getting better, but this moving gig, while not a steady job, seems to put a lot of stress on that knee. Well....both knees, if I am honest. Going up and down ramps and stairwells carrying heavy loads or pushing two-wheeled carts with heavy stuff on them is probably why that is.

This won't be a long-term hustle. Like I mentioned earlier, I told this particular individual I would help when I could and well, I wanted to uphold my word. Plus, I'm not doing much of anything else during this time anyway. But things will change. They always do, and I have been working on something that would get me into a different job. I cannot say anything yet, but I should know one way or the other before the end of the month here. 

Meanwhile I have been doing fat biking and a lot of walking. I seem to be making steady improvement with the knee so that's great. Plus I get outside. The snow, while it isn't much, is perfect for traversing by fat bike where it hasn't been trodden down, or compacted into a sheet of shiny ice/snow. I am trying to find the least beaten down paths and tracks of snow machines or whatever two tracked vehicles have been up on the flood dikes. Of course, now the weather flipped and the snow is about gone- and we're supposed to get 3-6" on Friday.

I'm keeping things 'spinny' and that's been great therapy. I'm hoping to get out on the gravel here during this "January Thaw" we have on tap right now, so we'll see......

It's Not A Mask Mandate, But.....

Cold weather calls for breaking out the serious pogies!

I have a 'rule' of sorts when it comes to cold weather riding. Well......I have a couple of rules, really. One: "I don't have to do anything to prove anything to anybody." So, I don't have to go ride in stupid cold weather so I can post it on social media and have everyone "oooh!" and "aaaah!" over my so called 'accomplishment' . I don't have to show anyone my disgusting 'ice-beard' to show how tough, or whatever, I am. If that offends any of you, sorry......not sorry. In the end, you do you. This is what I think about that stuff in relation to cold weather cycling and myself. 

Rule #2: In light of Rule #1, I don't ride when it gets much below 0°F and especially if there is a windchill. Why should I? It hurts. It takes forever to get dressed/undressed for it. I can get ready for a brisk walk in less time and get my exercise in less time than a bike ride would take. That is- if I even want to get outside. Sometimes even just being out of doors in Winter is a risky business around here. 

Thursday last week it was -3°F and the winds were pretty strong out of the Northwest resulting in a wind chill temperature of -30°F. Definitely not a day to get out and ride, right? Well, rules are made to be broken and I had some experimenting to do! This pandemic thing and its various accoutrements have given rise to an idea for cold weather riding which I wanted to explore. 

The ubiquitous surgical masks, which are a symbol of these times, maybe could be put to use as a face mask for cold weather riding. I had always had issues with any sort of mask for cold weather riding. I've tried several things, even one of those Cold Avenger masks. Nothing really worked all that great for me. I almost always ended up pulling off whatever mask I had on because they drive me nuts. Fogging, wetness, freezing up, slipping, and more things were just too much trouble and when I got to breathing hard, and I wanted the mask thing-a-ma-jig of the day off? I often could not do that quickly while riding, and of course, getting it back on was out of the question without stopping.
 

There's a surgical mask under that Buff.

Well, I thought maybe a surgical mask, which just loops over your ears, might work. They have a bit of structure around the top of the nose to seal off that area, which is critical to keep steam off your eyes, and they are easily moved on and off. I decided to throw on a Buff as a second layer and for more coverage. Then off I went into the sub-zero gales. 

Did it work? Well, let's just say it did well enough that I think with a little tweaking it will be almost perfection for me. Here's the only downfall in my opinion: The mask section which covers your mouth can suck in and out with your breathing. I found a way around that, but it isn't ideal. What I need to do is to build up a little bit of structure there that can support the mask bit someway. How I haven't figured out just yet. 

But as far as keeping the breath- the steamy exhaling- off my eyes? Perfect! Plus I could take the mask down easily and replace it easily with one gloved hand while riding. This is important for eating and drinking, not just for the heaviest breathing sections, but obviously, it works there as well. And if it worked well in those conditions, well, there is some promise there for my uses and needs.

Anyway, that's it! I thought I'd just share what I was doing to let you all know that these surgical masks don't have to be tossed out if you wear them a few times. I got this one and used it, washed it, it even went through the drier, and it came out well. Of course, I am not going to use it for, you know.....a mask mandate area, but for cold weather riding? Heck yeah!

It's Not A Mask Mandate, But.....

Cold weather calls for breaking out the serious pogies!

I have a 'rule' of sorts when it comes to cold weather riding. Well......I have a couple of rules, really. One: "I don't have to do anything to prove anything to anybody." So, I don't have to go ride in stupid cold weather so I can post it on social media and have everyone "oooh!" and "aaaah!" over my so called 'accomplishment' . I don't have to show anyone my disgusting 'ice-beard' to show how tough, or whatever, I am. If that offends any of you, sorry......not sorry. In the end, you do you. This is what I think about that stuff in relation to cold weather cycling and myself. 

Rule #2: In light of Rule #1, I don't ride when it gets much below 0°F and especially if there is a windchill. Why should I? It hurts. It takes forever to get dressed/undressed for it. I can get ready for a brisk walk in less time and get my exercise in less time than a bike ride would take. That is- if I even want to get outside. Sometimes even just being out of doors in Winter is a risky business around here. 

Thursday last week it was -3°F and the winds were pretty strong out of the Northwest resulting in a wind chill temperature of -30°F. Definitely not a day to get out and ride, right? Well, rules are made to be broken and I had some experimenting to do! This pandemic thing and its various accoutrements have given rise to an idea for cold weather riding which I wanted to explore. 

The ubiquitous surgical masks, which are a symbol of these times, maybe could be put to use as a face mask for cold weather riding. I had always had issues with any sort of mask for cold weather riding. I've tried several things, even one of those Cold Avenger masks. Nothing really worked all that great for me. I almost always ended up pulling off whatever mask I had on because they drive me nuts. Fogging, wetness, freezing up, slipping, and more things were just too much trouble and when I got to breathing hard, and I wanted the mask thing-a-ma-jig of the day off? I often could not do that quickly while riding, and of course, getting it back on was out of the question without stopping.
 

There's a surgical mask under that Buff.

Well, I thought maybe a surgical mask, which just loops over your ears, might work. They have a bit of structure around the top of the nose to seal off that area, which is critical to keep steam off your eyes, and they are easily moved on and off. I decided to throw on a Buff as a second layer and for more coverage. Then off I went into the sub-zero gales. 

Did it work? Well, let's just say it did well enough that I think with a little tweaking it will be almost perfection for me. Here's the only downfall in my opinion: The mask section which covers your mouth can suck in and out with your breathing. I found a way around that, but it isn't ideal. What I need to do is to build up a little bit of structure there that can support the mask bit someway. How I haven't figured out just yet. 

But as far as keeping the breath- the steamy exhaling- off my eyes? Perfect! Plus I could take the mask down easily and replace it easily with one gloved hand while riding. This is important for eating and drinking, not just for the heaviest breathing sections, but obviously, it works there as well. And if it worked well in those conditions, well, there is some promise there for my uses and needs.

Anyway, that's it! I thought I'd just share what I was doing to let you all know that these surgical masks don't have to be tossed out if you wear them a few times. I got this one and used it, washed it, it even went through the drier, and it came out well. Of course, I am not going to use it for, you know.....a mask mandate area, but for cold weather riding? Heck yeah!

Randomonium

 NOTE: Okay folks, if you haven't been around long enough here to know what a "Randomonium" post is, then here is the deal. I ramble, rant, and randomly moan about all things cycling in one, incohesive, bizarre post. "Randomonium", okay?

ColdWork M-Pact Glove (Image courtesy of Mechanix Wear)

 Got Cold Hands?

I have heard a lot of riders complain over the years about perpetually cold hands and that things like fat biking are not in the cards for them because they cannot keep their paws warm. Well, some technology in gloves I came across could be cross-purposed and maybe this problem could be rectified for some of you.

How does heated, waterproof, temperature regulated sound to ya? Pretty far out, right? Well, thanks to some rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries and some great materials, these ColdWork M-Pact Gloves might just get you out there riding in the cold. Or hiking, Or whatever..... But of course, they ain't cheap. Two hunnert n fiddy to be exact. 

But if you really want warm hands and to be able to enjoy the outdoors in Winter? Maybe this is your ticket out there. Me? I don't have any issues as long as I am working. Heck, I can take my gloves off for several minutes at a windchill temp of -30°F with no issues. Again- as long as I am working. Shoveling lately has provided the 'work', but if I am fat biking hard, the same applies. So, something like these gloves would be lost on me unless I was going out on a long, multi-hour fat bike ride where I might end up on some easier terrain for long periods. Of course, there are pogies, so......

I just thought it was an interesting product that is very cross-compatible with Winter cycling. Maybe there are cycling gloves that have similar features? I am not aware of them if they exist. It wouldn't surprise me if there  is nothing like this aimed at cycling because gloves seem to be one of the least developed areas of cycling apparel out there. Why this is, I have no clue, but we seem to spend a lot of money on shoes, helmets, bibs/shorts, jerseys, and the like, but gloves seem stuck in the dark ages of cycling. 

WTB Proterra Wheel. (Image courtesy of WTB)

Review Season Is Coming:

February 2021 has brought some of the most brutal cold we've seen in years. Combined with any winds, the snow, and the ice, you can imagine that riding out in the country on gravel at this point isn't going to amount to anything but practicing your survival mode. Sure, you can do it, and some people are, but it is borderline insane, and I mean that with as little hyperbole as humanly possible. It is just plain stupid out there when the wind chills are in the -30 range. 

But before long the tilt of the Earth and that relationship to the Sun will chase this Arctic air away and Spring will begin to appear. It will come eventually, albeit possibly very slightly, and then "Review Season" for me will be kicking in. Frankly, I cannot wait. 

The situation with regard to supply and demand in the cycling industry was bound to have some impact on what I do here with regard to reviewing stuff. I was quite prepared to be idle in that area of my life. I had already made peace with the idea that little to nothing might show up at RidingGravel.com this season. However; it appears that I will be mistaken on that, at least in the short term. I have already received a couple of things, and more is on the way, if tracking numbers are something to put your faith in. It looks as though things are going to kick off rather like a normal year this year. 

I'll have a rain jacket to get out in the wet weather with. I've got a bunch of lubricant, grease, and cleaning products to use. I'll have a new set of budget priced wheels, a very "alt" handle bar to check out, and some bar tape to go with that. I don't have anything else on my radar after these things, but if this is any indication, I may be surprised to find 2021 busier than last year was. Anyway, first things first. I have the aforementioned items coming in, and that is all I truly know. This is all supposedly going to come together in the coming weeks and if the weather turns in that time, I can hit the ground running. We'll see. 

Where Am I Going?

The aforementioned 'review season' begs the question: "Where are you going to be riding this year, GT"? And that is a great question. I've been giving some thought to this lately. The answer is......complicated. 

Much of what I do will have to be local, given my shop job and limited time off. So, thanks to the gravel road challenge I accomplished last year, I now have a new menu of routes to do which should keep boredom down compared to previous years. Locally I have several routes that I have found that I want to tweak out into new ways of connecting things. Some areas deserve to be ridden several times again, while there are some places in Black Hawk County which will likely never see me or my tire tracks again. 

There are a few places I can add in which are a short car trip away, for example Traer, Iowa, which opens up a huge amount of very challenging hills and many Level B Maintenance roads. I also want to get over to the East of where I live, but those will have to be weekend trips and special, since the localities I have in mind are an hour or more away by car from here. The same applies for routes I want to ride in other places in Iowa. An example of this would be Grinnell, where I have two routes already laid out and waiting for me to tackle. 

So, as you may have noticed, there are no events in my plans. That's right, I'm not planning on any events. Gravel Worlds.....maybe. Basically, I am taking 2021 as a 2020 v2. And quite frankly, I am perfectly fine with that. For many reasons........ But I am not getting into all of that here. The point is, I will be doing a lot of solo riding again in 2021 and I am excited to get back out there. My riding will be free, won't require reservations about this pandemic, and I can go where I want to go. There won't be the pressures of an event weekend. Just me and my bike and a gravel road. 

Unbound Gravel, and other events, are still planning on being held in 2021.

And Speaking Of Events.....

I've been trying to find a good way to deal with the fact that certain events seem hell bent for leather to have people come and ride while others are taking the much more prudent approach and just cancelling again for 2021. I've done a lot of looking into this, and I've tried to make sense of why any event would try to be having a gathering when others happening at the same time are postponing till Fall or outright cancelling. What gives? Why such inconsistency?

RAGBRAI is pushing through its event despite a new virus mutation which is said to be much more transmissible being detected in the US. Same for Unbound Gravel which is supposedly still happening the first weekend of June. Fall? Maybe then, but Summer? Yeesh! This seems rather inconsistent with what experts are saying which is that we need to continue social distancing, mask wearing, and sanitary practices all throughout the Summer. Vaccines are out there, yes, but do your research- they are not a "get out of jail free card". So, all this planning on going ahead by these "big time" events seems really out of touch with what experts are saying reality will be. If these events cancelled in 2020, why are they still being planned for 2021? 

And as I have said, I've researched this and looked into who is behind these events in question. Why would they be motivated to basically look the other way and act as though "we'll be alright here" when there is no clear evidence that anything will be any different than last year? I think this has to do with money, staying in business, and cutting losses. That's my take. 

Look at these big events and you'll find multi-million dollar corporations behind them, and in many cases, sponsors that are big corporate concerns as well. They have boards to answer to, and losing money because you are not generating revenue is not sitting well with them. Having the events in any fashion possible is therefore going to be preferable to having zero income and losing money. 

But what about smaller events? Yes, many are planning on happening as well. But in these cases, many times the events are small enough that preventing contact, and that with locals, can be achieved with ease. We're not talking thousands of participants, like we are in the cases of RAGBRAI, or Unbound Gravel and the like. And as well, many of these smaller events are cancelling.

So, it comes down to the riders then. In my opinion, you are going to have to make a decision to partake in the generation of income, pandemic be damned, or do something different, like maybe not partake in the generation of income for a corporation, because of a damn pandemic. Some are saying this is overblown, it isn't a big deal, we're all outside riding, don't worry...... Well, some have said that since a year ago. Look where we are now.......

Randomonium

 NOTE: Okay folks, if you haven't been around long enough here to know what a "Randomonium" post is, then here is the deal. I ramble, rant, and randomly moan about all things cycling in one, incohesive, bizarre post. "Randomonium", okay?

ColdWork M-Pact Glove (Image courtesy of Mechanix Wear)

 Got Cold Hands?

I have heard a lot of riders complain over the years about perpetually cold hands and that things like fat biking are not in the cards for them because they cannot keep their paws warm. Well, some technology in gloves I came across could be cross-purposed and maybe this problem could be rectified for some of you.

How does heated, waterproof, temperature regulated sound to ya? Pretty far out, right? Well, thanks to some rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries and some great materials, these ColdWork M-Pact Gloves might just get you out there riding in the cold. Or hiking, Or whatever..... But of course, they ain't cheap. Two hunnert n fiddy to be exact. 

But if you really want warm hands and to be able to enjoy the outdoors in Winter? Maybe this is your ticket out there. Me? I don't have any issues as long as I am working. Heck, I can take my gloves off for several minutes at a windchill temp of -30°F with no issues. Again- as long as I am working. Shoveling lately has provided the 'work', but if I am fat biking hard, the same applies. So, something like these gloves would be lost on me unless I was going out on a long, multi-hour fat bike ride where I might end up on some easier terrain for long periods. Of course, there are pogies, so......

I just thought it was an interesting product that is very cross-compatible with Winter cycling. Maybe there are cycling gloves that have similar features? I am not aware of them if they exist. It wouldn't surprise me if there  is nothing like this aimed at cycling because gloves seem to be one of the least developed areas of cycling apparel out there. Why this is, I have no clue, but we seem to spend a lot of money on shoes, helmets, bibs/shorts, jerseys, and the like, but gloves seem stuck in the dark ages of cycling. 

WTB Proterra Wheel. (Image courtesy of WTB)

Review Season Is Coming:

February 2021 has brought some of the most brutal cold we've seen in years. Combined with any winds, the snow, and the ice, you can imagine that riding out in the country on gravel at this point isn't going to amount to anything but practicing your survival mode. Sure, you can do it, and some people are, but it is borderline insane, and I mean that with as little hyperbole as humanly possible. It is just plain stupid out there when the wind chills are in the -30 range. 

But before long the tilt of the Earth and that relationship to the Sun will chase this Arctic air away and Spring will begin to appear. It will come eventually, albeit possibly very slightly, and then "Review Season" for me will be kicking in. Frankly, I cannot wait. 

The situation with regard to supply and demand in the cycling industry was bound to have some impact on what I do here with regard to reviewing stuff. I was quite prepared to be idle in that area of my life. I had already made peace with the idea that little to nothing might show up at RidingGravel.com this season. However; it appears that I will be mistaken on that, at least in the short term. I have already received a couple of things, and more is on the way, if tracking numbers are something to put your faith in. It looks as though things are going to kick off rather like a normal year this year. 

I'll have a rain jacket to get out in the wet weather with. I've got a bunch of lubricant, grease, and cleaning products to use. I'll have a new set of budget priced wheels, a very "alt" handle bar to check out, and some bar tape to go with that. I don't have anything else on my radar after these things, but if this is any indication, I may be surprised to find 2021 busier than last year was. Anyway, first things first. I have the aforementioned items coming in, and that is all I truly know. This is all supposedly going to come together in the coming weeks and if the weather turns in that time, I can hit the ground running. We'll see. 

Where Am I Going?

The aforementioned 'review season' begs the question: "Where are you going to be riding this year, GT"? And that is a great question. I've been giving some thought to this lately. The answer is......complicated. 

Much of what I do will have to be local, given my shop job and limited time off. So, thanks to the gravel road challenge I accomplished last year, I now have a new menu of routes to do which should keep boredom down compared to previous years. Locally I have several routes that I have found that I want to tweak out into new ways of connecting things. Some areas deserve to be ridden several times again, while there are some places in Black Hawk County which will likely never see me or my tire tracks again. 

There are a few places I can add in which are a short car trip away, for example Traer, Iowa, which opens up a huge amount of very challenging hills and many Level B Maintenance roads. I also want to get over to the East of where I live, but those will have to be weekend trips and special, since the localities I have in mind are an hour or more away by car from here. The same applies for routes I want to ride in other places in Iowa. An example of this would be Grinnell, where I have two routes already laid out and waiting for me to tackle. 

So, as you may have noticed, there are no events in my plans. That's right, I'm not planning on any events. Gravel Worlds.....maybe. Basically, I am taking 2021 as a 2020 v2. And quite frankly, I am perfectly fine with that. For many reasons........ But I am not getting into all of that here. The point is, I will be doing a lot of solo riding again in 2021 and I am excited to get back out there. My riding will be free, won't require reservations about this pandemic, and I can go where I want to go. There won't be the pressures of an event weekend. Just me and my bike and a gravel road. 

Unbound Gravel, and other events, are still planning on being held in 2021.

And Speaking Of Events.....

I've been trying to find a good way to deal with the fact that certain events seem hell bent for leather to have people come and ride while others are taking the much more prudent approach and just cancelling again for 2021. I've done a lot of looking into this, and I've tried to make sense of why any event would try to be having a gathering when others happening at the same time are postponing till Fall or outright cancelling. What gives? Why such inconsistency?

RAGBRAI is pushing through its event despite a new virus mutation which is said to be much more transmissible being detected in the US. Same for Unbound Gravel which is supposedly still happening the first weekend of June. Fall? Maybe then, but Summer? Yeesh! This seems rather inconsistent with what experts are saying which is that we need to continue social distancing, mask wearing, and sanitary practices all throughout the Summer. Vaccines are out there, yes, but do your research- they are not a "get out of jail free card". So, all this planning on going ahead by these "big time" events seems really out of touch with what experts are saying reality will be. If these events cancelled in 2020, why are they still being planned for 2021? 

And as I have said, I've researched this and looked into who is behind these events in question. Why would they be motivated to basically look the other way and act as though "we'll be alright here" when there is no clear evidence that anything will be any different than last year? I think this has to do with money, staying in business, and cutting losses. That's my take. 

Look at these big events and you'll find multi-million dollar corporations behind them, and in many cases, sponsors that are big corporate concerns as well. They have boards to answer to, and losing money because you are not generating revenue is not sitting well with them. Having the events in any fashion possible is therefore going to be preferable to having zero income and losing money. 

But what about smaller events? Yes, many are planning on happening as well. But in these cases, many times the events are small enough that preventing contact, and that with locals, can be achieved with ease. We're not talking thousands of participants, like we are in the cases of RAGBRAI, or Unbound Gravel and the like. And as well, many of these smaller events are cancelling.

So, it comes down to the riders then. In my opinion, you are going to have to make a decision to partake in the generation of income, pandemic be damned, or do something different, like maybe not partake in the generation of income for a corporation, because of a damn pandemic. Some are saying this is overblown, it isn't a big deal, we're all outside riding, don't worry...... Well, some have said that since a year ago. Look where we are now.......

Styrofoam Snow Days

It's been so cold that I actually got out the ATV pogies.

A deep Winter freeze has settled in over the Upper Mid-West. A classic Winter deep freeze that generally lasts 10-14 days. We haven't really seen anything quite like this for several years. That said, it used to be that this happened every Winter. 

This one is not a bad swing. Sure- we've seen sub 20 below, but barely. It still gets above 0°F every day. The Sun shines and the fresh snow is bright and retina burning. The snow is crunchy-scrunchy when you roll over it. I call it "Styrofoam snow". 

I haven't been going out for long stretches or anywhere other than the neighborhood. I don't feel like I have a lot in the tank for a big ride right now because this deep cold really sucks the life out of you. So its been goofing off and just trying to do some things that are hard to do and in a setting that doesn't come all that often. The penalty for failing these moves is falling into a pile of snow, so yeah.... It's a fun time of year when the conditions are right. 

With this deep cold I also have to kind of time the ride for the warmest part of the day. Lately that has worked out since it has gotten up into the single digits and the wind has been light. But this weekend is horrible. Waaaaay too cold! I'll be doing things in the Lab, or cowering under a blanket! One or the other! 

One thing about these cold snaps- they end. Looks like next week we rebound and then it will be a slow ascent toward springtime temperatures. Gotta figure that it won't be long now. The days are lengthening, the Sun is riding higher daily, and I can feel the radiation again, despite the sub-zero temperatures, as long as the Sun is out. 

The snow will melt soon and 'Slop Season' will replace this Styrofoam snow soon enough.

Styrofoam Snow Days

It's been so cold that I actually got out the ATV pogies.

A deep Winter freeze has settled in over the Upper Mid-West. A classic Winter deep freeze that generally lasts 10-14 days. We haven't really seen anything quite like this for several years. That said, it used to be that this happened every Winter. 

This one is not a bad swing. Sure- we've seen sub 20 below, but barely. It still gets above 0°F every day. The Sun shines and the fresh snow is bright and retina burning. The snow is crunchy-scrunchy when you roll over it. I call it "Styrofoam snow". 

I haven't been going out for long stretches or anywhere other than the neighborhood. I don't feel like I have a lot in the tank for a big ride right now because this deep cold really sucks the life out of you. So its been goofing off and just trying to do some things that are hard to do and in a setting that doesn't come all that often. The penalty for failing these moves is falling into a pile of snow, so yeah.... It's a fun time of year when the conditions are right. 

With this deep cold I also have to kind of time the ride for the warmest part of the day. Lately that has worked out since it has gotten up into the single digits and the wind has been light. But this weekend is horrible. Waaaaay too cold! I'll be doing things in the Lab, or cowering under a blanket! One or the other! 

One thing about these cold snaps- they end. Looks like next week we rebound and then it will be a slow ascent toward springtime temperatures. Gotta figure that it won't be long now. The days are lengthening, the Sun is riding higher daily, and I can feel the radiation again, despite the sub-zero temperatures, as long as the Sun is out. 

The snow will melt soon and 'Slop Season' will replace this Styrofoam snow soon enough.

How Low Will You Go?

The coldest air temp I ever rode in was -18 in 2015.

 I get a question every Winter. It goes something like this: "How cold does it have to get before you won't ride to work?" I have already fielded this question in 2021, and I get it every Winter, but the funny thing is, I don't know that I have ever addressed this specifically on the blog. If I have it has been a long time ago. 

So, since this weekend marks, probably, the coldest it will get this Winter, I thought I would share the answer I give people for this query. It's a bit more detailed than you might think. 

First of all, wind plays a huge factor in this decision. Wind is a killer- for me at least- in terms of really cold riding. It is so hard to keep the wind off you - everywhere off you- when temperatures dip down below zero Fahrenheit. The wind bites at any chink in your armor and I mean you have to be zipped up air tight when it really gets windy and around zero or below. 

So, typically severe wind chill is the first 'no-go' scenario for me. I just do not see the need to buy the gear that would allow me to ride in weather like that, because for one- it is very expensive gear. Secondly, I'd rarely need to use it, which brings up point number two: Do I really need to ride when it gets 'stupid-cold'? 

See, I have nothing to prove to anyone. This isn't a contest. There is no reward for beating myself up in raging winds and below zero temperatures. I mean- just to get to work? No. No thank you. Others can get out in the bad weather, post to social media and get the 'ooo's' and the 'ahs!' I'm good with being smart about where I push the limits and where I do not. I've been there and I've paid the price. I've been lucky to not have gotten permanent injuries and I am still ticking along just fine over here. No need to do anything stupid. 

On the other hand: When it is calm, around zero, and Sunny? There may be no more beautiful time to be out riding in Winter. I've had some really serene, spectacular, and soul-satisfying rides at or just below zero when the conditions are right. I have the clothing and gear for this sort of riding. When it is good like that, then it makes sense to me to ride. But this weekend? Yeah........bad wind chills and well below zero most of the time, so you won't probably be seeing me out there. If the chance presents itself though, and the conditions are right, you might see me out. 

But again- I have nothing to prove in this area to anyone. My advice? Be smart. Deep cold is no joke and getting frostbitten or worse is not worth it. Stay safe y'all!

How Low Will You Go?

The coldest air temp I ever rode in was -18 in 2015.

 I get a question every Winter. It goes something like this: "How cold does it have to get before you won't ride to work?" I have already fielded this question in 2021, and I get it every Winter, but the funny thing is, I don't know that I have ever addressed this specifically on the blog. If I have it has been a long time ago. 

So, since this weekend marks, probably, the coldest it will get this Winter, I thought I would share the answer I give people for this query. It's a bit more detailed than you might think. 

First of all, wind plays a huge factor in this decision. Wind is a killer- for me at least- in terms of really cold riding. It is so hard to keep the wind off you - everywhere off you- when temperatures dip down below zero Fahrenheit. The wind bites at any chink in your armor and I mean you have to be zipped up air tight when it really gets windy and around zero or below. 

So, typically severe wind chill is the first 'no-go' scenario for me. I just do not see the need to buy the gear that would allow me to ride in weather like that, because for one- it is very expensive gear. Secondly, I'd rarely need to use it, which brings up point number two: Do I really need to ride when it gets 'stupid-cold'? 

See, I have nothing to prove to anyone. This isn't a contest. There is no reward for beating myself up in raging winds and below zero temperatures. I mean- just to get to work? No. No thank you. Others can get out in the bad weather, post to social media and get the 'ooo's' and the 'ahs!' I'm good with being smart about where I push the limits and where I do not. I've been there and I've paid the price. I've been lucky to not have gotten permanent injuries and I am still ticking along just fine over here. No need to do anything stupid. 

On the other hand: When it is calm, around zero, and Sunny? There may be no more beautiful time to be out riding in Winter. I've had some really serene, spectacular, and soul-satisfying rides at or just below zero when the conditions are right. I have the clothing and gear for this sort of riding. When it is good like that, then it makes sense to me to ride. But this weekend? Yeah........bad wind chills and well below zero most of the time, so you won't probably be seeing me out there. If the chance presents itself though, and the conditions are right, you might see me out. 

But again- I have nothing to prove in this area to anyone. My advice? Be smart. Deep cold is no joke and getting frostbitten or worse is not worth it. Stay safe y'all!

The Renegade Gent's Race Steed

This will be the rig going to Slater, Iowa Saturday.

So, I have a question for everyone today. How's your February going? (You who live in the Mid-West will understand!)

Man! I tell ya, this weather is outlandish. It was 19°F yesterday at noon here and I had to pry open the vehicle's doors since they were all frozen shut in the morning. With the Sun at such a high angle, the ground, where it is bare, is soft and melted, yet the air temperature and Northwest wind say it is still Winter yet. Such an odd combination of things going on with the climate here. I've not seen anything like it in a long time, if ever.

And this isn't going away in time for the weekend's Renegade Gent's Race. It will be cold at the start. Probably in the upper teens, and it will only reach the mid-thirties for the day. At least the winds are supposed to be light! Then I see where the area may receive a little snow Friday. If that is the case the roads may be messy. Fenders would be nice. The Raleigh Tamland has them and that bike has proven its mettle in bad conditions already this season, whatever "this season" is. It certainly isn't Spring!

I'm liking the set up on that bike so far, but I probably will add a seat pack or a top tube Tangle Bag to add a bit more cargo space for clothing. I've a feeling I may want to swap out gloves, as an example.  I played around with a few options on Wednesday to see what I thought might work best.

It was a good thing the Easter Sunday ride was a cold one, because it will mimic what I am about to experience Saturday. I have a good idea of what to wear and what to do about my feet. I am very close to pulling the trigger on installing flats so I can wear warmer footwear. That said, I think a good vapor barrier on the feet will keep me warm.

Stay tuned for a report on the event for this coming Monday.

The Renegade Gent's Race Steed

This will be the rig going to Slater, Iowa Saturday.

So, I have a question for everyone today. How's your February going? (You who live in the Mid-West will understand!)

Man! I tell ya, this weather is outlandish. It was 19°F yesterday at noon here and I had to pry open the vehicle's doors since they were all frozen shut in the morning. With the Sun at such a high angle, the ground, where it is bare, is soft and melted, yet the air temperature and Northwest wind say it is still Winter yet. Such an odd combination of things going on with the climate here. I've not seen anything like it in a long time, if ever.

And this isn't going away in time for the weekend's Renegade Gent's Race. It will be cold at the start. Probably in the upper teens, and it will only reach the mid-thirties for the day. At least the winds are supposed to be light! Then I see where the area may receive a little snow Friday. If that is the case the roads may be messy. Fenders would be nice. The Raleigh Tamland has them and that bike has proven its mettle in bad conditions already this season, whatever "this season" is. It certainly isn't Spring!

I'm liking the set up on that bike so far, but I probably will add a seat pack or a top tube Tangle Bag to add a bit more cargo space for clothing. I've a feeling I may want to swap out gloves, as an example.  I played around with a few options on Wednesday to see what I thought might work best.

It was a good thing the Easter Sunday ride was a cold one, because it will mimic what I am about to experience Saturday. I have a good idea of what to wear and what to do about my feet. I am very close to pulling the trigger on installing flats so I can wear warmer footwear. That said, I think a good vapor barrier on the feet will keep me warm.

Stay tuned for a report on the event for this coming Monday.

Friday News And Views

Paul Components Boxcar 35mm long stem

Larger And Larger:

Nothing really "new" here, but maybe you weren't aware that stems are gradually moving toward a 35mm clamp diameter standard. As with previously enlarged clamp diameter moves, this is motivated by down hill and mountain biking.

Road cycling pretty much jumped right on when 31.8mm handle bar clamp diameter stems were introduced, because sprinters claimed it made the bikes handle more precisely in those frenzied, end-of-stage melee's. However; this hasn't yet happened to any real extent with this 35mm diameter clamp standard.

That doesn't mean that this standard won't supplant 31.8mm for mountain biking. Longer travel mountain bikes and wider handle bars have driven this standard forward and more and more companies are starting to offer stems in this standard. Paul Components being one of latest to do so. (Whoops- Thanks to a smarter reader than I this is actually a 35mm long stem  Thanks for the catch. But 35mm clamp diameter stems do exist.) It seems ironic that in 20 years we've gone from the old 25.4mm clamp standard stem and 135mm long stems to 35mm clamp stems with 50mm lengths! It makes one wonder if there won't be a "correction" in geometry and components in the future. Maybe a little longer stems, less wide handle bars. Not to mention front center lengths coming back down a bit along with less slack head angles.

Maybe someday we'll look back in a bin and say, "Hey! Remember when we all used to run these stubby stems? Wow, that was odd, wasn't it?"

It makes people grumpy, that technology.

 Get Your Air Pressure Via One Of 79 Channels:

Whenever something hits the consumer marketplace that has been infused with some newfangled technology when previously it has been just a mundane object, we all seem to lose our minds. I'm a self-avowed "retro-grouch", but I have been getting around my proclivities over the last decade for not being very open minded about "gizmos", although, I am often not very taken with some of them. Like GPS computers, for instance. I just really have a hard time getting enthused about what they do. Meh! Don't mind me.

I still use a GPS based computer, but mostly just as I would an analog computer. The rest of what it can do doesn't capture my imagination. But I don't get all bent out of shape about this existing as a potentially powerful tool in the hands of others. If it trips yer trigger, fine. But many folks do get bent, and yes....I used to too. Take Di2 for instance. I wasn't a fan early on, then I rode the stuff.

Whoa!

Mind blown and all. Anyway...... Silca released this mini-pump with technology which talks to your smartphone via "Bluetooth" radio transmission and transfers pressure data to your phone via an app. It essentially makes your phone part of a highly accurate pressure gauge. I wrote a review on the one Silca sent over here. There have been some interesting responses to the review that remind me of how I used to be about stuff like this. I get it.....

And while it may not be for you, investing any amount of angst about its very existence seems like a waste of energy. There will be adopters and as long as the product does what they say it will do, then hey.....what the heck. The world doesn't need "just another mini-pump", but one that adds a cool feature? Maybe that is worthwhile. Expensive? Darn tootin' it is, but maybe this will catch on and competition could drive the prices down. Or it won't fly and it will go away. Who knows......

Ice jam on the Black Hawk Creek.

Brown Season Returns:

 With the recent warmer weather and our light snow cover, we have seen it all melt away and now are in the clutches of "Brown Season" once again.

I find it kind of irritating when we have single digit temperatures, wind chills way below zero, and it looks like Fall outside. This is "fake Winter"! Heck, the only things around here that are white and frozen are the occasional water puddles in the single track and the ice jams on the creeks. Snow? Pfffft!

It's like being stuck in some kind of seasonal version of Purgatory. Neither Fall nor Winter, and too windy and cold to get out on the gravel without being bundled up to the point that all you can comfortably ride is a fat bike. May as well stay in the woods and plunk around. That's exactly what I've been doing of late too.

The good news is that we are supposed to get some sort of weather over the weekend through Monday which has a promise of snow. The bad news is that it is the typical lower moisture snow which is being predicted. That usually blows around until there is a thin covering on the trails then it evaporates at the first sign of bright Sunshine due to ts low moisture content. In otherwords, not snow that adds up to fun Winter sporting activities.

But, we have a maximum of six more weeks of Winter and then it will be over. Spring will be in the air and we can move on to a new season to complain about! Ha!

Everyone have a great weekend and don't get too crazy Sunday over that "super game"!

Friday News And Views

Paul Components Boxcar 35mm long stem

Larger And Larger:

Nothing really "new" here, but maybe you weren't aware that stems are gradually moving toward a 35mm clamp diameter standard. As with previously enlarged clamp diameter moves, this is motivated by down hill and mountain biking.

Road cycling pretty much jumped right on when 31.8mm handle bar clamp diameter stems were introduced, because sprinters claimed it made the bikes handle more precisely in those frenzied, end-of-stage melee's. However; this hasn't yet happened to any real extent with this 35mm diameter clamp standard.

That doesn't mean that this standard won't supplant 31.8mm for mountain biking. Longer travel mountain bikes and wider handle bars have driven this standard forward and more and more companies are starting to offer stems in this standard. Paul Components being one of latest to do so. (Whoops- Thanks to a smarter reader than I this is actually a 35mm long stem  Thanks for the catch. But 35mm clamp diameter stems do exist.) It seems ironic that in 20 years we've gone from the old 25.4mm clamp standard stem and 135mm long stems to 35mm clamp stems with 50mm lengths! It makes one wonder if there won't be a "correction" in geometry and components in the future. Maybe a little longer stems, less wide handle bars. Not to mention front center lengths coming back down a bit along with less slack head angles.

Maybe someday we'll look back in a bin and say, "Hey! Remember when we all used to run these stubby stems? Wow, that was odd, wasn't it?"

It makes people grumpy, that technology.

 Get Your Air Pressure Via One Of 79 Channels:

Whenever something hits the consumer marketplace that has been infused with some newfangled technology when previously it has been just a mundane object, we all seem to lose our minds. I'm a self-avowed "retro-grouch", but I have been getting around my proclivities over the last decade for not being very open minded about "gizmos", although, I am often not very taken with some of them. Like GPS computers, for instance. I just really have a hard time getting enthused about what they do. Meh! Don't mind me.

I still use a GPS based computer, but mostly just as I would an analog computer. The rest of what it can do doesn't capture my imagination. But I don't get all bent out of shape about this existing as a potentially powerful tool in the hands of others. If it trips yer trigger, fine. But many folks do get bent, and yes....I used to too. Take Di2 for instance. I wasn't a fan early on, then I rode the stuff.

Whoa!

Mind blown and all. Anyway...... Silca released this mini-pump with technology which talks to your smartphone via "Bluetooth" radio transmission and transfers pressure data to your phone via an app. It essentially makes your phone part of a highly accurate pressure gauge. I wrote a review on the one Silca sent over here. There have been some interesting responses to the review that remind me of how I used to be about stuff like this. I get it.....

And while it may not be for you, investing any amount of angst about its very existence seems like a waste of energy. There will be adopters and as long as the product does what they say it will do, then hey.....what the heck. The world doesn't need "just another mini-pump", but one that adds a cool feature? Maybe that is worthwhile. Expensive? Darn tootin' it is, but maybe this will catch on and competition could drive the prices down. Or it won't fly and it will go away. Who knows......

Ice jam on the Black Hawk Creek.

Brown Season Returns:

 With the recent warmer weather and our light snow cover, we have seen it all melt away and now are in the clutches of "Brown Season" once again.

I find it kind of irritating when we have single digit temperatures, wind chills way below zero, and it looks like Fall outside. This is "fake Winter"! Heck, the only things around here that are white and frozen are the occasional water puddles in the single track and the ice jams on the creeks. Snow? Pfffft!

It's like being stuck in some kind of seasonal version of Purgatory. Neither Fall nor Winter, and too windy and cold to get out on the gravel without being bundled up to the point that all you can comfortably ride is a fat bike. May as well stay in the woods and plunk around. That's exactly what I've been doing of late too.

The good news is that we are supposed to get some sort of weather over the weekend through Monday which has a promise of snow. The bad news is that it is the typical lower moisture snow which is being predicted. That usually blows around until there is a thin covering on the trails then it evaporates at the first sign of bright Sunshine due to ts low moisture content. In otherwords, not snow that adds up to fun Winter sporting activities.

But, we have a maximum of six more weeks of Winter and then it will be over. Spring will be in the air and we can move on to a new season to complain about! Ha!

Everyone have a great weekend and don't get too crazy Sunday over that "super game"!

Cold Weather Head Gear Strategy

The Blackborow DS post ride.

Everytime we get some "Real Winter" to enjoy I am thinking a lot about how to deal with the cold weather. I have a lot of my cold weather strategies figured out now after having the opportunity to be on a fat bike every year since 2011. Even the few years before that I was regularly out riding 29"ers in the Winter trying different things to stay warm.

One thing that has often been a struggle for me is how to keep my face warm when it gets around 0° or below with any wind at all. Exposed skin is vulnerable to frostbite pretty quickly in these temperatures and the first instinct is to cover everything up. That may work for some folks, but for me, it was never an option. Everyone has their own issues, preferences, and style when it comes to cold weather head gear, but I thought it may be helpful for some of you dealing with these things to read about a solution I have found works great for me. But first, here's what I don't like.....

I don't like balaclavas because I feel uncomfortable in them and they shift on my face enough that I spend way too much time futzing with the position to get it "just so" that I get frustrated. I have tried using the Cold Avenger thing which I found wasn't dealing with my air intake efficiently and it just felt awful to me. It didn't fit right and no amount of positioning could help with that for myself, anyway.

Then I tried Buff type fabric tubes. This has been a lot better deal for me, but I still had issues with how the fabric, in my case the synthetic type meant for cool weather uses, compressed my nose down if I tried using it as a face mask/balaclava-like deal. I almost always pulled it down to just cover my mouth, if that, and well.......then your nose is sticking out there. Not ideal in sub-zero weather.

Cruising some internet information on fat bikes I started to notice guys wearing strips of fabric across their noses which were like bandanas. Separate from whatever they had on their face/jaw area. Jay Petervary then posted about what he was doing. He used a cut down Buff and then put it around his head to just cover the nose with another fabric tube used lower down over his jaw/mouth area. Of course, he had head gear on up top, but that isn't hard to figure out. I decided to give that idea a try this Winter.

Not much  for looks! But it was the best set up I've tried.

I happen to have about five fabric Buff-like tubes, all stretchy, thin ones meant for warmer weather use, but for my uses, work perfect in Winter. Anything that keeps the wind off is all I need, typically. That said, Buffs come in heavier fabrics like wool if you want to go with a more insulating layer.

My head gear layers went something like the following:

• Polarfleece beanie
• Twin Six Wool hoodie
• Buff fabric tube over the top (The camo piece you can see in the image here.)
• Red cotton bandana rolled up to just cover my nose with a corner draped down over my mouth.
• Spy Optic amber lensed "shield"type eyewear.
• "Old Man Winter" Bontrager coat

That was it. The temperatures I was riding in were at 5°F or slightly below with a bit of wind, so the windchill was well below zero. Now typically I would be only able to put up with cold on my face like that by either using a system I was unhappy with and had to fuss over constantly, or this new set up which was a joy to use. The difference maker was the bit over the nose and how I had it set up.

With the bandana corner hanging down over my mouth, I had a couple things going on that were pluses. One was that my breath was directed away from my glasses which kept them fog-free throughout the ride. Secondly, if I needed to drink, spit, or just wanted to have my mouth free I simply flipped that corner of fabric up and I could easily have access to my mouth or be able to spit, etc. Note- The bandana froze at the corner which made this even easier to do.

Now, I am not saying this is "the way to go" for everyone. I am suggesting that what JayPee and others are doing is a smart solution and by using different fabrics and arrangements you probably could achieve similar results. As for myself, I am good with my simple, easy to use, and readily at hand solution for these brutal temperatures and conditions. I rode 2.5hrs with this set up and went home only because I wanted to. I could have ridden a lot longer in total comfort.

By the looks of things, I may not have to bust this system out again this Winter, but if the really cold stuff comes back, I will be ready.