Morning rides in cold weather

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I want to ride before work but obviously it's dark out now and starting to get cold. Can anyone recommend a cheap but decent headlight and also some cold weather jackets that come in tall sizes?

I have been a year round bicycle commuter for several years in Norfolk, Virginia. I don't know what the weather is like where you are, but one of the places I got a lot of useful information for winter riding was www.icebike.org. No, it is not that cold in Norfolk, but a lot of the information is good for getting a start.

I tend to layer. I have a couple of long sleeved jerseys, a light winter jogging top I was given for christmas a few years ago, and an Exte Ondo Windstopper jacket I got on ebay. I put on enough to be slightly chilly when I start my commute. As I ride, I warm up.

As far as lights go, I have several different basic, run of the mill, headlights and taillights. I also have two flashing red lights that I can attach to my wrists like Cateye LD100 Red Safety Light. It is very nice in the dark to have lights on your wrists so that motorists will be more likely to see your hand signals. The Nashbar Tiny Light Set looks like it would be similarly useful.

My bottom line is that I do not need a head light that is going to light my path for me because I do not have much of my path that is really dark. I have street lamps and such helping me.

I use lights and reflective vests to make me more visible to cars.

I tend to layer. I have a couple of long sleeved jerseys, a light winter jogging top I was given for christmas a few years ago, and an Exte Ondo Windstopper jacket I got on ebay. I put on enough to be slightly chilly when I start my commute. As I ride, I warm up.


I also layer - and tend to strip off clothes once I start to warm up. I have the misfortune of having the first 2 miles of my commute be downhill, which is not what you want in the winter - at least I am nice and warm when I get home :)

I find that the things that get coldest are hands, feet and face. For my hands I have a variety of gloves, going from thin, full finger gloves, up through ski gloves. For my feet, I wear Lake winter cycling boots. Face I use a variety of caps, balaclavas etc. I have been thinking of getting a full face mountain bike helmet for winter, and wearing ski goggles over my normal glasses rather than the cycling specific glasses that I wear usually.

been riding for several years here in michigan. i use a light by trek on the handle bars and seat post. i also have one attached to my helmet using the seat post attaching bracket around the rear of my helmet. also have one on a headband that i got from rei in the hiking dept. the cheap light work but do not last or put out the light.you can get a good light,front and back for under 40 dollars. remember the lights are for drivers to see you, not so much to see where you are going.if you have to see that far ahead of you expect to spend several hundred dollars. you may hurt in the pocketbook,but will light up an acre.