A good example of what not to wear when out on your fall rides. At least my Brompton folding bike looks prepared.
Have you had that thought yet? That feeling that maybe you should have packed a sweater? That urge to stop in the next little coffee shop for a quick warm up? Yep, it’s getting a little colder in our big city but that doesn’t mean you have to retire your folding bike to the closet and sulk down into the subway… No! We can’t accept that here at NYCeWheels.
If there is one thing we believe about bicycling it’s that you can enjoy it no matter what. And part of that enjoyment is facing any weather and any temperature.
It’s not that we don’t like sitting in crowded subway cars, sweating under layers of winter clothes… well, maybe it is. But it’s not that the we love seeing snow and experiencing rain storms too much to keep ourselves inside… umm… actually that’s another reason. I guess we can’t hide it. Our unabashed love of bicycling gets us out there no matter what. And if you’re like us you’ll be looking to prepare yourself about now for all those fall folding bike rides to come.
So how do you keep biking when NYC gets cold?
Well to start off it helps to have the security of knowing you have alternatives if things get uncomfortable. Riding a folding bicycle assures you that you can always jump in a cab or subway car in a pinch. Regardless of what kind of bike you have though, anyone can take these 3 simple steps to preparing for cold weather:
- Wear layers! If you have a few things you can add on and take off you’ll have a much easier time keeping warm without over heating.
- Get waterproof shoe covers or boots. There’s nothing worse than walking around with wet feet all day just because you had to ride through a little rain shower.
- Stop for a coffee or tea on the way! This one is easy and fun. Break up your cold weather commute with the hot beverage of your choice. Coffee and cycling go together naturally for us, but there’s no one saying hot chocolate and cycling don’t go together just as nicely.
To get more tips read up on the our Guide to Folding Bike Commuting. Remember, the difference between enjoying the weather and loathing it is being prepared. Have some great fall bike rides and enjoy the season.
If you have any good suggestions for your fellow bikers (folding, electric, and others) about cold weather riding don’t be shy, post them in a comment!
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I have a practical question about layering. How much should you wear once it gets really cold so that you don’t get sick? I ride the West Side bike path to work, and it can get really chilly right there on the water. So while a lot of me gets cold, some parts of me start to get sweaty about 2.5 miles into the ride (it’s 7 miles one way). But if I take off too many layers, then I’ll have a blast of cold air on my damp clothes, which I worry could make me sick. Finally, can your recommend some good layers? For example, is there a special hat you can wear under a helmet to keep your ears warm? What about gloves? Will regular gloves do?
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Hi MJ,
I used to do that same commute for 4 years, it’s so beautiful to see the George Washington Bridge reflected in the still water of the Hudson in the winter. You’re lucky to have such a scenic ride everyday. It’s tough to get the right balance with layers. Generally I’ll wear at a light shirt as a base layer, then a fleece, then a water/windproof shell on top. As a general rule cover your head and core first, the rest of you will stay warmer that way.
Most people will warm up quite a lot as they ride so it’s good to dress so that you’re a bit cool at the beginning of your ride and then warm up a mile or so in. My jacket has arm pit zippers for ventilation and I also open the pockets of my fleece underneath to get some extra ventilation. Of course sometimes it can feel like your zipping and unzipping over and over again and never getting comfortable, that’s just a matter of finding the right setup for you.
A thin fleece skull cap fits perfectly under most helmets, some of them even have ear flaps. Those fold up (yes I love all folding things) earmuffs also work great but don’t cover your head. Regular gloves are fine. There are some bike gloves specifically for winter use too. I’ve always wanted to try them, maybe I’l pick a pair this winter.
Happy commuting!
You look like you going quail hunting in Siberia.
Is there a tail on that hat?
Haha! This is a perfect hat for quail hunting (or for looking like a fool in). There is, sadly, no tail to speak of… only large ear flaps. I used to wear this biking until I hit a deer doing 30 mph and almost died. Now I always wear a helmet and it doesn’t fit. Too bad…
Would a Brompton folding bike be useful on a quail hunt?
What da ya mean – Pair a slippers and your good to go!
That’s the Bostonian spirit!
Last year, I went on a shopping spree to make sure I was prepared to commute through a brutal NYC winter. Some articles were more useful than others. I definitely recommend the following:
-long underwear
-balaclava (thermal head protection)
-wool socks
-good gloves!
I bought most of these items from either EMS or Patagonia. They actually have designated cycling gear, so you can find some good stuff. I’d recommend 5-fingered gloves for autumn, and the lobster gloves for extreme cold.
Also, a waterproof rain shell jacket helps too, like the one they have at Patagonia:
http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/patagonia-mens-waterproof-torrentshell-jacket?p=83800-0-602
This jacket has been a life saver. I also recommend Vaseline on your cheeks, to protect against wind burn. It’s brutal out there.
I bet a helmet liner like you wear under a ski or sn0wboard helmet would work well. There are thin fleece ones that double as a neck warmer. I swear by those on Canon Mountain chairlifts in January! And I definitely recommend some windproof pants over those plaid pajamas!
Whatever you do, ride safe!! Watch out for ice and slippery conditions, and drivers with fogged up windows!
I used to have some nice bright red waterproof pants that would match the socks perfectly…