This week’s Question of the Week, from Premium Member John Mullineaux is in keeping with the main thread of this issue: namely, how to train in (and stay warm in) winter. Dr. Gabe Mirkin‘s article today also provides some very useful physical warning signs to heed re: getting too cold.
What Body Part(s) Do you Find Most Difficult to Keep Warm When Riding in the Cold?
The coldest part for me has been my crotch. I ended up getting a windproof liner from Craft which helped a lot.
If you have trouble keeping your feet warm, it may be due to sweat accumulation in your socks. Layering socks with vapor barriers can solve that problem. What I do is start with a thin pair of liner socks, cover them with thin plastic bags (newspaper bags work great), then a pair of heavier insulating socks over everything. The liner socks will get damp, but the vapor barriers prevent your insulating socks from getting damp, so your feet stay warm. I’ve used this method successfully in temps as low as 10 F.