Jim’s Tech Talk
By Jim Langley
This will be the shortest Tech Talk ever. Think of it as a tip to tuck away for use in the new year. It comes from my friend and cycling industry legend, Tom Petrie, who recently retired, which means he has more time to ride now.
Tom’s tip is especially handy for dog owners since you’ll surely have on hand (pun intended) the key thing needed for this tip. If not, you can often find them at parks for free. They’re usually inside clearly marked boxes attached to pedestals.
Here’s Tom’s Tip (his photos too)
“If you’re caught-out in the cold without gloves, dog poo bags make a good emergency substitute. Use 2 bags for each hand. Make one for your hand and fingers and poke a hole in the side of that bag for your thumb. Now, put the second bag around your thumb and put it into the first bag, poking your now-bagged thumb through the thumb hole.
You end up with what are effectively poo bag mittens. Not particularly elegant, but it beats frozen fingers. Also, pro tip, you can use 4 bags for each hand to trap some heat between the layers for more protection.”
My Thoughts
As long as you can tuck in the poo bags beneath your jacket sleeves, they should be waterproof too. Plus, they’re sure to entertain anyone you’re riding with or run into. One thing to know is that some poo bags are scented. If you’re sensitive to fragrances, be sure to get unscented bags. And last but not least, riding with your new custom mittens, you might be able to save the day sometime by donating a bag to a dog walker in need who forgot theirs!
I wouldn’t be surprised if some of you have other cycling uses for poo bags. If so, please share them in a comment.
Thanks for the tip Tom and happy new year everyone!
Jim Langley is RBR’s Technical Editor. A pro mechanic & cycling writer for more than 40 years, he’s the author of Your Home Bicycle Workshop in the RBR eBookstore. Tune in to Jim’s popular YouTube channel for wheel building & bike repair how-to’s. Jim’s also known for his cycling streak that ended in February 2022 with a total of 10,269 consecutive daily rides (28 years, 1 month and 11 days of never missing a ride). Click to read Jim’s full bio.
I really thought that the tip for dog poo bags to keep hands warm was going to be to get a bag recently used for its intended purpose…it should provide heat for your hands.
Only works when you have two dogs.
Or a St. Bernard
For years I’ve carried a trash bag with 2 arm holes and head hole as an emergency rain/cold weather jacket. Blocking wind greatly improves retaining warm.
That’s a great tip that has been used by many cyclists over the decades GJ, thanks for reminding everyone!
Jim
You can buy emergency lightweight waterproof breathable ponchos for cycling, a really great one is the
brand: SudaTek Lightweight Cycling Rain Poncho Breathable Bike Hooded Raincoat with Reflector Strip; they come in several colors including a yellow one that would show up better in cloudy and rainy days; they only cost $30 on Amazon.
Why would you carry poo bags instead of gloves???
That’s a fair question Mary. Haven’t you ever misplaced or lost something and not been able to find it when you need it? That’s when a tip like this could come in handy assuming you have dogs and bags.
Thanks,
Jim
Best wishes for riding in 2026!
Bags on board (empty!). 😉
Thanks Steve, HNY to you too!
Jim
great tip..helps to have fresh poo in the bag, much warmer faster!
You can also use other bags in the same way… shopping bags, bread bags, sandwich bags, etc…
And you can use any of these bags as a wind & water break layer on your feet between your socks & shoes…
However, it is suggested that they do not make for a good layer on your head… just say’n…
Be sure to cast off bags when done. Oh how I hate to clean up after my sweet pooch and find the bag has a hole!
I drove to a trail to meet friends for a ride. Showers were in the forecast and I didn’t bring anything water proof for my phone or wallet,but wait I did! I had several doggy poop bags in my car and had enough for my friends.
I sure got some funny looks handing those bags out,but it turned out that we did in fact need them. Doggie poop bags saved the day!
Jerry Brick,Abilene,Ks.
For insulation consider toilet paper, tissues, newspaper. Chemical hand warmers may be available in stores like 7-11, etc. and those make for near perfect warmth between layers of poo bags, etc.
If you’re passing an open gas station, their service bay may have nitrile or latex gloves, assuming you’re not allergic to latex.
Don’t forget the occasional stop into a warm store, at least to maintain grip and therefore safety.
What, fellow roadies, are we in second grade? Dog doo-doo jokes? Really? 🙂
Seriously, the headline could read “Bring sandwiches for your riding buddies and keep your hands warm!”
It’s a good tip. I put plastic bags inside my shoes in cold weather.