The key is your head and hands — and layers.
Temperature at departure time this morning: 19 F.
So, the usual stuff: I wore leather sneakers, athletic socks, blue jeans, and a shirt. (Professors can be a bit more casual than your average professional, but the point, however, is that I’m not donning anything particularly special.)
Next two layers: a fleece pull-over and a fleece-lined jacket.
But here are the two things that make it work:
The hat is a Nike Golf fleece cap that’s very warm and thin enough to fit under a helmet (if you choose to wear one). The gloves are fairly typical Thinsulate ski gloves.
That’s it. You’re good to go at 19 degrees for short trips.
I guarantee you I arrived feeling warmer than the poor folks who had to park their cars in a far-off lot and walk to their offices sans-hats.
For longer trips, you might want to consider what Tracy Wilkins has to say here and here.
Comments 6
Andy,
Thanks for the links. Check back later today for another weather related post……
Posted 11 Dec 2009 at 10:34 am ¶Tracy… 10-4
Posted 11 Dec 2009 at 11:37 am ¶Toes. Don’t forget toes!
Posted 11 Dec 2009 at 6:06 pm ¶Steve… For my short hops, the toes usually aren’t a problem.
BTW, some of your comments are ending up in the SPAM folder. Not sure why. What’s WP telling you?
Posted 11 Dec 2009 at 7:20 pm ¶I find mittens much warmer than any gloves below 25 or so. Below 20, I also find 100% wool socks much warmer than blends or machine washable wool socks.
I also find the helmet most useful in the winter – it blocks the wind and I find that when I have fallen it is on ice/snow.
Posted 11 Dec 2009 at 7:48 pm ¶Stephen… If my commute were longer, I’d be choosing wool, too. As for ice and snow — I walk. Never was a fan of trying to ride in that stuff.
Posted 12 Dec 2009 at 12:01 am ¶