At 12 Below Zero I Saw Lake Superior Breathing.
You know when you go out in the cold and you exhale and you see your breath? When it gets down to -12F/-25C you can see Lake Superior exhaling. It lets off huge clouds of water vapor. Quite the sight!
I've got this dressing for bitter cold figured out. It allows me to enjoy the ride even in extremes like today. I even took the long way home today. But of course, it was up to -1F/-18C by then.
I used to switch to platform pedals and loose fitting hiking boots for below zero weather. Today I decided to push my limits with my Lake Winter Boots. I found there limit. I had a somewhat painful ten minute thawing out after I got home this evening. No damage. Another lesson learned. Feet have always been my weak spot. But I know how to keep them warm in much colder temps. I was just exper-mentin' today. 
We experienced a 1/2 inch snowfall last evening. One of our bigger snow storms of the season so far. That's sad. I'm missing all the snow that should go along with these bitter cold conditions.
Share the joy.
posted by Doug @ 8:09 PM
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11 Comments:
Wow - thanks for capturing that!
I headed to work just a bit later than you, by then the temp. at my house had dropped to -14.2 F. As I head west it is harder for me to appreciate the sunrise over the Lake until I head down the hill.
Most of the snow we received last night seemed to have blown away with those fierce winds that started up around 7 pm - and thankfully subsided by this morning.
You may have written about this before, but what is your eyewear strategy? That seems to be my biggest weakness currently for my midcoast Maine commutes. My glasses & Visorgogs always fog/freeze below 10F.
Amazing! Thanks for sharing, must be cool to see mother breathing ;)
mother earth that is
I too have found the lower limits for Lake Winter Boots -- for me it is around zero. Below that I'm riding in Columbia winter hiking boots.
All the way up to 70 here yesterday. Even I am not used to riding in shorts in January.
20 below?
Wow.
Even when I was at the peak of my cycling fitness before my arthritis ate my knees.....I was good to about 10 degrees for a couple hours-I couldn't even *imagine* 30 degrees cooler yet!
@Steve
I have written about it before, but it may have been way back as far as 2006. I tried everything from no fog lense cleaners, ski goggles, etc, etc.
I found no adequate solution for me. I don't wear any eye protection now. It's the easiest. I have never frozen my eyeballs, not even in 60 below windchills.
@Steve - Steve, I also get out in some quite cold weather (at least from time to time) and have found that the best eye protection for me are simple safety glasses. The ones that are about 5 bucks at a workwear store. They don't fog up, but they keep your eyes from tearing up so much that you can't see - that's why I HAVE to have eyecover.
I've found my feet can stay comfortable (if not warm) down to the low teens with nothing but running shoes. The trick is to wear enough layers on your legs. Most people skimp on this. once your knees start to chill your body shuts off circulation to your feet and nothing you do will keep them warm if there is no blood flow :) I think the ventilation of the running shoes also helps to keep my socks/feet dry, which keeps them warmer.
@joe
Works for you, would never work for me. I always stress everyone is different.
I have a lightweight layering system for my legs that has kept my knees and legs toasty warm even with 60 below windchills. Even with that, ventilated running shoes would freeze my toes at any temp under 30 degrees. My feet are my weak spot. I need an airtight seal to keep what little heat my feet produce from escaping through any ventilation. For longer rides below 20 degrees I usually add Intergral Designs Vapor Barrier socks between my liner sock and outer wool sock to keep the outer layers dry and insulation working at full capacity.
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