Tag: women and Fat bikes

GEAR GUIDE: WINTER RIDING GLOVES.

Any rider who has braved snow covered trails, icy winds and side blowing sleet know that cold hands can ruin a ride before it even begins. So, let’s give a hand to arguably one of the most important pieces of equipment necessary for cold weather riding, warm and wearable winter gloves.

Here are our top picks for warm digits into single digits:

Road Riding 20° and Up:

Power SO Lady Road Glove.

These Power SO Road Gloves pack a punch, with reflective and hi-viz details that also serve as a beacon on the road. A WINDSTOPPER® membrane makes them completely impervious to wind and acceptable in the wet. The addition of a thermal lining, women-specific fit, foam padding on palm and silicone forehand gripper give these gloves just the right balance of warmth, grip and finger sensation in the just-below-freezing temperature range.

Road Riding 20° and Below:

Road WS Thermo Lobster Glove.

We have several women on staff with Reynaud’s disease, making it nearly impossible to ride in cold/wet conditions without fear of frostbite. Then we found this option from GORE®. If you’re taking your road riding to the extreme, the Thermo Lobster is about as warm as it can get without a battery. This glove features all of the benefits found in the Power SO Lady Road Glove above, but in a 2-chamber design that keeps the fingers even warmer while still allowing you to shift and brake.

Cold Condition Mountain Biking:

MTB WS Thermo Lady Glove.

This women-specific MTB glove by GORE® is new to their line and true to its name. The insulated glove comes complete with WINDSTOPPER® technology offering the unparalleled warmth riders have come to expect from Gore gloves but with the added benefit of strengthened lining between thumb and forefinger for an improved, MTB-specific grip.

Crazy Cold Commuting and Fat Biking:

45NRTH Cobrafist.

This insulated fat biking pogie is weather resistant to the extreme and unbeatable when it comes to cold weather gear options that maximize dexterity. The Cobrafist is protective enough that you can wear pretty minimal gloves in extreme conditions and still have full range of motion for braking and shifting.

Let us know what gloves you reach for as the temperature drops – we’re always on the lookout for the next hot thing.

Stay warm and happy riding.

January 4, 2016
SHOP LOCAL: BURLINGTON’S SKIRACK.

Don’t let the name fool you–this is one shop that puts women and cycling front and center. Outfitting enthusiasts since 1969, Skirack is Burlington, Vermont’s Community Bike, Run, Ski, Ride Store.

Visiting Skirack is an adventure all its own. Located on lower Main Street a couple of blocks away from Lake Champlain, many beautiful mountain areas, trails and resorts, you’ll be outfitted for any adventure with the highest quality gear, footwear and clothing.

Whether you’re a skilled cyclist or just starting to ride, you’ll not only find a warm welcome from Skirack’s expert female and male staff, but you’ll also find the best selection of women’s bikes, cycling clothing and accessories anywhere.

Skirack is a key Terry partner, stocking one of the widest varieties of cycling clothing you’ll find in the US. They also provide valuable information about road, off-road, downhill, mountain, fat biking, and commuting. Skirack employees several women who are bike enthusiasts and experts in all kinds of cycling; they welcome any opportunity to encourage and assist women and young girls of all ages and backgrounds to achieve their personal aspirations. In fact, they serve as mentors for Vermont’s “Little Bellas”, a program that serves as an opportunity for young girls to learn to ride, build their biking and personal life skills and develop self esteem and confidence.

Most importantly, Skirack provides a friendly, inviting atmosphere for all riders by listening to each individual’s aspirations and providing expert advice.

Next time you’re in Vermont, be sure to stop in and say hello, or check them out online at www.skirack.com.

Happy Riding!

January 4, 2016
WINTER GEAR GUIDE.

What to wear and when to wear it.

One thing that you will hear often in life, and more often in the world of cycling, bodies are different. This is especially true when discussing winter weather gear because everyone has different comfort levels when it comes to freezing temperatures. These recommendations are coming from my experience, commuting year round in New England, and they all follow a very basic layering rule that almost anyone can use to stay comfortable:

Base layer + insulation + wind protection.

50°F-35°F

This is still a pretty sane temperature range for riding and commuting therefore, not a lot of extra gear is required. In this temperature range, I find a vest to be the most comfortable outwear choice in variable weather that is on the warmer side. This particular outfit is the pinnacle of urban cycle chic, and still abides by the layering formula. The piece that makes this outfit is the Technique Dress, made with DWR weather-resistant fabric, this is one dress that can weather a storm as well as a board meeting.

Outfit:

NTS Pattern Crew base layer by Smartwool

Terry Coolweather Tight

Technique Dress by Nau

Down Stole by Nau

Contour Headband by Choucas

GBW Universal GT Thermo Gloves

35°F-20°F

In these temperatures, you will start to want gear that is made for cycling and specifically for cycling in cooler temperatures. Wind and water resistance in these conditions are key, especially for extremities like ears, hands and feet. The boots pictured here are made by Giro, they are a down, clipless boot created for men (but worn fabulously by women) and are consistently warm. However, toe and shoe covers are a great option for riders not looking to fully invest in a winter specific riding boot or who are looking to reduce the weight of their gear.

Outfit:

Warm Half Neck Base Layer by Craft

Thermal Tights by Terry

Wanderer Jersey by Terry

Glide Beanie by Choucas

GBW MTB WS Thermo Lady Gloves

0°F-20°F

No matter how brutal the weather, this outfit is my go to for commuting in the coldest conditions. With wind protection from the Power 2.0 Jacket, insulation from the Mandarin Thermal Jersey, extra coverage and warmth provided by the insulation skirt – there are so many amazing elements that make this work and when they come together, I may just say it is a masterpiece.

Outfit:

Active Extreme Crewneck Base Layer by Craft

Coldweather Tight by Terry

Mandarin Thermal L/S Jersey by Terry

GBW Power 2.0 SO Lady Cycling Jacket

Insulation Skirt by Craft

GBW Road WS Thermo Lobster Glove

As Terry Customer Service maven, Casey, always says “there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad outfits”, so stay warm and keep riding!

Tailwinds,

Whitney McKiddy

December 5, 2015
HOW TO COMMUTE DURING THE DEEP FREEZE.
There’s cold, and then there’s winter bike commuting.

On snowy days, take the time to stop and smell the frostbite.

Coming from Montana, I thought I could handle any weather that Vermont blew my way – but when wind chill kicked the temperature down to almost 40 below zero last year, I was a bit out of my element.

When you commute during this cripplingly cold season, you need more than great gear (my recommendations can be found here) you also need some serious mental discipline. As your wheels are spinning it’s easy for certain thought patterns to pop up in your head:
- I wonder if I’ll still have fingers when I get to work…
- At what temperature will my eyelids freeze together?
- Has time – along with everything else – also frozen?
And although there’s no way to completely kick those thoughts, here are some of my tricks for feeling the warmth of gratitude towards your icy trudge.
- Remember all of the bugs you encounter during the summer? Well that isn’t a problem now.
- What about the insane bike traffic, dogs on leashes and toddlers toddling – nope, none of that anymore either.
- Nose continually running? That’s okay! There’s no one else on the bike path to interfere with your air-hanky.
Winter commuting is a different beast. It’s slow going, so remember to stop (or just ride slowly, so as not to freeze) and appreciate that you have the opportunity to be here with crisp air in your lungs and wind in your hair.

See you out there!

Whitney McKiddy
December 4, 2015
BIKEPACKING: TINY ADVENTURE; BIG FUN.

A Micro-Adventure Awaits.

Chugging down the rail-trail.

Watching the sun set at Kettle Pond.

The first time I heard the word “bikepacking”, a light went off in my head – I knew this was going to be my activity of choice for my Surly Pugsley (named Wednesday). The activity is defined very much as it sounds, a combination of biking and backpacking, an off-road tour, and can last for weeks or less than 24 hours. This type of adventure has absolutely exploded in popularity in the last 5 years and along with it, specialized bikepacking gear has entered the bike scene.

Bikepacking equipment, like most bicycle accessories, range from the high-end, ultra-technical, chic, custom bags to very basic and minimalistic parts to facilitate gear attachments.

Porcelain Rocket specializes in beautiful, functional and custom bikepacking bags that minimize bulk and maximize awesome –

Loaded Mr.Fusion by Porcelain Rocket

Before going custom, I decided to try the Outpost series by Blackburn, a great value for technical gear –

Outpost Handelbar Roll by Blackburn

Outpost Seat Pack by Blackburn

After buying all of the special equipment, I was champing at the bit to head out on the trails and yet, I waited 5 months to set off on my first bikepacking trip.

The biggest factor in my hesitation was wanting to make sure I went on the best trail, something remote and endlessly beautiful, something not too difficult but challenging enough to keep it interesting. This trail may indeed exist but it is not the trail we ended up traveling. After much deliberation, Wednesday and I set off towards a section of the Cross VT Trail on a late Friday afternoon. There was a moment of hesitation as we started off towards the rail trail–that it would be crowded with large families and dogs–but it turned out to be just treacherous enough to leave us bounding down the path in total solitude.

Unsurprisingly, bikepacking is my new favorite activity – it has the capacity to be a huge adventure on a grand scale but also exists as the perfect weekend micro-adventure. Somehow carrying everything you need to survive (for less than 24 hours) on two fat wheels, straight into the forest makes even the most mundane surroundings absolutely marvelous.

My only advice, no matter your equipment or how much time you have, ride out and spend a night under the stars.

– Whitney McKiddy

September 10, 2015
HEADING FOR THE HILLS.

I have always preferred the certainty of road riding to mountain- relatively well paved roads, intuitive turns with an occasional pothole or cow pie as the only obstacles to a meditative ride.

Trying my luck on the Cliffs of Insanity.

However, with insane winds getting in the way of a couple of long bike days I decided to dust off Wednesday, my beloved Surly Pugsley, and head for the hills.

Fortunately, in Burlington we have some incredible mountain trails for all skill levels within our reach. My choice? Catamount Outdoor Family Center. They have over 20 miles of trails and also offer trail running, cross country skiing and winter fat biking access during cooler months.

After about two hours I was sweaty, covered in mud, and totally in love with the trails.

Within ten minutes of going on the green route, I B-lined towards tougher trails. Now–you have to laugh with me while watching the video below. I thought I was shredding some seriously technical routes and watching it after it looks like a dirt filled sidewalk–albeit a VERY fun dirt sidewalk.

June 12, 2015
We’re Going FAT.

Whitney and Wednesday.

After deciding that I wanted to commit to winter bike commuting in Vermont, I knew that I was going to get a fat bike. The first decision was, of course, what fat bike to choose now that many major bike companies are manufacturing them. This past summer when I purchased my first road bike I read as many reviews as possible before I decided which bike would be the best match for my needs. I read about responsiveness, what components may need to be replaced, the weight, how well it climbs – this is where it got tricky with the Fat bike decision. For every Fat bike I looked at, there was only one review, “OH MAN THIS IS SO FUN,” and while reading this I thought, “great, it’s fun, but what else?”

I ended up purchasing a 9-speed Surly Pugsley, knowing that I would be going off the beaten path on this baby. I decided to get a frame that could be repaired if it got damaged and with a bike that is inherently heavy, weight was not a major factor in my decision. I was nervous about learning how to shift on a bike that was so different than my road bike, and I was also worried that it would be too heavy to get going anywhere. The moment that I hopped on the new bike (named Wednesday), I understood the reviews and all I can say is, OH MAN THIS IS FUN!

Whitney McKiddy

October 31, 2014