Remember, Ian, I'm going prepared for -30 should it happen, but -10 to -20 is more likely even in a cold snap unless it's a really strong one. Basically, I want cushion in what my gear can handle. The Hunqapillar is the pack animal to get my stuff in (since I can't carry weight above my waist). Once I'm in, unless conditions are favorable for biking, I'll be running or snowshoeing till Friday noon, then head back out. "In" is 3-5 miles, so while there is no cell service, I do have the big red button emergency personal beacon should the worst happen. I have Feathered Friends expedition down jacket and pants and Seger Arctic mukluks all rated to -30˚F, and I'll be doing a shakedown S24O in the next week or so (hoping for a cold spell like we just had to test the extremes, but doesn't look likely at the moment, with lows possibly only reaching zero).
On my run today, the temp was -10˚F with winds at the gusting to 30. No idea what the windchill is there, but with my ventile jacket, even though I sweated wearing only two thin layers of wool and my ventile shell, it breathes so well and blocks the wind so well that it was not an issue whatsoever on a 10 mile run after a 3 mile bike. Click right to see other photos in the series. http://www.flickr.com/photos/32311885@N07/12193608356/in/photostream/ With abandon, Patrick On Tuesday, January 28, 2014 3:48:24 PM UTC-7, IanA wrote: > > -30F is too cold - I've done my work commute of forty minutes in slightly > higher temperatures -20F (-29celcius) with windchill calculated as part of > that value and certainly once, I found my body was struggling to warm > itself again after I got inside. I got caught at an intersection and the > wind got me. The trouble is that in order to ride in those temperatures > and even over hard packed snow, the amount of energy used is immense, the > body sweats a great deal. And this for very short trips only. I can't > imagine you'd ever want to leave the sleeping bag and that brings massive > frustration. I believe for that sort of winter camping, you'd be better > leaving the bicycle at home. > > 14 degrees F/-10 celcius is even too cold for extended exposure, although > for the 40 min commute, that temperature was surprisingly enjoyable. I > have spent time in sub zero C (sub 30F) for extended periods while bicycle > travelling, with the nights being quite a bit colder, sleeping in the tent > etc. A lot of this time was in the high Andes and through Patagonia. > Sometimes I had to walk the bike to get circulation back into the feet. > No snow to deal with (not to speak of anyway) and this was, although at > times a challenge and a couple of dangerously cold nights, was a fine and > peaceful experience, one I feel lucky to have had. There were times over > 4000 metres that if the weather had changed - rain for example, where I'd > have been in serious trouble. > > The Iditabikers, although incredible human beings, do have some level of > support. It's different when you're alone out there. Can you find > something at lower elevation? Sunsets, sea and bicycles, tents and camp > stoves - best things ever. > > Ian A/Canada > > On Monday, January 27, 2014 3:42:17 PM UTC-7, Deacon Patrick wrote: >> >> So rather than flee as a whole family to the southern reaches of Arizona >> and all the unknown of that that could wreak havoc on my bludgeoned brain, >> I will be solo bikepacking the areas around here (Pikes Peak) that I know >> so well. But construction now has a start date of February 17 and an >> unknown completion date (I’m guessing 3-8 weeks). >> >> Temps at the various elevations I’ll be at can range from 45˚F-minus >> 30˚F. I’m familiar with how to camp at those temperatures, but anyone have >> experience with caring for a bike at those temps/in snow? What do I need to >> consider? >> >> With abandon, >> Patrick >> >> *www.MindYourHeadCoop.org <http://www.MindYourHeadCoop.org>* >> *www.OurHolyConception.org <http://www.OurHolyConception.org>* >> >> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
