Winter is still here

As I was looking if I would need new cycling stuff, which is somehow the case almost every year, I came across a helmet cap which I bought last year. I've only used it once on a very cold but sunny ride in January. The cap worked so well that after 20 km my head was all sweaty. It didn't feel very comfortable and I was glad I could take the cap off when I was done with my ride. Maybe the Dutch winters are too mild for this cap. I didn't use it since then.
Furthermore it looks like it was designed by the same guy who designed the caps for the Russian tankcrews, back in the eighties. Yes, you have to be of a certain age knowing how those caps would look like back then...

Functional and Warm

During the winter this is my loyal companion when I'm cycling. Earlier this week it looked like Spring had finally arrived, but it seems that we still be having cold and wet conditions for the next two weeks.
So it's not yet time to stow the warm hats and gloves away. We have to be patient and sit this out. Well, it's not the end of the world.

Woolen Hat

My daughter and I went to the library a couple of days ago. The visit became a typical case of: "Wherever I Lay My Hat, Then It's Gone".
Nobody had seen my cool hat, extra warm in winters because of the double layer. Why should they? It's just a hat.
But not every hat is just a hat. It becomes almost a part of your head when it feels comfortable to wear. Anyway, we had to buy another one and my daughter's choice won: a woolen hat. Nice, cosy, warm and cool, all for the price of... too much, in my opinion.
Pen and ink with Visconti.

Keeping The Head Warm

Most people won't use a balaclava on their bike. Simply because they don't go biking in freezing cold weather. Of course I have done that, otherwise I didn't put up this topic. But I must say that it became very sweaty under the balaclava. It didn't feel comfortable at all. Furthermore I've had a terrible odour afterwards. So nowadays I use an other sort of hat during freezing cold bikerides. The balaclava will only be used on, for instance, freezing cold hikes. I don't know how that works out, because I haven't hiked yet during freezing cold conditions. But I promise I'll keep you informed.
Pen and ink with Visconti pen.

Socks

Not only gloves will help keeping you warm on your bicycle during winter. Good socks will be helpfull too.
I have several types of wintersocks. Some of them made from wool, others made from mixed fabric. When it's extremely cold I use two pairs.
The pair I've drawn are warm enough to use when it's about zero degrees Celsius. Below that temperature I have to put on a second pair. Sometimes I even put on my neopreen overshoes. But only when it's extremely cold and windy and I've planned a long ride.

Gloves

Cycling in winter demands good gloves. This weekend I bought a new pair. As you can see the padding should be sufficient enough for nice long touring.
My old pair of wintergloves didn't give much protection against the cold anymore. My wintergloves last about three seasons. I use them on my racing bike and trekking bike. It's important to take good notice that you have to look for windstoppers instead of, for instance, gloves that you use for skiing. Those get much too warm when cycling and gives you wet hands. That's not a nice feeling while cycling. That's why I always buy gloves with good protection against the wind. So my ride at cold days to, for instance, my work and back home will be much more fun than working on the office.
Come to think of it: cycling will allways be more fun than working.
Pendrawing made with my Visconti.

Illustration Friday Wheel

Austin-Healey 3000