Pogies

It’s not the best angle for the picture, but the neoprene thingies on the handlebars are called pogies. They’re popular for kayakers, snowmobilers, and winter cyclists. I had originally gotten them for Abigail if she considered riding her dirt bike in the cold, but that never materialized. Instead I’m using them commuting here in Boston, and they’re awesome.

I’d say they add a single level of glove thickness to the temps – meaning I can wear the gloves one level lighter than I normally would for the temperature it is outside. This is good, because the thicker your gloves get the harder it is to do things like use the breaks. It’s also nice, because generally my hands are the first things to get cold.

Next up for winter commuting is studded tires. I have a set, but haven’t put them on. It hasn’t been entirely necessary, but there’s been enough days that I would have felt a whole lot better knowing I was scratching studs across slick surfaces.

Not to mention my commute is going to nearly double in 3 weeks time, when we finally move to the new office downtown. I’ll need all the protection and comfort I can muster for that duration

– b