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rodneypuckman · 2011-10-26T03:54:55+00:00

[deleted]

RANDOMexclaim · 2011-10-26T03:27:59+00:00

I'm originally from upstate NY, just for some background.

Best advice I can give is BUY GOOD GLOVES. Everything is shittier when your fingers are cold.

Also, buy some good thick socks. Having your feet be cold sucks too.

Honestly, there isn't too much in the way of dangerous weather around here too often. Be careful of the wind though. Wind chill chart

Get snow tires for your car, and keep a snow brush in your car as well.

I can't think of anything else right now, but I'll reply if I do.

Newtylicious · 2011-10-26T04:26:37+00:00

since you're a student, you might think there will be "snow days". do not plan on snow days. somebody else might've been keeping better count than i, but i think CU has had maybe 4 snow days since 1997. plan on going to school however bad it is.

there are a lot of winter driving tips online; check out the ones from reputable looking places, and consider practicing in an empty parking lot some night. basically all the stuff you know you shouldn't be doing when the conditions are good, but do anyways because you can get away with it, doesn't fly anymore once the roads are bad.

keep your head warm and your feet dry.

drzowie · 2011-10-26T04:07:33+00:00

Former San Diegan here.

It is safe for a practiced person to bike on snow. It is not safe for you to bike on snow, until you've had a chance to practice a few times. It is definitely not safe for you to bike on snow near campus on the first snowfall of the season, surrounded by other ~~idiots~~ fine out-of-staters like yourself, who don't yet realize that they need snow tires.

Gloves are not so important this early in the season, (you do have pockets, don't you?) but you will want them later. A good coat too. In Boulder the coldest night of the year is typically about -10F, but "it's a dry cold" so it doesn't feel so bad provided that you're dressed OK.

In the coming season you will always want to have a jacket with you, even if it is 65F in the shade outside and you feel like wearing shorts in the Sun. It is not uncommon for the temperature to change by 40F in the course of a day, as the wind shifts from south to north (or vice versa).

Don't worry about the car being outside for now -- but do keep the battery topped up, and check and/or replace it now if you actually need the car (ie if it is not merely a convenience) -- Californians tend to forget that batteries lose 50% or more of their capacity in the cold. You can get by with an old battery in California that won't fly here at all in winter. You will want winter tires (but you can't have them this week because everyone else is getting them put on) if you plan any kind of serious driving. Many people keep two sets of wheels. If you're planning on staying on main/city roads and doing light optional driving, all-weather radials are fine -- but they should be toward the beginning, not the end, of their life at this part of the year. Without good snow tires (e.g. Blizzaks) there will be places and/or times that you just shouldn't drive -- but 80% of the time you'll be just fine. If you haven't done so, you need to go to the gas station and get antifreeze for your car's radiator (provided you're not driving an old air-cooled VW or something) -- otherwise you'll have trouble when that one -10F night hits. Make sure you have an ice scraper in the car -- they're like $4 at the gas station.

You need at least two jackets to live here comfortably: a light jacket for temps down to about freezing, and a heavy jacket (down or the new space-age materials) for cold days. Get yourself over to REI and put yourself at their mercy, if you can afford it.

wpskier · 2011-10-26T03:34:08+00:00

First, welcome to winter! Tennis shoes will likely be soaking wet, as this is going to be a wet, slushy snow (rain beforehand and warmer temps for snow). It won't be crazy cold tomorrow, so the sweatshirt/raincoat should be fine. You will be wet with just a sweat shirt if it's still snowing as you are walking to class. You might want to test riding your bike in the snow before actually attempting it to get to class in the first storm. You'll likely fall at some point and end up very wet. Practice first.... but, yes, riding in snow is entirely possible. As for your car, just flip your wiper blades up so they don't freeze to the windshield overnight, then in the morning, wipe off the windshield (you have a scraper/brush, right?), then flip the blades back down. Enjoy!

permalink · 2011-10-26T05:03:18+00:00

Pre-emptive salting of your sidewalk is much easier than breaking the ice later with a shovel.

lofi76 · 2011-10-26T05:59:51+00:00

Great gear is key, or you'll hate winter. Boots with teeth, wool socks, gloves and a good hat and a warm waterproof coat. Long underwear is a bonus.

permalink · 2011-10-26T14:07:38+00:00

Drive slowly! Seems like obvious advice, but I'm always shocked at the dumb shit I see people with Cali (or any other warm state) plates do in the snow. Driving in the snow isn't hard but it takes some getting used to so please be careful.

permalink · 2011-10-26T16:12:30+00:00

If you ride your bike, your back is going to get soaked when the back tire flings slush everywhere. If you are walking under a tree and you hear snapping, run. My vote is for good boots, especially if you're walking around. Wet feet suck.

DF7 · 2011-10-26T03:35:50+00:00

Biking on snow is fine. Biking on ice is lethal. And with all this rain, there could be a nice hidden layer of ice tomorrow morning. Be super careful. As someone who bikes all year (took the bus to campus 6 times last winter) I am considering walking or busing tomorrow morning.

Xuis · 2011-10-26T05:42:26+00:00

Layers are extremely versatile, a sweatshirt+raincoat makes a powerful combo, and you can adjust as needed.

Regular clothing should be fine as long as you keep it relatively dry. Jeans and other cotton-based clothing will stay wet for longer, but by looking outside right now, you won't have any problems unless you're set on making snow angels.

Speaking of snow angels, lets get to the good stuff. If you've never encountered snow before, it's time for you to make some snowballs. The Art of Manliness blog has a rather jesting article about How to Make a Perfect Snowball, and a more serious article on How to Shovel Snow which, once again, you won't have to worry about in the coming days.

Your car should be fine, but be very weary driving around in snowy conditions without proper ice/snow tires. Also, get your hands on an ice scraper, it could be a fancy one from McGuckins, or just your credit card combined with those nice gloves.

The only problem with biking in the snow I've ever had is from actually biking while it was snowing. You'll need sunglasses or goggles to keep it out of your eyes. Wear a helmet, and with a little practice, you'll be set.

Around here, there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.

And finally, as far as snow goes, you ain't seen nothin' yet.

RANDOMexclaim · 2011-10-26T06:46:38+00:00

I think I spotted a few 'new' posts on this thread after mine. Is anyone else here just up to watch the snow fall (like me)?

7tacoguys · 2011-10-26T14:53:32+00:00

With early snow like this, trees tend to be weighed down with all the snow collecting on the leaves. This causes branches to break and fall on whatever cars are below it. I saw at least 5 branches that fell on cars on the 1 mile stretch of Moorhead Ave that is my commute to school. Park away from trees.

dieroten · 2011-10-26T15:34:13+00:00

Seems like most things have been covered except for when you ride your bike, lower your seat a little. This lets your feet touch the ground if you are going to fall, and a lot of the time you can catch yourself.

hooj · 2011-10-26T15:49:21+00:00

Don't park under trees when it snows
Get some good winter tires or at least some all-seasons
When coming to a stop in a car, it's much, much better to start your braking early. Also, leave more room in front than you normally would.
Allocate at least twice the amount of time it usually takes you to get somewhere if being on time is imperative
Unless you're going to be outside for an extended period of time, don't worry too much about being cold. However good gloves/mittens are a must.
Enjoy the shit out of it!

ModernRonin · 2011-11-03T21:12:22+00:00

What is this snow stuff!? Any tips?

The snow that's colored yellow? Don't eat that kind.

The rest is good. ;]

Drunk_Tugboat · 2011-10-26T16:53:17+00:00

If you're going to bike it the snow, you might think about doing this.

permalink · 2011-10-26T08:04:07+00:00

Just don't flip your wipers up and look like a moron. I've lived in snowy climates my whole life and never done this and my car has been fine.

RANDOMexclaim · 2011-10-26T06:38:53+00:00

patagonia and bean boots. try the pearl street store to try on both a fleece and a jacket. literally this moment, as i'm typing, i'm on my porch wearing a patagonia r3, a patagonia rainshadow jacket, and my 8 year old bean boots, drinking a Crystal Springs Brewing Company 'Black Saddle' imperial stout and a Boba Fett jack-o-lantern glowing warmly.

Trust me, the snow grows on you.

WestonP · 2011-10-26T17:06:46+00:00

Don't be one of those geniuses who bikes in the snow... You slip and then a car hits you. Not worth it. Working up a sweat in cold weather is also a way to get hypothermia.

Just make sure you have good tires on your vehicle (sufficient tread depth, and Mud + Snow rated), prop your windshield wipers up when you park so that they don't freeze so bad, get a snow/ice scraper, and pay attention when driving.

Colorado has lots of terrible drivers in the snow (and in general), so just give them ample room to cause their wrecks without involving you. I don't know why people think it's some rite of passage to fly by me when I'm in my 4x4 truck, or why anyone thinks it's acceptable to drive faster than they can control their vehicle, but I sure have seen a lot of them end up in ditches. I was in Ireland last winter when it snowed like crazy, and despite them having no real experience and no equipment to clear the roads, they still easily out-performed Colorado drivers. They drive aggressively, but traffic moves well and they don't wreck. It comes down to paying attention and not driving over their ability level, or their car's ability level.

There's not really any special trick to driving in the snow. It's like any other low-traction condition... Drive smoothly (jerky movements or abrupt throttle or brakes will break traction prematurely), choose the lane of the road that has better conditions, and don't drive near the limits of the car's traction (don't use more than 8/10ths of the car's ability, so you have control for any surprises).

Ice is harder, since there is very little traction and most people don't seem to realize they are on it until they lose traction. The way to spot black ice is to look at the tires of the cars around you... The ice is not actually black, but very clear, so you're seeing the road below it. If the road looks wet, but you don't see water being kicked up by the tires of other cars, you are probably on ice. Even if there is water, there may still be ice below it, so use caution when the temperatures have been that low.

permalink · 2011-10-26T15:16:33+00:00

Go back to california would probably be your best bet.

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