Never have cold hands again while winter bicycling.
Posted Oct 29 2011 11:14am
A photo of my Vulpine Adaptive Icebike Mitts from a few winters ago.When I decided to try and ride through the winters here in Northern Minnesota back in 2005, the biggest obstacle for me was how to keep my hands and feet warm. At the time there wasn't much information on cold weather riding on the net. And by cold, I don't mean 40 or 50 degree weather like the big bicycle companies define "cold", I mean below freezing all the way down to sub-zero weather. I did a lot of experimenting with different options. At some point I discovered the Icebike blog . It was an old blog that wasn't being updated anymore, but had some good information. Another thing they had was a review of the Vulpine Adaptive Icebike Mitts . After taking a closer look I realized that these mitts were being made right here in Duluth. I ended up visiting Vulpine Adpative and buying a pair of the Icebike Mitts.
These mitts are so warm I can't wear them above 10F/-12C degrees. Serious warmth! I'm a person that had cold hands all the time no matter what gloves I was wearing. To find a pair of gloves that would keep my hands warm in any conditions was an amazing find. Of course with the explosion of snowbiking in the past two or three years, other options are more widely available that were not available even five years ago. Mainly the increasing availability of bar mitts that fit over the handlebars and block out the cold.
The question is, if you are interested in getting some of the Icebike Mitts, will you be able to order a pair. The answer most of the time is "No", and part of the time is "Maybe".
What? Well, Vulpine Adaptive has been evolving as a company. Soon after I bought my pair of mitts they changed their name to Empire Canvas Works. With the name change they focused more on winter clothing made from natural fibers and leathers rather than synthetic materials. They make things in batches. I think they wanted to drop the biking gloves all together, but are persuaded by the continued interest in these gloves to make a few batches each year. My post on Vulpine Adaptive from 2006 is one of my most viewed posts. This time of year I get a dozen hits a day to that post from people trying to find Vulpine Adaptive Icebike Mitts.
I revisited Empire Canvas Works' website recently only to discover another name change. It is now Empire Wool and Canvas Company . The good news? The Icebike Mittens are back. They area listed as a product for sale on the website. The latest edition are made from whitetail deerskin, oilskin, and neoprene. An odd mixture. But one thing is for sure. These mitts will keep your digits warmer than you ever imagined they could be. And despite the high price, the materials and superior craftsmanship will last you the rest of your life. They can be mailed back and repaired and you'll never have to buy another pair of winter mitts as long as you live.
Contact Empire Wool and Canvas Company to find out availability of the Icebike Mitts. Don't wait, like I said, once a batch is sold out you may have to wait until next year for a pair.
A photo of my Vulpine Adaptive Icebike Mitts from a few winters ago.When I decided to try and ride through the winters here in Northern Minnesota back in 2005, the biggest obstacle for me was how to keep my hands and feet warm. At the time there wasn't much information on cold weather riding on the net. And by cold, I don't mean 40 or 50 degree weather like the big bicycle companies define "cold", I mean below freezing all the way down to sub-zero weather. I did a lot of experimenting with different options. At some point I discovered the Icebike blog . It was an old blog that wasn't being updated anymore, but had some good information. Another thing they had was a review of the Vulpine Adaptive Icebike Mitts . After taking a closer look I realized that these mitts were being made right here in Duluth. I ended up visiting Vulpine Adpative and buying a pair of the Icebike Mitts.
These mitts are so warm I can't wear them above 10F/-12C degrees. Serious warmth! I'm a person that had cold hands all the time no matter what gloves I was wearing. To find a pair of gloves that would keep my hands warm in any conditions was an amazing find. Of course with the explosion of snowbiking in the past two or three years, other options are more widely available that were not available even five years ago. Mainly the increasing availability of bar mitts that fit over the handlebars and block out the cold.
The question is, if you are interested in getting some of the Icebike Mitts, will you be able to order a pair. The answer most of the time is "No", and part of the time is "Maybe".
What? Well, Vulpine Adaptive has been evolving as a company. Soon after I bought my pair of mitts they changed their name to Empire Canvas Works. With the name change they focused more on winter clothing made from natural fibers and leathers rather than synthetic materials. They make things in batches. I think they wanted to drop the biking gloves all together, but are persuaded by the continued interest in these gloves to make a few batches each year. My post on Vulpine Adaptive from 2006 is one of my most viewed posts. This time of year I get a dozen hits a day to that post from people trying to find Vulpine Adaptive Icebike Mitts.
I revisited Empire Canvas Works' website recently only to discover another name change. It is now Empire Wool and Canvas Company . The good news? The Icebike Mittens are back. They area listed as a product for sale on the website. The latest edition are made from whitetail deerskin, oilskin, and neoprene. An odd mixture. But one thing is for sure. These mitts will keep your digits warmer than you ever imagined they could be. And despite the high price, the materials and superior craftsmanship will last you the rest of your life. They can be mailed back and repaired and you'll never have to buy another pair of winter mitts as long as you live.
Contact Empire Wool and Canvas Company to find out availability of the Icebike Mitts. Don't wait, like I said, once a batch is sold out you may have to wait until next year for a pair.