Most of us probably know what we’d bring to the beach on a warm summer day. Towel? Yep. Sunscreen? Sure. A cooler full of ice-cold beverages? Check.
But how about the beach in the middle of winter? The middle of winter in Michigan? The flip-flops and everything else on your list become pretty useless (you should still wear that sunscreen, though). A team of 45NRTH riders took on a frigid beach ride from Whitefish Point to Grand Marais on Lake Superior in December 2021. Here’s the gear that kept them warm and dry through the all-day epic.
Name: Jill Martindale
Bike: Salsa Beargrease
Tires: 45NRTH 26” Dillinger 5, studded
Pogies: 45NRTH Cobrafist
Boots: 45NRTH Wölvhammer
Pants: 45NRTH Naughtvind
Jacket/Jersey: 45NRTH team jacket, Patagonia team puffy
Gloves: 45NRTH Nökken
Headwear: 45NRTH Greazy cap/Salsa buff
Base layers: Patagonia Air Capilene long sleeve top, Icebreaker wool Sprite racer back bra, Gore arm warmers, Icebreaker wool tights, Outdoor Research gaiters,
Quote: When we came upon the final water crossing, we got to playfully test the warmth of our gear with the promise of a warm house a couple miles away. I’ve never intentionally gotten wet in the winter and although this isn’t something I’ll do on purpose often; I am so glad that I have this memory to look back on in future scenarios! My comfort bubble has been expanded, and cold, dark, icy water is a little less terrifying for me thanks to the bravery inspired by keeping up with my 45NRTH teammates!
Name: Brian Geshel
Bike: Salsa Beargrease
Tires: 45NRTH 26” Dillinger 5, studded
Pogies: 45NRTH Cobrafist
Boots: 45NRTH Wölvhammer (Redwing edition)
Pants: 45NRTH Naughtvind
Jacket/jersey: 45NRTH team jacket and matching vest.
Gloves: 45NRTH Sturmfist 4
Headwear: 45NRTH Greazy cap/45NRTH Blowtorch neck gaiter
Base layer: 45NRTH wool t-shirt/bib shorts/45NRTH knee-length socks
Quote: Riding 50+ miles of Lake Superior beach with some great friends was a pretty incredible experience. But if I had to choose my favorite part, it would be the almost waist-high water crossing at the Little Sucker River in the dark (which was actually way warmer than expected). I thought I was going to lose my bike to the current at one point because I was laughing so hard.
Name: Evan Simula
Bike: Salsa Beargrease
Tires: 45NRTH 26” Dillinger 5, studded, tan wall
Pogies: 45NRTH Draugenklaw
Boots: 45NRTH Wølfgar
Pants: 45NRTH Naughtvind
Jacket/jersey: 45NRTH team jacket and vest with Ibex wool jersey and Swix down jacket for stops
Gloves: 45NRTH Sturmfist 4 and Sturmfist 5
Headwear: 45NRTH Greazy cap
Base layers: Ulvang wool top and bottom / 45NRTH wool t-shirt as base
Quote: It was awesome to prepare for anything and ride into an unknown area with just what we brought. We didn’t end up needing very much of the extra gear, but with all the water crossings I was glad to be ready for anything.
Name: Matt Acker
Bike: Salsa Beargrease
Tires: 45NRTH 27.5” Dillinger 4, studded
Pogies: 45NRTH Draugenklaw
Boots: 45NRTH Wölvhammer (Redwing edition)
Pants: 45NRTH Naughtvind
Jacket/jersey: 45NRTH team jacket
Gloves: 45NRTH Sturmfist 4 and Sturmfist 5
Headwear: 45NRTH Greazy cap
Base layers: Capilene long bottoms, 45NRTH knee-high wool socks, 45NRTH wool t-shirt, Capilene long sleeve shirt
Quote: Putting the first pedal strokes in as we rolled onto the beach at Whitefish Point was surreal after thinking about the ride for many years. I kept wanting to pinch myself as I counted our lucky stars that all of the things that could have gone wrong had not (a rarity it seems with adventures like this). It was one of my favorite rides of all time and made even better by the people that I got to enjoy the ride with!
Name: Neil Washburn
Bike: Salsa Blackborow
Tires: 45NRTH 27.5” Dillinger 5, studded
Pogies: N/A
Boots: 45NRTH Wølfgar
Pants: Salomon
Jacket/jersey: Salomon vest, Portland Cyclewear jersey
Gloves: 45NRTH Sturmfist 4
Headwear: Surly wool cap
Base layers: Ibex woolies top and bottom with 45NRTH wool t-shirt
Quote: I was stoked to adventure to another part of the UP that I haven’t been through. Crossing rivers and traversing downed trees on some of the most pristine shores of Lake Superior with great friends is my idea of a good time.
How did this well-equipped crew and their gear fare in the wet and windy winter conditions? Find out in Matt Acker’s trip report here.
