Winter Wear?

[wildhawk]

I live in Florida but yes, we do get chilly weather here in Nov. thru Feb. so I was wondering what suggestions you all have for cycle wear on the colder days? I know I probably need to get full finger cycling gloves, but what about tops/bottoms? I will be doing longer rides, so I will need the comfort of cycling shorts - can I wear long pants over them? Or should I purchase long leg cycling pants or capris? This will be the first winter I will be riding consistently, but I remember years ago how cold my hands got - brrr! Any advice is appreciated - thanks!

[Smilie]

Chilly in Florida?!? Wimp. :D Just kidding. This is a great topic, because I live where it does actually get quite chilly.( ;) ) Obviously I won't be riding when it is -10F windchill, but around 50F it could be uncomfortable. I don't want to turn into a fair weather rider!

The arm and leg warmers are good for when it starts off chilly, or ends up chilly perhaps! Good deals are something I would like to find too!

[OakLeaf]

Not sure exactly what your weather is. In New Smyrna Beach, arm warmers, FF gloves and wool socks are enough most of the time. On the coolest days, I'll break out the knee warmers, wool base layer and a light jacket. I've never felt I needed full tights or a head covering in NSB, but a LS jersey and/or jacket is good to have.

ETA: I don't like long tights with a chamois anyway. I think the leg movement makes the chamois move around, and also the fabric lasts so much longer than the chamois that it's kind of wasteful. In Ohio, I'll wear tights without a chamois over cycling shorts.

[wildhawk]

Hey Smilie - you live in Wyoming - no wonder you thought I was a wimp - LOL. I moved from Jackson, Wyoming to the Tampa Bay area in 1990 and that was sure a shock to my system! But eventhough we don’t get those wonderful -40 below temps here, it does actually get down into the 30s sometimes. And the problem with Florida winters is that it will literally go from upper 70s one day to 30s the next depending on cold fronts coming through. My DH complains if the temp falls below 60, but I love Florida winters as a general rule since I lived in both the mountains of Virginia and Wyoming. I enjoy the cooler weather! Thanks for the suggestions - I have seen arm warmers on the cycling sites. It is mostly my hands and upper body that get cold - my legs rarely get cold.

[Becky]

I love arm and knee warmers. A nice wind-resistant vest is a very versatile piece to have as well. In the 50s and 60s, I like knickers/capris- they keep the knee joints warm while letting the leg muscles vent.

[VeloVT]

Some good suggestions for mild cooler conditions in this thread:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=26504

(I can't quite bring myself to call weather in the 50s & 60s "cold" weather :D).

[Smilie]

I moved from Jackson, Wyoming to the Tampa Bay area in 1990 and that was sure a shock to my system!

Wow! Bet that was a shock to your system, and how could you get used to leaving the beautiful mountains?! OH WAIT! It is Florida, and the wonderful warm weather! It is also beautiful, just in a different way! A whole lot more people too!

Humid cold is a lot worse than dry cold as well. Except maybe for the windchills. You also have to get 'used' to the cold, as where here, we already are somewhat used to it. I would love to be able to ride year round though!

[wildhawk]

Thanks for the advice everyone and thanks for the link to the thread already covering the topic - I am fairly new on here and missed that one! Great info - now I need to go shopping soon!

[VeloVT]

Here's a good one for colder temps (wondering how I missed it, I would have expected myself to comment on this :D):

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=25796&highlight=tights

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Thanks for the advice everyone and thanks for the link to the thread already covering the topic - I am fairly new on here and missed that one! Great info - now I need to go shopping soon!

There are actually MANY wonderful threads on TE concerning what to wear for cool and cold biking weather. Try searching threads for terms like "cold weather", "winter gear", "cool weather", "keeping warm", "cold hands", etc.
There's gold in them thar hills! :p

[kfergos]

I'm sure this is covered in other threads, but here goes...

Hands: I don't need more than normal fingerless gloves until it's in the 30s. Then I wear fingerless gloves on the bottom and on top a pair of PolarFleece gloves you can get at Old Navy really cheap.
Arms: Below 55 but above freezing, I wear arm warmers. They're great and some are even on sale on TE right now!
Body: Below 55 I wear a light vest. Below 40 I start adding a light jacket or another layer.
Legs: Below 50 I wear a light pair of running Spandex over my normal bike shorts. Closer to freezing I wear a couple layers of those same pants. I'm a big fan of layering up on the pants, although I've never used leg warmers, so I can't speak to those.

[katluvr]

I live in Florida, too. I find layers the best... usually it really warms up in the afternoon almost anytime of the year. But mornings can be down-right chilly. The best $20 (yes, they were only that at the time) I ever spent was arm warmers. In the spring I'll wear them early in the AM even w/ my sleeveless jersey or tank! Easy to roll up in back pocket. Unless it is really cold I hardly ever wear long sleeves. I do short sleeves and arm work and vest (vests that help block wind are another super idea). If really cold a jacket instead of vest. I just think arm warmers block wind/cold best. And if it gets warm easy to remove. With long sleeve jerseys...just cant pull up or roll up those sleeves.

Can't believe we are talking about cool weather. Still above 90 here. I am mostly running right now and it is sooooooooo hot!

[sundial]

I wear capris until the temps drop to 50 or below and then I wear a pair of Pearl Izumi chamois-less tight over my bike shorts. If it's bitter cold, I wear a pair of Terry wind block, fleecy tights.

For my upper body it's a summer weight long sleeve jersey and high vis vest and then I'll switch to a windblock jersey from Pearl Izumi.

[Jiffer]

Last winter was my first cycling winter. I shocked my Dh by actually getting out there and riding in the cold! Of course, I'm not in a super cold weather state, either. I'm in Southern California, but it can still get chilly in the winter. (Dh chooses to go running when it's cold out to reduce the wind chill factor. Since I abhor running, I don't have that option!)

Lately I've done a couple of cool morning rides where I took my light jacket, which can easily be rolled up and stuffed in my jersey if I get warm. If it's colder than "just a jacket", I add the arm warmers. I usually prefer the jacket first if it's one or the other, I guess because it's easiest to put on and take off, plus it keeps my core a little warmer, not just my arms. But there is the option of the vest as well. If it's even colder than "light jacket and arm warmer" weather, then I add a long sleeve wicking shirt, probably without the arm warmers. I don't have a thicker jacket for cycling, but at 30 degrees, you might want one.

As for legs, I have both leg warmers and exercise pants that I wear over my cycling shorts. If I'm not sure it's cold enough to keep my legs covered for a whole ride, I'll do the leg warmers. If I know there's no chance of it getting warm enough to take them off, I prefer to where pants over my shorts (except now I'm thinking I might should invest in a pair of actual cycling pants!). I just hate the look of my fat bulging where the leg warmer elastic tightens around my thigh under the cycling shorts!

One of the biggest issues for me on the colder days are my ears hurting. I wear what I call a "thief mask". :) Dh and I wear them snowboarding. It covers my ears and, if I want, my neck and mouth depending on which kind you buy and how you choose to wear it. And then I, of course, where my helmet over it.

I have to say, I was really surprised at how not so miserable a bike ride in the cold can be when you are properly attired! You just have to figure out what works for you.