Winter Gear

[administrator]

Please use this thread for discussions involving winter gear.

[GeoCam]

I have been looking at buying a Buff. They are clearly very versatile and look like a great piece of cycling gear. I have never had one before so I don't know if the regular ones are really good for keeping you warm, or should I get one of the fleece varieties?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

This is very confusing. I don't mean to hijack the thread here, but.....
The administrator put another sticky thread under Apparel titled "Winter clothing"
To me, winter clothing and 'winter gear' are mostly the same thing, since aside from studded tires there isn't that much else you put on your bike for winter riding....so we're mostly talking about stuff you wear in one way or another. :confused:

[GeoCam]

Sorry, I think this IS in the wrong place - and yes, it is a bit confusing!

[surgtech1956]

Fenders? I'm thinking about riding my mountain bike more this fall/winter, I know I need to get studded tires, but what about fenders, if I've going to ride trails??

[GLC1968]

Studded tires, fenders, lights, reflectors, down-lo-glow...insulated water bottles & coffee holders...

I can think of lots of non-apparel winter gear!


Geocam - I use buffs all year round. I do have one polar one, but it's too hot for me most of the winter (above about 20 F). It's actually polar fleece on one end and regular buff material on the other. I've always thought it was rather odd and could never figure out a good way of wearing it that took advantage of both ends properly!

I normally just use regular buffs and double them up if it's really cold. I do have tons of hair and I overheat easily--so take this all into consideration when thinking about your own needs. :D

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Studded tires, fenders, lights, reflectors, down-lo-glow...insulated water bottles & coffee holders...

I can think of lots of non-apparel winter gear!

I think of fenders, lights and reflectors as more like commuter gear- riding to work year round in rain or shine, heat or clod, light or darkness. :)

[GLC1968]

I think of fenders, lights and reflectors as more like commuter gear- riding to work year round in rain or shine, heat or clod, light or darkness. :)

See where I live, you only need fenders for the winter (I think it rained twice all summer!), so that's 'winter' gear to me. Plus, who commutes in the dark in the summer? Doesn't just about everyone get daylight long enough for commuting (unless you are 3rd shift, obviously) in the summer months?

But yeah - maybe they should be in the 'winter commuting' sub forum? :p

[blackhillsbiker]

Do those of you who ride a Brooks saddle switch it out for the winter?

Deb

PS Has anyone tried "Moose Mitts" — I'm thinking seriously of trying them. My hands are cold on normal days and my fingers turn white with cold. I don't think they make a cycling glove that will keep them warm.

[HoosierGiant]

Has anyone tried "Moose Mitts" — I'm thinking seriously of trying them. My hands are cold on normal days and my fingers turn white with cold. I don't think they make a cycling glove that will keep them warm.

I purchased Moose Mitts for DH for Christmas last year. World of difference, he says. His are the MTB version, but we're thinking of splurging and putting them on the road bikes also. Like you, I suffer from the 'skeleton finger' issue, and my hands are never warm, even when wearing a second pair of gloves over my winter riding gloves with wind block. Sigh! Moose Mitts for the road bike are looking pretty enticing now that the temps are starting to drop!

[lph]

Oooh, new winter jacket on it's way :)

My beloved Gore Phantom jacket has been getting, ahem, more and more breathable and less and less water-repellent, and I just recently gave my new bike rain jacket to my dh for his birthday since it fit him better. So I've been looking for a new winter jacket, preferably hi-viz, and if possible water-repellent enough to ride out the rain showers as well. This one - Endura Stealth - has got such rave reviews that I just went for it - highly breathable waterproof (!) softshell, lots of good details, pit zips. Made to withstand mtbiking in Scottish rain... Not hi-viz, but plenty of reflective stripes which is more important.

Watch this space - if it doesn't fit I'll be looking to sell it! :D

[OakLeaf]

My beloved Gore Phantom jacket has been getting, ahem, more and more breathable and less and less water-repellent,

Have you been treating it with NikWax?

[lph]

No, I've just let it degenerate... and I've taken a couple of tumbles in it so it has a few holes here and there. But I do have a really comfy breathable jacket as a result :D

PS. I don't know what Moose Mitts are, but I use Pearl Izumi lobster gloves in winter, and they're too warm above -4 deg C or so (25 F). Not the best dexterity there is, but definitely warm.

PPS. Googled Moose Mitts. Looked like a great idea!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Do those of you who ride a Brooks saddle switch it out for the winter?

No way. Why would I want to be uncomfortable? ;) You wouldn't be able to pry my Brooks off my cold dead butt. (hmmm that sounds interesting)




PS Has anyone tried "Moose Mitts" — I'm thinking seriously of trying them. My hands are cold on normal days and my fingers turn white with cold. I don't think they make a cycling glove that will keep them warm.

In real cold I often wear a pair of soft cashmere or alpaca gloves as liners, then a good warm pair of regular gloves, then a looser men's pair of windstopper thinner flexible ski gloves over that. The looseness provides more insulation. Just enough with the 3 pairs to keep me really warm but still be able to work the brifters. The outer gloves have leather palms and are not slippery.


My beloved Gore Phantom jacket has been getting, ahem, more and more breathable and less and less water-repellent

Ironically, the water-repellent quality of GORE water-resistant jackets fades after the first season. If you read their label, they even say this themselves and they recommend spraying their jackets with something like ScotchGuard water repellent spray periodically to keep the jacket rain repellent. Frankly, I think this is pretty ludicrous considering how expensive Gore jackets are, so once my Gore biking jacket bites the dust I don't plan on buying any more Gore 'rain' jackets. Mine isn't really rain proof OR wind proof, and it makes me sweat. Guess I should stick to my Ibex wool and my Shebeest stuff. :rolleyes:

[Biciclista]

I use my Brooks all year round. The only time I have ever seen a brooks ruined is when my husband rode a 24 hour fleche in the rain. that's right, around the clock, started at 4pm finished at 4pm. Brooks saddles can get wet, just like leather shoes. They just can't handle being soaked for hours and hours and hours. And if where you live, you have conditions like that; I guess a Brooks won't work. Sometimes after a ride, we have to drive in rain (even driving rain :p ) i just put a plastic bag over my saddle - works better than the fancy saddle cover.

[OakLeaf]

Ironically, the water-repellent quality of GORE water-resistant jackets fades after the first season. If you read their label, they even say this themselves and they recommend spraying their jackets with something like ScotchGuard water repellent spray periodically to keep the jacket rain repellent. Frankly, I think this is pretty ludicrous considering how expensive Gore jackets are

If you understand how breathable fabrics work, it makes sense.

Water needs to be able to bead on the outside of the fabric so that the pores aren't blocked. That's why you always use soap, never detergent, to wash breathable garments, and it's also why the coating on the exterior is an integral part of the function.

I'm not sure ScotchGard leaves the pores open (but I don't really know). Most fabric manufacturers recommend NikWax (http://nikwax.com/en-us/how_nikwax_works/introduction.php). Skiers and motorcyclists swear by the stuff. For warmer temperatures than skiing and/or heavier sweating than recreational street motorcycling, it's my experience also that letting water out one molecule at a time just isn't enough. Still, you bet I NikWax my walking-around rain jacket, and it works great.

[lph]

btw, the Gore Phantom jacket isn't meant to be waterproof at all, it's not Goretex. But as new it's fairly water-resistant anyway.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

btw, the Gore Phantom jacket isn't meant to be waterproof at all, it's not Goretex. But as new it's fairly water-resistant anyway.

oh, then it sounds (and looks) a lot like my Shebeest WindPro jacket. Snuggly warm, stretchy, with some windproofing and raindrops tend to bead up on it unless it rains heavily...then forget it. ;D

[blackhillsbiker]

I've put a water-repellent shell over a wool sweater. I don't feel really soaked that way. I'm not a big fan of Gore, and I hate the price (I also don't like Gore coated guitar strings, but that's another forum)

Deb

I gave the underside of my Brooks a good coating of Proofide and I wipe it down after a ride. I think that'll be as good as it gets. I really don't want to ride a different saddle.

[lph]

Oooh, new winter jacket on it's way :)


Here it is - and it fits! It's loose enough over the shoulders and long enough in the back, but still snug around my forearms and comfortably narrow in the torso. I'm thrilled. Very neat zipper details - 4! pit zips, small chest pocket, big rear pocket, sleeves can be unzipped to fit over thick gloves.

[blackhillsbiker]

Found wonderful warm mittens (GKS) at the local Farm & Fleet this evening. I hate frozen fingers. Seems like these will do the trick, and only $21!:D

Deb

[NbyNW]

Question about the Moose Mitts -- are they easy to get hands in and out, for the purpose of signaling a turn?

[malkin]

That looks like a nice jacket, lph!

[DebW]

I got a pair of these (http://www.rei.com/product/786465) for Christmas and am loving them. They are loose tights, windproof front panel, ankle zips, reflective stripe down each side. So far I've cross-county skied in them and biked in them. They've been perfect down to about 35 degrees and maybe a bit lower. There's room for tights or long underwear under them too. Now I can go skiing at a groomed xc place and look like a skier, not an old fuddy-duddy in wool army surplus pants (I do love my wool pants, though).

[Cataboo]

I got a pair of these (http://www.rei.com/product/786465) for Christmas and am loving them. They are loose tights, windproof front panel, ankle zips, reflective stripe down each side. So far I've cross-county skied in them and biked in them. They've been perfect down to about 35 degrees and maybe a bit lower. There's room for tights or long underwear under them too. Now I can go skiing at a groomed xc place and look like a skier, not an old fuddy-duddy in wool army surplus pants (I do love my wool pants, though).

I have a pair of those, love them.

[trista]

I've been wearing these with base layer underneath and they are AWESOME for very, very cold rides: http://www.bikesonline.com/craft-wind-stopper-thermal-tight-black-xl.htm

I've been using this line of products for base layering for really cold rides, which i LOVE: http://www.eddiebauer.com/FIRST-ASCENT/First-Ascent-Womens/First-Ascent-Womens-Baselayer/index.cat

[fincsher]

What jacket will I use for both winter and summer? Any recommendations?

[Velocivixen]

@lph, you look great in your new jacket. I bought a black Endura Luminite jacket which I like a lot. Not high vis, but amlot of reflective markings on it.

I wnt to a local army surplus store today (LBS guy told me the wool gloves there are cheaper). I can buy fingerless wool gloves for $4.97, but on a day when it's over 80 it's not motivating to think about cold weather riding. I'll go back when it's cooler.

[Velocivixen]

Oh, regarding Brooks, I bought a Brooks size medium waterproof seat cover today at Clever Cycles. The new covers are solid black with no branding on them.

[Biciclista]

did you say waterPROOF?