30-degree shift during ride - what to wear?

[Pedal Wench]

I have an idea of what to bring, but would love to hear some brilliant suggestions!

I'm doing a ride on Saturday that's going to be 27 degrees when we start, up to 58-60 degrees during the day, and potentially back to the 30's/40's when I finish. It's a brevet, so no SAG or drop-offs, and it's a loop, so can't stash stuff to pick up later.

I have a slightly oversized seatpost bag, but that will be filled with drink powders - everything needs to be carried on me, wrapped around the seatpost or hung off of aerobars.

What would you wear?

[OakLeaf]

Those kind of temps, I generally just deal with being a little overheated when it warms up. I think it depends mostly on whether you deal better with being too cold or too warm. #1 on my list would be a thin cap that will fit under your helmet without adjustment, and stashed in a jersey pocket when it's time to lose it. I'm always amazed at how much difference head covering makes. Light shoe covers, just to block the wind, shouldn't be overly warm when it does warm up. A microweight wool base layer under a LS jersey, and a windblocking jacket or vest (or convertible jacket/vest). Legs are my biggest problem. I don't own wool leg warmers, but if I were going to be doing that kind of ride at all regularly, I'd probably get a pair.

[Veronica]

I'd wear tights. I cover my knees when it's less than 60 degrees.

Veronica

[arielmoon]

I second Oakleaf's advice and add full finger gloves. I have a medium weight pair of tights that I wear over my shorts and I would probably leave them on and adjust the top layers as needed. I like my Underarmor coldgear as a base layer then my long sleeve jersey with a vest on top. Shoe covers and skull cap too.

[Ritamarie]

For spring rides where I have such a temperature change, I clean out my son's closet and wear his discarded long sleeve sweatshirts early in the ride. If it's nice, but just too small for him, I give it to someone at a rest stop who wants it (or more likely has a kid at home who will want it). If it's worn out and ready for the trash, I just toss it into a trash can when I am done with it. If you don't have a teenage son, just clean out your own closet.

[TsPoet]

wool buff. These things are wonderful, 2x longer than regular buffs, very thin wool. I stretch it up over my head when its cold, pull it down over my ears when it warms up a little, pull it down just around my neck when it's a little warmer, and finally I can just slip it off and throw it in a pocket if it gets even warmer.
makes a huge difference all by itself.

[Pedal Wench]

Thanks for the input -- looks like I was on track. It's going to still start out really cold - 27 degrees, get up to 61 degrees, but only dip back to 50 at night.

So, start with chemical toe and handwarmers, and maybe even a body warmer. Toss as it warms up. Midweight padded tights, craft base layer, jersey, arm warmers, jacket, buff to breathe through (asthma gets really nasty if I breathe cold air) and beanie. Shoe covers, full gloves, wool socks.

Here's a wacky thought: instead of carrying my Infinit powders in my seatpost bag, I should put it in a big ziploc and cover my chest with it - I have to carry it anyway, might as well use the plastic as an insulating layer!!! Thoughts????

[Susan Otcenas]

A base layer with a Gore Windstopper Phantom Jacket (zip off sleeves) on the top. Pedal Pushers with to the wool knee socks (so no leg exposed). Shoes with toe covers. Medium weight long fingered gloves. Thin beanie.

[indysteel]

I like Susan's suggestions, mostly because I have that jacket and those knickers (thanks TE!). If it were me, I'd dress for the cold weather, but as it warmed up, I would make sure to take off what I needed to take off on my upper body so that I didn't up drenched in sweat. You want to avoid a wet base layer/jersey by the time the temps drop again at night. I'd also carry a spare pair of charcoal toe and hand warmers.

[Triskeliongirl]

I also like susan's suggestions. Dppending on what garments you alrady own, the answer is clearly layer layer layer.

For gloves, I have ibex wool liners I wear under my short finger reg. cycling gloves, and then have a thin windstopper glove I can layer over, to have lots of combinations. Maybe all 3 to start, and peel as you go.

I also love jackets with zip off sleeves, but i agree with Veronica that if its never going above 60 I'd wear full tights and just mess with taking toe covers off as it warms up. My PI vagabound jacket wouldn't be warm enough for 27, so maybe I'd put a thermal vest under it that I could take off later.

[Pedal Wench]

It's not gonna get up to 45 until 11am, and we start a 6am. (It's a 300K, so an all-day affair.) I'm gonna err on the side of being too warm later in the day. I can deal with open flapping zippers, but I can't deal with being cold all morning. Thanks for the tips and advice. Good idea on carrying spare chemical warmers. If I'm out later than I planned, the temperatures will be dropping again, and if I DID overheat during the day, that sweat won't help keep me warm at night!

[shootingstar]

Interesting just reading the variations..depending on our different tolerance levels at different temperatures.

Would be wearing 1 pr. tights all the way. No other additional layers on legs.
Shoe covers helpful but if not, I would wear a slighter thicker pr. of socks, have 1 thinner pr. stashed away.

Thin/medium weight full-sleeved fleecy over long-sleeved jersey. Plus jacket on top. Would carry /wear a thin vest.

Long fingered gloves as backup.
Headband over ears, under helmet. Beanie cap not needed.

May not be everyone's choice but just moi.

[Pedal Wench]

What I wore...

Thin liner socks
chemical toe warmers
mid-weight wool socks
shoes
shoe covers
padded tights
knee warmers
craft base layer
very thin PI base layer
chemical body warmers (one front, one back - don't recommend the back one)
tyvek FedEx pouches
jersey
armwarmers
Sugoi jacket (from my team kit, not sure what model it is, but think it's just their winter jersey)
Polar buff around neck and face
Adidas thermal beanie
thin gloves
hand warmers
thick PI gloves

I was quite comfy, and shed warmers, FedEx pouches, arm and knee warmers throughout the day. Didn't put them back on after sunset, but I probably should have, as I was quite cold when I finished.

[Biciclista]

This is why i have a rack and panniers. I cannot predict the weather and i would rather be prepared.
30 degrees from start to finish is not unusual here.