What to wear

[Trekhawk]

I have been thinking about getting some winter gear for cycling but being a newby and not having cycled in the cold before I have no idea what I should buy. What is really necessary? Do lots of people use arm and leg warmers or go for the long jerseys etc?

I live in a part of Nevada County that only gets snow about 5 times a year but it can still get a bit chilly.

Any guidance you wonderful crew can offer would be greatly appreciated.

[Surlygirl]

Layer, layer, layer. You want something that wicks next to your skin, then maybe a warmer fleece layer and then a shell to keep out wind. That way if you heat up as you ride you can peel layers off and put them back as the temp changes. I like smartwool socks and you can add shoe covers. TE sells lots of cool weather gear, so take a peak. ;)

[RoadRaven]

Hey Trek... I'm not riding in snow country, but Nevada makes me think snow... am I right?

Invaluable things we use in this house...
arm warmers ... can be worn with short sleeved jersey, or over a long sleeved , and just pushed down as you warm up
Some thermal water resistant gloves - essential in icy air.
Fleecy long johns to keep thighs and knees warm
Knee warmers - can be worn over long johns, or with normal shorts
A sleeveless wind proof vest is probably the single most valuable piece of cold weather gear we have

My fave combination on a cold day (read heavy frost and maybe 2-3' below (celcius) is...

My fleecy longjohns (with chamois in - my partner tends to use noramal cycling shorts with an un-chamoised longjohn over the top)
Short sleeved jersey
Thick arm warmers
Fleecy bike gloves
Sleeveless wind-proof jacket (if its raining I wear a long-sleeved jacket)
Headband under helmet to keep temple/ears warm
...and the corner of a plastic bag over the toes inside the shoe to stop the wind freezing my toes..

[CorsairMac]

Howdy Trek: I bike commuted all last winter here in Abq where we don't get much snow either but the temps can go to the teens once in awhile. The coldest I rode to work was 9.
What worked for me was: UnderArmour top, L/S Jersey, and PI Zephyrr Jacket. On the really cold days I wore 2 L/S jerseys. I also have full-fingered gloves and the Lobster Gloves for the really cold days. SmartWool socks and toe covers, leg warmers and REI wind/water proof all weather pants.
What do I want to do different this year? I would like the full cycling pants just so I don't have to deal with the legwarmers/shorts thing and UnderArmour leggings, plus the shoe booties. Other than that: I'm planning on riding all this winter too.

[Trekhawk]

Thanks guys for all the useful tips. Im hoping to ride all winter so all this info will really help.

Do many of the long cycle pants have chamois? I have looked and most I have seen dont seem to. I definitely need the chamois.

Do you guys change your tyres for winter? I dont want to end up face first on the road so if you also have winter tips for your bike I could sure use those too. :)

[RoadRaven]

We have never had a problem shopping for the long tights with chamois in...

We shop usually on line, or by catalogue...

In the shorts with chamois page/sections... there are almost always choices of...
- normal length shorts,
- below knee/calf length long-shorts and;
- the full down-to-the-ankle length pants
... all with chamois

If you are going into a bike shop, ask - they may not stock out of season stuff, and may have to order in for you.

[SadieKate]

We had a whole discussion around tights with chamois a while back.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=1939&highlight=shebeest+tights

[emily_in_nc]

You can also buy tights without chamois and wear them over bike shorts. That's what I do; then I don't have to wash them after every ride and can thus get away with just two pairs (one old, one new).

Emily

[doctorfrau]

You can also buy tights without chamois and wear them over bike shorts. That's what I do; then I don't have to wash them after every ride and can thus get away with just two pairs (one old, one new).

Emily

Me too. Except I have scads of plain old exercise/running tights from when I was doing alot of power walking in the cold. I just pull a pair (or two) over the bike shorts - no specialty purchase needed.

[Irulan]

http://www.icebike.org/

[CorsairMac]

Thanks guys for all the useful tips. Im hoping to ride all winter so all this info will really help.

Do many of the long cycle pants have chamois? I have looked and most I have seen dont seem to. I definitely need the chamois.

Do you guys change your tyres for winter? I dont want to end up face first on the road so if you also have winter tips for your bike I could sure use those too. :)

I was going to look into the tight with chamois. I just hate taking forever to change clothes at work! LOL
as for the tyres: I was riding a 26" comfort bike which has nice fat commuter tires on her. I haven't decided which bike I'm going to ride this winter but it'll either be the comfort bike again or the mountain bike. The trail can tend to get icy due to the shade plus I have to cross several wooden plank bridges which in the mornings are frost-covered and slick so the thought of riding that on skinny tyres has me a little concerned.

[Trekhawk]

Thanks guys for some more wonderful winter tips.

Irulan
Thanks for the ice website it had some interesting and useful information, it only snows here half a dozen times thru the winter but it inspires me seeing all the people that cycle in heaps of snow and icy conditions.

Bring on winter I say.......oh well maybe not too soon it is nice to feel that warm sun....but I will be ready. :cool:

[Zub_Zub]

In New Zealand we are just coming out of winter. We dont get any snow in auckland but it can get cold. I wear arm and leg/knee warmers along with heaps of layers. I got a wet weather cycling jacket. Its water proof and windproof and keeps me soooooo warm. The only problem it flaps around when going down hills.

[DirtDiva]

I was going to harass you about thinking Auckland is cold in winter, but then I remembered that the last time I was speaking to my Mum it was warmer in Chch than London. :eek: It should not be 20C in August! They've had a freakishly warm winter at home this year.

Welcome to the board Zub_Zub. :)

[DeniseGoldberg]

My cold weather layers depend on how cold it is. I start with arm warmers and knee warmers, then add a wind vest, then...

For really cold weather, I wear Pearl Izumi AmFib tights over my cycling shorts. If it's cold but not really cold then I wear a lighter pair of tights. I use the same cold weather layers for fast-walking in the cold too, so I don't want a chamois in my tights.

On my feet, I always wear SmartWool socks. My shoes won't accommodate multiple pairs of socks, so I use a shoe cover. On really really cold days, I add a toe warmer - you know, one of those (unfortunately) disposable things that generate heat as soon as you peel the backing off of them. They are supposed to be placed on the bottom of your foot, but I don't like the feel of them there, so I paste them on top of my foot - actually on my shoe - with the shoe warmer covering it. Nice and warm! I get the warmers from REI - you can see what I'm talking about by doing a search for Heat Treat.

--- Denise

[Trekhawk]

Denise - Thanks for the tip about the toe warmers will check out REI for some.

Kiwi Girls - I have never been to the North Island (I hope to one day) but I have been to the South Island in the Winter and it was a tad chilly there to say the least. My husband and I toured the S Island camping before we were married and it really tested out our snow tent. He actually proposed on that trip and I figured if we hadnt killed it each other putting up our tent in the dark and rain/sleet/snow then we were probably a match made in heaven.

I love what I have seen of NewZealand, you sure are lucky to live in such a beautiful place. :D

[Geonz]

When it gets down to four or so here (Fahrenheit) I have to really layer for the commute. Fortunately I'm not really prone to cold digits so just regular wintery gloves will do, but some of my buddies need a double layer there. I wear the heavy socks and my hole-less shoes (or two pairs of lighter socks)). One of my two pairs of genuine wicking long-underwear ski-type thingies underneath (top & bottom), tights over that, sweats over that.
For tops its a wicking layer and t-shirt and long-sleeve something (sweat or T shirt), and two windbreakers. (I have a serious coat but it's too warm even on its own once I get pedaling and it's too bulky.) If htat wicking layer is hiding from me, then t-shirt, long-sleeve T and sweat-shirt will do it.
I get alligator ankles if I'm not careful to keep that area covered and lotioned.

[Trekhawk]

[QUOTE=Geonz]
I get alligator ankles if I'm not careful to keep that area covered and lotioned.

Thanks for the tips. I think (looking down at legs) that I wish it was only my ankles that look like alligator hide. Must get that lotion out. :D

[newfsmith]

For the winter I don't worry about jerseys much; back pockets are useless if you have a jacket over them. Instead I mostly wear a coolmax tee, LS if below 20F/-7C, topped with either a light Merino sweater I got at Costco for $20, or if it is very cold (below 10F/-12C) a polarfleece jersey from Old Navy, passed on by my duaghter. Most of the time I wear some Dryfit pants from Moving Comfort that happen to be available in short inseams. Cycling shorts under that unless it is so cold (below 5F/-15C) that I want to wear longjohns as well. Too many layers in the crotch just gets uncomfortable. Feet are 1 or 2 layers of thin Smartwool socks until it is down to 5F, then I go with a heavier pair of snowboarding socks. After November, when I switch to my Snow & Ice bike, I give up my clipless pedals and use some of the MTB mini clips (no straps) and a waterproof pair of insulated boots. Under my helmet I wear a very thin coolmax beanie most of the winter and add a Balaclava below 10F. This winter I will be trying an EMS techwik hoodie as a base layer. Handcovering is the most individual aspect. My hands are arthritic and get cold very fast and stop working. The first stage of the winter I wear wool gloves with leather overgloves. At about 35F2C, I switch to a pair of PI lobster mitts, however, I absolutely must have liner gloves with these. Other wise they are no warmer than my pair of $8 WalMart hunting gloves. When it is below 5F, I switch to heavy wool mittens with leather "chopper" overmitts. These are clumsy, but they are the warmest. Usually, around 10F, depending on the wind I switch from glasses to ski googles. I have never covered the vents on my helmets as I sweat too much on my head and need to let that escape. The final layer of course is a windproof. I use a Jackson-Gibbens jacket because it gives good wind and water protection but is well vented, and was cheap. I also use my O2 jacket well into the fall, down to about 40F/5c.

[anaphase]

I have some toe... they're not warmers, per se, but they're a neoprene toe cover thing, and I wear them for snowshoeing over Smartwool socks. They works great, and I imagine they'd be good for extra warmth during cycling, too. They were cheap, and are not disposable. Might be worth a look. I think I got them at EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports), so REI would probably have them too.

[DeniseGoldberg]

I have some toe... they're not warmers, per se, but they're a neoprene toe cover thing...

Oh, I use toe warmers too, for the days that are cool but not so cool that I need the full shoe covers. My toe warmers are from Pearl Izumi, called CalienToes. As anaphase mentioned, they are available at REI.

--- Denise

[Trekhawk]

Thanks again to all you girls from Massachusetts. That is some serious cold weather you guys get it would seem barmy here in winter for you.

This question is a little off apparel so hope you dont mind- Im seriously thinking of buying another bike to ride in winter (my road bike tyres look a little thin to me) and my husband has even offered to buy me one. What sort of bike would be the best for winter riding and perhaps a little trail riding.

Any advice you can give would be appreciated - Thanks all. :)

[CorsairMac]

Hybrid or Entry Level MTB if you're thinking of dirt trail riding. If they're some serious trails, switch that "entrylevel" to something more in keeping with the trails. If everything is paved - a hybrid should work just great for you and not be tooo heavy after your road bike!

[newfsmith]

This question is a little off apparel so hope you dont mind- Im seriously thinking of buying another bike to ride in winter (my road bike tyres look a little thin to me) and my husband has even offered to buy me one. What sort of bike would be the best for winter riding


Because winter riding here includes ice, I chose a MTB. I also got the smallest frame I could get and ride with my seat a half inch lower than on my hybrid. Since I don't ride off-road, mine is permamently mod'ed for winter riding: I replaced the front suspension fork with a rigid fork; I use Nokian Mount & Ground studded tires both front & rear; I have a truck tail light on my rear rack; I have reflective tape on the wheels; truck side marker lights on the front forks; & multiple headlights. I chose a MTB for 2 reasons: it is easier to get 26" studded tires than in other sizes and the main reason is that it was disc brake ready. Disc brakes are the single best thing you can put on a wet weather bike, and in slushy weather they are the only safe alternative. Don't let someone tell you you only need a front disc brake. If you plan to ride in slush or icy conditions you will not want to touch your front brakes, use the rear brake carefully. You can ride your way through a rear skid, you will go down on a front wheel skid just as surely as you will with a front wheel overlap and touch. Winter riding is fun, just very different.
d

[bikerbarb]

Last winter I was in search of the perfect jacket. I ordered and sent back 4. I finally found the perfect one for me, and my LBS ordered in my size. It is a Burley. It has pit zips, which I love, it is rain and windproof, breathable, has pockets and zips both ways in the front and does NOT have velcro on a flap in the front. (makes me nuts while riding) It is yellow for visibility, not always easy to find in Women's models. And best of all, it fits my shape well. It is not too big in the shoulders for the size that fits me in the hips (medium) which was a problem with a lot of brands, esp. so-called unisex.

I just ordered myself a pair of long pants/tights that have a wind block in the front. Can't wait. Well, I can wait for the cold weather.

[Trekhawk]

Thanks again Ladies for all the great winter apparel and bike selection tips.

I have been looking at a few mountain bike brochures and wondered about the different brakes so this info really helps.

Riding is still quiet new to me and a Winter where it snows is not the norm for this Aussie Girl so again thanks for helping to fill in all the blanks.

Leslie


:)

[Trekhawk]

[QUOTE=bikerbarb]Last winter I was in search of the perfect jacket. I ordered and sent back 4. I finally found the perfect one for me, and my LBS ordered in my size. It is a Burley. It has pit zips, which I love, it is rain and windproof, breathable, has pockets and zips both ways in the front and does NOT have velcro on a flap in the front.


Hey bikerbarb is your jacket the same as the one on this site?

[bikerbarb]

The jacket can be found at the Burley site. They are in rainy Oregon. They specialize in those pull along bicycle trailers. Here is a link:

http://www.burley.com/products/raingear/default.aspx?p=Rock+Point+Jacket&i=0

[Trekhawk]

[QUOTE=bikerbarb]The jacket can be found at the Burley site. They are in rainy Oregon. They specialize in those pull along bicycle trailers. Here is a link:

bikerbarb - thanks for the link. Which one have you got the rain rider or the rock point? The rock point is in the shop here at TE and looks pretty good.

[bikerbarb]

I believe I have the rockpoint one. It is woman specific and it has pit zips. I love the pit zips. Is this new for TE to carry? I don't recall it when I was looking. I tried 2 others from TE that didn't fit. I'm glad to endorse something they carry here.
Barb

[Trekhawk]

bikerbarb - thats the one they have here and it looks pretty good. I think I will try one of these out for Winter.

Cant say how long its been on the site as I have only just started to look at winter gear.

Thanks again for your help - it makes shopping that much easier. :)

[Trekhawk]

Hey Bikerbarb - My Burley jacket arrived yesterday from the TE shop and I love it.

To the other lovely ladies that offered winter clothing advice thanks again. Im slowly gathering my winter gear and feel happy that I will be able to continue cycling thru the cold season. :)

[bikerbarb]

Great! Glad to help someone with my experience. Now if I could just have someone help me with what new bike to buy. I"m so tired of my Jamis touring bike and want something lighter, faster that can take a lot of miles without constant problems with wheels, chain, derailleurs, brakes, pedals...but that's not apparel, so guess I've got to find another thread.