Starting from (near) scratch

[hebe]

What's a minimum set of gear that I should be looking at for mainly off-road riding two or three times a week please? I'm in the UK, probably won't be riding at or near freezing or when it's pouring with rain but will ride in cold/wind/showers. At the moment my cycling wardrobe comprises:

1 pair padded undershorts (not brilliant as the leg seams ride up)
2 pairs of gloves (1 fingerless, 1 full)
1 showerproof jacket
3 pair of socks
1 pair lace up cycling shoes (quality is a bit dubious)
a couple of old wicking sleeveless running tops
1 longsleeve zip up running jersey - neither waterproof nor windproof, just a lightweight extra layer

Pretty much everything bar my helmet was cheap as chips, I didn't want to invest heavily until I knew that I could ride so I've been wearing normal summer capri length trousers (something that I'm keen to stop as it's not hugely comfortable, even over the padded underwear). The downside of buying cheap is the jacket is on the small side and not well ventilated, the shoes have plastic threads poking through the inside of the heel and it all clashes horribly with my black and pink helmet. Money is still on the tight side, but I can ebay some stuff to get some decent basics. So what kind of things should I be looking at? bike shorts + trackpants plus jersey? tights?
I'm not necessarily after brand recommendations as I won't be able to get them all here, but any tips on what to look out for in suitable clothes would be very helpful too.

Any and all advice appreciated, thank you.

[OakLeaf]

You'll definitely want some base layers for the cooler weather. They're not cycling specific. I wear my wool base layers under everything (and sleep in them, too).

Shoe covers are nice, but plastic bags inside your shoes are fine for shorter or very cold rides.

[Owlie]

Comfort is the biggest thing to look for. Sadly, you can't always predict that out of the package. I'd go for new shorts and shoes, because as you start riding longer, those seams and threads are going to get more annoying. Following that, a new jacket. I don't know much about riding off-road, but I've layered lined track pants over bike shorts and was toasty. If you're going to spend money on anything, spend it on shorts.

Foska, by the way, makes some fun stuff and is based in London. It's not cheap, but if you create an account, you get a bit of a discount. ;)

[hebe]

Thank you for the replies and for the lovely pm I received.

Oakleaf, I will look out for some base layers. Can wool base layers be machine washed? That's interesting about the shoes. The ones I have have some kind of inner membrane that's meant to keep feet dry, but I don't yet know how they'll cope when it's really cold. I was thinking about wool socks.

Owlie, thank you for those suggestions. I love some of the tops on the Foska site, what a great link! I shall do as you suggest and look for shorts first, with base layers and then shoes. I'm wondering if a de-bobbler thingy would just shave off the sticky out threads before they stick out any more and start going through my socks. (I did already change them once as the first pair were worse, but it is such a novelty to have my feet stay on the pedals even in the rain that I decided I cope with them until I knew what to look for).

Anyway, I have just put a couple of baby slings up for sale so can start looking at shorts :D Thank you again for all your help, I really would be lost without the lovely women on here.

[jessmarimba]

Most of my cycling clothes aren't cycling specific - there are a lot of "technical" garments I wore for running, hiking, etc. first. A lot of my tops and tights came from Target and were pretty inexpensive. I don't know what the UK equivalent of that sort of store is though :(

[Owlie]

My Smartwool base layer is machine washable (on cold, delicate). I think most of them are.

Re socks: I was quite happy wearing wool hiking socks the last time I went out in the cold (it was above freezing, but not much).

[hebe]

Most of my cycling clothes aren't cycling specific - there are a lot of "technical" garments I wore for running, hiking, etc. first. A lot of my tops and tights came from Target and were pretty inexpensive. I don't know what the UK equivalent of that sort of store is though :(

Possibly Lidl, which is where my jacket, shoes, gloves and socks came from (for about $48 for the lot :o ) I used to go fell-running years back but sadly don't have many of the clothes still. Actually I'm quite sure that my old running tights would be far too small now, even if I did still have them. That's encouraging to know that things don't have to be cycling specific.

[hebe]

My Smartwool base layer is machine washable (on cold, delicate). I think most of them are.

Re socks: I was quite happy wearing wool hiking socks the last time I went out in the cold (it was above freezing, but not much).

Thank you!

[OakLeaf]

I don't buy much of anything that isn't machine washable. ;)

I do have a front-loader, which helps, and I put the lightest ones in a lingerie bag, and the delicate cycle for all of it. I dry them flat (which I just had to order some more drying racks (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0010XIWVK/ref=oss_product) because no one has them at retail any more, not even Lehman's non-electric store :().

[hebe]

A quick update - I visited a bike shop today and have bought a machine-washable merino wool long-sleeved base layer and some 3/4 length shorts (knicker?) I'm looking forward to getting back home now and trying them out. And of course ebaying some more things to buy tights, jerseys, shoes and jacket!

Thank you again for all the help.

[KnottedYet]

A lot of my tops and tights came from Target and were pretty inexpensive. I don't know what the UK equivalent of that sort of store is though :(

Marks & Spenser?

[hebe]

I did check M&S online, but there wasn't anything that I really liked. Thank you for the suggestion though, much appreciated.

I found this place today, which is based in my home county and has some lovely things - www.minx-girl.com I need to choose now!

[Rebecca19804]

+Minx-girl.com!
I get their newsletters and have bought some fantastic top-brand stuff in whenever they run one of their fabulous sales! There are always items in the Sale section of the website, year round, though if there isn't an official Sale going on, stock runs really low and you won't necessarily find the size/colour you want.

One thing that really makes Minx-girl.com stand out is the customer service. Debbie is the 'head Minx girl' and she is always available to chat with over the phone when you can't decide between a choice of several items or need advice on fabric, fit, etc. She spent half an hour on the phone with me one Sunday afternoon discussing 3/4 length 'baggies' - I went with her recommendation (http://www.minx-girl.com/products/zoic-la-vida-capri-gunmetal-plaid/677/) and love them.

One thing hebe - they don't have a shop you can visit (or a catalogue as stock changes so rapidly) - it's strictly Internet with mail order delivery.

And yes, I trawl eBay a lot too. Set up automatic searches on categories or brands you're interested in - makes it easier to run a fresh search whenever you want, or to sign up to automatic e-mail notifications when new things are listed.

oh and yes, +1 on merino base layers AND socks. Makes so much difference in these English winters.

Happy shopping!

[lph]

Oh, and don't forget that you can post a query on the "free gear" board with your sizes and see if anybody has something they could give a new home. Sometimes you just have a garment lying around that's a tad too small or short or something, but too worn to sell, too good to throw away.

[Kerry1976]

My next gear-get will be gloves. Was reminded again today how much I need them - my palms got sweaty! As a newbie, I'm slowly trying to also get a cycling wardrobe - I generally use my running shirts, socks and shoes with either my one pair of cycling shorts or one pair of cycling knickers.

[hebe]

lph, I didn't think of that, thank you! I have been sent a jersey by a very generous TE-er and was hugely touched. It's a lovely jersey, too :D

Kerry, it does seem to take a while, doesn't it? Not much of my running gear still fits, sadly.

I absolutely love the wool top I bought, but am not really sure about the knicker. The chamois feels as if it's not quite right, and waggles when I walk. Plus it keeps catching on the saddle. The chain came off my bike today and jammed under that disc thing on the rear deraillier, and I was really not liking the knicker by the time I'd pushed the bike home.

Rebecca, that was a very reassuring endorsement of Minx-girl, thank you. She's been very helpful to me over the last couple of days, and I have a longsleeved jersey, winter tights, wrap-round skirt and a base layer on the way. Her site is just so nice, and no customs charges to pay!

[Owlie]

Sounds like the knickers are a little big. I have a pair of shorts that does that too--moves around, catches on the saddle nose.

[hebe]

Just updating this to say that the clothes I bought have been spot on and very well used. I'm hoping to get some more soon, as my daughter has unexpectedly come out of nappies. So I am in the process of selling all her cloth nappies and planning what to do with the proceeds :D

[malkin]

Congratulations!