Hello ladies! My husband and I are doing a 50 mile ride for pancreatic cancer tomorrow a.m. and are trying to figure out what to wear. I know from past experience running that too much clothing is no good, and not enough is just as bad.
The temps in MN will be high 40s to start and a high temp of 60. I anticipate with stops it will take us 4 hours (its not a race) and I don't want to be miserable. Any ideas are appreciated!
I think you should take some arm and knee warmers (since the high is ~60, perhaps you might wear tights or knickers), and a light jacket. Do you have shoe covers? For me, fingers and toes tend to get cold with temps in the 50s, but more my feet than hands. I'd keep the stops short to avoid cooling down. Best of luck!
Unless it's going to be pouring rain (it is right now where we are), may not really need shoe covers.
Long sleeved jersey with either fleecy vest underneath jacket for layering.
I would tend to wear knickers or thin pair of tights, but everyone is different.
2 sets of gloves, half-finger length and full.
headband maybe. I wouldn't need it unless there was a stiff wind.
Underlayer like Craft. Smartwool ... keeps your core warm when it's cold, wicking when it warms up.
Jersey of choice, mine would be short sleeve
Arm skins! :)
Vest.
This combo is like a jacket. Warm at the start, as you warm up on the road you can lower the arm skins or remove 'em. Draw 'em back up at a rest stop or if temps drop again.
thank you all for the responses. today after i sent tis, we went for a 70 min ride and tried out a plan for clothes since it will be around the same time. i had tights on under my shorts and a tank bra under my sportill zone 3 top. i was ok. my feet were a bit numb and cold but that was because i didn't wear my smartwool sox. i will tomorrow for sure.
so i know i need the arm skins - now i see what the big deal is with them (easier to change than a jacket) and shoe covers for the fall.
the key word is layering- definitely a wool underlayer- I wear a sleeveless wool underlayer even in the summer, arm skins, wool socks,knickers or possibly shorts with knee warmers if you have knee problems, a buff tube for head and neck, and a sleeveless nylon wind vest will get you through most dry riding in the 35-70 degree range.
The arm skins, buff and vest have the advantage of being stuffable into jersey pockets when you get warm.
In a pinch, you can put plastic bags inside your shoes.
Wool socks aren't likely to keep you much warmer than synthetic - if any - since it's the airflow that's the issue.
Wool socks are great but it's true that to keep your feet warm cover your head. :D Like this:
http://www.teamestrogen.com/product/...1-c44-c46.html
Also I don't like carrying different sets of gloves. My current favorite gloves are Giant full finger gloves. But if I felt a need to carry both it's standard fingerless and a nice light set of glove liners to put over them.
http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodIB_6594.html
@lisathew8lifter
How did your ride go? Did your gear combination work?