gearing up for cooler weather

I am riding again after a 12 year hiatus, but even back then I was always a fair weather rider. So I need advice. Here in Wisconsin, just across the river from St. Paul, we are still having some pretty warm steamy weather, but the signs of autumn are unmistakable and I want to be ready. I don't want to cancel a ride because I don't have the right gear. So what do I need without buying every piece of cool weather gear out there?

I have a windbreaker and arm warmers and some old snagged up tights.
Do I need gloves with fingers? Wool? baselayers? What would you prioritize as most versatile to get me through?

Thanks!

From memory..there are many posts about winter riding around..Do a search & see what ye can find..
:)

C

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Originally Posted by Look

I have a windbreaker and arm warmers and some old snagged up tights. Do I need gloves with fingers? Wool? baselayers? What would you prioritize as most versatile to get me through? Thanks!

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Have to agree that if you do a search, you'll find ALL kinds of helpful info. And, a lot depends on what kind of cool weather you're talking about...dry, autumn 50 degree days? Thirty degree days with wind and sleet?

But, here is one thing I HAVE to have. I am sensitive to the cold and to the dampness where I live. I love, love, love my Pear Izumi Amfib winter tights. Fleece lined, with water/wind proofing all down the front.

In my climate, they come in handy from September to June. Actually, I had to use them on July 19 this year. :mad: They were expensive, but worth every penny.

I asked the same question last August! :D Here's that thread.

No! No! NO! I have just had my first real proper summer weather ride of the season today and I refuse to acknowledge the thought of riding in the cold anytime soon. Even though I will be in about a fortnight. :o

One word: merino wool.

(ok ok, so that's two words) :rolleyes:

Glad someone posted this thread, I was just thinking about the cooler weather. I'm in Michigan(mid) and and unfortunately the cooler weather will be here tooooooooo soon.

I will never have that problem. Rode today in 96 degree heat. Winter will mean 60's and 70's, maybe 50's but only occasionally.

I don't need to even own a winter coat.

Well, personally I will welcome cooler fall weather--the heat and humidity here are starting to get to me. The only nice thing I can think of about the hot summer weather is that one can swim outside. It's more fun to run, bike, hike etc. when it's nice and crisp rather than hot, sticky and generally icky--fall is my favorite season as far as weather goes. Not to mention (for hiking especially) that the mosquitoes and other bugs are not nearly as bad when it starts to cool off!!

Hi Look,

Congrats on getting back to riding! Like you, I'm in the upper midwest, and dang, it gets COLD here.

I can ride down into the 50s with just basic biking tights, a shirt/jersey, and a windbreaker. I carry long and short fingered gloves, and change as needed.

I can ride comfortably in the mid 30s with long fingered gloves, a skull cap thingy under my helmet (for my head and ears; I found one in the runners section of a local sports type store), long johns under my tights and jersey (I'm a beginner and don't have arm warmers), and the same windbreaker. The skull cap thing makes a HUGE difference to me. I also change to heavier and longer wool socks. I keep warm as long as I keep moving.

Below the mid-30s, I'm a whuss. I would probably need something for my face and shoe covers, and glove liners. But I'm unwilling to be that cold, so I put my bike on a trainer.

So, I'd prioritize: long fingered gloves, skull cap, as the first things. Long johns/base layer, well, if you're in Wisconsin, you probably have those already. I find the "tech" type better for riding than the comfy silk type.

Good luck, I hope you have lots of fun riding.

After all the suggestions I got last year (see reply above), here's what I ended up using the most for my commutes in cold weather. I used them in various combinations depending on how cold it was. My limit for riding in the winter is 20 degrees F.

Sugoi Midzero Speedster hoodie

Sugoi Firewall Tights (no chamois)

Showers Pass Elite rain jacket (wore it all the time because it provides good visibility and has a loop on the back for a blinkie light)

LLBean Fitness Fleece

Outdoor Research balaclava

Smartwool socks--usually wore two pair

toe warmers

PI Calientoes toe covers

LLBean snow sneakers (big enough to fit two pairs of socks and toe warmers in; won't work with clipless pedals--I use mini toe clips on my commuting bike)

Descente Wombat gloves (these won't work so well with STI shifters because they morph into mittens--good when the morning is really cold but the afternoon ride is warmer)

Craft windstopper beanie (can't find a link but I bought it at TE)

I spent a lot of money at TE and REI last winter! But the good thing about riding in the winter is the base layer undershirt and bike shorts are the only things that have to be washed each time; the tights and outer layer tops are good for several rides.

Now let's enjoy the summer and fall while we still can!

I started riding this April (in Southern Hemisphere) & am still at the obsessed never miss a ride stage! So it's winter here now. We've had weather from mid 30's to 40s on some days, with wind factor to 0deg Celcius. (Zero soinds so much colder than 32deg!) For what it's worth here is what I found worked.

A beabie/skull cap - merino wool - FANTASTIC. I got a bit warmer one day & took it off. Had a headache within 15minutes - now will alwas ride with it in winter.

I bought a wind proof & water proof jacket - but don't wear it now as it doesn't really breathe well. So I'd rather be a little bit colder to start but not get sweaty and feel yucky. Ditto with the booties - I got really expensive ones - and really don't feel that they add a huge benefit above the windproof liners that came with my shoes. Louis Garneau brand. Feet get cold & wet in the rain!

Normal cycling shorts + leg warmers seem to do the trick from me.

Can you guys get Kathmandu? I wear their altica thermal top http://www.kathmandu.co.nz/14.html?c..._id=-286589796 , under a normal shortsleeved cycling top & then a wind & water resistant jacket. It's a bit cool to start, but significantly more comforable than being hot after 30mins.

I waer BBB brand long fingered gloves, with short fingered padded gloves over the top. Did think that this may be a bit tough on the long fingered gloves as have had to mend a couple of little holes where the stitching has come undone. I wouldn't recommend this as my hands get really really cold.

Biggest difference in overall warmth was adding the beanie under my helmet!:D

Thanks ladies! I'm going SHOPPING!!!

I second the Sugoi Firewall tights -- they are great (I use them over cycling shorts). I would add the Sugoi Invertor jacket and the Pearl Izumi Cyclone full fingered gloves.

Great thread. I was going to ask the same questions.

Thank you ladies:D

Previously, I'd always worn a wicking baselayer shirt and long, insulated running pants, then an acrylic sweatshirt that I'd cut the sleeves out of, then a waterproof/breatheable jacket and PVC rainpants on the outside...

Working at TE has encouraged me to... uh... set my sights a little higher for this winter. My shoppinglist included the Showers' Pass jacket (very visible, very, very breatheable) the PI AMfib gloves, Sugoi firewall tights, pearl armwarmers (ok, didn't buy 'em from TE, but X had 'em and they were a little small for her...) I happened to come by a set of gore bike tights -the cross3 ones- and they look good, too. Insulated thickly in the front with windproof, water resistant stuff, and a bit thinner in the back for flexibility. Woo! :) I'll probably need more insulation up-top when it gets *really* cold, so the sugoi tops that were mentioned earlier would probably fill the bill.

hope that helps. In all honesty, it's about what you're willing to endure. My running pants/pvc rainpants combo was wet on the inside by the time I was done with my hilly 10mi commute, but it kept me warm. At that time I wore leather boots and had flat pedals, so now I'm going with some kind of shoe covers to make up for having the clipless system now...
Ihighly suggest good gloves, though. My Nashbar neoprene gloves sometimes left my hands so cold that 3 miles into my ride back (still being wet from my ride in) I'd have to pry them off stiff fingers and blow hot air over them just to get them mobile enough to shift again. Not fun.

If you're a size small, stay tuned. I'm going to be selling some tights, capris, long-sleeved jerseys, jackets, and other winter gear soon. :-) I also have a wonderful headlight (NiteRider Flight) that I'm selling.

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Originally Posted by sandra

I will never have that problem. Rode today in 96 degree heat. Winter will mean 60's and 70's, maybe 50's but only occasionally.

I don't need to even own a winter coat.

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Sandra, maybe you're tougher than I am (which wouldn't take much--I'm such a weather wimp :rolleyes: ), but after riding now for several Gulf Coast winters, I've found that I do need SOME cold weather gear, though not the full-on frostbite prevention that some of our northern counterparts need. For example, on several rides last winter I wore long tights over bike shorts, a fleece pullover under a wind jacket, long-fingered gloves, and toe warmers (Calien-toes--love 'em). Sometimes I de-layered a bit after warming up, but that long, cozy stuff was nice to have for at least the first 8 miles or so.

Anyway, just something to think about.:)

What a timely thread. I was thinking about fall as I rode last night and it almost felt cool. I can't believe I'm already thinking about cold weather riding in August, but I'm determined to ride as much as possible this year, and I figure being prepared is a good start.

Some great ideas and good links here. Thanks to everyone who took the time to post. I'm pretty sure I won't be riding in extreme cold weather, but I sure want to have a supply of colder weather riding gear. Do many of you wear your riding shorts with some type of fitness pants over them? The skull cap is a great suggestion. I think I have one somewhere as part of my motorcycle riding gear.

I know cooler weather is just around the corner...but it's hard for me to think about this right now. My ride last night after work was in 103 degree heat with a heat index of 106. With the additional heat coming from the pavement I bet it was close to 110! I'm relishing the thought of cooler weather!