Fall/winter riding gear and tips

[shewhobikes]

I've searched for past threads and didn't come up with anything (I bet someone here will know a link, though), on fall/winter riding now that the days are shorter and the nights will be getting chilly. I have a good headlight, nice & bright, and a good blinky tail-light. Also have tights, arm and leg warmers, and just ordered a long-sleeved base shirt that wicks from Patagonia. I'll be tracking down a band or something to cover my ears and something for inside my helmet, some toe covers and gloves with full fingers.
Anybody have any other items of clothing or gear they find really helpful?

Also, please share whatever lessons you've learned about riding at night that might be helpful. I've gotten a lot of miles in since the spring when I started riding, but don't have any experience in the winter months.

Thanks!

[Crankin]

It depends on how cold it gets where you live. Below 52 or so, i would wear bike shorts under thermal tights, instead of leg warmers. I wear anything from a regular long sleeved jersey with a wind jacket, to wool tops that are wicking with a jacket, or thermal tops. Also, you need full finger gloves. I wear Wooly-Bully socks (both light and medium weight) and I have neoprene booties for my shoes for when it gets in the 40's. I can't stand having cold feet. I have a cap that goes under my helmet to cover my head, too.

All this gets me to the end of November in New England. Then it's just too cold for me.

[traveller_62]

I live in Maine on the coast so am pretty used to riding in damp cold weather. Gloves (I use "lobster" gloves with three fingers), neoprene booties, and head/ear covering is key for my comfort. You are smart to layer your core with an undershirt and then one or two additional layers depending on the weather.


For visibility I would get an outer shell that was made with reflective threads so that it "explodes" with reflected light when a car headlights hits it. I think Perl Izumi used to have such a shell. They were expensive as I recall. I'm looking for something like that myself now. I wish I had purchased the one I saw at the time I saw it! I don't find the standard reflective piping on most biking jackets sufficient for visibility in near dark conditions.

traveller

[DeniseGoldberg]

For visibility I would get an outer shell that was made with reflective threads so that it "explodes" with reflected light when a car headlights hits it.
traveller

I have both a vest and a shell that uses illumiNITE fabric - it's amazing when you see it lit up by headlights. I got mine from Performance a number of years ago when they were having a sale if you bought both pieces. I also have a Pearl Izumi screaming yellow wind vest that I use in the daytime. The others I also use for walking at night - I prefer to have the extra visibility.

--- Denise

[KSH]

Here's my question... when looking at jackets... how can you know what will perform in what type of weather.

For example, how will I know if a jacket will keep me warm when it's 50 and I am riding 20 MPH? I don't want to "test" a $120 jacket to find out it doesn't keep me warm.

BTW... I am a whimp. When it's 70, here in Dallas, I wear sweaters. When it's 70 and I am riding, I have my leg warmers on, with a long sleeve top and a jacket.

So, what does a whimp like me get in the way of a jacket... to stay toasty warm?

[DeniseGoldberg]

Here's my question... when looking at jackets... how can you know what will perform in what type of weather.

For example, how will I know if a jacket will keep me warm when it's 50 and I am riding 20 MPH? I don't want to "test" a $120 jacket to find out it doesn't keep me warm.

BTW... I am a whimp. When it's 70, here in Dallas, I wear sweaters. When it's 70 and I am riding, I have my leg warmers on, with a long sleeve top and a jacket.

So, what does a whimp like me get in the way of a jacket... to stay toasty warm?

I'd recommend wearing layers. For example, one of my layers is a mid-weight long underwear tank from REI. When it feels too chilly for a jersey and a wind vest or even a jersey and a wind jacket, then I add the long underwear tank. Three relatively light layers, comfortable to wear, and it takes me down to lower temps... As it gets colder then I switch my jersey for a long-sleeved shirt, sometimes a heavier layer like a Patagonia R.5 shirt, or when it gets really cold an R1 shirt. Or combinations...

I wouldn't recommend relying on a single jacket layer - plan on adding layers underneath too.

--- Denise