Cool Weather Clothes

[CaliRider]

This is my first year of riding, so I'm still trying to figure out what I need in terms of cycling apparel. I am looking for specific suggestions / recommendations for what you wear to ride in 30-40 degree weather. I have one wool jersey that I love, and I'm very interested in solutions that involve natural fibers. So....head to toe, what do you find works best? And if you have layers that you shed, where do you put them while you ride? Thanks!

[goldfinch]

Today I went out and it was in the very low 40s. I wore wool knickers from Ibex which I really like. Long merino wool socks. Merino wool undershirt. Thin fleece shirt. Light windbreaker jacket well vented to the rear. Under my helmet I wore a merino wool beanie to cover my ears and I also wore a wool Buff around my neck. My gloves are pretty thick. My hands were cold to start but they warmed up. When it is colder I do like the Ibex wool glove liners. The only thing I had to remove was the buff. I can stick stuff in pockets but on this ride I had a rack and a bag to toss stuff.

[Catrin]

You will find that different people have different cold-weather riding tolerances. For ME, I am in my PI Amfib tights in the low 40's while others might not for another 10 degrees or so - and it makes a big difference to my body if it is windy/no sunshine/humid, whatever.

For me, if I ride at 40 degrees I will have on a long-sleeve wool base layer, short or LS wool jersey, thermal jacket, warm gloves. On my head is at least a skull cap under my helmet. Lower body has on my PI Amfib tights over whatever shorts I've selected - no chamois in my tights, wool socks, and shoe covers on my shoes. I don't need to take anything off - but I do have a rack and trunk bag on my bike so IF I was crazy enough to take anything off that is where it would go. I get cold very easily which is why I worded it that way I do see people riding in 40's dressed in ways that would have me freezing in sub 60 degrees...so it does differ. I like the tall Smartwool socks for cold weather riding/hiking.

[OakLeaf]

I'm all about wool, too.

My outer layers tend to be very lightweight windblockers. A jacket with vents and zippers, that can get tied around my waist if it needs to come all the way off. Arm and knee warmers get pushed down around the wrists and ankles when they're too warm (but below 50°F I don't have any bare skin, so I'd be wearing long sleeves and tights). Shoe covers and heavy gloves just stay on, that's okay with me because my fingers and toes are almost never warm enough, even in summer, let alone too warm. A helmet cover, or a light cap that requires only a quick helmet adjustment - either can get shoved in a jersey/jacket pocket if it gets too warm.

[ny biker]

It is true that everyone reacts differently to the cold. For me, 30-40 degrees is cold, not cool. I'm still trying to figure out how to dress right for temps in the high 40s/low 50s. I tend to have problems with my feet being cold.

I have a friend who's a total polar bear. He rarely will say that it's too cold to ride. He's also a big fan of wool. One thing he recommended to me recently was that I should get a wool cap. I just bought the Ibex Coppi cap, which is so cozy I think I just might sleep in it this winter. It fits well under my helmet. http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodIB_852.html

For jerseys, he recommends Wabi Woolens. They're a bit pricey for me.

Last winter several friends recommended that I get booties. I bought a pair (on sale) in the spring. I haven't worn them yet, but I think this Wednesday I will be trying them out on my post-work ride.

Last weekend I did a ride in the rain. Temps were in the 60s but knowing how cold my feet get, I decided to try putting Saran wrap around the front of my feet inside my shoes, and then put toe covers on the outside. This worked well to keep my feet warm and dry. (It was light rain; I imagine my feet would have been wet if we'd had a real downpour.)

I have a small handlebar bag that I use to store extra layers if I'm not wearing them.

Also, I created a file in Notepad on my pc where I takes notes on cool weather rides, including the date, time of day, weather conditions, what I wore, whether I was comfortable. This helps me make decisions on what to wear in various conditions, which makes it more likely that I will be able to convince myself that I can be comfortable even if it's cold outside.

[Crankin]

Everyone is different. I see people riding in shorts when it's 48 degrees .
That said, there's a big difference to me between 45 degrees and 35. I have 3 kinds of base layers (sleeveless, short sleeved, long sleeved) that are not wool. The long sleeved ones keep me very warm. I also have some smart wool very thin base layers. At anything below 50, I have tights on over my shorts. I have Sugoi mid zeros and sub zeros. The sub zeros go on in the 30s. Varying levels of wool socks. Many, many head covers, fleece and wool, or buffs. I have 3 different thicknesses of full fingered gloves, too. I find the combination of jerseys and base layers the most difficult to get. I have heavy thermal ones, light weight thermal ones, and a couple of regular long sleeved jerseys. I have a regular light wind jacket and a bullet proof Assos winter jacket that I could wear in the tundra. I bought it for less than 50% of the regular price. Toe covers (2), 2 types of booties, but in the last 2 years, I have bought winter cycling shoes for both my road and Frog pedals. It makes it a lot easier.
I find it hard to dress for temperatures between 48 and 65, but I prefer layers, as in leg or knee warmers, base layers, arm warmers and a vest or light jacket.