Looking for cheap suggestions for cold weather riding clothes

[owlice]

Plus-sized body, petite-sized wallet, and I know nothing about cold weather riding. Please help! Thanks!

[redrhodie]

Good news! You probably already own everything you'll need. Old wool sweaters are perfect for cool rides. As it gets colder, add another layer. Layer everything. I sometimes wear 3 pairs of gloves, 3 tops, 2 pairs of socks. I usually get by with just knickers on the bottom, but if it's much below freezing, I'll wear a pair of tights over them. Nothing really needs to be cycling specific. You can get really cheap arm and leg warmers in places like Target or Old Navy. Oh, and most important, cover your face and neck. I use a Buff for that.

[Trek420]

I'm hearing so many reports from TE'ers of getting wonderful merino wool finds at thrift stores I'm off to look. Well, after work and such also of course check the sale section right here on TE

[Jolt]

Since things don't really have to be cycling specific, why not check thrift stores for clothes that would work? Sometimes you can find some nice things, for very cheap.

[OakLeaf]

Wind protection is key, but it doesn't have to be expensive. Wool alone is wonderful, but when cold air blows right through it and you're not riding hard enough to generate enough body heat to counteract that, it doesn't do you much good.

Depending on how cold your legs get, wind pants may be the hardest thing to find inexpensively. Some gusseted denim jeans, a size or two too big, over wool or knit polypro tights, might be a way to go.

Do you plan to commute through the entire winter? What kind of weather conditions are your limit?

[ny biker]

Owlice just completed a century: 100 posts!!

[owlice]

HA!! ny biker, thanks for pointing that out; I hadn't noticed! My first century, and my sit bones don't even hurt! w00t!!

redrhodie, I hear you on the layering. I'll look like a clothed sumo wrestler as I ride!

Knickers??

OakLeaf, I have jeans that are too big on me (for now, anyway, but once I start baking pumpkin bread again, all bets are off!), so that'll work. Tights under them. Do people wear bike shorts under tights under jeans? Or forgo chamois and padding altogether?

I'm just outside DC. I'm sure there will be many days that I will not ride in the winter because of weather. I plan to avoid ice and snow; I ride mostly trails, and though I don't fear falling, it'd likely be a good idea for me to not set myself up for slippery conditions in cold weather when the trails will have few people on them. (That said, I often use a trailkeeper -- someone who knows where I'm going to ride that day -- so when I don't show up after my ride, someone knows which river should be dredged for my body. )

We have cold, clear days though, and though I've not ridden through the winter ever, would like to this winter if I can. The short days are a problem (oh, how about riding a deserted trail when it's icy and dark! ), so I'm hoping I can take my bike to work some days and take a ride during the workday (as I sometimes do now).

Jolt and Trek, I haven't tried thrift stores; will have to do so and hope there is someone of my great height and width who has fabulous taste but gets bored with her clothes frequently!

~~~

Re: arm warmers, these are basically sleeves, yes? I see some places online which have some for not a lot of money, but it seems to me these are something I'd need to try on initially.

I have a windbreaker -- not a great one, but it's big and will go over other layers easily. I don't have gloves other than my regular biking gloves, so I'll have to do something about that. I don't have wool sweaters; I love wool, but have had issues with wearing it in the past. Can try again, though; I know it's great for warmth, wet or dry.

I've ridden in sweat pants recently when it was chilly out, and those with tights under them might work for chillier days. Tights. Hmmm... I haven't worn tights since I was eight, I'd bet.

The shopping list so far:

• tights
• gloves
• arm warmers
• wool sweater
• buff

Could I knit arm warmers?? I have plenty of yarn in the house!!

[OakLeaf]

If you're going to wear non-gusseted jeans, definitely plan to wear shorts with a thick chamois underneath. Otherwise the seams will be very uncomfortable.

[owlice]

Thank you, OakLeaf!

BTW, I raked up huge piles of your cousins today, as I have two large oak trees (white and chestnut) and a number of smaller oak trees (pin and red) in my backyard. You have a very very very large family!

[OakLeaf]

Thank you, OakLeaf!

BTW, I raked up huge piles of your cousins today, as I have two large oak trees (white and chestnut) and a number of smaller oak trees (pin and red) in my backyard. You have a very very very large family!

We make such good compost, too.

[owlice]

Which is why I was raking your cousins!

[Owlie]

Your cousins hit me while I'm riding too. (This campus seems to be entirely covered by oak and maple trees, with the odd sycamore and the one beech.)

Owlice, I can't see why you couldn't knit yourself arm warmers. I'd make them from a relatively fine yarn and in ribbing.

[redrhodie]

Knickers are to cycling bottoms what capris are to pants. In fact, when I was new, I went into the bike shop and asked for capris, and the guys looked at me like I was speaking Russian, and said, "Oh, you want knickers."

Until then, I knew knickers as those tweed short pants paper-boys would wear in black and white movies. Not so much in the cycling world.

You will not look like a Sumo wrestler, I promise. You will look like a die hard, because everyone else will be huddled up in their snuggies, while you're still riding.

[owlice]

Owlie, thanks! I may try to make some. I think I even have circular needles somewhere! (Okay, I know I have circular needles.... will learn how to use! )

redrhodie, if it takes looking like a Sumo wrestler, I'll be okay with that! Man, I love being over 50!

I looked (online) at knickers today, and also tights, gloves, and jackets. Just got a tuition bill for my spawn, though (does he really need to go to college? Is that really a better use of my money than biking gear?), so I'll have to hold off for a while. I should go find those circular needles!!

[kjb]

Hi -

I've knit myself arm warmers, leg warmers and "neck tubes" for biking.

I made my arm warmers out of a nice cozy wool. They go up to just my elbow. They're nice and warm, too, because I added a thumb and fingerless glove. I'm going to line the palm with a little fleece so the weave doesn't dig into my hand when I ride.

The leg warmers are made out of a cheapo, $2.95 skein of Bernat Supervalue. It's soft, washable, and really easy to work with. They're a bit baggy on the bottom, as I rarely use patterns for anything. They make a big difference.

The "neck tube" is made from the same Bernat poly. I love having neck protection without the flying scarf ends. The only problem with it is that, when it's really cold, my breath freezes on the edge of the tube. I wish I could find a wicking, tech kind of yarn for all this winter stuff.

Also, another thing I've done for arm warmers is cut the feet off of an old pair of knee socks. I love wearing knee socks when it's cold out, but I'm always getting holes in the heels, toes, where ever. Instead of just throwing them out, I snip off the feet and have a really cute pair of arm warmers. Sometimes I cut a thumb hole and sometimes I just leave it. I have a pair of Smartwool knee socks that are getting kind of thin in the heel. . . . ! I love being able to reuse them like this. They're totally washable and they last forever.

Katie