gearing up for cooler weather

[Kitsune06]

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.

[Velobambina]

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.

[Bad JuJu]

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.

Sandra, maybe you're tougher than I am (which wouldn't take much--I'm such a weather wimp ), 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.

[Livin the Dream]

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.

[li10up]

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!