Quote Originally Posted by CA_in_NC View Post
As far as the cycling stuff - I'd hit goodwill or a thrift store. You can get long sleeved wool sweaters which will work really well for your top (maybe pick up a wicking base layer at a discount store). No rule says you have to wear tights over your shorts. There are people who wear sweatpants (even though they are cotton usually) with no ill effects.

What kind of winter temps are you dealing with?

This is funny because I actually thought about going to goodwill after I drop the girls at soccer practice today.

I hear what you are all saying. I don't think everything needs to be new or purchased from a bike shop but I don't already own much stuff that can be used. All of my coats are too heavy and nearly all of my sweaters and fleece stuff is cotton. The only thing worse than being cold is being cold AND wet!! It will be kinda fun to see if I can score some wool or polartec at the thrift shop.

On my commute yesterday, I actually wore the same clothes I was going to wear the rest of the day - black stretch twill pants and a nice short sleeve cotton shirt. I thought I would be fine riding without cycling shorts for my 6.5 mile ride (one way). And I was ok, but it would have been better with some padding. I will change that in the future! I did wear a thin, black "long underwear" type long sleeve shirt underneath to cover my arms for the ride - it was in the low 50's. This was no special fabric - I think it came from Walmart - but it worked fine. It was a good thing I had read lots of advice here before, or I surely would have overdressed. It was pretty nippy (to cold-weenie me) when I started, but I was sweating a bit by the time I got to work. Believe it or not, at this time last year, I would have never thought I would even be riding in 50 degree weather. Thinking that I "need" good, cycling-specific stuff probably stems from a deep fear that I will get half-way through the ride and be horribly cold and miserable with no choice but to push on. (Did I mention I don't like to be cold?)

I know cycling jackets are expensive, but I definitely need to find some kind of jacket that stops the wind. I see things called "shells" and others called "jackets." I get what shells are - is that all I need if have plenty of layers underneath? Do the really expensive jackets have some kind of lining or filling that makes them warmer, or are they just made out of more technical fabric that cuts the wind better? Who knows, I may even find some kind of jacket at the thrift shop. At this point, I don't care at all about the fashion aspect.

I looked up average high and low temps for my area. October: 68/44; November: 54/32; December: 40/21. Even colder in January, then Feb. about like December, March is like November, etc. The warmest and coldest times of the day line up fairly well with evening and morning commute times. I really can't see myself riding if it is below freezing, no matter how good my gear, but never say never, I guess. I would certainly like to try to do some riding with temps around 40, though. I would really be proud of myself - I am SO not a cold-weather person!

Thanks for the encouraging words. I really needed a bit of an attitude adjustment, and it is working!