What to wear

[CorsairMac]

Thanks guys for all the useful tips. Im hoping to ride all winter so all this info will really help.

Do many of the long cycle pants have chamois? I have looked and most I have seen dont seem to. I definitely need the chamois.

Do you guys change your tyres for winter? I dont want to end up face first on the road so if you also have winter tips for your bike I could sure use those too.

I was going to look into the tight with chamois. I just hate taking forever to change clothes at work! LOL
as for the tyres: I was riding a 26" comfort bike which has nice fat commuter tires on her. I haven't decided which bike I'm going to ride this winter but it'll either be the comfort bike again or the mountain bike. The trail can tend to get icy due to the shade plus I have to cross several wooden plank bridges which in the mornings are frost-covered and slick so the thought of riding that on skinny tyres has me a little concerned.

[Trekhawk]

Thanks guys for some more wonderful winter tips.

Irulan
Thanks for the ice website it had some interesting and useful information, it only snows here half a dozen times thru the winter but it inspires me seeing all the people that cycle in heaps of snow and icy conditions.

Bring on winter I say.......oh well maybe not too soon it is nice to feel that warm sun....but I will be ready.

[Zub_Zub]

In New Zealand we are just coming out of winter. We dont get any snow in auckland but it can get cold. I wear arm and leg/knee warmers along with heaps of layers. I got a wet weather cycling jacket. Its water proof and windproof and keeps me soooooo warm. The only problem it flaps around when going down hills.

[DirtDiva]

I was going to harass you about thinking Auckland is cold in winter, but then I remembered that the last time I was speaking to my Mum it was warmer in Chch than London. It should not be 20C in August! They've had a freakishly warm winter at home this year.

Welcome to the board Zub_Zub.

[DeniseGoldberg]

My cold weather layers depend on how cold it is. I start with arm warmers and knee warmers, then add a wind vest, then...

For really cold weather, I wear Pearl Izumi AmFib tights over my cycling shorts. If it's cold but not really cold then I wear a lighter pair of tights. I use the same cold weather layers for fast-walking in the cold too, so I don't want a chamois in my tights.

On my feet, I always wear SmartWool socks. My shoes won't accommodate multiple pairs of socks, so I use a shoe cover. On really really cold days, I add a toe warmer - you know, one of those (unfortunately) disposable things that generate heat as soon as you peel the backing off of them. They are supposed to be placed on the bottom of your foot, but I don't like the feel of them there, so I paste them on top of my foot - actually on my shoe - with the shoe warmer covering it. Nice and warm! I get the warmers from REI - you can see what I'm talking about by doing a search for Heat Treat.

--- Denise

[Trekhawk]

Denise - Thanks for the tip about the toe warmers will check out REI for some.

Kiwi Girls - I have never been to the North Island (I hope to one day) but I have been to the South Island in the Winter and it was a tad chilly there to say the least. My husband and I toured the S Island camping before we were married and it really tested out our snow tent. He actually proposed on that trip and I figured if we hadnt killed it each other putting up our tent in the dark and rain/sleet/snow then we were probably a match made in heaven.

I love what I have seen of NewZealand, you sure are lucky to live in such a beautiful place.

[Geonz]

When it gets down to four or so here (Fahrenheit) I have to really layer for the commute. Fortunately I'm not really prone to cold digits so just regular wintery gloves will do, but some of my buddies need a double layer there. I wear the heavy socks and my hole-less shoes (or two pairs of lighter socks)). One of my two pairs of genuine wicking long-underwear ski-type thingies underneath (top & bottom), tights over that, sweats over that.
For tops its a wicking layer and t-shirt and long-sleeve something (sweat or T shirt), and two windbreakers. (I have a serious coat but it's too warm even on its own once I get pedaling and it's too bulky.) If htat wicking layer is hiding from me, then t-shirt, long-sleeve T and sweat-shirt will do it.
I get alligator ankles if I'm not careful to keep that area covered and lotioned.

[bikerbarb]

Last winter I was in search of the perfect jacket. I ordered and sent back 4. I finally found the perfect one for me, and my LBS ordered in my size. It is a Burley. It has pit zips, which I love, it is rain and windproof, breathable, has pockets and zips both ways in the front and does NOT have velcro on a flap in the front. (makes me nuts while riding) It is yellow for visibility, not always easy to find in Women's models. And best of all, it fits my shape well. It is not too big in the shoulders for the size that fits me in the hips (medium) which was a problem with a lot of brands, esp. so-called unisex.

I just ordered myself a pair of long pants/tights that have a wind block in the front. Can't wait. Well, I can wait for the cold weather.

[Trekhawk]

Thanks again Ladies for all the great winter apparel and bike selection tips.

I have been looking at a few mountain bike brochures and wondered about the different brakes so this info really helps.

Riding is still quiet new to me and a Winter where it snows is not the norm for this Aussie Girl so again thanks for helping to fill in all the blanks.

Leslie

[Trekhawk]

[QUOTE=bikerbarb]Last winter I was in search of the perfect jacket. I ordered and sent back 4. I finally found the perfect one for me, and my LBS ordered in my size. It is a Burley. It has pit zips, which I love, it is rain and windproof, breathable, has pockets and zips both ways in the front and does NOT have velcro on a flap in the front.


Hey bikerbarb is your jacket the same as the one on this site?