What to wear

**Trekhawk** · 08-19-2005, 12:47 PM

I have been thinking about getting some winter gear for cycling but being a newby and not having cycled in the cold before I have no idea what I should buy. What is really necessary? Do lots of people use arm and leg warmers or go for the long jerseys etc?

I live in a part of Nevada County that only gets snow about 5 times a year but it can still get a bit chilly.

Any guidance you wonderful crew can offer would be greatly appreciated.

**Surlygirl** · 08-19-2005, 01:36 PM

Layer, layer, layer. You want something that wicks next to your skin, then maybe a warmer fleece layer and then a shell to keep out wind. That way if you heat up as you ride you can peel layers off and put them back as the temp changes. I like smartwool socks and you can add shoe covers. TE sells lots of cool weather gear, so take a peak.

**RoadRaven** · 08-19-2005, 01:57 PM

Hey Trek... I'm not riding in snow country, but Nevada makes me think snow... am I right?

Invaluable things we use in this house...
arm warmers ... can be worn with short sleeved jersey, or over a long sleeved , and just pushed down as you warm up
Some thermal water resistant gloves - essential in icy air.
Fleecy long johns to keep thighs and knees warm
Knee warmers - can be worn over long johns, or with normal shorts
A sleeveless wind proof vest is probably the single most valuable piece of cold weather gear we have

My fave combination on a cold day (read heavy frost and maybe 2-3' below (celcius) is...

My fleecy longjohns (with chamois in - my partner tends to use noramal cycling shorts with an un-chamoised longjohn over the top)
Short sleeved jersey
Thick arm warmers
Fleecy bike gloves
Sleeveless wind-proof jacket (if its raining I wear a long-sleeved jacket)
Headband under helmet to keep temple/ears warm
...and the corner of a plastic bag over the toes inside the shoe to stop the wind freezing my toes..

**CorsairMac** · 08-19-2005, 02:12 PM

Howdy Trek: I bike commuted all last winter here in Abq where we don't get much snow either but the temps can go to the teens once in awhile. The coldest I rode to work was 9.
What worked for me was: UnderArmour top, L/S Jersey, and PI Zephyrr Jacket. On the really cold days I wore 2 L/S jerseys. I also have full-fingered gloves and the Lobster Gloves for the really cold days. SmartWool socks and toe covers, leg warmers and REI wind/water proof all weather pants.
What do I want to do different this year? I would like the full cycling pants just so I don't have to deal with the legwarmers/shorts thing and UnderArmour leggings, plus the shoe booties. Other than that: I'm planning on riding all this winter too.

**Trekhawk** · 08-19-2005, 03:15 PM

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.

**RoadRaven** · 08-20-2005, 12:20 AM

We have never had a problem shopping for the long tights with chamois in...

We shop usually on line, or by catalogue...

In the shorts with chamois page/sections... there are almost always choices of...
- normal length shorts,
- below knee/calf length long-shorts and;
- the full down-to-the-ankle length pants
... all with chamois

If you are going into a bike shop, ask - they may not stock out of season stuff, and may have to order in for you.

**SadieKate** · 08-20-2005, 06:42 AM

We had a whole discussion around tights with chamois a while back.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...hebeest+tights

**emily_in_nc** · 08-20-2005, 12:28 PM

You can also buy tights without chamois and wear them over bike shorts. That's what I do; then I don't have to wash them after every ride and can thus get away with just two pairs (one old, one new).

Emily

**doctorfrau** · 08-20-2005, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by emily_in_nc

You can also buy tights without chamois and wear them over bike shorts. That's what I do; then I don't have to wash them after every ride and can thus get away with just two pairs (one old, one new).

Emily

Me too. Except I have scads of plain old exercise/running tights from when I was doing alot of power walking in the cold. I just pull a pair (or two) over the bike shorts - no specialty purchase needed.

**Irulan** · 08-20-2005, 08:03 PM

http://www.icebike.org/

**CorsairMac** · 08-21-2005, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by Trekhawk

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** · 08-21-2005, 03:06 PM

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** · 08-22-2005, 01:30 AM

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** · 08-22-2005, 03:35 AM

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** · 08-22-2005, 05:17 AM

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

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