Fall/winter riding gear and tips

[Trekhawk]

Looking for some yummy winter woolies check out www.icebreaker.com
The New Zealanders sure know how to make great stuff.

[shewhobikes]

Knew I could count on TE for good advice and tips. Thanks, ladies, for all the links and tips on warm and dry clothing. Newfsmith, those are exactly the kind of safety/preparedness suggestions I was after. It's rarely that cold down here in Birmingham, but there is a Tuesday night ride I want to continue doing starting next week. During the summer, the club does one route which changes to a different ride the first week in October. This new one is mostly on neighborhood and downtown streets where there is little traffic after 6 p.m. (our start time), but generally good street lights.

It will be interesting to see how long I can hang in there!

[crazycanuck]

I keep forgetting you notherners are heading into winter.I'm not a big fan of heat..but i'll think of you in the snow when it's 42c down here..

Anywho...when we lived in nz..we relied on ground effect for our wet weather/wintry type gear. I found the toasty pie and storm trooper were lifesavers in the icky wet weather auckland was known for..

Also, try Mountain Equipment Co-op. I've not tried thier biking gear, just the jackets..Ask any of the other canucks that post here about MEC. It's pretty reasonable....(xept for the shipping costs down to oz)

c

[Grog]

(I'm one of these canucks I guess...)

I'm going on to MEC today for my Winter needs. Usually I just buy the plain stuff there and tools too, but they seem to have a great new jacket that I want to try on.


http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...=1128178778300
MEC Airfoil cycling jacket

It has no reflective features whatsoever, though, which kind of bugs me. I'm still think of the Descente vest/jacket (sold here on TE) so I may just walk out of MEC with knee warmers, fenders, new lights (very basic just in case system), toe warmers if I can find them, or windproof socks maybe, and two of their cheap longsleeve jerseys that are great as layers (they look quite like Performance's):


MEC Longsleeve Jersey

Add to that new cleaning brushes, some White Lightening fluid and perhaps new tires and I'll have all the gear I need for this Winter!

Oh! And today's the outdoor gear swap so maybe I'll find a tent too?

Nice day in perspective.

[bluerider]

Along the lines of this topic, I start out early and it's starting to get nippy. I went out to get my first pair of leg warmers and EGADS, they did not fit well. Mostly because I'm 5'2 and they honestly go up to my bum. Righty O, not comfy. Anyone know of a brand that carries leg warmers for shorter females? I was thinking of getting them shortened.....

[roughingit]

Along the same lines....any recommendations for cheap cycling tights? Or would leg warmers work in extremely wet conditions? I was thinking of just waterproofing some tight if I could find any cheaper than $80 (which is what they've been going for around here). When it's too cold I have to switch to normal pants sometimes and they get kinda uncomfortable when they are full of water...plus they don't have a chammy!

[Helen]

Don't forget fenders! I just ride in bike shorts and a bunch of flannels on when it gets chilly since I can't afford all the nice stuff and throw on one of those cheap plastic raincoats from sets in the camping section when it's too wet for that. Ain't elegant, but it works!

Yeah ... I don't like microfiber. Its too geeky ... I simply hate it ...