Looking for cheap suggestions for cold weather riding clothes

[ny biker]

Owlice just completed a century: 100 posts!!

[owlice]

HA!! ny biker, thanks for pointing that out; I hadn't noticed! My first century, and my sit bones don't even hurt! w00t!!

redrhodie, I hear you on the layering. I'll look like a clothed sumo wrestler as I ride!

Knickers??

OakLeaf, I have jeans that are too big on me (for now, anyway, but once I start baking pumpkin bread again, all bets are off!), so that'll work. Tights under them. Do people wear bike shorts under tights under jeans? Or forgo chamois and padding altogether?

I'm just outside DC. I'm sure there will be many days that I will not ride in the winter because of weather. I plan to avoid ice and snow; I ride mostly trails, and though I don't fear falling, it'd likely be a good idea for me to not set myself up for slippery conditions in cold weather when the trails will have few people on them. (That said, I often use a trailkeeper -- someone who knows where I'm going to ride that day -- so when I don't show up after my ride, someone knows which river should be dredged for my body. )

We have cold, clear days though, and though I've not ridden through the winter ever, would like to this winter if I can. The short days are a problem (oh, how about riding a deserted trail when it's icy and dark! ), so I'm hoping I can take my bike to work some days and take a ride during the workday (as I sometimes do now).

Jolt and Trek, I haven't tried thrift stores; will have to do so and hope there is someone of my great height and width who has fabulous taste but gets bored with her clothes frequently!

~~~

Re: arm warmers, these are basically sleeves, yes? I see some places online which have some for not a lot of money, but it seems to me these are something I'd need to try on initially.

I have a windbreaker -- not a great one, but it's big and will go over other layers easily. I don't have gloves other than my regular biking gloves, so I'll have to do something about that. I don't have wool sweaters; I love wool, but have had issues with wearing it in the past. Can try again, though; I know it's great for warmth, wet or dry.

I've ridden in sweat pants recently when it was chilly out, and those with tights under them might work for chillier days. Tights. Hmmm... I haven't worn tights since I was eight, I'd bet.

The shopping list so far:

• tights
• gloves
• arm warmers
• wool sweater
• buff

Could I knit arm warmers?? I have plenty of yarn in the house!!

[OakLeaf]

If you're going to wear non-gusseted jeans, definitely plan to wear shorts with a thick chamois underneath. Otherwise the seams will be very uncomfortable.

[owlice]

Thank you, OakLeaf!

BTW, I raked up huge piles of your cousins today, as I have two large oak trees (white and chestnut) and a number of smaller oak trees (pin and red) in my backyard. You have a very very very large family!

[OakLeaf]

Thank you, OakLeaf!

BTW, I raked up huge piles of your cousins today, as I have two large oak trees (white and chestnut) and a number of smaller oak trees (pin and red) in my backyard. You have a very very very large family!

We make such good compost, too.

[owlice]

Which is why I was raking your cousins!

[Owlie]

Your cousins hit me while I'm riding too. (This campus seems to be entirely covered by oak and maple trees, with the odd sycamore and the one beech.)

Owlice, I can't see why you couldn't knit yourself arm warmers. I'd make them from a relatively fine yarn and in ribbing.