Looking for cheap suggestions for cold weather riding clothes

[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.

[redrhodie]

Knickers are to cycling bottoms what capris are to pants. In fact, when I was new, I went into the bike shop and asked for capris, and the guys looked at me like I was speaking Russian, and said, "Oh, you want knickers."

Until then, I knew knickers as those tweed short pants paper-boys would wear in black and white movies. Not so much in the cycling world.

You will not look like a Sumo wrestler, I promise. You will look like a die hard, because everyone else will be huddled up in their snuggies, while you're still riding.

[owlice]

Owlie, thanks! I may try to make some. I think I even have circular needles somewhere! (Okay, I know I have circular needles.... will learn how to use! )

redrhodie, if it takes looking like a Sumo wrestler, I'll be okay with that! Man, I love being over 50!

I looked (online) at knickers today, and also tights, gloves, and jackets. Just got a tuition bill for my spawn, though (does he really need to go to college? Is that really a better use of my money than biking gear?), so I'll have to hold off for a while. I should go find those circular needles!!

[kjb]

Hi -

I've knit myself arm warmers, leg warmers and "neck tubes" for biking.

I made my arm warmers out of a nice cozy wool. They go up to just my elbow. They're nice and warm, too, because I added a thumb and fingerless glove. I'm going to line the palm with a little fleece so the weave doesn't dig into my hand when I ride.

The leg warmers are made out of a cheapo, $2.95 skein of Bernat Supervalue. It's soft, washable, and really easy to work with. They're a bit baggy on the bottom, as I rarely use patterns for anything. They make a big difference.

The "neck tube" is made from the same Bernat poly. I love having neck protection without the flying scarf ends. The only problem with it is that, when it's really cold, my breath freezes on the edge of the tube. I wish I could find a wicking, tech kind of yarn for all this winter stuff.

Also, another thing I've done for arm warmers is cut the feet off of an old pair of knee socks. I love wearing knee socks when it's cold out, but I'm always getting holes in the heels, toes, where ever. Instead of just throwing them out, I snip off the feet and have a really cute pair of arm warmers. Sometimes I cut a thumb hole and sometimes I just leave it. I have a pair of Smartwool knee socks that are getting kind of thin in the heel. . . . ! I love being able to reuse them like this. They're totally washable and they last forever.

Katie

[owlice]

Wow, Katie, thanks!! What great ideas!!!

I wouldn't know how to use a pattern for knitting or crocheting; one of these days, I should take some lessons or join a knitting/crocheting circle or some such!

[Owlie]

Owlice, I'd come knit with you. The only reason I didn't knit mine is that by the time I finished them, it'd be summer 2011!

[blackhillsbiker]

If you're ever in Rapid City, I'll teach you to knit in the round. I knit almost everything that way (I hate to sew up seams).

Deb