30-degree shift during ride - what to wear?

[Veronica]

I'd wear tights. I cover my knees when it's less than 60 degrees.

Veronica

[arielmoon]

I second Oakleaf's advice and add full finger gloves. I have a medium weight pair of tights that I wear over my shorts and I would probably leave them on and adjust the top layers as needed. I like my Underarmor coldgear as a base layer then my long sleeve jersey with a vest on top. Shoe covers and skull cap too.

[Ritamarie]

For spring rides where I have such a temperature change, I clean out my son's closet and wear his discarded long sleeve sweatshirts early in the ride. If it's nice, but just too small for him, I give it to someone at a rest stop who wants it (or more likely has a kid at home who will want it). If it's worn out and ready for the trash, I just toss it into a trash can when I am done with it. If you don't have a teenage son, just clean out your own closet.

[TsPoet]

wool buff. These things are wonderful, 2x longer than regular buffs, very thin wool. I stretch it up over my head when its cold, pull it down over my ears when it warms up a little, pull it down just around my neck when it's a little warmer, and finally I can just slip it off and throw it in a pocket if it gets even warmer.
makes a huge difference all by itself.

[Pedal Wench]

Thanks for the input -- looks like I was on track. It's going to still start out really cold - 27 degrees, get up to 61 degrees, but only dip back to 50 at night.

So, start with chemical toe and handwarmers, and maybe even a body warmer. Toss as it warms up. Midweight padded tights, craft base layer, jersey, arm warmers, jacket, buff to breathe through (asthma gets really nasty if I breathe cold air) and beanie. Shoe covers, full gloves, wool socks.

Here's a wacky thought: instead of carrying my Infinit powders in my seatpost bag, I should put it in a big ziploc and cover my chest with it - I have to carry it anyway, might as well use the plastic as an insulating layer!!! Thoughts????

[Susan Otcenas]

A base layer with a Gore Windstopper Phantom Jacket (zip off sleeves) on the top. Pedal Pushers with to the wool knee socks (so no leg exposed). Shoes with toe covers. Medium weight long fingered gloves. Thin beanie.

[indysteel]

I like Susan's suggestions, mostly because I have that jacket and those knickers (thanks TE!). If it were me, I'd dress for the cold weather, but as it warmed up, I would make sure to take off what I needed to take off on my upper body so that I didn't up drenched in sweat. You want to avoid a wet base layer/jersey by the time the temps drop again at night. I'd also carry a spare pair of charcoal toe and hand warmers.

[Triskeliongirl]

I also like susan's suggestions. Dppending on what garments you alrady own, the answer is clearly layer layer layer.

For gloves, I have ibex wool liners I wear under my short finger reg. cycling gloves, and then have a thin windstopper glove I can layer over, to have lots of combinations. Maybe all 3 to start, and peel as you go.

I also love jackets with zip off sleeves, but i agree with Veronica that if its never going above 60 I'd wear full tights and just mess with taking toe covers off as it warms up. My PI vagabound jacket wouldn't be warm enough for 27, so maybe I'd put a thermal vest under it that I could take off later.