I know that some people wear shorts when it's 40 and never use anything more than toe covers, but I find it pays off to have good head coverings, gloves, socks, and shoe cover options, in more than one winter weight. When it's below 45, I wear a Craft LS base layer and either a thermal type mid layer and a wind jacket or a wool mid layer. These do not have to be cycling specific. I have sleeveless base layers for temperatures above that. Sometimes the thermal mid layer or wool are worn sans jacket, if it is in the fifties/high forties.
But, the extremities. I have a thin, fleece beanie that is so old that my son who is 25 wore it when he was 14 and racing. I have a teeny head and have had difficulty finding head covers that fit. I bought 2 junior size buffs that work pretty well in the upper forties/low fifties. For my hands, I cannot wear liners under regular summer gloves. I tried once and my fingers were slipping all over the bar. Hated it. I have a pair of old Performance lighter weight full finger gloves. Those are my first layer of defense. I bought some PI Amfib gloves, but it is very hard for me to shift the STI shifters on my road bike with them. They are OK with the trigger shifters on the hybrid. I solved this problem by buying a larger size lighter weight full finger gloves, which I wear with thin liners, either synthetic or wool. Both of those I had for x country skiing. I have been known to use charcoal hand warmers, when I was commuting, in between the liner and the glove.
For my feet. I have toe covers that are wind blocking and those go on in the fifties, with super thin wool socks or medium-thinnish weight wool socks that are pretty warm. I also have "woolie-bullie" socks that are thin for heavy socks, but I have to make sure to keep shoes looser if I wear these. Sometimes I wear wool socks without the covers , for those in between temps you are describing.
Finally, I have like 3 pairs of booties. The ones I like the best are by Hind. They have no zipper or snaps, all velcro. I've worn them in the high thirties; frankly below that, I am probably not going to be on my road bike. I have a pair of booties with zippers and velcro for my spd pedals on the hybrid. They are old and torn from wearing them a lot when I had spd pedals on my road bike. It's hard to get them on. So, last year I bought a pair of women specific winter cycling shoes, spd compatible, with Gore Tex. They are expensive, but I got them from Back Country.com, at a very good price. If you wear them with good socks, you won't need booties at low temps. They look like hiking shoes. Look for them on sale in February.
I actually bought a pair of Gore Tex booties on TE 2 years ago. DH bought a pair, too. I cannot get them over my calf! It is very weird. Someone (Knott?) explained that they are probably unisex and as such, are really not made for a woman's leg proportions. A total waste of $.
Last edited by Crankin; 09-27-2010 at 04:42 PM.
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