Thermal shoe covers/Winter gear

[Melalvai]

Hands/feet are the most difficult to keep relatively comfortable.

And face. Smear a thick layer of petroleum jelly on your face. Do this AFTER you put your balaclava on (or it'll get in your hair). After your ride wipe it off with kleenex. It is basically like fat. It insulates your face and keeps your cheeks from getting chapped.

[Catrin]

And face. Smear a thick layer of petroleum jelly on your face. Do this AFTER you put your balaclava on (or it'll get in your hair). After your ride wipe it off with kleenex. It is basically like fat. It insulates your face and keeps your cheeks from getting chapped.

Hadn't thought about the face, good point.

I've decided to invest into a couple of good quality pieces this year - look for a winter shoe sale in Feb/March assuming that I've not been scared off by winter riding by then, and finish my winter "ensemble" next winter. I still have my smartwool base layer from last year - it is much too large now but am hoping to get one more winter out of it.

Will invest in some good socks/gloves/balaclava/arm warmers now and experiment with the shoe covers from IndySteel to see if they will be warm enough for me without soaking my feet. If they work then I can spare the winter shoe expense, though it does sound like an eventual "have to" purchase if I do really get into cold-weather riding.

I've already got a good pair of leg and ear warmers and will see if I can find some decent affordable non-cycling specific warm knickers or fleece pants that I can wear over leg-warmers and shorts. I already have two long-sleeve jerseys + two short sleeve merino wool jerseys - and my overly-large thermal jacket is perfect to cover all of this plus my camelbak.

Thanks to everyone for their advice - it really helps me to "talk it through" - that is just how my brain works. I greatly appreciate it!

Now if I can just persuade my hamstring to shape up and stop complaining on me!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

100% merino wool as one of your layers at least is really comfy and toasty warm, but usually doesn't feel clammy when damp.
Yes to balaclavas!
Me, I don't wear special bike shoes or clipless, I use straps on my pedals that can be adjusted larger in the winter to accommodate any of several wonderfully warm winter hiking boots I wear in winter. i can put thick wool socks in those boots and my feet do really well in the cold that way. I find several thinner pairs of gloves are better than one thick pair- especially when i start with a thin but super soft pair of ladies cashmere gloves that I use as liners.

[warneral]

Not yet ready to think about winter (though I should be!). But I did come across this guy's website and thought it was a nice reference. He actually has a neat page on his surly LHT bike setup too

http://www.thirdwave-websites.com/bi...ter-riding.cfm

[Melalvai]

Indiana is a little bit further north than Missouri, so I'm not sure if this will hold true, but in recent winters there have been only a handful of days that required extreme measures (like petroleum jelly on my face). In fact I'd venture to say that you could get through winter without anything special in the way of clothing, and miss maybe 2 weeks' worth of days. Maybe 3 weeks' worth for you.

On the other hand I have worn my expensive goretex rain gear more in the cold than in the rain. It blocks the wind a treat.

BEWARE of bundling up too much. You can cut of circulation easily with too many pairs of gloves or socks. I made that common newbie mistake my first winter! I was shocked that my toes were COLDER when I added a second pair of socks, and I thought I was going to lose my fingers with the second pair of gloves! I've learned since then, the key is to have oversized outer layers and/or better quality under layers, rather than throwing quantity at it.

[malkin]

Keep your eye on the discount sites too.

I got a lined Bern helmet for cheap last fall on Sierra Trading Post. It is either dopey looking or quite fashionable depending on how you look at it.

Steep and Cheap and Chainlove sometimes have great stuff too, and the sale section at TE is not to be missed!

[Catrin]

It is kind of funny - I am moving into a new apartment in a few weeks and I do need some things for the new place. I find myself tempted to just not worry about the needed new apt things so I will have money for winter bike gear - easy to see where my priorities are

I knew about Sierra Trading Post, and, of course, TE's lovely sales. Will keep my eyes out for others.