Thank you for the replies and for the lovely pm I received.

Oakleaf, I will look out for some base layers. Can wool base layers be machine washed? That's interesting about the shoes. The ones I have have some kind of inner membrane that's meant to keep feet dry, but I don't yet know how they'll cope when it's really cold. I was thinking about wool socks.

Owlie, thank you for those suggestions. I love some of the tops on the Foska site, what a great link! I shall do as you suggest and look for shorts first, with base layers and then shoes. I'm wondering if a de-bobbler thingy would just shave off the sticky out threads before they stick out any more and start going through my socks. (I did already change them once as the first pair were worse, but it is such a novelty to have my feet stay on the pedals even in the rain that I decided I cope with them until I knew what to look for).

Anyway, I have just put a couple of baby slings up for sale so can start looking at shorts Thank you again for all your help, I really would be lost without the lovely women on here.