Trying to Dress Warmly

[Big Rabbit]

I wrote back in Nov about leg & arm warmers. Santa bought me some but they certainly didn't keep me warm this week in 35 degree weather. I had on long underwear (top only), long-sleeve jersey, long biking pants, arm & leg warmers, gloves, balaclava, helmet (of course), gloves and a windbreaker. I only rode for approximately 16-17 miles but by the time I got home I was so cold I crawled into bed to warm up. It took me 2 hours to get warm.

Any clothing suggestions for me?

[blackhillsbiker]

I swear by lots of merino wool. I usually have on a merino base layer (top & bottoms), light wicking turtleneck and warm wool sweater. Merino ski or snowboarding socks. Jeans (but you could substitute biking pants), and a windbreaker. If it is really cold (single digits to 20 or so below zero), I have a down sweater that fits under my windbreaker. I wear a merino buff as a balaclava and have a merino beanie under my helmet. Warm mittens and goggles completes the ensemble. I look a bit odd, but warmth is important.

Deb

[Cataboo]

Wool.

Read the wool weenies thread.

Maybe consider an insulated vest - like the patagonia nano or micro puff.

[PamNY]

Multiple layers of wool do the job. Definitely a merino wool baselayer, with sweaters on top (zippers are nice if you get overheated).

Wool glove liners are good, too. Definitely read the wool weenies thread. Lots of my sweaters came from thrift shops. Oh, and I do not worry at all about how I look in winter.

[Owlie]

The big thing for me is a wool or other wicking layer next to the skin--including sports bra. I get cold even in summer (if it's a cool morning) without it. I add multiple layers on top of that between me and the jacket, depending on how cold it is. Arm warmers next to the skin, with whatever else piled on top of it. Leg warmers under a pair of lined nylon track pants (I tuck the right hem into my sock). I bought a pair of thermal tights, though I haven't really tried them out yet. Wool socks. Winter gloves, though I'm adding glove liners at some point.

Yeah, I look a little weird, but I'm okay with that.

[lph]

35 F is what, 1-2 deg. C? This is what I wear for those temps, good for an hours brisk ride:

top: shortsleeved wicking underwear or wool, winter softshell jacket
bottom: bike shorts, PI Amfib winter tights
head: helmet cap, pref. windproof, Buff or neck gaiter
hands: lined XC skiing gloves
feet: medium-weight wool socks, winter cycling boots

For rides longer than an hour I'd wear longsleeved wool and try not to get it too sweaty, and add a windproof vest.

This may not help much if you own very different clothing, but the principle is pretty simple - cover almost all exposed skin with a thin layer of wool or something wicking (i.e. not cotton), add windproof, heavy footwear and gloves, and keep your head warm.

[hebe]

When it's that kind of temperature I wear:

Merino long-sleeved jumper, under a long-sleeved zip up cycling jersey, with a non-cycling sleeveless padded gilet over the top. I don't have a warm cycling jacket yet, but that seems to do the trick. Helmet (no buff yet), padded warm gloves, Terry cold-weather tights with Terry wrap skirt over, ordinary socks and cycling shoes. I have never yet come home cold.