All great advice, pedalfaster! Over the years, I have collected all that stuff. I guess I should have been more specific in my questions...... such as, what brands do you prefer? Do you think some are better than others at breathability? I usually find that no matter what I put on, I sweat and then when you stop riding, a chill sets in very quickly.

Does anyone have the winter shoes, made specifically for cold weather riding? If so, do you find that they keep your feet warmer than shoes and neoprene shoe covers? The shoes are pretty expensive but might be worth it if they are as effective as advertised. I have wimpy feet! The rest of me is always fine, but my toes do not like temps below freezing!

When I was searching for a winter cycling jacket, I had a terrible time finding one that met all the qualifications I was looking for. Wind-blocking, breathable, and BRIGHTLY colored! It seemed that all the womens' jackets were in muted colors, very pretty, but not very visible to motorists when riding out on the road. I finally ended up ordering from TE, getting a red/black Giordana windtex jacket. It was a great purchase. It breathes well, keeps me plenty warm and is bright enough to be seen. It took me a lot of searching to find it, tho'. And I wondered all the time why womens' jacket are made for looks instead of visibility. I'm not sure what that says..........

Okay, so I rambled on enough. Time to put on the layers and get out there! It was 35 yesterday when I went out, but the sun was shining and as soon as I got to the first hill, it was plenty warm. Should be the same today.

annie