Cooler temps

[Bike Chick]

It was 47 here yesterday morning. Brrrr. I ran in long sleeves and capris. The morning before it was 68 and I ran in shorts and a light tank top. Crazy weather but I do think fall is here. This is a wonderful time of year to ride. I get bummed to think it's going to be cold soon and we can't ride.

60 degrees is my guideline for donning leg warmers and/or knickers. And my feet get cold too, Catrin. I use wool socks and toe covers for anything under 60 degrees. Do you have covers, Catrin? If not, I would definitely invest in a pair.

[pll]

I use wool socks and toe covers for anything under 60 degrees. Do you have covers, Catrin? If not, I would definitely invest in a pair.

Toe covers are great! I use those more than shoe covers. Once I need shoe covers, it is too cold for me to enjoy a ride...

[Crankin]

I know we all are different when it comes to cold/heat tolerance, but it never ceases to amaze me when I see people riding in shorts and just a jersey or a light jacket and it's 45 out. It can't feel good! Over the years, I can wear less layers on the top, well at least thickness of layers, but my bottom half and feet need warmth.

[Owlie]

Yeah, I had to drag out the sweatshirts. I'm so used to 90-degree and humid air hitting my skin that this cooler, drier air has me all confused. Now I don't know what to wear for my Saturday morning ride. Arm warmers and my wool base layer, probably. On second thought, it's 43 degrees right now. That's jacket weather!

[Hi Ho Silver]

I know we all are different when it comes to cold/heat tolerance, but it never ceases to amaze me when I see people riding in shorts and just a jersey or a light jacket and it's 45 out. It can't feel good! Over the years, I can wear less layers on the top, well at least thickness of layers, but my bottom half and feet need warmth.

Despite being acclimated to the southern climate and the wicked hot summer temperatures in TX, when winter comes (temps in the 50's) I still ride in shorts. I'm just the opposite of you - my lower body never has a problem with the cold, but my arms and hands do tend to get uncomfortable. So my concessions to the coldness are a long sleeved jersey, light wind breaker jacket, full-fingered gloves, and Icy Hot on both knees.

I simply cannot stand to have anything binding on my knees when I ride. I don't see how y'all can ride comfortably with knickers hindering your knee movement.

Jean

[indysteel]

Despite being acclimated to the southern climate and the wicked hot summer temperatures in TX, when winter comes (temps in the 50's) I still ride in shorts. I'm just the opposite of you - my lower body never has a problem with the cold, but my arms and hands do tend to get uncomfortable. So my concessions to the coldness are a long sleeved jersey, light wind breaker jacket, full-fingered gloves, and Icy Hot on both knees.

I simply cannot stand to have anything binding on my knees when I ride. I don't see how y'all can ride comfortably with knickers hindering your knee movement.

Jean

Huh? I've never felt like my knee movement was hindered by knickers.

[Hi Ho Silver]

Huh? I've never felt like my knee movement was hindered by knickers.

Really? I can feel the pressure of the tights on my knees and it is very uncomfortable. Maybe it is because I have such bad knees to begin with.

Jean

[indysteel]

Really? I can feel the pressure of the tights on my knees and it is very uncomfortable. Maybe it is because I have such bad knees to begin with.

Jean

Could be. What brands have you tried? I'm not saying you're imagining it, but while I am aware of something being on my knee, I wouldn't say that I feel like my movement is impaired. But I definitely prefer the longer length of my Shebeest pedal pushers.

[Owlie]

Really? I can feel the pressure of the tights on my knees and it is very uncomfortable. Maybe it is because I have such bad knees to begin with.

Jean

Depending on the tights, I can feel them tugging on my kneecap a bit.

Contemplating on splurging on a nice wool base layer, either short- or long-sleeved. Perhaps one of each.

It takes me forever to get ready for cold-weather riding (all those layers!), and longer to figure out what to wear that day at this time of year, because of how much the temperature can change in the space of a ride...Short sleeves and arm warmers? Long sleeves? What about a base layer? Leg warmers or no? And Oak, I'm totally with you on that. Add to that the fact that when I'm properly warmed up, I sweat buckets and am overheating...

[indysteel]

Toe covers are great! I use those more than shoe covers. Once I need shoe covers, it is too cold for me to enjoy a ride...

Me, too. Plus, getting full shoe covers on is such a PITA, and I've never found that they keep my feet all that much warmer than the toe covers.

I love my Shebeest Pedal Pusher knickers in this kind of weather. The fabric is kind of cozy, and because I have pretty short legs, they hit me on my lower calf. So, most of my leg is nice and warm.

Catrin, I wonder if you could get by without knee warmers and just use your leg warmers instead once it gets cold enough to cover your knees. I find that I don't mind it if my legs are "overdressed." It's my upper body that I need to careful not to over (or under) dress.

As for wool socks, I find that thicker isn't always warmer either. They just end up making my shoes too tight.

[OakLeaf]

I'm the other way around, toe covers restrict circulation so much that my feet are warmer without them. I might have lightweight shoe covers on before I even break out the knee warmers.

[indysteel]

I'm the other way around, toe covers restrict circulation so much that my feet are warmer without them. I might have lightweight shoe covers on before I even break out the knee warmers.

By toe covers, I mean the ones that go on the tops of my shoes. Is that what you're talking about?

[OakLeaf]

By toe covers, I mean the ones that go on the tops of my shoes. Is that what you're talking about?

Yep. The ones that squeeze the life out of my midfoot so as to hold on to the tops of my shoes.

And +1 on knickers and knees. And knee warmers, too. With a gripper above the ankle, they put pressure on the kneecap the way full-length tights don't. I can wear knee warmers as long as I'm careful about how I put them on. With knickers, it's the combination of the knee issue, plus the way longer legs pull the chamois around, that makes me prefer shorts.


Here's what I hate about cold weather: having to START from freezing cold indoors before my workout, to strip naked, to put on workout clothes that not only are themselves freezing cold, but are less than will keep me warm outside until I'm fully warmed up. There are two times all day I get nekkid when the temperature in the house is below 67°, and one of them is to jump right into a hot shower. I do NOT look forward to dressing for a run or ride when I'm already freezing.



Plastic bags inside my shoes work as well as shoe covers in a pinch, and don't take any room at all.

[indysteel]

I guess I've never had a problem with toe covers. It may have to do with the brand/style of shoe or toe cover. I have PIs that have a tiny bit of give to them. DH bought a different pair of PIs and can't stand them.

And I can't say that my knickers bother my knees either. I prefer the longer Shebeest knickers to the PIs that hit right below my knee. The latter bug the back of my knee a bit and aren't as comfy.

[ridebikeme]

I've never felt as though knickers or leg warmers/knee warmers restricted my movement... good thing too because I live in them in Maine. I will say that after having five knee surgeries, I'm a bit more sensative with the cooler temps... so will do whatever it takes to keep this old body warm. LOL

It's cool here today... 52 here today with winds gusting over 35. BUT, I'm not complaining, because it's one more day that I get a chance to ride outside.


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