Cooler temps

[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.

[carlotta]

It was 45 when I left home at 6am this morning! In a couple months, that'll seem downright balmy, but it's been 65 for the last few weeks.

T-shirt, super light (but windproof) jacket, full lightweight gloves, light shorts covered with non-bike capris (I'm cheap and I tend to layer capris/tights over shorts rather than buying multiple pairs of longer pants . Wool socks, as always.

Upper body was cool but fine, knees/calves were cold... I'd forgotten how much riding in the cold saps your energy. And my feet were COLD-- I bought new shoes this summer and while they're great in the summer, I can see the need for some kind of covers this fall/winter/spring...

It was nice, I just need to readjust and remember what to wear when

[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...

[Crankin]

I don't feel anything on my knees from knee warmers, knickers, or tights. And I have very sensitive skin, get "lines" from almost every waistband or jersey I wear, and break out in welts from even the slightest thing rubbing on me.
I have Sheila Moon knee warmers and they are awesome.
Toe covers don't bother me, either, but I have to keep my shoes very loose, all of the time, so maybe that's why. I have super thin wool socks, kinda thin wool socks, medium wool socks, and finally, my Woolie Bullies. Sometimes I even wear my thinner x country ski socks that are tall, under my tights.
Catrin, the nasal spray might help the rhinitis from triggering your asthma, but the cold is part of it, too. Could you use a buff and put it up over your mouth, so you aren't inhaling cold air into your mouth? I do that when it is really cold.

[Catrin]

..... Could you use a buff and put it up over your mouth, so you aren't inhaling cold air into your mouth? I do that when it is really cold.

I had to ask a silly question, but what is a buff? I've searched for that term but can't seem to come up with anything that seems appropriate. I am unfamiliar with the term.

[redrhodie]

I had to ask a silly question, but what is a buff? I've searched for that term but can't seem to come up with anything that seems appropriate. I am unfamiliar with the term.

It's one of these: http://planetbuff.com/

It's a tube of fabric that you can wear a million ways.

[Catrin]

Thanks! They are a little pricy, but I understand what they are now. There are a lot of pretty ones on that site!