Cooler temps

[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.

[Catrin]

...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.

I had been wondering that about my leg warmers. I think I am ok if my calves start sweating I remember last spring I was trying to decide the difference between them and my Mid-Zero Sugoi tights as far as the temperature range for them. My tights I can't wear lower than 40 degree temps, regardless of what they are called.

Good point about the socks, even with quite thin socks I have to be careful about leaving them adjusted as loosely as possible to prevent hot spots/numbness. Thinking back to last night I don't think I actually had wool socks on to begin with. My upper body was fine with the two wool layers.

Crankin, I will try the saline nasal spray. This is only a problem when the temps drop to the lower 60's, never a problem when it is warmer. I am unsure if the rhinitis tweaks my asthma or the colder air itself - probably both. Time to find my rescue inhalor...

[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.

[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

[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.


http://chasecyclery.blogspot.com

[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

[indysteel]

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.

What I hate is how much extra time it takes to dress for a cold ride. When it's hot, it takes me five minutes tops to get my clothes on and my gear ready. When it's cold, it takes me so much longer. Beyond the layers themselves, I seem to lose track of my winter gear more often, in part because some of it gets worn off the bike, too. By the time I'm dressed, I've often lost the desire to ride. I do think I might spring for padded tights this year. The double waistband thing makes me really uncomfortable and it'll mean once less layer to put on.

I really cannot wait until my endo clears me for more strenuous exercise again. I find it easier to run after work than to ride. Plus, I actually like to run when it's cold out.

[redrhodie]

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.

How about a space heater? I have one in my bathroom because the genius who renovated this house didn't put a heat vent in there.

[Becky]

In some ways, cold weather saves me time getting ready- no need for sunscreen! I figure it's probably a wash time-wise, though there's definitely more stuff to keep track of.

I need to splurge on some wool knee socks to wear with knickers this year. I have an adversion to tights until it's in the 40s, but I hate having cold calves at the start.

[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.