Cool/Cold Weather Gear

[indysteel]

Have I mentioned wool?

LOL!

One thing that I wish I'd done from the beginning is to keep a log as to what I wore during what particular weather conditions. Each year, I have a learning curve as I remember what to wear, when. If I'd just make note of it, I could refresh my memory a bit easier.

[ny biker]

I generally don't ride in temps below 50 but last spring I did charity ride on a cloudy day with temps in the high 40s. My legs and feet were freezing, indicating that my old tights are no longer warm enough for me, so based on recommendations here I'm planning to buy some Sugoi Mid Zero tights.

I have a Showers Pass jacket made with eVent fabric. With a l/s wool base layer and a l/s jersey, I was actually too warm.

My hands tend to be cold all the time, but they were toasty warm that day with SmartWool glove liners and Bontrager windshell gloves. I like this combination because you can just wear the windshell gloves for temps in the 50s, but can easily make them warmer with the liners if necessary. The only problem was that the Bontrager gloves are "unisex" and the fingers are longer than they need to be. But better to be a bit too big than too tight.

[Tri Girl]

LOL!

One thing that I wish I'd done from the beginning is to keep a log as to what I wore during what particular weather conditions. Each year, I have a learning curve as I remember what to wear, when. If I'd just make note of it, I could refresh my memory a bit easier.

now THAT'S smart! Why don't I do that, too??

The warmest cycling gloves I've EVER had are the current pair of winter mittens I made myself. I made them from an old wool sweater and lined them with fleece. Even when it's in the teens and twenties on my coldest morning commutes, my hands stay toasty. I have trouble with fingers and toes. Now if only I could make a pair of socks out of old sweaters and fleece....

[Becky]

now THAT'S smart! Why don't I do that, too??

The warmest cycling gloves I've EVER had are the current pair of winter mittens I made myself. I made them from an old wool sweater and lined them with fleece. Even when it's in the teens and twenties on my coldest morning commutes, my hands stay toasty. I have trouble with fingers and toes. Now if only I could make a pair of socks out of old sweaters and fleece....

If you figure out how to do it, please post instructions! I would love a pair of wool cycling boot liners.

[Melalvai]

It's great that you're thinking ahead but what a time to be thinking about warm clothes! lol

lph has a chart she made using her logs of what clothes she wore and what the temp was. It's all in celsius and uses words like "buff" that I wasn't entirely familiar with.

Balaclava for the face. Base layer that is wicking, a layer for warmth, and a windblock layer.

Don't overdress, sweat is your worst enemy in the cold because it freezes quick.

Don't overstuff, cutting off circulation to your extremities makes them colder even though they have so many layers.

Extremities (hands, feet, ears, nose) are the hardest and need the most protection.

[indysteel]

It's great that you're thinking ahead but what a time to be thinking about warm clothes! lol

Ugh; it pains me when I start to see "new arrivals" on TE's website for cold weather riding. Although after the summer we've had, I would gladly welcome some cold temps. Maybe.

Since everybody has otherwise given such great advice as to what to wear, I'll offer this bit of advice that's actually served me well (although others may totally disagree). Several years ago, somebody told me to "ride the temperature." For instance, if it's 35 F degrees, plan on doing no more than 35 miles. I think there are other factors to consider, like wind speed and how sunny it is, but it's not a bad place to start.

[malkin]

Buff is "multifunctional headwear."
I'm not sure if that makes it more or less rare and exotic than temperatures in celsius.

[indysteel]

now THAT'S smart! Why don't I do that, too??

I'm going to try to make better note this year. It drives me crazy that I have to relearn this to some degree each year. Last year, I didn't do much road riding after October because of hamstring injury, so now my memory is even rustier. I need to do the same thing with late fall/winter running, too. I almost always end up overheating because I overdress.

[ny biker]

I'm going to try to make better note this year. It drives me crazy that I have to relearn this to some degree each year. Last year, I didn't do much road riding after October because of hamstring injury, so now my memory is even rustier. I need to do the same thing with late fall/winter running, too. I almost always end up overheating because I overdress.

I started to keep a log last spring. I just used a regular .txt file, and for each ride I typed in the date, weather summary (temps, sun/no sun, wind direction and speed according to weather forecast), what I wore and notes on whether I was comfortable or not, including how that changed over the course of the ride.

I also bought a small handlebar bag so I could easily carry extra gear that might not fit in my jersey pockets. So instead of having to decide in advance if I wanted my vest or my jacket, I could wear one and put the other in the bag in case I wanted it later. Plus I could bring both pairs of gloves, and things that I might need later in the ride like an ear band and toe covers.

[shootingstar]

I cycled over 70% of the winter days here in Canada's prairie Midwest down to some days @ -25 degrees C or -15 degrees F and even a bit colder.

I actually wore the same heavy (unpadded) Gortex jacket I wear for snowshoeing with arm vents (yes, I did unzip slightly at times) and layered on fleecy jackets underneath.

Long sleeve jerseys, tights and sometimes (not all the time), windpants.

I wore mountain bike cycling shoes. I didn't need to wear boots/booties. Wore a thicker pair of socks.

Lobster claw gloves plus another thin pair of gloves underneath. Eye protection....always because of the cold and a headband underneath my helmet. I didn't need a beanie.

I would be cycling slowly at 8-15 km. each trip. That was enough at very cold temperatures ..that can cause frostbite if one is not careful.

[velo]

Yeah, I can hardly believe I'm thinking of cool weather myself. Maybe it's a defense mechanism against this horrid summer. Actually, I was going through all of my cycling stuff that I had put away years ago... I was kind of like a kid in a candy store with it all, getting it out and seeing how much I still had. A lot doesn't fit right now, but it didn't dampen my excitement of all this "new" stuff. Even the winter stuff was fun to go through, and it dawned on me that by the end of August, I'll probably need something more when I head out in the mornings.

Thank you to all for suggestions. I have actually written out a list of everything mentioned here in order to mull over it off-line and figure out how to best fill in my gaps. Many things mentioned here, I had not thought of ( or remembered), especially coverage for head and neck. I also need some full-finger gloves for just cool weather. I loved my knickers that I had to throw away, so I think I'll definitely get another pair.

I do remember that I did more mountain than road during the snowy winter. I have since sold my FS Cannondale mountain bike and am not really looking to get back into that (older bones break easier and heal more slowly ). So, I'm not really sure HOW cold I'm willing to go on the road. I'm a temperature wimp, I do know that!

ETA: Won't forget to write it all down, too. Great suggestion!

[shootingstar]

In terms of winter sports cold tolerance, one could initially gauge themselves against another sport they already undertake often -- like cross-country skiing, skating, snowshoeing or hiking for several hrs. in a day.

For sure, under very cold temp., like the temp. I mentioned earlier, I'm out under 1 hr. each time on the bike. That's enough for me when it is very cold in the winter.

[gnat23]

I have a spreadsheet, too, but I neglected to include what to do when it was also raining. Those waterproof layers can make you overheat like wow.

Until you build your own guidelines, I like this for suggestions:
http://www.bicycling.com/whattowear

Now all I need is to figure out why the outsides of my hips get so much colder than the rest of me. I need short windproof insulated chaps or something.

-- gnat! (seriously, tho, my life changed when I got into merino baselayers)