Dressing for long fall ride

[Sky King]

you and I could ride together The DH is always teasing me about my layers of clothes, but I hate to be cold and would rather peel and pack. Just ordered some Craft knickers that don't have a liner so will wear my shorts underneath, will let you all know what I think.

Still to early for my helmet cover but I sure enjoy it over trying to get a skull cap that fits over my hair.

Have a fun ride

[Catrin]

you and I could ride together The DH is always teasing me about my layers of clothes, but I hate to be cold and would rather peel and pack. Just ordered some Craft knickers that don't have a liner so will wear my shorts underneath, will let you all know what I think.

Still to early for my helmet cover but I sure enjoy it over trying to get a skull cap that fits over my hair.

Have a fun ride

It will be either a 50 or 75 mile ride based on how I feel. My feet get cold in the high 50s, and I just don't tolerate the first few colder rides in September well without freezing. My body does much better in the late winter or early spring because I've adjusted to the cold by then. Once I am heat tolerant my body doesn't like things to change

[Amira]

Well, I'm a cold weather wimp myself, but I just did a 72 mile ride the weekend before last (Tahoe !!!) where the temp variation was as you describe - we started in the low 40's and warmed up to the low 80's. Coming from Texas, where a 'cool' ride of late has been anything under 100 degrees, I was worried about my body being in total shock from the temperature change. 40's is dead-of-WINTER riding for me. Anyway, here's what worked for me:

1. Keeping extremities warm to start. Toe covers (which I bought the day before) worked great - I'll probably choose them over my full shoe covers for riding here on most coldish days. Full gloves to start - if your hands are cold, you'll be cold. Both were easy enough to stick in a back pocket as they came off. I also, for the first, time, wore a liner under my helmet, which was fine (and small enough to stuff in same back pocket), but I also would have probably been fine without it. Ear warmers sound like a perfect alternative (and probably something I'd wear a lot in winter here).

2. I am a huge fan of knickers instead of shorts - I even wear them in the summer here because I learned I get a terrible heat rash on my legs when I'm out on a bike for 3-4 or more hours in full sun. But, for cooler (but not full-on cold) weather, they are hard to beat. Even with knickers, to start, I wore a pair of knee warmers under them. Again, a lot easier to peel off than my long tights. They kept my knees toasty until I was really warmed up and they also kept the lower part of my leg warm to start as well.

I spent a lot of time this summer testing out various brands of knickers. My favorites: Capo (have both light weight and fleecy winter ones - they are very flattering on and love the V-shaped wide waistband), Terry - Bella (also super flattering and comfy). Both have GREAT chamois.

3. Do you have a pair of warm arm warmers? After much experimentation, I'm a fan of arm warmers and a light (easily packable) jacket over a heavier jacket, again for portability reasons and that combo was fine for my start.

Have fun!

[Catrin]

The temps will range from 42 to 69 according to Weather.com. I wish the upper end WAS in the 80's I am glad to hear that I am not the only one who gets cold this early in the year. I've yet to find a pair of knickers that fit me properly, and I've learned that my lighter weight tights generally do fine when others are wearing knickers...plus I already have them I think the toe covers should be enough by themselves as long as I've some thin wool socks. My heavier cycling wool socks make my feet go numb in my Mavic shoes - the shoes are just a tad too narrow. I think I need to break down and get a new pair of socks, but I think that is all I will need.

Considering the starting temps are lower than I though, I will likely go with my full Gore head cover/skull thing rather than the ear warmers - that really does help to keep the head warm. I think as long as I can fit my nutrition in my hydration pack that the Tailrider will be enough to store everything. I think a base layer + my SS Swobo wool jersey will be enough - and if I overheat I can dump the base layer.

This is a huge ride, over 2,000 people have registered, so sadly I won't be able to leave anything at a SAG, but it is going to be fun!

I do think I've a set of arm warmers tucked away, I will consider that. With starting temps at 42 I am thinking the lighter jacket will just be TOO light, there isn't much to it.

[Amira]

Ha, I'm excited that the forecast for my Saturday ride has the high in the low 90's! I was thinking, wow...that will be great! We don't hit the temps you are talking about until Thanksgiving or later, usually. Riding in summer here is what is so brutal.


What is it about the knickers you've tried that you didn't like or didn't fit? I've tested a LOT of different brands this year.


PS, I can sympathize with the numb toes/feet issue. That is the one thing I've fought all year and I finally have switched from the Specialized shoes I bought with my bike to the Sidi shoes my serious cyclists friends told me I should have gotten all along. For me, it was the opposite problem - the Specialized (even with the custom inserts) were too big/too wide and my feet were sliding around in them, which also causes numbness. Yes, find the right socks for your shoes. I had to SAG in on my first 100k this year because my feet were so miserable, I just couldn't make the last 8 miles in the time allotted.

[Catrin]

Generally speaking, when it is cool enough for me to need knickers then I really need lightweight tights. The portion of my legs that aren't covered get cold and I wind up grumbling to myself about it. I am just a cold-weather wimp who needs more clothes than some others do. That being said, if it is sunny and 65 then I am back in sleeveless and shorts - but by 60 my feet are getting cold and I want my knees covered I will have a broader comfort range come early spring.

I love my Mavic mtb shoes, but should have probably gotten the next size up. With the right socks it isn't a problem, but I was reminded of this last Saturday when I wore my long wool socks on my ride and things started going numb...thankfully not on both feet.

[Amira]

That being said, if it is sunny and 65 then I am back in sleeveless and shorts

Ah, jealous of being able to wear shorts and sleeveless. My sleeveless jerseys are for spin only. Having had melanoma 5 years ago, I had to promise my dermatologist I'd be super careful spending so much time in the sun riding. I've had to sweat out the summer in knickers to avoid sun rash on my legs and I wear the Craft arm coolers all summer for sun protection. Which, I have to say, I think are the best thing EVAH! I didn't like the Pearl Izumi ones - too hot and heavy to wear in Texas in summer - but the ones by Craft and YMX by Yellowman (both of which I ordered from TE) are great - thin, light, SPF 50 and the trick is to keep wetting them down as you ride and the wet sleeves really do help you feel cooler in hot weather. I used to feel just beat up from just being in the sun on a 50-63 mile ride and I don't anymore.

[goldfinch]

Earlier this month I did a 75 mile ride which started in the 40s and ended in the mid-60s. I wore my Terry tights. Wool socks. Full finger gloves. On top I wore a long sleeve jersey, arm warmers, and a jacket. I thought about putting my thin wool skull cap on under my helmet but I decided not too. In retrospect, I should have worn the cap. I have been wearing it regularly for temps in the 40s. Having your head warm helps make the rest of you feel warm. I also would have worn my baggy gloves over my regular gloves as my hands get cold easily. Otherwise, I was good after about 15 miles. I ended up stripping off the arm warmers first, then the jacket. The tights were perfect for the entire ride, as was the long sleeve jersey. This particular supported ride was fairly small, with about 200 riders. I left my jacket and arm warmers at a rest stop and picked them up later. That was convenient.