Coming back here again....plus need help with fall/winter gear

[lph]

Heya amyp!

I commute year round, and have gotten pretty proficient at dressing for rides of up to an hour and a half at temps down to about 8 deg F. Since I don't know how far or how often you intend to ride I'll spare you the nitty-gritty details, but send me a pm if you want them

I have a few general tips about cold weather riding though:

Cold weather is easier to dress for than wet cold weather. Windchill is the biggie, so think about covering all exposed skin with a thin layer and protecting your front from the wind before you double up on layers, ie. adding thin windproof gloves and a balaclava will probably keep you warmer than adding a puffy jacket. Feet, hands and face are hardest to keep warm.

Feet: Roomy shoes, wool socks, wool insoles, shoe covers will help. My thin Goretex shoe covers are actually warmer than my snug and thick neoprene covers, the latter make my feet damp. My shoes are a bit too snug for winter socks so I go to winter boots just below freezing. Make sure nothing is too constricting around your ankles or your feet will get colder.

Hands: you have to experiment. Thick gloves may keep your hands warm but making shifting a bit hard, and if they're so thick that your hands get sweaty you'll be cold on descents anyway. Thin windproof work best for me. Ditto, nothing constricting around your wrists.

Face: I find a thin wool helmet cap plus a Buff or a wool Buff easier to adjust on the road than a balaclava, but once it's cold enough I break out the balaclava too.

Wet riding: it's hard to stay dry, either you get wet from the inside or the outside. Personally I don't wear waterproof gear unless it's pouring, and then I try to avoid riding. Otherwise I dress as if it were a few degrees colder, in wool, and ride fast.

[shootingstar]

I'm not clear about wearing arm warmers and leg warmers in the winter...I would not think of wearing these at all in the winter on the northwest coast. This is winter, not fall. When I lived in Vancouver for over 8 yrs., in winter it was better to wear long tights underneath windpants that had some water repellancy. I would wear long sleeved jersey, a fleecy under a medium weight Gortex jacket that I wore for light snowshoeing or winter hiking. Or if was just colder than freezin' by a few degrees, a thicker waterproof cycling jacket with a heavier fleecy underneath.

[amyp]

I'm mostly worried about rain gear right now. I got caught in the rain today. My legs were soaked and my feet feel soggy haha. I carried a plastic bag with me and turned it into a poncho.

[amyp]

Maybe I'm also being a little baby but why is all bike gear ninja black or briiiiight yellow/orange? Is there any other variety?