Discussion
Need some advice on what to get. I do have a pair of fleece lined bib tights and gloves but wondering what other essentials I should have. Last Christmas I got the bike and did well on it but was very much a fair weather cyclist and with time being tight it would sometimes be weeks rather than days between rides. This year I want to change that. Riding in the wet will mean more maintenance so I'll need to know if I need anything new.
Managed to drop my weight to 15st at one point but sadly being ill the last few weeks and with it being Christmas my weight has crept back up. Ideally I'd like to be about 14st @ 6'1
Managed to drop my weight to 15st at one point but sadly being ill the last few weeks and with it being Christmas my weight has crept back up. Ideally I'd like to be about 14st @ 6'1
MartynVRS said:
Need some advice on what to get. I do have a pair of fleece lined bib tights and gloves but wondering what other essentials I should have. Last Christmas I got the bike and did well on it but was very much a fair weather cyclist and with time being tight it would sometimes be weeks rather than days between rides. This year I want to change that. Riding in the wet will mean more maintenance so I'll need to know if I need anything new.
Managed to drop my weight to 15st at one point but sadly being ill the last few weeks and with it being Christmas my weight has crept back up. Ideally I'd like to be about 14st @ 6'1
Good-oh on the weight loss and wanting to carry on Managed to drop my weight to 15st at one point but sadly being ill the last few weeks and with it being Christmas my weight has crept back up. Ideally I'd like to be about 14st @ 6'1
If you wish to keep riding outdoors, worry more about keeping warm than dry: anything that keeps you dry (or at least, claims to by keeping the water out) won't be breathable. Which means you get wet through sweat. Which means you get cold, clammy 'n' downright horrible. Keeping the wind out plays a MASSIVE part in keeping warm in winter, so invest in:
Windproof gilet (vest) or jacket, depending upon how much coverage you want and how hot/cold you run
Windproof (and maybe thermal, again depending upon preferred temperature) gloves
Overshoes
Cycling hat and neck tube - plug those gaps!
Thick, woollen socks (DeFeet Woolie Boolies are the nuts)
Some form of base layer, maying sure it's tight fitting. Rapha or DHB merino layers are very nice
Long sleeve jersey/arm warmers (to be used with short-sleeve jersey), chopping and changing to suit temperature and gilet/jacket preference
For the bike, if you can fit mudguards, do so! Other than that, just be more frequent with the maintenance i.e. cleaning and chain cleaning/oiling.
Jimbo. said:
Good-oh on the weight loss and wanting to carry on
If you wish to keep riding outdoors, worry more about keeping warm than dry: anything that keeps you dry (or at least, claims to by keeping the water out) won't be breathable. Which means you get wet through sweat. Which means you get cold, clammy 'n' downright horrible. Keeping the wind out plays a MASSIVE part in keeping warm in winter, so invest in:
Windproof gilet (vest) or jacket, depending upon how much coverage you want and how hot/cold you run
Windproof (and maybe thermal, again depending upon preferred temperature) gloves
Overshoes
Cycling hat and neck tube - plug those gaps!
Thick, woollen socks (DeFeet Woolie Boolies are the nuts)
Some form of base layer, maying sure it's tight fitting. Rapha or DHB merino layers are very nice
Long sleeve jersey/arm warmers (to be used with short-sleeve jersey), chopping and changing to suit temperature and gilet/jacket preference
For the bike, if you can fit mudguards, do so! Other than that, just be more frequent with the maintenance i.e. cleaning and chain cleaning/oiling.
That exactly what I was after thanks. Definitely looking at getting better socks and neoprene overshoes. Already been told I'll get wet regardless what I do. Have baselayers. Windproof jacket sounds like a good idea too. What cleaning stuff is best and are any of these cleaning kits any good? If you wish to keep riding outdoors, worry more about keeping warm than dry: anything that keeps you dry (or at least, claims to by keeping the water out) won't be breathable. Which means you get wet through sweat. Which means you get cold, clammy 'n' downright horrible. Keeping the wind out plays a MASSIVE part in keeping warm in winter, so invest in:
Windproof gilet (vest) or jacket, depending upon how much coverage you want and how hot/cold you run
Windproof (and maybe thermal, again depending upon preferred temperature) gloves
Overshoes
Cycling hat and neck tube - plug those gaps!
Thick, woollen socks (DeFeet Woolie Boolies are the nuts)
Some form of base layer, maying sure it's tight fitting. Rapha or DHB merino layers are very nice
Long sleeve jersey/arm warmers (to be used with short-sleeve jersey), chopping and changing to suit temperature and gilet/jacket preference
For the bike, if you can fit mudguards, do so! Other than that, just be more frequent with the maintenance i.e. cleaning and chain cleaning/oiling.
As for targets I'm hoping to do 2000 miles next year. To some they way sound a lot but to work and back is 20 miles. Do that at least twice a week and it's doable and that's without cycling for fun. Managed to get 10 miles down to 30 mins and while for many this is slow it's a lot faster than when I started.
MartynVRS said:
Can anyone recommend decent overshoes or are they all mostly the same? Guessing neoprene ones are the best to go for?
I gave up on overshoes and went for some proper winter boots, northwave ones still going strong almost 10 years on, neoprene collars are getting about goosed now, but other than that, one of the best investments I made for winters.Have you seen Endura do waterproof lycra tights?
MartynVRS said:
Can anyone recommend decent overshoes or are they all mostly the same? Guessing neoprene ones are the best to go for?
I've used (deep breath now!) "Gore Windstopper Softshell Road Oveshoes" in tandem with DeFeet Woolie Boolie socks for a couple of years, and the pairing has been nothing short of brilliant. The socks keep your feet warm, and the overshoes keep the wind out (stopping your feet from cooling) and the worst of the weather/rain out. Come the time water gets through (it'll happen after a couple of very wet hours!) your feet will remain warm, which is what matters.I've recently switched to a pair of Castelli Diluvio overshoes as Wiggle were out of the Gores in my size, so will report back.
This isn't to contest Badgerbeni's (very good) suggestion of winter/waterproof shoes, of course
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