Cold Weather - Need Advice

[angusc43]

Rode in this morning - and got cold to the core - looking for recomendations. The usual solution of cycling faster didn't work as the wind chill cancelled out any gains. Trip is 9 miles through central London.

I had long sleeved thermal shirt, thermal fleece and wind proof jacket. Plus thermal skull cap and gloves. And shorts.

I guess I need to look into thermal under-shorts, trackkie bottoms, tights, WHY.

Plus maybe thicker socks.

What do the experianced winter riders use?

Edited by angusc43 on Monday 9th November 14:13

[walm]

I am not experienced but this morning was the first really chilly one I have had but I didn't find it that bad.

I was in 3/4 length shorts, thermal L-S shirt, thick-ish lumo jacket and a skull cap with extra warm ear bits.
The hat was the real saviour - my toasty head/ears made up for the agonising pain in my fingers.
Long fingered gloves would have helped me more that the wafer thin fingerless ones I was wearing.

I know the extra wind-chill is annoying but attempting a new commute PB got me sweating buckets within 5-10mins. Push through the pain!

[Jimbo.]

Not shorts, for a start! Least, not on their own: windproof legwarmers and jacket/jersey as a minimum. Proper windproof gloves (solely "Thermal" gloves are, IME, useless) will also go a long way to making it more comfortable.
Layer-up, move sweat away, keep the wind out. Sorted.

Edited by Jimbo. on Monday 9th November 15:23

[hondafanatic]

Pedal Faster.

[sneijder]

I turn the heated seat in the car up to 5.










Seriously though, proper wool undergarments are the perfect balance of warmth / not sweating too much,

[okgo]

pffft t shirt and football shorts for me.

[hondafanatic]

okgo said:

pffft t shirt and football shorts for me.

ppffffttt - red speedo's that are two sizes too small for me. And flip flops.

[71notout]

nekkid

[hondafanatic]

71notout said:

nekkid

Spot the Geordie. ^^^^

[anonymous-user]

altura do a good range of reasonably priced, mid weight garments which are worth a look. sounds like you might need thicker thermals too, have a look at the helly hansen winter stuff which is quite comfy or some merino wool stuff. the lowe alpine dryflo range has some thicker thermals too. its got to that point where wicking is less of an issue and retaining heat is paramount!

i always wear shorts, cant really help there, i just prefer it and my commute is less than 5 miles. if its really cold, i'll put on my HH lifa bottoms but only in the real cold stuff. i just prefer as little on my legs as possible just in case it rains...

[sjg]

I used to commute in shorts under regular trousers, long-sleeve merino top under a windproof. Headband thing to keep ears warm when it got colder, maybe a thin fleece under the windproof on the really cold days. Did me fine, once up to speed I was generating more than enough heat to stay warm.

[b2hbm]

If it's 5C or below I wear "roubaix" tights, they are thicker than normal ones and quite toasty. Also I'll use waterproof gloves & put on overshoes even if it's not wet & rainy. I find if I keep hands & feet warm then the rest of me copes quite well.

[angusc43]

walm said:

I am not experienced but this morning was the first really chilly one I have had but I didn't find it that bad.

I was in 3/4 length shorts, thermal L-S shirt, thick-ish lumo jacket and a skull cap with extra warm ear bits.
The hat was the real saviour - my toasty head/ears made up for the agonising pain in my fingers.
Long fingered gloves would have helped me more that the wafer thin fingerless ones I was wearing.

I know the extra wind-chill is annoying but attempting a new commute PB got me sweating buckets within 5-10mins. Push through the pain!

Well my return trip was better as I decided to ride like a nutter and that seemed to work (although I suspect it was a degreee or two warmer)

[angusc43]

sneijder said:

I turn the heated seat in the car up to 5.

Seriously though, proper wool undergarments are the perfect balance of warmth / not sweating too much,

Thanks for the tip

[angusc43]

hondafanatic said:

Pedal Faster.

I did on the way back - it worked :-)

[angusc43]

Jimbo. said:

Not shorts, for a start! Least, not on their own: windproof legwarmers and jacket/jersey as a minimum. Proper windproof gloves (solely "Thermal" gloves are, IME, useless) will also go a long way to making it more comfortable.
Layer-up, move sweat away, keep the wind out. Sorted.

Edited by Jimbo. on Monday 9th November 15:23

Good point on the gloves - don't think they were windproof - finger tips got v cold on way out.

[Agoogy]

8 C in Reading this morning, consistent drizzle, very little wind....18 mph average over 8.5 miles in Altura padded shorts over padded lycra cycling shorts...T shirt with altura wind/rain proof jacket. fingerless mitts.

Ears suffered badly for first mile, legs looked red-raw by the end of the ride, but I was steaming, literally...quite comfy

Oh and a 'Buff' is a great little extra, quite versatile...

[anonymous-user]

good call on the buff but the branded ones area stupidly expensive for what they are.you can get the same fit, form and function at half the price if you look around.

[ewenm]

As others say, block the bits where draughts get into your top, so make sure your cuffs are tight, and use a scarf/buff/snood round your neck. For me a decent pair of gloves are essential, some ski ones are good.

If legs are cold get some long leggings (bib-type are good) - you can wear baggies over them if you're not confident

[angusc43]

b2hbm said:

If it's 5C or below I wear "roubaix" tights, they are thicker than normal ones and quite toasty. Also I'll use waterproof gloves & put on overshoes even if it's not wet & rainy. I find if I keep hands & feet warm then the rest of me copes quite well.

Thanks for the tips. will look into tights. As for the shoes, my new waterprooof shoes are good at keeping the water out but are made of thin-ish neoprene-like stuff and obviusly not good in cold wind. I'll try thicker socks for now....