Cold Weather - Need Advice

Cold Weather - Need Advice

Author
Discussion

deckster

9,630 posts

256 months

Tuesday 10th November 2009
quotequote all
I always find as long as the extremities are warm then I'm fine, so that means good gloves, something over the ears, and if it's really really cold then overshoes (only use those if it's below freezing though). That, long trousers, wicking base layer, windproof top plus jacket was nice and toasty during the -8 degrees it got down to last winter.

Oh yes - and thick socks are a no-no. Unless your shoes are huge, the extra tightness restricts blood flow to your feet and actually makes them colder.

Garlick

40,601 posts

241 months

Tuesday 10th November 2009
quotequote all
I popped out at lunch time to get a Gore Wind Stopper Bib for £65 down from £89.99. I too am getting too cold at night.

Looks good, and covers all the legs and a large portion of upper body. Looking forward to trying it later smile

t84

6,941 posts

195 months

Tuesday 10th November 2009
quotequote all
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.
Tights?! Are you a man?

Soovy

35,829 posts

272 months

Tuesday 10th November 2009
quotequote all
angusc43 said:
What do the experianced winter riders use?
Range Rover Sports.


jodypress

1,929 posts

275 months

Tuesday 10th November 2009
quotequote all
Some good suggestions on this thread for sure. Cold feet and hands have been a PITA for a few seasons for me until I splashed out this year.

Gloves... I've got the Assos Winter glove system link, pricey but seriously warm and I also have the
Altura Night Vision Waterproof Winter Gloves link which I pop over the Assos inners when it's really cold and wet.

A range of bibtights, both windproofed and not (just bought some Gore Contest So+)

Jacket: a £50 special from Decathlon link, windproof and thermal (I have last years model), recently bought an Asso 851 Airblock, and thoroughly disappointed with it.

But I do have a Castelli Insolito Radiation Jacket link for when it gets really damn cold.

Endura Baa Baa base layer link, can wear for days on end without smelling.

Defeet Woolie Boolie socks link, merino wool again, can't rate them highly enough.

Diadora Chilli Extreme windproof and waterproof boots (road not MTB) link

As someone mentioned, keep your head, feet and hands warm and the rest follows.


smack

9,729 posts

192 months

Wednesday 11th November 2009
quotequote all
jodypress said:
Some good suggestions on this thread for sure. Cold feet and hands have been a PITA for a few seasons for me until I splashed out this year.
Defeet Woolie Boolie socks link, merino wool again, can't rate them highly enough.

Diadora Chilli Extreme windproof and waterproof boots (road not MTB) link

As someone mentioned, keep your head, feet and hands warm and the rest follows.
I get hacked off when my feet get cold, and Woolie Boolies and winter boots have been good for -6 for me. Of you go off road, make sure they are waterproof to the top of the boots, so you can put your foot down in ice filled puddles/streams or ride through waterlogged fields. I have some North Wave gortex ones from about 4 years ago and still going strong.

And I only clean them once a year once I have finished with them for the season in spring smile

jodypress

1,929 posts

275 months

Wednesday 11th November 2009
quotequote all
smack said:
I have some North Wave gortex ones from about 4 years ago and still going strong.

And I only clean them once a year once I have finished with them for the season in spring smile
Quality, I love it. Have you tried the Sealskinz waterproof socks? I'm tempted, but at £25 for a pair of socks eek

When you're cycling certain products just work, no questions asked. Windstopper and Goretex come to mind.

smack

9,729 posts

192 months

Wednesday 11th November 2009
quotequote all
jodypress said:
smack said:
I have some North Wave gortex ones from about 4 years ago and still going strong.

And I only clean them once a year once I have finished with them for the season in spring smile
Quality, I love it. Have you tried the Sealskinz waterproof socks? I'm tempted, but at £25 for a pair of socks eek

When you're cycling certain products just work, no questions asked. Windstopper and Goretex come to mind.
Yes, I have tried Sealskinz. They do work, but found that they were not warm, even the thermal ones. So got soome inner socks for them, which was a bit better, but not up to sub zero temps. But they did still feel like I had shopping bags on my feet. I ended up using over shoes on my summer shoes but it was a royal pita.

Boots and warm socks work much better.

pdV6

16,442 posts

262 months

Wednesday 11th November 2009
quotequote all
Sealskinz socks are the business. Pretty much windproof, which helps a huge amount. If (when!) water does get in, it doesn't get out again so you get a kind-of wetsuit effect going on...

coupeboy

522 posts

207 months

Thursday 12th November 2009
quotequote all
What I usually wear training in the winter is, thermal skull cap under helmet, long sleeve base layer, wind proof thermal jacket, bibbed shorts, assos leg warmers, summer shoes and socks with neoprene over shoes and some cheapo thermal gloves I used last winter.

If it looks like it might rain I'll throw a rain cape in my back pocket.

It can be hard to judge how much to wear but as a general rule you should not be warm when you leave the house! as you will most probably over heat 20 mins into the ride.

For short commutes you could probably wrap up a bit more as you'll probably be stop starting a lot which makes it harder to get up to temp.

angusc43

Original Poster:

11,493 posts

209 months

Tuesday 17th November 2009
quotequote all
jodypress said:
Some good suggestions on this thread for sure. Cold feet and hands have been a PITA for a few seasons for me until I splashed out this year.

Gloves... I've got the Assos Winter glove system link, pricey but seriously warm and I also have the
Altura Night Vision Waterproof Winter Gloves link which I pop over the Assos inners when it's really cold and wet.

A range of bibtights, both windproofed and not (just bought some Gore Contest So+)

Jacket: a £50 special from Decathlon link, windproof and thermal (I have last years model), recently bought an Asso 851 Airblock, and thoroughly disappointed with it.

But I do have a Castelli Insolito Radiation Jacket link for when it gets really damn cold.

Endura Baa Baa base layer link, can wear for days on end without smelling.

Defeet Woolie Boolie socks link, merino wool again, can't rate them highly enough.

Diadora Chilli Extreme windproof and waterproof boots (road not MTB) link

As someone mentioned, keep your head, feet and hands warm and the rest follows.
Thanks!

angusc43

Original Poster:

11,493 posts

209 months

Tuesday 17th November 2009
quotequote all
Thanks guys for all your comments.

In the short term I've started using my Sealskinz socks under my w/proof shoes and that has made a difference. Feet now OK

I'm going to invest in some proper windproof gloves - Assos or Altura - as the ones I bought are pants for cycling - simply not windproof.

I'm also going to find some thermals to go under my (baggy and draughty) shorts for now - that should make a big difference.

Finally I found that tucking my first layer thermal shirt in made a huge difference. I must have been losing loads of heat that way.

Edited by angusc43 on Tuesday 17th November 11:56


Edited by angusc43 on Tuesday 17th November 11:58


Edited by angusc43 on Tuesday 17th November 11:58