I need warmer clothes...
Discussion
I need some warmer biking gear as it's brass monkeys now.
Normally I just ride in a couple of tshirts and some lycra shorts with another pair of heavier duty ones over the top.
What should I be looking at to keep warm when it's properly cold? 1 extra Merino layer on the top? What about some sort of lycra trouser or leg warmer? Do they make much difference?
Normally I just ride in a couple of tshirts and some lycra shorts with another pair of heavier duty ones over the top.
What should I be looking at to keep warm when it's properly cold? 1 extra Merino layer on the top? What about some sort of lycra trouser or leg warmer? Do they make much difference?
Serious answer this time: Merino. It's superb stuff layered for keeping you warm.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
On offer at the moment too.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
On offer at the moment too.
T shirts are ussless in this weather, You need a good long sleeve zip up jacket like an endura one, and use proper base layers. If you dont mind wearing lycra then bib tights give you excellent protection from the wind and cold.
Tonight on my ride, i will be wearing, thermal socks, shoes and overshoes, bib tights, base layer and winter jacket, skull cap and helmet, winter gloves and scarf!.. Toasty!!!
Tonight on my ride, i will be wearing, thermal socks, shoes and overshoes, bib tights, base layer and winter jacket, skull cap and helmet, winter gloves and scarf!.. Toasty!!!
5678 said:
I need some warmer biking gear as it's brass monkeys now.
Normally I just ride in a couple of tshirts and some lycra shorts with another pair of heavier duty ones over the top.
What should I be looking at to keep warm when it's properly cold? 1 extra Merino layer on the top? What about some sort of lycra trouser or leg warmer? Do they make much difference?
Keeping the wind out.Normally I just ride in a couple of tshirts and some lycra shorts with another pair of heavier duty ones over the top.
What should I be looking at to keep warm when it's properly cold? 1 extra Merino layer on the top? What about some sort of lycra trouser or leg warmer? Do they make much difference?
Keep the warmth in.
Don't sweat too hard, and whatever you do sweat, get it out.
So:
1) (Winter) Bibtights: they keep your legs, knees (ultra important!), waist and back warm. Failing that, bigtights with leg warmers.
2) Baselayer(s): thin, tight fitting and if needs be, multiple layers (depending on what you wear/how hot you run). Merino's nice, but there are others
3) Jersey: long-sleeve, or short sleeve with arm warmers. Make the jersey of the winter (fleecy/thicker) variety, but still tight fitting. If the jersey is thin, warm another baselayer as per (2)
4) Windproof gilet: keeps the wind off your torso, chest, shoulders.
5) Neck warmer: plug the gap, keep the wind out
6) Hat: helmet vents are good in summer...not so in winter!
7) Gloves: windproof!
8) Overshoes: keep the muck, spray and again wind off your feet. Huge difference to how you feel
9) Thicker socks: DeFeet Woolie Boolies. Accept no substitute.
That'll do you for all but the coldest days. Personally I run a little warm, so down to about 1 degree, I can get away with a summer SS jersey, 2 x baselayers and some arm warmers. I'll be cold for 10 minutes, tops. After that I'm toasty all day long.
I've a pair of DHB bibtights, DHB gloves, a merino base layer, gore windstopper top and a skull cap for under the helmet to keep my head warm. I also have a free neck tube which I wear on days like today where it was below 0 deg C the whole ride. I treated myself to Northwave shoes for the colder weather which work well but my toes still get slightly cold, nowt a wee wiggle of the toes now and then doesn't stop.
Keeping the wind out makes all the difference and makes my neighbours think I'm off my head going out on days like today.
My bigger issue was the icy roads, that helped keep me clenched firmly to the saddle......
Keeping the wind out makes all the difference and makes my neighbours think I'm off my head going out on days like today.
My bigger issue was the icy roads, that helped keep me clenched firmly to the saddle......
I got some Sealskin wind proof gloves about a month ago, I usually just suffer without like an idiot, but I'm converted to proper gloves now.
Four season hiking socks, tights, short sleeve top, Goretex coat and a beanie hat is enough for me. I'll take off the beanie when I'm climbing, back on for the descent. I was out night riding last night in sub zero temperatures without feeling the cold. As mentioned earlier in this thread the ice makes you grip a little though.
Four season hiking socks, tights, short sleeve top, Goretex coat and a beanie hat is enough for me. I'll take off the beanie when I'm climbing, back on for the descent. I was out night riding last night in sub zero temperatures without feeling the cold. As mentioned earlier in this thread the ice makes you grip a little though.
Get Karter said:
Glad this subject came up.
I need decent windproof gloves, on a sensible budget (say £30 or so).
Any recommendations?
On the assumption they still perform the same despite changes in material, design etc, then give the Specialized Deflect gloves a look. I've a pair that are 5 years old now, yet are windproof and warm right down to 1 or 2 degrees, maybe less. Not megabucks either I need decent windproof gloves, on a sensible budget (say £30 or so).
Any recommendations?
ysnnim said:
Someone told me that wearing an old pair of your wifes tights does work pretty well as a base layer......
When I was working abroad an old expat told me about that trick when he was in the Falklands in the early 80's and before the advent of much warmer technological materials. He said it worked a treat.ysnnim said:
Someone told me that wearing an old pair of your wifes tights does work pretty well as a base layer......
That sounds like a good cheap alternative, until I wrap myself around a tree and have to have my clothes taken off me by paramedics. Sods law it'll happen while I'm wearing ladies tights!
best winter gloves, Giro Proof 100 http://www.wheelies.co.uk/p40730/Giro-Proof-100-Wi... They have an internal thinner glove so even when you take your hands out they are super warm. It was 0 degress C yesterday and they were a bit too warm for that, ended up just using the inserts
Pearl Izumi Lobster Gloves are brilliant, but take a little bit of getting used to.
I wore them last winter combined with a thin underglove and not once did I get cold hands.
I wore them last winter combined with a thin underglove and not once did I get cold hands.
Another vote for lobster style gloves. Or more appropriately, 'no style', but who cares if you're warm!
I have raynauds and really struggle with cold hands, even in the UK's definition of a Summer. My Endura lobsters are the only gloves that give me a fighting chance of riding in Winter. Was -4 on the way home from work this morning and I had warm toasty hands
I have raynauds and really struggle with cold hands, even in the UK's definition of a Summer. My Endura lobsters are the only gloves that give me a fighting chance of riding in Winter. Was -4 on the way home from work this morning and I had warm toasty hands
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