autumn / winter gear
Discussion
The seasons have turned (at least down here) and the rains have arrived along with distinctly chilly weather.
I got lucky in that I started cycling at the start of a long, hot summer but plan on keeping going through most of the inclement weather (still getting fitter slowly and don't want to stop! Just started club riding and getting run into the floor by them...)
I'm looking at winter gear for both off road cross country and road riding - whether for the bike or me.
What do I need? What do people recommend? I'd very much welcome any personal experience on it before I spend a fortune on a pile of kit I don't need and end up still cold and wet.....
Bonus points for gear I can use for both as I seem to have taken up two hobbies with distinct kit requirements....
I got lucky in that I started cycling at the start of a long, hot summer but plan on keeping going through most of the inclement weather (still getting fitter slowly and don't want to stop! Just started club riding and getting run into the floor by them...)
I'm looking at winter gear for both off road cross country and road riding - whether for the bike or me.
What do I need? What do people recommend? I'd very much welcome any personal experience on it before I spend a fortune on a pile of kit I don't need and end up still cold and wet.....
Bonus points for gear I can use for both as I seem to have taken up two hobbies with distinct kit requirements....
Keep you eye out at Aldi and Lidl. I recently picked up a long sleeve top, bib tights, cycling jacket, full gloves and spoke reflectors for £40.
Quality and fit is very good considering the price.
ETA - If you are going to be riding on the roads then lights and reflective gear are a must.
Quality and fit is very good considering the price.
ETA - If you are going to be riding on the roads then lights and reflective gear are a must.
944fan said:
Keep you eye out at Aldi and Lidl. I recently picked up a long sleeve top, bib tights, cycling jacket, full gloves and spoke reflectors for £40.
Quality and fit is very good considering the price.
ETA - If you are going to be riding on the roads then lights and reflective gear are a must.
Aldi unfortunately stops at a medium, and the last five months of cycling has dropped me to a small...Quality and fit is very good considering the price.
ETA - If you are going to be riding on the roads then lights and reflective gear are a must.
5'5" 64kg and still dropping body fat and building muscle - albeit slowly.
Did get the arm and leg warmers and overshoes though this time. Still have the gloves, jacket and rucksack from the early summer aldi kit.
My lights were specced for night riding off road - so I have a claimed 6k lumens at the front (more like 3k on comparison with other lights in the real world) and a magicshine rear that's epic. So gross overkill for the road on that score thanks to PH recommendations :-)
for my 'winter attire' i use some old tops i bought from M&S about 10 years ago that were bought for a skiing trip and were to be worn as a layer under a ski jacket. i would say it's a mid layer type top, made from 100% polyester. on top of that I wear a yellow cycle specific wind top (altura cropton windproof jacket) . the m&s top has a zip so i can regulate air into my body and keep me warm / cool accordingly, as does the wind top. this combination suits me from about 7 degrees to minus 6 degrees as i found out last year.
bottoms - i wear some altura winter cruisers trousers. will wear padded lycra shorts underneath for mtb trips but not my commute as i have a very comfy brooks saddle and it's only 8 odd miles!
the above has worked fine for the last two years for my commute in the winter and mountain biking from around late october to march.
bottoms - i wear some altura winter cruisers trousers. will wear padded lycra shorts underneath for mtb trips but not my commute as i have a very comfy brooks saddle and it's only 8 odd miles!
the above has worked fine for the last two years for my commute in the winter and mountain biking from around late october to march.
Decathalon stuff is brilliant value for money and much better than Aldi/Lidl stuff.
I have a few of these jerseys for the spring/a utumnand one of these jackets which rolls up into a jersey pocket but is a great cut for cycling and has good ventilation, kept me dry in a hailstorm too.... found these tights too, need to check the pad but they look good for the money. Seriously, Decathalon is well worth a visit.
I have a few of these jerseys for the spring/a utumnand one of these jackets which rolls up into a jersey pocket but is a great cut for cycling and has good ventilation, kept me dry in a hailstorm too.... found these tights too, need to check the pad but they look good for the money. Seriously, Decathalon is well worth a visit.
My winter outfit is a Rapha softshell jacket, long sleeve merino top, 3/4 dhb roubaix bibs and merino socks.
Easily warm enough for autumn riding and be adding a slightly thicker jersey underneath it became super toasty.
I prefer the windproof and water[i/resistant[/i] jacket to a full on waterproof as I believe it makes it that little bit more breathable and nicer to wear.
I'd also add in a cotton cycling cap to wear under a helmet, fantasically simple piece of kit and Iwish I'd discovered it years ago!
Oh and mudguards, essential IMO.
Easily warm enough for autumn riding and be adding a slightly thicker jersey underneath it became super toasty.
I prefer the windproof and water[i/resistant[/i] jacket to a full on waterproof as I believe it makes it that little bit more breathable and nicer to wear.
I'd also add in a cotton cycling cap to wear under a helmet, fantasically simple piece of kit and Iwish I'd discovered it years ago!
Oh and mudguards, essential IMO.
Just picked up some endura singletracks. Gave some serious thought to the humvee 3/4 but the vented calves put me off for the coming months.....
Earmarked for offloading and potential commuting when I can convince someone to hire me.... *sob*
Sods law says they were in my bag when the skies opened and I was wearing cotton 3/4s.... That was a fun experience!
Earmarked for offloading and potential commuting when I can convince someone to hire me.... *sob*
Sods law says they were in my bag when the skies opened and I was wearing cotton 3/4s.... That was a fun experience!
TheLemming said:
Aldi unfortunately stops at a medium, and the last five months of cycling has dropped me to a small...
5'5" 64kg and still dropping body fat and building muscle - albeit slowly.
What you need are some bright coloured silky clothes,a whip and a ruddy quick horse,then a great new career awaits!5'5" 64kg and still dropping body fat and building muscle - albeit slowly.
TheLemming said:
Just picked up some endura singletracks. Gave some serious thought to the humvee 3/4 but the vented calves put me off for the coming months.....
Earmarked for offloading and potential commuting when I can convince someone to hire me.... *sob*
Sods law says they were in my bag when the skies opened and I was wearing cotton 3/4s.... That was a fun experience!
Wear my full length Singletracks all through the winter and have never needed more (only liner shorts underneath)on rides up to 5 hours in sub zero temperatures. Legs are the least problem are - hands, feet, head and core are what matters.Earmarked for offloading and potential commuting when I can convince someone to hire me.... *sob*
Sods law says they were in my bag when the skies opened and I was wearing cotton 3/4s.... That was a fun experience!
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