General Cycling Discussion - What does it take to be warm when its cold out..

In the Southern climes, it is only a small portion of the year when it is chilly.. On early AM rides, when it is in the 40's for a couple hours, I get pretty chilled with the wind factor, etc.
I sort of know about layering. We tend to just be cool for a couple hours, because later in will be decent temps'.
I wear a decent poly.pro. jacket, t shirt, long sleeve jersey, leg warmers, glove liners. Still at 20 mph- 40 is pretty chilly. From inexperience, what does it take to feel fairly warm..?
What temperature ranges do you need- like poly pro underwear,etc.? Do you really need to start layering at what Temps'.? Prefer not to have to carry all that stuff, since you know later it will be warm. !. But do not want to get pneumonia, either?

Being cold blooded so you can acclimate to the temperature changes helps a lot.

I use at the most,long finger gloves,leg warmers,heavier socks,light long sleeve base layer,long sleeve jersey and a vest without sleeves and take the vest off after half way.Layering is the best way to go.

It depends on the individual, 40 is warm (in the winter) up here - short weather man. If It's down around 30 I wear a three layers. A coolmax baselayer, long sleeve jersey and a light shell. Make sure you have plenty of zips for venting when things heat up, you're compromised once you sweat. Tights are a last resort, but - again - I wear them when it's down around thirty. Any quality full fingered glove works well, I have a light pair and heavier pair. Oh, I also wear two pair of socks - smartwool as a base and a lighter sock over it. I don't like booties. If it's really cold my strategy changes, but you don't have to deal with that. Everybody has different preferences so I'm sure you'll filed a wide array of suggestions.

:beer:

I commuted to work in 42deg this morning. Wore a long sleeve jersey, medium weight fleece gloves, pullover, and pants. I also have a poorly vented ProTec helmet that helps trap the heat in. Any colder and I need another layer on my torso.

The key to staying warm when temps drop to freezing is in blocking the wind chill. Your front most be protected from the wind. The problem is, even the lightest windproof shell is too hot. The answer used to be a fleece or wool jersey over polypro top, but with a layer of pertex/nylon sewn to just the front. This protects you from the wind chill (which is only coming from the front while you are moving) and allows you to ventillate from the backside.

Nowadays, these type jerseys and jackets are almost impossible to find--I have one that's quite old that I keep using cause nothing equivilent is available. However, the new development of windstopper fleece may be the answer. As long as the backs of these new products can still ventilate as well as the pre-windstopper fleece, they should work.

In addition, there is another old racers trick that is amazingly effective. Take 1 sheet of paper (newspaper is really good since it also absrbs moisture readily) and insert under your outmost layer in front of your torso. This will block the windchill from your torso and also absorb moisture. 30 miles later when the day has warmed up, just toss the paper at a convienient point (you can even pull it out, wad is up and stick in your pocket while riding).

Dave

I get a lot of use out of my windstopper vest (open mesh on the back). It's amazing how effective just adding one layer of windproofing to your torso can be, and these vests are very light and roll up small. On cool mornings when I expect a warm afternoon, the vest plus leg and arm warmers and possibly ear covers and glove liners generally do the trick. A thin long-sleeve wicking t-shirt is handy as a base layer.

RichC

My coldest ride was on a day when the temps were around 10, no sun ,and with the windchill figured in, things were about -25 or so. My facemask froze to my face, and even with a polypro layer under my winter tights I could still feel the chill after the usual warm-up distance. I kept thinking about the short story by Jack London, "To Build a Fire". Not including you freaks from the Far North where 75 is a heat wave, I just don't think it's safe to be out after the mercury drops that far...if you had a breakdown or had to stop for very long at all you could be in serious trouble.
The only gripe I have is the fact that my buttcheeks never stay warm no matter what I try. Once the temps fall below 35 (which is warm to the rest of me) my a$$ is simply going to come home frozen.

Originally posted by psycholist
I just don't think it's safe to be out after the mercury drops that far...if you had a breakdown or had to stop for very long at all you could be in serious trouble.


I disagree. As someone that also goes winter backpacking in addition to cycling, you can stay pretty warm hiking or jogging. If you had a breakdown, you could still hoof it and stay warm--particularly since the windchill would then be LESS (since you aren't riding at 15-20 mph anymore. Plus, you could always hitch a ride, etc--when I'm fixing a flat in the winter, folks always seem to pull up and stop to ask if I'm okay.

I certainly know that I wear a lot LESS when backpacking than for the same temps while riding.

Dave

What temperatures does anyone think about wearing Poly. Pro Underwear? I have on three layers for mid-40's including arm and leg warmers and within the jacket I feel cool.

Cyclezealot,

I think a lot is unique to each individual. I moved from the East Coast (No. Va./DC) area to S.F. Bay about 5-yrs ago. It has been my experience that I do not feel the cold as much as native Californians. Some of this may be genetic but it may also be what we get used to as we grow up.

That said, most mornings the temps here are in the forties and warming up to 60-65 F. In these situations I find that a s/s polypro undershirt, s/s cycling jersey, wind vest w/mesh back, and arm-warmers will do the trick as I can de-layer as things warm up. When the forecast calls for highs in the mid-to-upper fifties, or if there is the threat of rain, I will substitute a wool cycling jersey for the lycra. The good thing about wool is that it will keep you warm even when it gets wet.

So if you are feeling chilled with your standard jersey, you might want to look into a wool one. Most of mine are getting pretty old but I believe Grant Peterson at Rivendell is selling wool jerseys.

Does anyone know of other places to purchase wool jerseys?

Hey Guys:
Most of the world (including me) works on Celsius.
40 degrees is a REALLY hot day!
For the sake of the rest of the world here is a conversion chart.

http://www.alaska.faa.gov/enaafss/tempc-f.htm

On Monday, I commuted to work at below freezing temps. I can't remember how cold it was, maybe somewhere between 25 and 30 degrees F. I wore a windbreaker and fleece vest. (To be honest, I arrived very sweaty one hour later.)

Usually, I am very comfortable. The only way I know how cold it is is by my feet, which don't seem to stay warm like the rest of me.

I carry my work clothes with me and an extra jacket. If I have an emergency stop, and start to get cold (and wet,) I can change into them. This has worked well, so far.

Here in Missouri we sometimes have temperature extremes--95-100 degrees F in the summer, and sometimes below zero degrees F in winter. Temperatures I find cold in October or November aren't so bad in Late December and January. I think people who live in warmer climates will have a harder time with temperatures northerners (or S. Hemisphere Southerners) find moderate. In the past month I have dressed lighter for temps just above freezing than I did for much warmer temps in October.

This might be considered cheating, but here goes...

I take a 500mg capsule of vitamin B-3 (niacin) about half an hour prior to riding or running in the cold.
The well-known "flush" that results is a sensation of warmth from the capillaries opening up.

www.salonweb.com/37/niacin.htm

www.symmetry.org.uk/Information/niacin.htm

There's only one area that gets cold on me, even when riding in temps in the high 20s. That area is, ahem, unmentionable. Is that just an occupational hazard or are their remedies?

Originally posted by greg360
This might be considered cheating, but here goes...

I take a 500mg capsule of vitamin B-3 (niacin) about half an hour prior to riding or running in the cold.
The well-known "flush" that results is a sensation of warmth from the capillaries opening up.

www.salonweb.com/37/niacin.htm

www.symmetry.org.uk/Information/niacin.htm Hey good thinking,I do this when I try a max lift at my local gym.Yes you do get a feeling of being warm.

Get rid of the t-shirt!

Cotton t-shirts on a cool day are really going to make you cold since they don't wick the moisture to the top layers.

Another really great way to keep warm is to wear some sort of head covering. Helmets are so well vented nowdays that you are going to lose a lot of heat there. Put something on your head under your helmet-once and if you get too warm it will be really light and easy to carry.

MB1. That does not look so bad. Riding in snow- I visualize attempting to keep the rubber down when the sky is not so blue and the road ahead looks like a field of ice bergs.. If only the rider is half warm- looks like a nice ride...

Originally posted by cyclezealot
MB1. - looks like a nice ride...
Yes, it looks lovely, indeed. Absolutely refreshing! I can almost smell the snow...

I could find myself temporarily in climates where it is below freezing. A winter vacation.. Should I take my bike.?. It is windy and like 27 degrees F. out. ( Maybe -2 C..) No rain or snow..
Would a person be warm if wearing poly. pro underwear,(top and bottom), thick tights, thick skull cap, neopreme booties, thick socks, heavy full gloves, glove liners, and Performance's Xalt jacket, and of course a long jersey.. Xalt jackets do not come with hood- guess they make bakalavas..Sp? for over the neck..
It could happen to me, I need to know. Or would people from Southern climes just take along their trainer.. What do you wear in these exact conditions..?

Ive been doing some riding recently in just above freezing conditions. It not a real problem: thermal jersey, totally windproof outers*, and fleecy bits to suit between. The exact amount depends on how hard you work. I also like to use a sleeveless fleecy gillet for fine control. I use polycotton windproof trousers, and wear leather trail shoes with woolen socks.
For extremities I find that woolen gloves and a neckwarmer are sufficient. You wont need a hat under your helmet, 2C is not arctic. The stuff I use is fairly standard cold weather gear, nothing fancy and usually its not made for cycling.
I would usually start a ride a bit cold, so I warm up, and carry a set of pertex overtrousers and a spare insulation layer, if the weather turns or I have to stop.

* waterproofs get too swaety even at this temp.

Michael,
I'm not really sure what a 'wateproof' is. Could it be some rubbery thing that doesn't allow moisture to get away from the skin?
This is what I wear on the outside down to minus 30 C.
[url]http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_main_cycling.jsp;

Michael,
I'm not really sure what a 'wateproof' is. Could it be some rubbery thing that doesn't allow moisture to get away from the skin?
This is what I wear on the outside down to minus 30 C.

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_main_cycling.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=490097&bmUID=1043617305768

Underneath that I wear a wicking thermal underwear and some fleece. My shell has pit zips so if I'm getting warm, I unzip the underarms to get some cool air in.

I realize that in more temperate climates such items may not be necessary.