Southern California - Oh My It is COLD

Where has our sunny warm So. Cal days and evenings gone ? I am getting ready to go for a ride tonight and well.... I just walked back in.

I think I may be able to start feeling my 'boys' in a few minutes.



How are the rest of you that ride in the evenings dealing with the cold nights ? What type of gear do you find is helping to keep you warm ?

Where has our sunny warm So. Cal days and evenings gone ? I am getting ready to go for a ride tonight and well.... I just walked back in.
I think I may be able to start feeling my 'boys' in a few minutes.
How are the rest of you that ride in the evenings dealing with the cold nights ? What type of gear do you find is helping to keep you warm ?


I have a long sleeve jersey from Performance that has fleece like material on the inside. I can also layer by using Under Armor, then a short sleeved jersey and a jacket... Otherwise, I just use arm warmers

Arm warmers, knee warmers, and the Pearl Izumi Optik jacket work for me.

We've got to wait until at least the low 40's before we can complain that it's cold, makes us look like wusses to the rest of the country :p . I've been riding with a base layer, long sleeve jersey (or short sleeve with arm warmers), wind vest or jacket, knee warmers and shoe covers. This morning I brought my headband/ear warmers, just in case, but it didn't end up being that cold. Most important is to use good layers, and find some warm gloves and toe/shoe covers.

I had on tights lined with fleece on when I was riding this morning and I was still cold. I am a total wimp though, so don't mind me. :o

I'm not riding at night until I fix my light, but otherwise, arm warmers, leg warmers, skull cap - all with fleece - wool socks and a good windbreaker work just fine for me. :)

The main thing I've noticed is wearing something windproof. When it first started cooling off I was riding to work in an underarmour and long sleeved jersey and was still chilly, with the same jersey and my light illuminite jacket I'm pretty comfortable. Last week I got some knee warmers and full finger gloves from REI. I tried the gloves on the road bike tonight and the padding is all wrong and I hate them. They do seem ok for the MTB though so it's not a total loss.

My wife just handed me a new pair of tights :).

During previous winters I've stayed reasonably comfortable with a generic (WalMart or Target) Under Armour shirt, a jersey, arm and knee warmers and a jacket with removable sleeves.

For me I don't think it ever gets cold enough here in L.A. for me to wear tights. I always do fine with just knee warmers under my shorts. As long as my extremities are kept warm the rest of my body feels fine.

i wore leg warmers, a long sleeved undershirt (generic underarmor), short sleeve jersey, full finger gloves, toe warmers, ear warmers and a wind jacket.... today was the coldest day so far.... oh.... and we waited til after lunch to ride when it was "warmest"! it got down to the low 40's last night and supposed to get into the 30's tonight (and low... meaning 30 and 31 the next two nights!! BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! the desert is NOT warmer this time of the year... because of our elevation.... we are cooler than you coastal folks......

We've got to wait until at least the low 40's before we can complain that it's cold, makes us look like wusses to the rest of the country :p .

when they are out riding in 120+ degree temps... then i'll not complain when it's cold at 50-60 degrees! it's all relative! i ride for several month over 100... many days over 120.... and a LOT this year that were pushing 128! so to me 60 IS cold! most of the "rest" of the country complains when it's in the 90's saying it's hot... to me... 90 is PERFECT riding weather!

Arm warmers, knee warmers, and the Pearl Izumi Optik jacket work for me.

That's exactly what I have. Although, I opted to not wear the knee warmers the other morning and I was hurtin'. Lesson learned! :o

Just back from a ride it said 49 degrees at my local bank.. I was looking forward to that hot shower when I got home..

I guess it's time to try out some of the colder weather gear I got last week.

I used to live in Orange County and never batted an eye at the temps, having commuted in Colorado. It was the rain that hassled me during 10 years of car-free commuting. Now I am working in Northern California and the metal catwalks I had to use this morning at work were coated in ice. Thick socks and thick shoes, two layers of tights, fleece and windbreaker, T-shirt, thin sweater, and all-weather jacket, thick fleece gloves. Would have liked one of those head covers is it Baklava, or Balaclava? Riding home I shed the sweater.

If it's daytime and there's sun around, I just go with a long sleeve jersey and shorts, and yeah it's cold. If it's a night, to be honest, that's what the trainer is for! :) I did see a merino smartwool long sleeve undershirt on sale, so I ordered it, but it hasn't arrived yet. Hopefully that'll be enough with a jersey and windbreaker at night.

Yeah, i need to drop by the store to pick up afew things... My arm warmers were fantastic last week friday morning but i really could have used more than some knee warmers...

On the list:

Windproof Gloves (my full finger PI gel-lite gloves just ain't cutting it)
Windbreaker
Tights
Baclava
another Under Armor shirt

Heck, i'll probably still throw on some track pants and a sweatshirt just to stay warm (or if i end up being to cheap to purchase everything i want). :lol:

in the mornings (before dawn) i wear tapered sweatpants and a long sleeved shirt under a running jacket-plus this headband that covers my ears. fleece lined tights are friggin expensive, but i'll probably use them once i get the $ together.

OK. I really need some warmer shorts. I've got frightened turtle syndrome! lol

rode this morning through Griffith Park, it was around 6:15am, and boy was it cold. I got to wear my new balaclava I bought in Glamis (i wore it during night rides on my Honda 400ex). It works well for cycling too.

I enjoy the cold much more than the heat :P
Leg warmers are needed though :(

It's cold? :)

Bib tights, jersey, lightweight jacket, helmet, long fingered gloves...

tights (after 20 minute hunt), pearl izumi arm warmers and that's it. first ten minutes I was cold. after a warmup, all was good.

Well, I'm getting ready to ride home from work and it's 38 degrees outside. I have a skull cap that covers my ears, base layer shirt, arm warmers, long sleeve fleece jersey, jacket, knee warmers, bib knickers, fleece tights, toe covers and long finger gloves. I think that will cover everything. It's only 25 minutes to home and a nice warm shower!

Well, I'm getting ready to ride home from work and it's 38 degrees outside. I have a skull cap that covers my ears, base layer shirt, arm warmers, long sleeve fleece jersey, jacket, knee warmers, bib knickers, fleece tights, toe covers and long finger gloves. I think that will cover everything. It's only 25 minutes to home and a nice warm shower!

Good God Man! Where do you live? Buffalo, NY? I'd roast in all those layers!

head - 1 + helmet
Torso - 3 layers
Arms - 4 layers
Quads - 2 layers
Knees - 3 layers...

WOW!

I have about zero things for riding in the cold. I pulled out my full finger gloves and found an old rash guard from when I surfed in the drawer. I used the rash guard as a base layer and it worked great. The gloves sucked balls. The fingers themselves are too short for me and caused my fingers to go numb even though my hands were sweaty. They're laying in a field about 5 miles from home.

45 this morning. quite cold, yes, quite. go ahead, call me a wimp. i prefer the heat.

My little weather widget on my computer reads 49 degrees for downtown LA (where I work). Must have been colder than that riding through Griffith Park this AM at 5:30--I could feel it get colder when I went into the darker areas. Up until yesterday, I was using just my regular summer gloves (half-fingers and all). Today, I broke out the colder weather gloves: some surf-boarder gloves I got awhile back. A little overkill for socal, but, my fingers weren't numb :o

ok....now if you guys were up north this morning...my thermometer is reading 31.....but it's a dry cold..

It's 47 degrees here in Huntington Beach. BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

45 degrees this morning! Perfect riding weather, but I'm in the middle of battling a cold so no riding for me. Haven't ridden since Thanksgiving actually, eh.

I rode at lunch yesterday (Tuesday), doing my 14 mile loop. I had to go with tights, long sleeve jersey and Optik, plus my full finger gloves and fleece skull cap. Naturally, about 5 miles in, I passed some guy going slow on a comfort bike wearing short sleeves, shorts, no helmet....boy did I feel overdressed. But then again, I was riding faster than he was and felt nice and toasty by the end. No complaints!

My wife bought my full finger gloves for me. They have a little pull out pouch that fits over the fingers if you need it for additional wind protection. BTW, the Optik is awesome! For such a light weight product, it does an outstanding job of cutting wind to nothing. It provides no real warmth of its own but allows me to wear a bit less underneath.

This morning, the wind is howling in West Hills. No worries, however, as today is a swim day at the gym rather than a bike day!

Last week, I broke down and purchased toe warmers/covers for my shoes 'cause last year my feet were frozen more than once.

Sheldon

48 this morning. Just a windbreaker and full finger gloves. After my 10 minute warmup, I was at work -- it's a short trip, but still too chilly for my blood. This is my first year commuting, so I've got to build up a cold and wet weather wardrobe yet. Sounds like arm warmers are a must.

44 degrees in Woodland Hills when I left home this morning (7:00 AM) into a ripping cold headwind.
Coming up through Chatsworth I needed the small ring on the flats!

I enjoy the cold much more than the heat :P
Leg warmers are needed though :(

Leg warmers? What are you a girl? Well I guess you never ride hard enough to get warmed up.

Leg warmers? What are you a girl? Well I guess you never ride hard enough to get warmed up.

The gauntlet has been tossed

Good God Man! Where do you live? Buffalo, NY? I'd roast in all those layers!

head - 1 + helmet
Torso - 3 layers
Arms - 4 layers
Quads - 2 layers
Knees - 3 layers...

WOW!

Remember it is dark at 11:30 PM, without sunshine it feels much colder. It was just the right amount of clothing. This morning I rode and it was 35 degrees had about half the clothes on, with the sun out I was warm. It makes a big difference having the sun to help warm you.

+ 1 on not needing too much in the way of cold weather wear in so cal. I hate riding in tights, and generally just stick to knee warmers. It needs to get into the 40's before I pull out the tights.

I'll be riding tonight after work and I brought a THICK beany, neoprene feet covers, leg and arm warmers, heavy Under Armour shirt and socks and full winter gloves to go with my regular summer garb.

I hate the summer heat, but I don't mind being warm or even hot riding in the winter...you can always remove layers.

This will be the first time this year riding in the dark and the cold together, we'll see if I need something for my face also.

[edit] And I forgot, I also have a bright yellow wind breaker.

Leg warmers? What are you a girl? Well I guess you never ride hard enough to get warmed up.

You always hit the nail on the side, gg noobbasket

Just got back from a early evening ride. It was VERY windy and about 55 degrees here.

I was trying to be manly and masculine in my 2 oz of pure silk thermal base layer then 4 oz of Lycra over that.

At least it kept me warm and in a weird way the silk felt good while commando !

At least it kept me warm and in a weird way the silk felt good while commando!

pics? :D

it's already down to 39 degrees (feels like 32 with wind chill).... i do NOT want to see the temps in the morning (nor do i want to see the temps in the garage at 4:00 for my workout!) http://www.smileycons.com/img/winter/23.gif

when they are out riding in 120+ degree temps... then i'll not complain when it's cold at 50-60 degrees! it's all relative! i ride for several month over 100... many days over 120.... and a LOT this year that were pushing 128! so to me 60 IS cold! most of the "rest" of the country complains when it's in the 90's saying it's hot... to me... 90 is PERFECT riding weather!

Where do you live, Furnace Creek?

Where do you live, Furnace Creek?

lol! no.... but i do live in the desert! (not that you'd know that tonight..... it's freaking COLD! thank goodness for heated mattress pads and down blankies!)

It actually snowed in Summerland last week! Overall, temperatures here have dropped below 70. Everyone's bundling up in their thermal underwear, gloves, fur-coats and hats. :)

Man I've turned into a wuss since I moved here a year ago. Back in Chicago with weather in the low 60's during the day, everyone would be outside in shorts and short sleeve shirts :D

I'll take 90 degrees over 50 anyday.
I like the heat....
Boy it's cold out, and dry..

I don't mind the cold as long as it isn't raining. This wind could go away too. That would be nice.

low of 20 degrees overnight http://www.smileycons.com/img/winter/23.gif (my new-fangled, fancy thermometer registers highest and lowest temps)

26 degrees currently http://www.smileycons.com/img/winter/23.gif

when did i move back to new york? http://www.smileycons.com/img/winter/29.gif

(and my freaking office was 57 when i walked in? where's the stinkin' heat??????????? thank god for portable heaters! but even that is only warming it up sllllllllllooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwllllllllllyyyyyy)