Commuting - What do you wear when the weather turns cool?

I'm not a street-clothes commuter -- I like my bike shorts and jersey. So...what do you like to wear when the weather turns cooler? I have a reflective windbreaker that I'm not too fond of, one pair of padded tights, and a ton of fleece, but I'm looking for anything that does particularly well when it starts getting cooler.

Check out the winter cycling forum.

You have many different options. I am also a cycling specific gear person. However, in winter you can throw in a few cheaper non cycling specific items.

I have a slew of items to pick from and vary them according to my tolerances and what temps I am experiencing.

J&G yellow jacket as a shell.
Various champion poly long john shirts and a bottom.
Various tights of different thicknesses.
Merino sweaters.
Merino jersey.
Arm and leg warmers.
Light full finger gloves.
Heavy ski gloves.
Skull cap.
Balaclava. sp? Not the dessert. :p
Heavy merino wool sock.
Thinner wool socks.
I tend to use my jerseys as base layers but I also have a nike dri fit shirt.

I mix and match all of my options according to each day. The general idea is a base layer next to the skin, insulating layers, and a shell jacket. Start off a tad cool so that as you warm up you do not sweat like mad. However, I ride downhill a few miles at the start so I overdress and remove a layer at the bottom of the hill.

Tons of options. The what to wear thread in the winter cycling forum has many options.

It doesn't get cooler in SoCal. In Colorado I wore my work clothes when it got colder, with a parka for when it was really cold.

+1 winter cycling forum is a good resource. If you are going to ride through the winter (in New england) you'll develop an arsenal of combinations. My advice is to keep a log of what works for you and what doesn't in each temp range and weather type. I know it sounds silly but if you asked me right now what I should wear if the weather suddenly went to winter, I really can't remember. So as it does change I look back at my log, and pull out the right combinations. It really helps me not have to re-think it every year.

yeah check out Winter Biking forum.
At the last job I had, I always wore bike 'gear' to work, and then changed into other clothing -- even tho my ride was only about 35 minutes.
this new gig I'm doing, which is a couple miles closer to home, I tend to just wear normal, comfortable clothing with some extras.

I wear cheaper, chino type pants (From the Boston Store and Kohls here in Madison... like less dressy than Dockers) Sometimes I'll wear jeans, but they can be heavy and when wet, HEAVIER.
I got a bunch of cool-max type tee shirts and long sleeves for base layers from

Tailwindtees (http://www.Tailwindtees.com)
I layer using fleece or thin wool sweaters. The winter guys often say wool is better than lots of the technical stuff. I agree. Waterproof shoes. I have some insulated medium bike jacket I got on sale that is comfy.
The trick is not over doing so you burn up. and always bring an extra layer, dry socks, dry base shirt, and keep a change hanging on a hook at work

When I go out I wear a thick winter jacket. Club members wear the same light weight Fall jacket all winter long. During the winter it can be just above freezing for several days until maybe as late as 10 AM . I think the key to wearing light weight jackets during chilly winter rides. Fleece? Having lived in Florida, California I sure do get cold easily. That thin club jacket looks pretty inadequate to me? But, it would be nice to wear the same club jacket on winter rides , along with the rest of my club. Why should I be the exception when all else show off their club colors. ?

wool anything with a wind jacket when it gets colder...I have one pair of ancient tights that have some type of coating on the front back not the back, that helps block the wind.

Aaron:)

Warmer clothes. Didn't your mommy teach you that? Dressing yourself for the weather ain't Rocket Science.

How cool?

Below 50? A windbreaker and jeans over some padded shorts and full-finger gloves.

Below Freezing? All the above plus flannel under the jeans and a hoodie under the windbreaker. I usually don the balaclava below 40 or so.

Below 15? All the above plus Thermal wicking undergarments, ski gloves instead of full-finger cycling gloves.

Below zero? All the above except a ski coat instead of the hoodie and windbreaker, and sweat pants instead of flannel under the jeans. Add ski goggles to keep eyes from freezing over. I also add the ski goggles if it's snowing or sleeting.

Yes, I ride in all conditions.

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Product.aspx?top=1&prod=34&cat=9&viewAll=False

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Product.aspx?top=1&prod=33&cat=9&viewAll=False

or

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Product.aspx?top=1&prod=254&cat=8&viewAll=False

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Product.aspx?top=1&prod=255&cat=8&viewAll=False

or

http://sugoi.com/item/59275/SUG73051U.607

http://sugoi.com/item/76118/SUG40561U.607

The Windstopper stuff is, for all intents and purposes, waterproof as well as being somewhat breathable. It is also wearable over street clothing. Excellent for Winter.

I bought those Duofold base layers. Hoping layering might allow me to wear lighter weight jackets. Maybe other base layers might work, but Duofold was not that effective for temperatures below 50.

The trick to riding in cooler/cold weather is to layer your clothes. You don't want bulky, thick clothes or those that flap in the wind. Start out with a wicking t-shirt under your jersey. If it's cold enough, say below 50, wear a vest. A vest is much more effective for me than a jacket. Jackets make me sweat and flap in the wind, so I generally don't wear one unless temperatures are well below 40. Get some long-fingered gloves. Get some long-sleeve jerseys, or just some arm-warmers to use with your regular jerseys. The advantage to arm-warmers is that you can take them off if the temperatures rise a lot during your ride. (Same is true with a vest.)

Also get knee warmers for your legs, and wear them whenever temps are below 60 consistently. As temps get colder, get some tights without pads, and wear them over your regular shorts. Wool socks such as DeFeat Wooly Boolys are great, as well as shoe covers (I use toe-covers and that's enough down into the low 30s). On your head, HeadSweats make some very nice wicking fleece skullcaps that fit under your helmet. That's all I need, but I don't ride in temperatures below freezing.

Remember this: It is better to be a little bit cold than too warm. If you wear too much clothing and get hot, you will start sweating and that will make you even colder on downhills and stops. Nothing worse than getting all sweaty in cold weather. That's why it's good to layer clothes because you can peel off layers if you find that you're overdressed.

Thanks for the responses, or at least, for the ones that attempted to be helpful, which was all but one, heh. I have plenty of cold-weather-activity experience -- I'm a ski instructor and a whitewater kayaker, and I hike and snowshoe year round, so it's not like I need to be taught about polypro, rather what works well on a bike. My commute is in Boston. I doubt I'll commute when it gets seriously cold -- my cubemate did that last year and got frostbite, which isn't something I can afford to get.

Thanks again,

I doubt I'll commute when it gets seriously cold -- my cubemate did that last year and got frostbite...

Uh, isn't that like saying, "I doubt I'll learn to ski because my cubemate did that last year and got frostbite"?

It's about the preparation and appropriate attire, not the activity itself.

Also get knee warmers for your legs, and wear them whenever temps are below 60 consistently.

??? Answers like this are the reason why the OP should figure it out for himself. Everybody has different requirements and equipment that makes sense for one is ridiculous for someone else.

You need better windproofing and less insulation compared to a lot of other outdoor activiities. You need to seal collars, waist and cuffs. A high collar and a neck-tube are very effective.
Footwear is the hardest thing to get right. Summer mesh shoes are totally inadaquate. You need more volume and better windproofing. Some people use mesh with an neoprene or gortex outer bootie, others prefer an all-in one water-resistant shoe or boot. In really cold weather you need something much better.
Besides the winter foruum, the main resource for winter cycling is icebike.com.

Do you have arm and knee warmers? I use mine all the time in the fall and spring.

Depending on the weather really.

Right now, I wear shorts + t-shirt - and though currently it's cold when starting, I warm up to a sweat so I'm good for the time being.

Next step will be donning fleece/track pants perhaps, and maybe a long sleeve t-shirt (either/or, too).

After that, long sleeve lifa-vest + short sleeve T over the top and fleece pants. At this point I'd start wearing full finger gloves it has to be pretty cold (5C or under) for me to put on the lifa vest.

A scarf and bandana under the helmet would be put on at this point too, more so for windchill protection at this point.

If it gets really cold, depending on if it's snowing or not I'll put on the goretex or a fleece jacket above the lifa/t-shirt.

I wear cotton sports socks right now, I'd switch to a very thin under pair and wool outers if I felt it was really cold.

I can't remember the coldest I've ridden in, but I've done -12C + windchill, and the above works fine for me - I'm a natural heat source, so I seem to emit a huge amount of heat and seem to do just fine.

Depending on the weather really.
As well as depending on the individual's preferences, bankroll, destination, etc.
That's what I wrote, but that answer seemed to be too cryptic for the OP.

I agree. Peoples' tolerance, the amount of heat/sweat they build up, how hard they ride, how far they have to go, and dozens of other variables make our suggestions mere starting points.

With how vastly different every other aspect of bicycle commuting is (gear, bike style, frame material, lighting, clothing, preparation, etc) I'm not sure why anyone thinks that there is a single panacea for cold-weather bicycle commuting.

There isn't. One look at the winter cycling forum will yield you more options than there are stars.
Heck, year to year what I use changes.

Then there are folks like I who have a downhill ride right off the bat before they can warm up. Consequently I dresser warmer and remove a layer after I am finished going downhill instead of dressing where I am slightly cool.

With how vastly different every other aspect of bicycle commuting is (gear, bike style, frame material, lighting, clothing, preparation, etc) I'm not sure why anyone thinks that there is a single panacea for cold-weather bicycle commuting.

I'm not sure that anybody does. I sure don't -- I was asking for people's individual approaches, not some kind of a perfect answer, and I appreciate the ideas. There is, however, an axe-grinding induhvidual in this thread who seems to want to turn my question into something that it wasn't. I guess the fight-pickins are slim today!

*grabs a bag of popcorn*

fight?
fight fight fight!
Um.....

*wanders off*

I'm not sure that anybody does. I sure don't -- I was asking for people's individual approaches, not some kind of a perfect answer, and I appreciate the ideas. There is, however, an axe-grinding induhvidual in this thread who seems to want to turn my question into something that it wasn't. I guess the fight-pickins are slim today!

You want ideas? Why not be the zillionth person to ask about what kind of bikes do BF members prefer? Even more ideas to appreciate!

I doubt I'll commute when it gets seriously cold -- my cubemate did that last year and got frostbite

Ask your cubemate what he was wearing, and wear something else.

Since you're a ski instructor, you know the materials that are good for keeping warm when you're out in the freezing weather. Your best bet is to hit up a couple of bike shops and try some things on to see what is most comfortable to you.

" So...what do you like to wear when the weather turns cooler?"

Wool, lots of Wool! Also a cycling cap under my helmet.

Uh, isn't that like saying, "I doubt I'll learn to ski because my cubemate did that last year and got frostbite"? Yeah, or "I doubt I'll try driving because a buddy of mine did once and ran into a lamp post and three parked cars on his first day." :rolleyes:

If you're not a fool about it and prepare according to the conditions, you should be perfectly fine.

Ask your cubemate what he was wearing, and wear something else.

Since you're a ski instructor, you know the materials that are good for keeping warm when you're out in the freezing weather. Your best bet is to hit up a couple of bike shops and try some things on to see what is most comfortable to you.

Yeah, but ski boots are very different than bike shoes ;-) Seriously, will booties over bike shoes do the job if it gets seriously cold?

??? Answers like this are the reason why the OP should figure it out for himself. Everybody has different requirements and equipment that makes sense for one is ridiculous for someone else.

The OP was asking for other people's experiences and opinions. I was giving mine. Of course I don't expect everyone else to have the same opinions. BTW, there are many professional cyclists who wear knee covering for temps below 60. This is not a hard-and-fast rule, but one of the surest ways to mess up your knees is to cycle hard in cold temperatures without covering your knees. I know this from experience, and I've read it in many cycling books.

BTW, there are many professional cyclists who wear knee covering for temps below 60. This is not a hard-and-fast rule, but one of the surest ways to mess up your knees is to cycle hard in cold temperatures without covering your knees.
Something to keep in mind if trying to emulate professional(??) cyclists riding hard while commuting , especially at the cold temperatures of below 60. :rolleyes:

I'm not a street-clothes commuter -- I like my bike shorts and jersey. So...what do you like to wear when the weather turns cooler? I have a reflective windbreaker that I'm not too fond of, one pair of padded tights, and a ton of fleece, but I'm looking for anything that does particularly well when it starts getting cooler.


Location: Boston (sort of)

Lil brown bat, I live in Atlanta. What I wear when it gets "cooler" means adjusting to temps that are usually above freezing in the winter.

So I probably can't help. :)

But really, sometimes you have to experiment. Weather is fickle, it changes. You have to know what works best for each special circumstance, for your special needs. There are days when I mis-dress. But if I carry extra clothes, I can pull over and throw something on (or take something off.)

Yeah, but ski boots are very different than bike shoes ;-) Seriously, will booties over bike shoes do the job if it gets seriously cold?


I have ridden at 5F with merino wool socks, regular cycling socks, and booties. My time limit is one hr and my feet start getting cold. I am still working on breaking the 1hr mark below 15F without my feet getting cold. However, if one rode with platforms and a nice pair of boots with several pairs of socks I would think you could go even colder. I'm stubborn and wanted to find a way to ride clipless at low temps. Maybe lake boots.

Anyways... maybe this winter. While I am basically sitting it out, I will commute from time to time. At least that is the plan.

Lots of interesting pot-luck answers based on different regions and individual preferences. Pick and choose, keep what works, throw away what doesn't.

That's what makes this forum great. Nobody knows everything, but everybody knows something. ;)

But really, sometimes you have to experiment. Weather is fickle, it changes. You have to know what works best for each special circumstance, for your special needs. There are days when I mis-dress. But if I carry extra clothes, I can pull over and throw something on (or take something off.)

Good advice; just like the advice my Mommy gave me many years ago when she taught me to dress myself. It ain't Rocket Science.

I've heard (but not had the chance to experience) that cleats become heat sinks when frozen, I use clips n straps with hiking boots, wool socks, regular socks as needed. My (us new englanders) real enemy isn't 5 or even -15f, its 32.5-35f, windy, and slushy, blowing, soaking, salty, rain. Someone does make clipless snow boots but I forget who.

Good advice; just like the advice my Mommy gave me many years ago when she taught me to dress myself. It ain't Rocket Science.
Chill out (then put on a layer. ;) )

I've heard (but not had the chance to experience) that cleats become heat sinks when frozen, I use clips n straps with hiking boots, wool socks, regular socks as needed. My (us new englanders) real enemy isn't 5 or even -15f, its 32.5-35f, windy, and slushy, blowing, soaking, salty, rain. Someone does make clipless snow boots but I forget who.
Yup, I've popped a warm can in the freezer, but it can't get cold nearly as fast as putting one into some 33 deg. ice water.

Yeah, but ski boots are very different than bike shoes ;-) Seriously, will booties over bike shoes do the job if it gets seriously cold?

Of course, it all depends on your definition of seriously cold. Of the people I rode with last year, no-one's feet were warm under 15°F or 20°F with booties over bike shoes. I did insulated hiking boots on platform pedals and never had a problem riding as cold as 4°F.

Two of the group switched to Lake winter cycling boots (http://www.lakecycling.com/Category.aspx?CategoryID=36) mid-season and swear by them. This year, I switched to clipless and will be picking up a pair of them when they become available.

I should break down and buy some of those wonder fabric insulated T shirts the likes of Craft make, called base layers. But a T shirt for like 75$. Guess I have to think twice. Do they work that well for $75. As much chilly weather riding as we do ( under about 45 degrees) guess I deserve it.

Chill out (then put on a layer. ;) )

You misunderstand. I think you gave the bottom line advice to the OP. In fact everyone gave sensible advice to the OP. The OP's question/troll for "ideas" was so vague, how can any response be wrong?

Even advice on how to ride like the "professionals" in the cold of below 60 answers the mail for this thread.

For cool weather I wear wool socks, tights, a long sleeve jersey (sometimes over a light base layer), and a helmet liner. If its cold and rainy I will wear a rain jacket.
For cold weather I using some non cycling specific gear. I wear a merino wool sweater under a softshell jacket. I have some heavy weight tights that are sometimes layered, a Bell Metro helmet with winter liner and ear flaps, and Lake MXZ301 winter cycling shoes. This gear worked very well for me all winter last year. I wore the same basic gear every day it was below freezing. Temps ranged from 0F to 35F.
Craig

Yeah, but ski boots are very different than bike shoes ;-) Seriously, will booties over bike shoes do the job if it gets seriously cold?

Heavy weight booties, wool socks and cycling shoes a size or two too large will work for winter conditions but they are cumbersome and a pain to get on and off. I invested in Lake MXZ301 shoes last winter and was much happier. Still not as effective as ski shoes but with some wool socks they were sufficient for commutes down to 0F. I did notice that your feet stay warmer if you keep your legs warm. I often undressed my legs because I didn't like the extra bulk but when I did my feet were often cold. When I wore the extra layer on my legs my feet stayed warm also.
Craig

What do you wear when the weather turns cool?

Thank Jesus, Ra, Buddah, Allah, Thor, Vishnu, and any other entitiy that I can think of at the time.

This heat is killing me.

You want ideas? Why not be the zillionth person to ask about what kind of bikes do BF members prefer? Even more ideas to appreciate!

Some of us actually do appreciate a variety of inputs from which to cull and form a solution. I know I had trouble with cold weather last year the few times I commuted and want to do better this year when I do it regularly (hopefully). You make it sound like it's easy, but staying warm when riding for an hour in 35 degree rain isn't easy for me.

Those of us who are beginners appreciate helpful input.

Some of us actually do appreciate a variety of inputs from which to cull and form a solution. I know I had trouble with cold weather last year the few times I commuted and want to do better this year when I do it regularly (hopefully). You make it sound like it's easy, but staying warm when riding for an hour in 35 degree rain isn't easy for me.

Those of us who are beginners appreciate helpful input.

Fair enuff. But how many times does the same information about the infinite possibilities in equipment/clothing choices need to be posted for a reasonable "beginner" to come to the conclusion that "it all depends on the individual's own needs and priorities"?

Fair enuff. But how many times does the same information about the infinite possibilities in equipment/clothing choices need to be posted for a reasonable "beginner" to come to the conclusion that "it all depends on the individual's own needs and priorities"?

Well, we're talking about cold here, so there aren't as many degrees of freedom. They seem to boil down to wind, wet, and just basic cold. Well, and possibly one's tolerance to cold. So I think each individual's needs - and indeed priority - is to stay warm. Since this is a commuter forum, I'd think weight weenie considerations are not as important, though cost probably is. So I think the 'how do I stay warm?' question is a little more narrow than the 'what bikes do you like?' question that you compared it to.

I'll make the questions still more specific:

1) What are the best gloves that keep the fingers warm while allowing tactile feedback on brifters? I recall not being able to feel the difference between up/down shift on my STIs, and those gloves were pretty thin (and not all that warm)
2) Any ideas for keeping feet dry (other than fenders, which my bike won't take)? I'm considering my neoprene dive boots inside my clipless shoes, but don't know if that will work.
3) Good layering techniques/materials for cold rain (barely above freezing)?

Well, we're talking about cold here, so there aren't as many degrees of freedom. They seem to boil down to wind, wet, and just basic cold. Well, and possibly one's tolerance to cold. So I think each individual's needs - and indeed priority - is to stay warm. Since this is a commuter forum, I'd think weight weenie considerations are not as important, though cost probably is. So I think the 'how do I stay warm?' question is a little more narrow than the 'what bikes do you like?' question that you compared it to.
A little more narrow - OK.:)

Another consideration for a bike commuter is the practicality/facility for changing cold weather clothes at the commute site. It is all well and good to recommend bicycling specialized clothing for commuting but it is useless if the destination requires the commuter to arrive in the appropriate clothes and/or there is no place for hanging/storing bike clothing/shoes at the commute site.

A little more narrow - OK.:)

Another consideration for a bike commuter is the practicality/facility for changing cold weather clothes at the commute site. It is all well and good to recommend bicycling specialized clothing for commuting but it is useless if the destination requires the commuter to arrive in the appropriate clothes and/or there is no place for hanging/storing bike clothing/shoes at the commute site.

We have ourselves quite a conundrum here...

We have ourselves quite a conundrum here...

Not really. Most individuals can and will figure out what is best for themselves without looking for a consensus, or approval of their choices by the experts of Conventional Wisdom.