Winter Cycling - If you had $200.00...

to spend on winter gear...what would you get?

I'm a new cyclist and I want to continue my riding through the fall/winter. I live in Seattle, but I won't be riding when it's raining. Which by some accounts might leave me w/o many miles after this winter...but what the hell.

Anyway, I've already decided on a shell. I like the Cannondale Morphis Shell. That's $100.00. I've budged $200.00 for my gear, obviously leaving me $100.00 for gloves and a wicking shirt and wool.

I have PI's leg warmers already.

Any suggestions. THANKS!!!!

I'd suggest neoprene booties, too.

to spend on winter gear...what would you get?

I'm a new cyclist and I want to continue my riding through the fall/winter. I live in Seattle, but I won't be riding when it's raining. Which by some accounts might leave me w/o many miles after this winter...but what the hell.

Anyway, I've already decided on a shell. I like the Cannondale Morphis Shell. That's $100.00. I've budged $200.00 for my gear, obviously leaving me $100.00 for gloves and a wicking shirt and wool.

I have PI's leg warmers already.

Any suggestions. THANKS!!!!

I would not spend the second 100 dollars on gloves or layering materials since you already may have things that will work for this. And working gloves can be had for penny's from walmart. THe leg warmers will not be enough for serious winter riding. You need some good breathable and water resistant cycling pants to go over your cycling shorts. Something like Sugoi firewalls.

Long sleeve polyester exercise shirts work great under a shell and can be had at Shopko for around 12 bucks. THe pants give you a whole lot more riding choices and better prepardness for changing conditions.

Cheap ski gloves can be worn over your cycling gloves for great cool weather riding.

Blowing $100 on a jacket would be the last thing i would do. The feet and hands are the hardest to keep warm, followed by the head, legs, arms, then torso.

Winter in Seattle is like fall around here, wat and not too cold. (I'm in the Great Lakes area)
No need to go all expensive on the shell, and cheapo rain jacket should do the trick. If you want to splurge you can get an entire rainsuit, including helmet cover from J&G (http://bicycleclothing.com/) for roughly $100.
That'll leave you an extra yard for cheap waterproof gloves and something for your feet.
And if you play your cards right, you'll still have some dough left over after that.

The fancy stuff isn't necessary for survival.

From what I gather so far in the responses is that "cycling specific" gear is a waste money. Is that true?

And let it be known, I don't plan on riding in the rain so "waterproof" gear isn't a necessity. I just want to be warm and comfortable.

Thanks...

From what I gather so far in the responses is that "cycling specific" gear is a waste money. Is that true?

And let it be known, I don't plan on riding in the rain so "waterproof" gear isn't a necessity. I just want to be warm and comfortable.

Thanks...

I rarely buy cycling specific gear, with the exception being rain pants, which I highly recommend you get. Even if it's not raining or snow they still protect you from slush water that would otherwise be be splashed all over you.

How cold will you be riding in?

40-50f

I like Golite products and own quite a bit of their clothing and hiking gear.

I'd get these wind, waterproof pants, http://www.golite.com/product/productdetail.aspx?p=AM1718&s=1

I'd get this wind proof shell, http://www.golite.com/product/productdetail.aspx?p=AM1120&s=1

Each of these cost $70. which leaves you sixty bucks for other items mentioned here. I'd also Google around for last years colors and save a few bucks.

it depends on what I already own.

if I had to, I would buy thin silk undershirts, some sleeveless ones too

and more wool socks

40-50f

Man, that's T-shirt weather still! No need for lots of fancy gear! Just a light rain jacket over a long-sleeve shirt, rain pants over shorts, some water and wind-resistant gloves, and a helmet cover should suffice.

fenders. even if you've decided to not ride when its raining, it will rain in the middle of a ride, and the roads will also be wet.

you'll also be more inclined to ride when it's raining lightly.

Why have you decided you aren't going to ride when it's rainy? it is Seattle...

fenders. even if you've decided to not ride when its raining, it will rain in the middle of a ride, and the roads will also be wet.

you'll also be more inclined to ride when it's raining lightly.

Why have you decided you aren't going to ride when it's rainy? it is Seattle...

I'm a native of the Seattle area and I really don't like the rain. Plus I don't think I want to deal with the post rain ride bike maintenance.

buy some fenders. you'll be glad you did.

I spent four years in Seattle during graduate school, riding to my office and class every day. Based upon my experience, you don't need winter gear, you need fenders and rain gear. I got by quite well with just a light jacket. Even if you don't intend to ride in the rain, you will be caught in it at times and the roads will often be wet even when it is not riding. I never cleeaned my bike after a ride in all those years, and it did fine.

Paul

Seattle must be wet, so what about some kind of shoe/boot that protects your feet in cold and wet? Duck-shoes perhaps? Maybe get some waterproof windproof pants. I would get fenders...I heard it rains there lots.

Foxwear balaclava - $10
Foxwear headband =$10
Foxwear Power Dry long sleeve t-shirt - $30
Foxwear PowerStretch Tights - $40
Foxwear Evap Light Jacket(wet, spring, and fall) - $75
Foxwear heavier fleece socks - $10
Foxwear over sock to go over shoes - $5 (not on website so ask)

Descente Wombat gloves - $35

Powershield Tights $57 instead of $40 so new total is $232.

Rain pants are $95

www.foxwear.net

Do a search and read some reviews.

$215 total. Went a little over budget, but heh the advice was free!

From what I gather so far in the responses is that "cycling specific" gear is a waste money. Is that true?

And let it be known, I don't plan on riding in the rain so "waterproof" gear isn't a necessity. I just want to be warm and comfortable.

Thanks...

Cycling specific gear for winter is not the best value for certain things. As has been mentioned feet and hands are the hardest things to keep warm but cycling specific products are not always the best way to go here. I do think that cycling specific winter tights and jacket and helmet cover are nice things to have. But it depends on the temps and how things are used. If you are not going to ride in the rain then an inexpensive more breathable windbreaker is better than a 100 dollar cycling jacket. However, in winter it is best to have some level of prepardness. The weather can change when you are out. Or you may never get to ride more than once a week if you expect perfect days.

In my opinion the first things you should buy for winter cycling is an approriate set of long winter cycling pants a helmet cover and some cycling shoe covers. Everything else can be barrowed from your existing outdoor gear collection. Or got for cheap at Wal-mart.

That's about 80-120 dollars for the pants, 15 dollars or less for the helmet cover and 35-50 dollars for the shoe covers.

In Seattle I imagine it usually stays above 35F in the winter but the chance of rain is high so you need things that are both breathable and water resistant. You can carry a light waterproof jacket with you but not put in on unless you are caught in heavy rain. One thing that works well is to carry a small backpack in winter and put your raingear in it and helmet cover and stuff for wetter, colder emergencies.



By the way, unless you are in the most heavy downpour you don't want completely waterproof gear on as you will get totally soaked from the inside.
The only reason for totally waterproof gear is when you must keep the very cold outer wet out of the inner warmer wet to slow down heat loss.

Foxwear balaclava - $10
Foxwear headband =$10
Foxwear Power Dry long sleeve t-shirt - $30
Foxwear PowerStretch Tights - $40
Foxwear Evap Light Jacket(wet, spring, and fall) - $75
Foxwear heavier fleece socks - $10
Foxwear over sock to go over shoes - $5 (not on website so ask)

Descente Wombat gloves - $35

Powershield Tights $57 instead of $40 so new total is $232.

Rain pants are $95

www.foxwear.net

.

Do a search and read some reviews.

$215 total. Went a little over budget, but heh the advice was free!

This is the best advice to anyone in this situation. I have several foxwear items and they are the best you can get for the money. And custom made to boot

Well, this is what I bought today...

CRAFT Pro Race long sleeved shirt (base layer)
Mid Weight long sleeved jersey by Cannondale
CRAFT Pro Race hat (pulls down far enough to cover my ears)

I'm now in the market for a vest to deal with the wind and keep my core warm, full fingered gloves and a pair of woll socks.

I'm leaning towards the PI Optik vest and SmartWool socks. I think I could probably go to Target and get a cheap pair of gloves that should be fine.

Keep in mind, it rarely gets colder then 40 in the winter and I don't plan on riding in the rain.

Cheap department store gloves will work to an extent, but might prove to be too bulky and not last you the entire season.
I stocked up on gloves when TJ Max had a sale on Columbia and Marmot outerwear, gloves were marked down up to 90%, so I got some nice $50 gloves for $5-$10.
If you've never ridden in anything colder than 60DEGF before you might be suprised at how little you really need. Right now, when I ride into work at 3:00PM it is in the high 60's and I wear a simple long sleved moisture wicking T-Shirt with the sleeves rolled up I got from Wal-Mart, it's slightly thicker than your average shirt of its type, somewhere between silk weight and mid weight. I also wear shorts and sneakers.
When I get off work at 6:00AM it is in the low 50s DEGF, and the only change I make is to put on a pair of thin polypro glove liners under my fingerless gloves (sometimes I forego this) and roll down the sleeves. After 10 miles I'm usually too warm and push the sleeves up again.
Granted, I'm used to temps 40DEGF below freezing in the winter, so these fall mornings are pretty nice.

Now I know I am an exception when it comes to these things. I LOVE the cold weather. But my advice to you is to not spend any more cash right now and just try out what you have to see how things work out. If I had known the exact weather conditions you would be riding in I would have given you advice like the following:

Since you are not going to be riding in the rain and not below 40 DEGF I'd suggest a simple pair of tights, like the Nashbar Essential tights ($20), some mid weight wool socks (no particular brand, wool is wool when it comes to 40+ temps), a midweight moisture wicking shirt (cycling jersey or cheapo wal-mart), and a wind braking vest along with a helmet liner that has ear flaps that you can fold down when needed. Also you might want to look into some thin full fingered gloves, something along the lines of the Trek anatomy glove, only less expensive, so long as it blocks the wind well.


Even with that on I'd be sweating if the temps were in the mid 40s, but you can tune those articles (unzip the vest, fold up/down the ear flaps, etc) when you start getting too warm or too cold.
Hopefully something I said makes sense and you can use. ;)
BTW: The gear you have purchased already seems to be some nice stuff.


Well, this is what I bought today...

CRAFT Pro Race long sleeved shirt (base layer)
Mid Weight long sleeved jersey by Cannondale
CRAFT Pro Race hat (pulls down far enough to cover my ears)

I'm now in the market for a vest to deal with the wind and keep my core warm, full fingered gloves and a pair of woll socks.

I'm leaning towards the PI Optik vest and SmartWool socks. I think I could probably go to Target and get a cheap pair of gloves that should be fine.

Keep in mind, it rarely gets colder then 40 in the winter and I don't plan on riding in the rain.

Keep in mind, it rarely gets colder then 40 in the winter and I don't plan on riding in the rain.

yeah, that makes a difference. I don't even consider it winter until it is below freezing.

what is wrong with a little rain? it won't kill you.

Greetings

I was reading your thread and having never heard of the "Canondale Morphis Shell" decided to do a google on it. And low and behold I found what looks like a good price on one.

Let me know what you think,
Frank

"http://www.backcountryoutlet.com/outlet/CAN0010/Cannondale-Morphis-Shell-Mens.html?CMP_ID=SH_FRO002&CMP_SKU=CAN0010&mv_pc=r126"

Thank you everybody for your input.

Today I bit the bullet and bucked up some $$$ and got a GORE Wind Stopper vest. Today was my first ride and one word comes to mind...AMAZING!

Money well spent, IMO.

Weather was dry and around 50f when I left today around 11am. I rode 35 hard miles and by the time I got home I concluded that I could have done w/o the Craft base layer. I'm certain that what I have will get me through a Seattle fall/winter just fine.

So...I've completed my quest for cold weather riding gear...

CRAFT PRO ZERO long sleeved base layer
CRAFT Pro Race hat (kept my ears plenty warm today)
Cannondale Mid-weight long sleeved jersey
GORE Windstop Function vest
SmartWool socks
Specialized Deflect gloves (not pictured)
PI ThermaFleece leg warmers (already owned)

If you have clipless pedals, you may want to swap them for platform pedals for the winter. Then you can go with any footwear you want in order to keep your feet dry.

You might not plan on cycling in the rain in winter, but Seattle is a soggy place. Even if you're only riding on dry days, you may find yourself caught in the rain. So prepare yourself. Get fenders and rain gear. If you're dressed for the weather, riding in the rain can be quite pleasant.

40-50f

Just ride faster and let your body heat do the work.

I'm certain that the body heat I will produce will more then suffice.