Road Cycling - Fall/winter clothing

Hi, I am pretty new to the world of road cycling. I took it up more seriously this summer but must say that I enjoy it tremendously.

With winter closing in on us, what cold weather cycling clothing would you recommend (both top and bottom) for winter training.

The weather here averages 50 degrees in the winter months.

Before you get a lot of replies on relative cold, I'll recommend a set of tights with chamois from Performance.com and a coolmax t-shirt followed by your favorite sweatshirt. A good test is to wear the combination outside and if you feel cool but not cold, the combination should work as you will warm up somewhat as you ride. Try to stay away from cotton as a base layer as much as possible, in my case it just acts like a sponge and holds moisture next to your body with no real evaporation. My standard road shoes really suck for winter weather (the only time I can tell where the vents are!) so this season I'm trying the PI Typhoon booties to seal out some of the wind. No report yet on how well they work as the temps here are still in the 60-70's.

Also - as you wait for the replies regarding clothing - I personally find it to be a good rule of thumb that I should be slightly chilly at the start of the ride. I'll warm up as the ride progresses.

If I'm comfortable at the start I will overheat and then have to take stuff off and carry it.

I'm not talking extremities, like cold fingers and toes - I need decent gloves to keep them warm from the start, I mean base layers and jackets. I like a good teeth chatter for the first 1-3 miles, by then I've warmed up.

Rules change if its wet.

I love arm warmers coz they're easy to take off.

Stew

I agree with Stewart re. chilliness.

I ride in Montreal until a couple of weeks into December. When it gets REALLY cold, I'll wear neoprene booties over my shoes, heavy polypropylene padded tights or heavy tights over my shorts, a polypropylene undershirt and a microfleece or wool jersey [my favourite cold weather jersey is Garneau's Boreal] a Sugoi Bonsui Jacket, full gloves and a polypropylene scull cap. Of course, that's for riding in the -5C to +5C range.

Around 10C [50 F] I usually wear lighter tights over my shorts, or leg warmers [useful for stripping off when the temp rises above about 14C], shorts, a long-sleeved jersey like the Garneu, and a shell or, more often, a windproof vest, normal bike gloves. Sometimes I'll wear a shortsleeved jersey with arm warmers. If you have outerwear that cuts the wind well -- a shell or a vest -- you don't need a lot of insulation at 10C; your body will create enough of its own heat. You'll also find that, unless it's very windy, your legs will usually stay pretty warm.

It's still pretty warm here (around 60F 18C) so I'm happy cycling in shorts (I've still to go down the padded shorts route) with a short-sleeved walking shirt (non-cotton). I'm one of those strange people who don't tend to feel the cold that much (living as a student in Aberystwyth with a choice between heating or beer helped :D). As it gets colder should I worry about keeping leg muscles warm, or will the exercise be enough?

Thanks

Richard

Originally posted by latakiahaze
As it gets colder should I worry about keeping leg muscles warm, or will the exercise be enough?



I tend to go with leg warmers when it gets below 10C (not very often around here). Another thing you should do in those temperatures is start pedalling in a lighter gear early in the ride to get circulation going properly before pushing too hard. This will reduce the chance of getting knee problems (something I know too much about).

Hi dersidc,
You need the long tights . I use perl azumi and really like them. For the upper body I went to walmart and got a tight fitting undergarment made of poplypropline (sp). They sell the shirts in sporting goods section. Cost 11 bucks and it works great. Over that I wear my regular cycling jersey. At walmart I got a nylon vest that looks like it was make for cycling. Tight fit with a net interliner also had 2 zippered vents on the sides for air flow . Its waterproof and so thin you can put in in your jersey pocket . Has a high zippered neck to. I paid a whopping 14 bucks for it.
I ride in 40 and 50 degree weather with this combo and am nice and warm. Just be sure your outer garment has windbreaker abilities.

Ride Safe....Dudley

All of the above comments are good, I like arm warmers too, as they are easy to take off and you avoid having too many layers when you have them on.

One thing to be careful of though, is getting up a sweat, and then if you have to get off the bike for some reason, fixing a flat, or heaven for bid, having to walk, not having warm enough clothing.

If you're going out on a long ride with no shelter or other options take along a sweater or fleece to put on if you have to.

As for the tights, the ones with out the Chamois... can you wear then over your regular bike shorts? This would make life a little easier since you could just have one pair and change the under shorts.

Then again maybe that's what tights are for...

Hey this hooded, long-sleve jersey looks really sweet for cold rides. Anyone ever use anything like this?

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.html?SKU=4136

Hey there,

When it is below 60 or 65 degrees keep your knees covered, they have poor blood supply and can get over chilled very,very easily, reducing the effectiveness of the "lubricant" in the joint leading to tendonitis. Iv'e known people who've developed tendonitis from riding with bare knees from ONE cold/cool ride.

RULE OF THUMB- IF THE AIR FEELS COOL ON YOUR ARMS, COVER YOUR KNEES!!!!!!

If covering your knees makes you too warm on a ride, take a layer off the top, ( zip you jacket down or take it off), before you even think about taking the "leggings" off.

Stay away from cotton in cool weather, if it gets wet cotton WILL make you COLDER!!!

Unpaded Lycra tights are designed to wear over shorts.

I've found arm warmers, tights, knee warmers, wind vests and
"clip on" muffs all very useful in many situations as well as the "standard" items. As the day warms, the above are easy to remove and carry.

In cold weather, personally I prefer Wool clothing over the synthetic stuff. Merino wool is very soft, not "scratchy/itchy".

Ride Warm
Pat

I layer in winter. T shirt or cycling shirt, light fleece and goretex challenger smock.

On the legs, shorts and longs. I wear full fingered gloves and a wee hat under my helmet.

In reply to caj808's question about the hooded jersey... Yes, I've got 2. They're pretty light weight, but they make a great base layer with a vest or light fleece over them when it's really cool out. My ears tend to get very cold even if it's only @ 60F (10C) out. So I like being able to pull up the hood and then take it down when I warm up. My only complaint is that it is a little tight under my neck. Then again, I'm not someone who easily wears turtlenecks.

Originally posted by caj808
As for the tights, the ones with out the Chamois... can you wear then over your regular bike shorts? This would make life a little easier since you could just have one pair and change the under shorts.
Yep.

I find tights with chamois more comfortable, though. On the other hand, the double layer of tights-over-shorts keeps all your naughty bits a bit warmer...

If you want to wear tights over shorts, get tights without the chamois pad.
Sallopette/bib style tights keep you toasty, but make the call of nature more difficult.

Most bike tops have rear pockets, but this is a waste of time under a wind-shell. Dont be afraid to look at regular hiking jersies for winter.
Goretex is a poor material for dry weather cycling, a cheaper , more breathable windproof is more comfortable.

Avoid hoods, but look into hats, neck-warmers , ear-warmers and in extremities, a balaclava.
Thicker socks may be needed, so larger cycling shoes may be needed. Mesh shoes are not much use in keeping you warm, so look into a pair of winter shoes/boots.

my favorite cycling gear for 50-60 degrees F:

shorts w/ knee warmers OR knickers(w/ chamios)
wicking under-shirt
short sleeved jersey
arm warmers
wind vest
full-fingered gloves
smart-wool socks
thin, wicking headband that covers the ears.

50 deg.?...Winter?

In 50's-low 60 deg weather I've just been wearing shorts and a long sleeve jersey. I put on a light fleece sweater, but after a few miles it gets too hot and I take that off. When it gets into the 40's I usually wear my tights, and my feet get a little chilly. I haven't done much colder temps than that yet.

Right now (Dec 1) we're have a heat wave in NJ and it's 67degs and I'm sweatin' my a** off! :)

Maybe it's my Norwegian heritige?

For the temperatures you ride in I would recommend a long sleeve wicking shirt with a windproof vest on top. For cool weather biking a vest has become an essential for me. It keeps your core warm and allows your arms to vent excess heat.