Commuting - Trying to stay warm

I started commuting this summer and have hardly missed a day on the bike, but the colder weather is coming and I'm feeling the cold.

Just wondering what advice everyone has about how to prepare for the commue as it starts to get colder. I'm in Southern Ontario and I've started to layer up a bit on my morning rides but it seems to be getting beyond that. Any suggestions for clothing that's appropriate without feeling like I'm in a snowsuit?

To try to help you, and any other folks trying cool weather riding for the first time I will occasionally post exactly what I wear on my commute, which is averaging 22-25miles (35-40km) and the relevant weather data.

Today, 43F/7C, sunny, no wind. I wore my usual Shimano shoes with thin Cool-max socks. Giordano CoolMax shorts, a very thin Duofold Coolmax long-sleeve Tee-shirt topped with a short-sleeve Danskin jersey. For gloves I wore just regular 1/2 finger Specialized bodygloves. Nothing under my helmet (in more ways than one). My comfort level was very good. Near the end of the ride I was aware of a little trickle of sweat on my lower back, and the tips of my fingers felt cool but not cold or stiff.

To me the essential element of winter riding are:
a wicking/thermal base layer. No rear pockets needed.
a totally windproof highly breathable jacket.
wind-resistant leggings. Windproof pants for the cold.
Extremities: suitable thickness of woolen socks, full gloves, neck-warmer, ear warmer as needed.
The least technical layer is the mid-layer insulation. I use woolen jumpers and they work as well as any fleece.
I distinguish between wind resistant, which is good in the ccol, to windproof, which you need in the cold.

In really cold weather I wear an insulated windproof jacket. I save waterproofs for when its raining.

Not that much to add. In very cold weather you may need a balaclava or some other kind of added insulation layer beneath your helmet. Layering is the key, with the outhermost layer being windproof. You may also need clear glasses to keep your eyes from watering excessively, and possibly some kind of mask if you're prone to breathing difficulties in the cold.

It was also suggested in some other thread that the SPD clipless pedals are a heatsink. You might want to try platforms or toe clips, if you suffer from cold feet.

--J

The only downside to layering is if you need to stop and go into a heated building. You cant readily strip off 3 layers, but you can easily unzip a padded jacket. For riding about town I use a pile-lined jacket with a full zip, and can take off all my insulation in one go.

Winproof gear is definitely a necessity for me below about 50F. Some specifics that I wear:


Katabat Vest (http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=675103&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=196831&bmUID=1065024485499) from Mountain Equipment Co-op. It's windproof fleece (on the front only) which does not provide lots of insulation but is quiet and doesn't flap around in the wind like a nylon shell might.

I also wear the Katabat Jacket (http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=675069&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=196643&bmUID=1065024626680) also from MEC when it's a bit colder. When it's really cold I wear them both. This one is windproof all around.

On my feet I wear Hydroskin socks (http://www.nrscatalog.com/product.asp?pfid=2342) from NRS. They are .5mm neoprene with a fleecy liner. They are designed for paddling but they work great on the bike. I wear these over Ultimax socks (from Wigwam I think).

Thanks for the great advice,

Still getting psyched up to make the winter rides. I picked up a Midzero balaclava today during the ride but it's still too nice to wear it as anything more than a hat.

Think I'm going to give the Garneau boots with the SPD cutout a try.

Check out the Lake winter boots, they look warmer.

You may also find the chemical toe and finger warmers a boon, if you are riding for longer than about an hour and it is really cold (35 or below, for me). A pair from Home Depot or Loews is about a buck and they work amazingly well. And last two+ hours. Buy them by the box and get a discount.

I wear a race face jacket which has a lot of vent options. I rarely need much more than a good thermal shirt under this jacket. I use the Lake gloves and some insulated hiking boots. For the head I wear a thin skull cap which barely covers my ears. This keeps me comfortable down to about 10F.

i ride through the winter in Montreal. on the coldest, windiest days, i just wear a cheap, somewhat-insulated coat that blocks wind, and (absolutely essential) gloves and a hood. and i ride as fast as i can, which does more to keep me warm than anything else.

Today it was 8C in Montreal, and long-sleeve soccer shirt was just right. For colder weather a windproof jacket, with zips under the sleeves and down the side , is needed.

I bike all year round in Calgary and this will be my third winter. I have the disadvantage that the first part of my ride in the morning is all down hill after the first 5 minutes, so with being dark , not wanting to go as fast, I really don't warm up for the first 20 minutes of my ride. The rest is along bike paths so I arrive at work quite wet from sweat. Now I travel lite no panniers, just a frame bag so that effect my choices as to what I wear as its usually a lot warmer by the time I set home from work.

From 10 to 5 °C still in shorts tshirt but add light MEC riding jacket ( can roll up jacket or ride with zippers under arms open on way home. Somewhere in there switch from fingerless to with fingers riding gloves.

4 to 0° tights with shorts over ( on way home can roll up tights) light MEC jacket with tshirt and turtle neck or light sweat shirt. I use cheap ski gloves as they actually dry during the day whereas 2X as expensive thicker bike gloves are not as warm and take two days to dry once I've soaked them with sweat. One of those cheap neck warmers which I use to keep my ears covered under my helmet. Also switch over to wool socks.

-1 to~ -7 °C Gor Tex MEC jacket , gortex riding pants, over booties , wool socks, glasses saftey type to break wind, ski golves, tshirt plus sweat shirt , tape up vents in helmet more as it gets colder( duct tape)

Any colder than that go to ski goggles, put some reflective tape over toes of bike shoes, throw in another layer probably turtle neck and long under wear under bike pants

I stop at -20°C though I do have lobster mitt gloves for coldest days ( they take forever to day also)

Save $$ and 2 places to check out is Marks Work Warehouse. Stanfield™ make longjohns which make great base layers. Look for Chillguard™. Also if you are in the Falls, Nike factory outlet are on Lundy's Lane @ the QEW. Cheaper than BikeFit or Liberty Cycle

BTW, don't overlook Canadian Tire

The replies are great, thanks for the great ideas. We got down around 4° C in Niagara this week. I picked up some LG booties to put over my shoes and wore some full fingered gloves and a Sugoi balaclava. I think the key for me is warm feet, if they get cold, I get miserable. ...and a special thanks to HeadlessTompson, just saw your post as I was previewing mine, I commute to the Falls. Never even considered Marks.

I picked up a few things myself this past weekend, and I'm getting ready to pick up a few more things in the coming weeks from performancebike.com. One thing I've decided to skip is using those stupid legwarmers. They TOTALLY do not make those leg warmers for black folks- they are always falling down, and I'm constantly getting irritated, before I finally just pull them off. The size below them are too small, and the size I have are too big. *sigh*

Koffee

i ride through the winter in Montreal. on the coldest, windiest days, i just wear a cheap, somewhat-insulated coat that blocks wind, and (absolutely essential) gloves and a hood. and i ride as fast as i can, which does more to keep me warm than anything else.


Fairly similar to my kit.

On my back, I have a "breathable" coat with lots of zippers, from Chlorophille; when it is very cold, I wear a Polar fleece vest underneath it.

On my legs, I wear long underwear under my trousers for about 6-7 months per year.

When it's under -5 to -10 C, I also use a bandana to cover my ear and warm my forehead. Of course, it means the helmet is adjusted a bit larger in Winter. I wear a scarf around my neck when it's very cold and windy, and raise the scarf over my face if necessary. BTW, I tried a balaclava, but it's too warm except maybe in the most extreme cases. I still carry it if I go tobbogganning with the kids, but don'T wear it when cycling.

To protect my fingers, I wear relatively loose Ski gloves that are good to maybe -15 C and liners underneath. I tried thicker gloves, but they are too tight and too restrictive, therefore too cold.

I also have a pair of cut-off socks that I wear over my ankles... when it's below -10 or -20 C (depending on how long I ride)

Finally, I don't wear any special shoes or boots, but I'm not a reference on keeping feet warm.


Lastly, one of the key aspects I found in Winter cycling is that I need the ability to rapidly change the cover I have. The same kit may be too cold if I face a headwind or go down a hill, but it may be too warm if I turn 90 degrees and suddently face a crosswind or tailwind or if I climb from downtown.

Good stuff, Michel. Keep those ideas coming.

I am really determined to do more winter riding this year than last year.

Koffee

Be sure to cover your knees below about 60 degrees. Take care of them and they'll take care of you...