"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - any tips to dress for racing when it is 20 degrees

need to show the team colors so what should i do use a base layer and maybe two or three short sleeve layers and one long sleeve layer . i usually wear a jacket when it is that cold on training rides . any tips?

Personally, 2 layers, maybe a thin base, no jacket. You'll need to evacuate a lot of moisture at full boil. My favorite is Patagonia R1 fleece. It can be layered or worn next to skin and is basically a hybrid of a screen door and fleece.

Heat packs under the cuff of your tights(at the ankles) and the back of your hands (for lighter gloves). Bring three hats: one to warm up in, one to race in, one to wear after.

Also, make sure you have a good lofting insulation jacket for keeping warm when not moving. Put it on immediately if you're not spinning the pedals.

Racing? How long? If you're doing a 30 minute crit, you could probably get away with two pairs of bibs, leg warmers, long ski socks, shoe covers, and up top regular thick gloves, base jersey, winter jacket, and beanie. For longer road races over 1:30, I'd add another layer on my chest, thick tights, 'lobster claw' gloves, and thicker socks OR a rubber glove thrown on over the toes.

At temperatures that cold, you're not likely to overheat, and if you start getting really warm, opening up the zipper of your jacket will likely take care of the heat. My hands and feet stay reasonably warm, even if I'm out for hours on end.

You won't be as cold in a race as on a training ride. If you're cold on the starting line, you'll often warm up within 10 mins. of the start.

20 degrees needs some type of windbreaking jacket imho under team kit

20ºF is 3x colder than 29ºF. Which is it?

I'd wear wind proof tights, a warm LS base, a thick winter weight LS jersey, and a winter jacket. If you don't have a winter jacket use a rain jacket (clear, heavy) and another winter weight LS jersey.

Booties, warm gloves. I prefer the Sidekick booties as they wrap nicely around your ankles, feel soft and comfy and warm, and they're cheap. Gloves I have some older Body Geometry gloves rated to 25 degrees, very thin, I wouldn't have believed they're good below 40, but I've ridden in sub 20 degree weather and I've been chilly but okay. My hands did sweat but they were also a bit chilly after a bit.

Neck protection (I have a stretchy poly pro tube that works nicely, and if it's really cold, I can pull it up over my chin or make it into a balclava sp? type thing).

Head and ear protection.

If it's really windy use ski goggles. I've never resorted to this but I've brought them to races just in case.

Tape your helmet vents or use a really cheap helmet that has virtually no ventilation (and tape them too).

No matter what, I find the tops of my thighs get cold and I can't sprint well. I want to experiment with some way of keeping that bit warmer.

That's good for an hour to maybe 2 hours. After that I'd stop racing :)

cdr

Someone suggested using a Mylar FedEx type envelope between layers to keep out some wind. I've used newspapers sometimes. It gives you a very thin extra layer just on your chest without bulking up your arms or back where you might not need it

need to show the team colors

This is what I get for reading too early in the morning. I didn't see the root of the question. I'm all for flying the colors so... Put your LS jersey over your jacket. You may have to borrow the next size up jersey. SS works in a pinch.

Last week I rode with my jacket and a SS jersey on top (M Jacket yay I fit it and a L SS Jersey). I'll do this until I either take the leader's jersey (hahahahahahahahahaha) or the kits come in (few weeks away).

I really want to take the leader's jersey :) Seems hopeless though.

cdr

I raced in those temps for a month. All I did was 2 pairs of underarmor coldgear (legs) plus bike shorts over that. Underarmor coldgear x1 + underarmor turf gear over that then the jersey over that. Wore some smartwool expedition trekker socks and some neoprene booties. Regular gloves.

My feet actually iced over. Like... well... on an aircraft wing. it was prolly about 1/8" thick. My feet were VERY cold so I'd ammend that part. I wore some thick windproof glove liners and my cycling gloves over them. Hand were fine... well... as fine as hands can be at that temp.

this is why you buy a heavy long sleeve jersey and a vest with the team kit.

20ºF is 3x colder than 29ºF. Which is it?

All the better reason to stay in bed and wait for the warmer weather.;)

^^seriously. There is a training race this weekend but with snow and 20-something temps I'm gonna wait till next week to start the season.

Makes me wonder: are studded tires legal for a road race?

All the better reason to stay in bed and wait for the warmer weather.;)

This is depressingly Wussy.

Even more depressing is that it is essentially....correct.

Even more depressing still is that the second race of the season is Sunday, they're riding like it's friggin May trying to tear each other's legs off, Pcad is hanging on by a thread, and that's only because he was out freezing his Haha off all winter in temps colder than 20ºF.

I've had it with winter. I can't take it much longer. Two weeks until spring. I'm sure we'll get the predictable April 3rd 12" dump. It's as inevitable as a BF Flameout.

HTFU, This is my racing uniform in weather down to the teens:

2 Underarmor LS shirts, black
1 short sleeveed summer jersey
Pearl Izumi Gavia gloves
Under armor hat, black
Pearl Izumi MicroSensor lightweight bibshorts
Pearl Izumi knee warmers
Cheapie Pyramid neoprene overshoes
or
Pearl izumi Toe covers

starting with head first for 25 degrees or less-

balaclava
short sleeve jersey (we dont have long sleeve or jackets- too small a team)
long sleeve underarmor
short sleeve underarmor
thermal longjohn/henly style shirt
latex gloves (POWDER FREE)
wind/waterproof gloves
bibs
thermal tights
toe covers
wool socks
moisture wicking socks

This is depressingly Wussy.

Even more depressing is that it is essentially....correct.

Even more depressing still is that the second race of the season is Sunday, they're riding like it's friggin May trying to tear each other's legs off, Pcad is hanging on by a thread, and that's only because he was out freezing his Haha off all winter in temps colder than 20ºF.

I've had it with winter. I can't take it much longer. Two weeks until spring. I'm sure we'll get the predictable April 3rd 12" dump. It's as inevitable as a BF Flameout.


Im sure if I lived where the weather was that cold it wouldnt bother me as much. As it is, it rarely get under 40 deg here. Ive ridden in temps as ow as 29deg, never again. To those that brave the weather, well I dont know........;)

Im sure if I lived where the weather was that cold it wouldnt bother me as much. As it is, it rarely get under 40 deg here. Ive ridden in temps as ow as 29deg, never again. To those that brave the weather, well I dont know........;)

It's all relative. In the lower Hudson Valley where I live there are some sub-20ºF days, there's some snow and ice, but essentially it's rideable all winter. That would certainly not be the case in Vermont or Minnesota or parts of Michigan or other places many BF'ers live. So I can't complain. But I still do.

That's what BF is for.

Makes me wonder: are studded tires legal for a road race?

I just looked, and setting aside the obvious questions, can't find any prohibition to doing so.

I just looked, and setting aside the obvious questions, can't find any prohibition to doing so.

That's all I need after I crash, to be tatooed by Cat 3/4 studded tires going 28mph.

It's all relative. In the lower Hudson Valley where I live there are some sub-20ºF days, there's some snow and ice, but essentially it's rideable all winter. That would certainly not be the case in Vermont or Minnesota or parts of Michigan or other places many BF'ers live. So I can't complain. But I still do.

That's what BF is for.

Coming from Buffalo, NY where I would say its rideable temp wise all winter. (Although they're getting like a foot of snow right now) But last week it hit 60!

To now being in North Dakota where it is most certainly NOT rideable outside. Due to poor plowing infrastructure and ice cold temps and high a** winds.

It was minus 40 last NIGHT! AND ITS FRICKIN MARCH!

But in B-lo the "training race series" is usually in all 4 weeks of feb (if I recall correctly) If not its def in March. So... if ur a n00b and u want respect... earn it. Do the race.

Bolt a Yakima to the wing mounts and fly south for an afternoon Mr. Bigshot fighter pilot*. :roflmao:


*Tongue in cheek from someone who's done their time on the pointy end.

this is why you buy a heavy long sleeve jersey and a vest with the team kit.

I agree but with some "exceptions", especially early in the year.

A team may not have its kits yet.

A newer rider may not have the coin to buy "luxury" items like LS jerseys. I didn't buy one, except a pair received as a gift, for 20 years of serious cycling. I wore jackets or LS base layers with a SS jersey on top, a la Sean Kelly.

The last five or more years I raced in the same kit. In the last two years I spent $2500, 1500, and $500 on uniform orders. I recouped maybe $2500 of it because teammates bought stuff.

I have three jackets, about 3-4 LS jerseys, maybe 8 SS jerseys, about 10 bib shorts, 4-5 knickers, 3-4 vests, and various matching socks (15 pair?), gloves, head things, etc.

Then I switched teams. Arg. Their gear isn't in yet. So I wore my old kit with a borrowed jersey on top. I ordered a LS, 2 SS, 2 bibs, knickers, and forgot to order a vest. I couldn't justify a jacket since I'm unemployed and have 3 (old) team and 2 other perfectly usable jackets.

Having said that I may buy one of last year's jackets. lol.

Ah well. This'll all seem like a bad nightmare in July when I bring my almost empty gear bag with shorts and a SS and LS jersey to a race. Right now it weighs something like 30 lbs.

cdr