Thanks so much for all your help so far Dever peeps. I'm LOVING it here. I've been out 4 times in the last week but today it was colder than I am prepared for, and it's only September.

I wanted to ask those that have endured the seasons here what kind of gear I need to be accumulating before the real cold gets here. I have normal s/s jerseys, bibs, 1 pair of knickers and some arm warmers, but I don't even own a jacket or anything yet. I'm assuming I'll want some full insulated tights? What about jackets and vests? Do you guys recommend thermal ones or just windshell types?

This afternoon when I went out I had my knickers, 2 jerseys, armwarmers and gloves and I was chilly after 10 miles. I can only imagine it's going to get a lot worse!

You get used to it - sort of an acclimation.

I have been riding early in the morning (5:00 am) lately, using my lights.

I wear tights or nylon workouts, several layers on top - like an under jersey, a jersey and a wind breaker, and full-fingered gloves. I have 3 jerseys with hoods, and they come in real handy. Sometimes I wear two windbreakers, which are both very light and very warm.

Layers are the solution, not a heavy coat.

And, our weather is such that it is likely to be 60F in January.

Have fun!

Denver is all about layers. The days can change drastically this time of year. I have been out in shorts and caught in the snow in the fall. A nice warm and sunny day can turn cold and snowy in a matter of hours. Look West and if the mountains are lost in a cloud, that front could be down here quickly. Most of the time it won't come down though and it will just be mild in Denver.

You will probably want arm warmers and a vest for sweaty descents on cool days, as well as some warmer cycling gloves. In the winter, I sometimes wear tights over my shorts, but it is often warm enough not to.

My cold weather gear consists of:

Long underwear
sweats
Whatever pants I'm wearing for the day
wind resistant running pants (Only if it's raining or wet snow)

Underarmor-clone baselayer
Whatever shirt I'm wearing (t-shirt or Sweatshirt, depending on weather)
Hoodie
Windbreaker

One or two pair of socks (One thermal if needed)
Waterproof hiking boots

Lightweight hunting gloves (water and wind resistant)

balaclava
knit cap

clear, yellow, and tinted safety glasses (Tinted for sunny days, clear for night or rain, yellow or clear for snow)


Mix and match as required for conditions... I've ridden down to -5F with that gear and been very comfortable. (12.5 mile ride that I did on two different occasions at that temp)

A helmet liner or balaclava that fits under the helmet will go a long way toward keeping your whole body warm, and they don't take up much space in your pocket.

showers pass elite 2.0 jacket/shell, this fuzzy REI poly insulating layer, UA heavy baselayer, PI amphib tights Chrome shins, seak skinz socks and specialized taho shoes. when it gets really cold and i switch to my lake winter boots.

swobo 6 panel wool cap with ear flaps, light thin balaclava, waterproof helmet cover keeps heat in the helmet without getting so clammy.

thin mountain hardware glove liners under some PI zephyr gloves.

variations on the above are good for me down to about -5 degrees F.

I would check out the winter forum as well.

I like to use wool and poly long johns for layers.
Performance triflex tights are a good thing.

Thanks for the responses guys. The more I keep riding here, the more I'm seeing the advantage to buying a lot of different layers. I think I have most everything ordered at this point, except that I don't own a jacket of any type yet...

I like Voler products... do you guys recommend getting their "windshell jacket" or the "thermal jacket" as my outer layer? Any reason that I would need some sort of vest as well?

Sorry for the lame questions, but I've never lived in an area that gets cold at all.

Thanks, Bryce

Went riding early this am, 42F in Parker.

Bibs, Tights, under layer, jersey with hood, two very light Tyvek windbreakers, full fingered gloves, shoes and socks - perfectly warm and delightful.

Thanks for the responses guys. The more I keep riding here, the more I'm seeing the advantage to buying a lot of different layers. I think I have most everything ordered at this point, except that I don't own a jacket of any type yet...

I like Voler products... do you guys recommend getting their "windshell jacket" or the "thermal jacket" as my outer layer? Any reason that I would need some sort of vest as well?

Sorry for the lame questions, but I've never lived in an area that gets cold at all.

Thanks, Bryce

The first rule of winter riding is to start cold. If you step out of your door and think "I'm nice and toasty.", you'll be too hot in just a little while. Too hot usually translates into sweaty and then into cold.

Find your problem areas and get them insulated first. Everyone is different. Some people have problems with hands, some with heads, some with feet, etc. Find your cold spots and take precautions to keep them from getting cold and you'll go much further.

For laying, many thin layers are better than one thick one. A thin wind resistant outer layer...like the windshell jacket...is better than a jacket that has its own thermal layer. You can always add, or remove, a layer under a thin jacket but you can't remove a jacket's thermal layer. You have to remove the jacket and then lose your wind blockage. Wind is your enemy, especially here where the air is so dry, block it and, again, you'll go much further. Pearl Izumi makes Zephyr jackets which are good wind resistant jackets that aren't too expensive.

I just got a new Gore soft shell at REI today. The fit seems good and tight and the arms zip off. However, it is a bit big for packing, so I imagine I will need to start out wearing it and add the arms if it gets colder.

I generally like to climb, so I get really warm on the way up and really cold on the way down. I am hoping the soft shell will add a nice breathable option, but now that it has warmed up again, it will be a while before I try it out.