Commuting - Commuting Clothes

Ok, I'm coming up on the end of week 2 of commuting. Yesterday, for the first time since I started, rain was a real possibility. Living here in the Valley of the Sun I hadn't really considered rain. After a little research here on BF and else where I am still unsure as to whether my biking attire will suffice. My morning commute is typically 45 - 50 deg. I usually just wear a wind-break type pullover, and occasionally a 'fleece' pull over if the temps are toward the lower end. I now know that cotton doesn't retain its insulating properties when wet, and wool does. My question is - what about the fleece? It's a synthetic material, seems to wick moisture (sweat) away from me when it's dry outside. I just want to make sure it will keep me warm in a storm!

From the looks of things outside I just may find out for myself on the way home tonight!

You'll probably generate enough warmth when you ride anyway to keep you going. The best idea for coping with rain is to have an accessable dry set of clothes for when you get to wherever it is you are going. It's after you stop that the effects of being wet will really set in.

Of course, if you have to deal with heavy downpours, these will need to be inside a sturdy plastic bag inside your pannier to keep them dry.

Fleece works very well in cold, damp weather. As far as the rain, on a cold day you can throw on a rain jacket and rain pants. I own a rain suit from PerformanceBike.com and it I use it quite frequently this time of year. It works great in the lower temperature rains. Now, summer time is another story, but as Chris says, as long as you have a dry set of clothes at work, there should be no problem.

Here it does not rain too often. Non the less, I own a good rain suit and lobster gloves that are rain proof and rainproof shoe covers. As to temperature, not long after the sun comes up it is usually in the mid-40's. I believe in layering. Have not had to resort to fleece, yet. I stay warm enough with a breatheable t shirt, jersey, arm/leg warmers, shoe cover, and my breatheable thinoslate(sp?) rain jacket. If really cool which has not happened yet, this winter, would take out my fleece lined tights.

Hi,

For what it's worth, I've never needed anything more than the following clothes (down to about -10 C)

- helmet, glasses
- biking shorts
- cotton socks (gore-tex if it's RAINing)
- cotton T-Shirt (gets wet, but it drys out at work)
- long sleeved jersey
- tights (heavy lycra type)
- goretex top (bright yellow for life support)
- long fingered gloves (light weight...my pearl isumi lobsters are too warm usually)
- winter cycling shoes (Shimano)
- headband to eliminate my ears falling off
- mustache (neat when it freezes)
- beard (it's gotta get COLD for this to happen)

I've usually got more problems with overheating than with lack of said. Even yesterday at -6 C I had my GoreTex shell open after attaining crusing speed and altitude.

Fenders help when it rains. (Note bene - I have no fenders on my normal commuting bikes)

Basically, if you're cold, you're not riding hard enough. :)

Ride safe,
Tom

Fleece as a top layer is too permeable to hold much heat at speed, but works as a better insulator at low speeds, eg climbing a hill, when you need to dump heat. It is not ideal as a cycling material, but it does handle water OK.
Use your windproof over your insulating layer for a more consitant result.
Last night I was riding in the rain at about 12C. I have given up on Goretex and waterproofs, and now rely on pile and pertex combinations.
You can get good cheap pertex cycling jackets. The pullover style ones fold up into a tiny ball. If you use one over a wicking jersy or thin fleece pullover, you will be comfortable in temperate rain without getting too sweaty, at a much lower cost than a Goretex jacket.

If you are too cold, consider using some leg covering. I use a polysester jogging trackster that handle dampness well.

Fenders make a big contribution to comfort. The water from rain is clean, that splashed up from the road is dirty. Even after rain, the road remains wet, but with fenders you dont need waterproofs to keep road muck off you.

At the moment I layer up with thin fleece-lined lycra arm and leg warmers, under fleece-lined lycra bib knickers (the ones that come to shin length) or bib-shorts under tights, a summer-weight wicking jersey, under a long-sleeved fleece-lined lycra training jersey, under a fluoro-yellow/scotchlite vest.

The layers keep me warm enough at least down to minus 3c and keep light/moderate rain from reaching my skin for up to an hour, but wouldn't cope with heavy rain. As I've got a change of dry clothes at work I don't worry too much about getting damp.

Richard

Originally posted by Tom_The_Bikeman
Hi,

For what it's worth, I've never needed anything more than the following clothes (down to about -10 C)

[B]- helmet, glasses yes same here
- biking shorts ditto
- cotton socks (gore-tex if it's RAINing) ditto
- cotton T-Shirt (gets wet, but it drys out at work) light fleece for me (skiing type)
- long sleeved jersey If cold enough
- tights (heavy lycra type) yup
- goretex top (bright yellow for life support) snap
- long fingered gloves (light weight...my pearl isumi lobsters are too warm usually) ditto
- winter cycling shoes (Shimano) vittoria
- headband to eliminate my ears falling off Nope
- mustache (neat when it freezes) shaved mine off
- beard (it's gotta get COLD for this to happen) also shaved




Great minds etc.

I find that layering up with cycling jersies is a real pain. You end up with lots of rear pockets and zips , none of them usable. Much better to use a hiking jersey in winter. I love my Paramo mountain shirt, its quite a bit better than the thermal shirts I used to wear, and the reversable material really does work.

Im not a great fan of leg and arm tubes. They are fine for lightweight training rides esp if you have a change in altitude, but if you are not going to change them during a ride, its more comfortable to ride with full length sleeves and legs.
The knee length leggings are a great idea for mid temperatures.

Originally posted by MichaelW

Im not a great fan of leg and arm tubes. They are fine for lightweight training rides esp if you have a change in altitude, but if you are not going to change them during a ride, its more comfortable to ride with full length sleeves and legs.
The knee length leggings are a great idea for mid temperatures.

I must admit the leg-tubes aren't the best item in my cycling wardrobe - they do keep me warm, allowing a double layer on the knees, and were a fairly cheap way of extending my cycling wardrobe when I first started out - gravity can cause problems by the end of the ride though :) . Arm warmers I find quite comfortable, but maybe thats just the shape of my arms - again cost came into, with summer short sleeved jerseys being quite cheap on-line during the winter...

Richard

I feel bad even shuddering at our weather here. Worse it gets is in the 40's and a slight chance of rain.

I have used my under armour once, and been pretty happy with it so far. Warm, keeps heat well, and sheds sweat well too.

I can post long term results if anyone is curious. It is pricey, but it seems well made.

Most of what I wear I got in thrift shops: regular dress shirt (50% polyester, 50% cotton) under a wicking jacket, and baggy pants tucked into my socks, all of which, in addition to my usual cycling wear, keep me quite warm down to about just below freezing. At that point, I may add a fleece vest underneath, and if it gets really cold, something for my ears. Yet, overheating is a bigger problem for me.

I avoid cold rain, but it's not nearly as uncomfortable as it would seem. Dry clothes packed in plastic are the ticket after arriving at my destination.

My biggest loss, is that I wear a uniform at work. I can't get it, and all of it's accompniments (SP) into a bag that would fit on my back, and arrive at work in a presentable fashion. So what I do, is bring enough stuff for 3 - 4 days and put it all in a locker, and ride the rest of the days.

A lot of people make fun of my bike clothes.. but then again alot of those people are the guys who wear pants down at their ankles...

Originally posted by William Karsten
A lot of people make fun of my bike clothes.. but then again alot of those people are the guys who wear pants down at their ankles...
I have felt self-conscious about wearing skin-tight shorts into my workplace just before departing for the evening. Then again, I knew my butt and thighs were inspiring... ;)

A lot of the resistance to adopting cycling is that people think cyclists look funny, and therefore are not to be taken seriously. We are viewed as honorary children, to be ordered around or chastised by any responsible adult.
I think looking professional on a bike goes a long way to being taken seriously. I wouldnt want to look like a pro rider in sports wear, but there has to be a way of dressing for commuting that doesnt involve looking like a tramp. I hate all the stupid things I have to wear, like reflective and bright green stuff, and tucking trousers into socks or cycle clips.
How I can look adult and sophisticated on a bike?
Maybe I should be riding on hub gears with an enclosed chain, then I can wear neat clothes.

Originally posted by MichaelW

How I can look adult and sophisticated on a bike?
Maybe I should be riding on hub gears with an enclosed chain, then I can wear neat clothes.

I'm happy wearing sportswear on my commute in of a morning - but I'd sometimes like to use my bike of a lunchtime without going to the hassle of changing out of a suit and back again. I did wonder whether walkers gaiters in a fairly sombre colour might be a possibility over the suit trousers?

Of a weekend if I just want to nip into town I use clips, but my jeans invariably end up with black lines on the inside leg...

Richard

Originally posted by MichaelW
How I can look adult and sophisticated on a bike?
Maybe I should be riding on hub gears with an enclosed chain, then I can wear neat clothes.

Works for me. A bonus is being able to shift gears when stopped at a traffic light Another is high reliability/low maintenance.

Paul

Originally posted by MichaelW
[B]A lot of the resistance to adopting cycling is that people think cyclists look funny

We look funny,

Funny enough that some geek likes to turn off his engine on Markette Street in the morning.. and glide up behind you and honk. And does it again, and again.

Then you look pretty funny.

Until you figure out where the guy works, and on the way home, take your back up pepper spray (meant more for the errant stray dog)., and bust the plastic spray retainer by jaming it with a penny and toss it into his car.

Then, you look pretty scary.

When it's cold, I wear black ski pants over whatever I'm wearing. They look pretty normal.

Originally posted by MichaelW
How I can look adult and sophisticated on a bike?
Maybe I should be riding on hub gears with an enclosed chain, then I can wear neat clothes.
:D

Michael, I like looking offbeat. ;)

The day I have to look sophisticated, I will rebel.

Actually, I do look very much more sophisticated than 95% of motorists, that is, if you take my clothing off!

:thumbup:

Hey, that's where the rubber really hits the road!

(No one really uses "sex handles," do they? ;) Besides, I wouldn't dare sweat into a "dry clean only" suit.)

Originally posted by William Karsten


We look funny,

Funny enough that some geek likes to turn off his engine on Markette Street in the morning.. and glide up behind you and honk. And does it again, and again.

Then you look pretty funny.

Until you figure out where the guy works, and on the way home, take your back up pepper spray (meant more for the errant stray dog)., and bust the plastic spray retainer by jaming it with a penny and toss it into his car.

Then, you look pretty scary.

William, two wrongs don't make a right (insert your mother's voice here). :D

Revenge...a dish best served cold.

I've found that it's not only nice to have a dry pair of clothes to change into once at work but to have a dry pair to change into for the ride home.

It just equates to more baggage.

William, cut me a break, I haven't done it again since the pepper spray incident, so let's just drop it ok?

When I wear dress trousers and a tie (to work), everyone thinks I'm a Mormon !

OK, just thought i'd list some generals of what i've learned for commuting and what i wear - and it depends greatly on the weather and the distance...

for less than 3 or 4 miles where generating heat and sweating isn't much of an issue:
** rain jacket
** rain pants - just a thin shell - usually i get wetter from the inside from sweating than from the rain, but then it's onlk

for short commutes i usually just wear my normal clothes (maybe take my dress shirt off and put it in a bag/pack) and of course have a strap for my right pants leg to keep out of the chain... and then if it rains i have my rain jacket and rain pants - if it's cold a freeze top works fine b/c overheating isn't so important

======================
for longer commutes (>15 minutes) the biggest issue is usually overheating and sweating so you need clothes that dry fast, and provide wind protection and rain resistance

no matter the time of year i always have rain jacket and pants!

for my current commute of about 6miles each way, in both summer and winter i always change my top clothing so i don't get my work clothes sweaty - in the winter, the last few minutes, i unzip as much as possible andtake off my gloves/hat and then take off all my jerseys as i park my bike and give a few minutes to cool off the sweat before putting on my work clothes... my current office does not have showers, so i change in the bathroom, but if i can get away with it, (b/c i hate smelly restrooms) i try and wear my jeans and just change my shirts outside... of course, when the weather's bad i change in the restroom... in the summer i often have a small towel or take off my bike jersey and use it to wipe off sweat before putting on my work t-shirt and nice shirt

in the cold, it takes experimentation to learn whats too hot and what's too cold - in 10F/-10C i wear short-sleeve jersey, long-sleeve mid-weight jersey, and windproof vest OR windproof jersey and my shell jacket, plus hat, lobster gloves, neoprene shoe covers (very important in the cold!) and windproof tights

for rain - getting a little wet is OK, if you're not soaked to the bone you'll probably still be warm enough from riding - the issue is more staying dry enough so you're not a mess when you're done riding (i.e. shirt and pants soaking wet). if you go with a normal rain suit or a motorcycle rain suit your biggest problem will be getting wet from the inside - sweating! completely waterproof is not necesary, just something that keeps your from looking like you went swimming

** jacket - i have a yellow Burley cycling jacket - the best is something that sheds water, dries fast, with lots of vents that breathes - note that a typical GoreTex winter jacket is probably not breathable enough unless it has pit zips
** neoprene shoe covers - these are great because they keep your feet warm and dry by keeping out wind and rain -- cold feet is my biggest problem and without the shoe covers it's hard for me to ride in less than 40F/4C
** top (jersey)
if it's cold, protection from wind is really the biggest issue - while allowing ventilation against too much sweat - with normal fleece or jerseys the wind robs your heat when you're going downhill and then cooks you when you're going slower up a climb -
i always wear a short-sleeve jersey summer or winter and then depending on the weather over that a combination of either a long-sleeve jersey or a windproof jersey or a windproff vest of my rain jacket.
** pants
on the bottom, when it's really cold i wear my winter windproof tights, and occasionally wear my regualr tights when it rains, but most of the time just wear my jeans (casual attire) and then if it rains i put the rain pants over the jeans...

** backpack/panniers
for shorter rides i just carry a regular backpack, but for longer rides panniers are really nice b/c the weight isn't on your back and you don't sweat as bad b/c your back gets more air
I think Ortleib and Vaude make the best panniers - they're waterproof, but they're not cheap in the $80-200 range... i personally carry 1 pannier with my clothes and then an almost empty backpack with a special air-flow system against the back to prevent sweating with my other stuff i like to carry with me. This way if i stop at the store to go shopping of the way home i can still fit everything - flexible - plus, i'm just addicted to having my backpack with me at all times
** clipless pedal/cages: for me if it's a short ride AND you can ride in your work shoes (i.e. casual), then cages are easier b/c you don't have to change shoes. but if it's a longer ride or you have to change shoes anyway, i use clipless pedals and bike shoes b/c it's easier and more fun to ride

i also have:
** fenders front and rear for rain
** blinking rear light
** front light. best choice is either a small rechargeable light or a dynamo/generator - i find the large rechargables for mountain biking too heavy and too much of a pain, and the normal battery lights burn up batteries too quickly. the rechargable set i bought was like $40 and include 5AA batteries and is enough light for all but off-road riding and i just plug it in at home every other evening to recharge. the dynamo/generators that make power from the turning of the wheel also work great (i have one on my other bike) but they're hard to find in the US b/c they're cheap and 'old technology' so most bike shops won't carry them. In Germany or Holland they're standard on most bikes. they slow you down a little, but the good thing is you always have light -- with battieries sometimes you forget...

if it's cold you should start out the first few minutes chilled - otherwise you'll fry after a few minutes. i have lobster-claw gloves and a hat that i wear if it's cold, but i usually end up taking them off after about 10-15 minutes and unzipping my jacket or jersey to ventilate.

in the cold, you can also regulate your temperature by riding slower if you get hot and faster if you're cold, but i really hate riding slow, so i just stop and take off a jersey if i'm warm...

summer heat can be difficult. i find that if it's hotter than about 90F/30C i change into just bike shorts and ride w/o a shirt so i don't end up with a swaety shirt (i sweat a lot). then when i get to the office i cool down by riding slow the last few minutes (coast if you can) and use a towel to wipe off and then take 3-5 minutes _after_ i've stopped to cool off a little before changing. (like while i'm looking my bike and changing my shoes)

i never wear any cotton b/c it doesn't dry quickly, so all my stuff is poly or lycra or some synthetic. if my jacket and pant and hat and gloves all get soaked on the ride in to the office, i hang them up and they are dry for the ride home.

a few purchases really make commuting nicer -- and from the financial perspective a few hundred dollars spent on commuting stuff is usually well worthe the moeny you save in gas alone... and then next year you still have the gear when the gas is all burned up...

OK, sorry so long, but hope that helps someone

Id agree that some investment in good clothing is worthwhile, and you can add it to your transport budget, not your leisure budget.

Riding without a top is OK till you come off the bike, then its not OK.

This weekend I'm of to the Rohan shop. Brits will know this company for making the original windproof polycotton trousers and top quality travel gear. They also do crease-proof shirts and office wear that looks good. Its not cheap, but lasts for years and can survive being rolled into a pannier bag.

Originally posted by MichaelW
How I can look adult and sophisticated on a bike?\

Well, I'm not sure I agree with your basic premise (that lack of respect for cyclists arises in some part from the way we dress) but I don't think it's hard to look reasonably conservative without compromising cycling functionality.

It the summer, I often wear MTB shorts (black or tan Zoic Vigor, sewn-in padded liner) with a plain Coolmax jersey (I have some henley-collar ones I bought from Performance a couple of seasons ago that I love and often wear all day).

Dressed like this I look like any other middle-aged yuppie in casual summer clothes.

I carry black arm- and leg-warmers and a yellow rain jacket/windbreaker to supplement this stuff in in-between weather.

Even when I wear lycra shorts, as I often do if I plan to extend my 13-mile homeward commute into a 30+ mile ride, the plain black shorts combined with a solid or two-tone plain jersey (I like the Zoic Continental) looks appropriate.

In the winter, I wear black or grey tights, and my solid-color long-sleeve fleece jerseys and my mesh-back vest are the same solid color (red) so again the look is very conservative. If I need the yellow nylon shell too, well, then I just look like a bike cop.

I think the silliest looking cyclists are the ones in dresses or business suits. But bless 'em anyway, and more power to them!

RichC