Winter Cycling - Does anyone use a snowboard/ski jacket?

I don't actually snowboard or ski, at least not yet, but I would imagine that these types of jackets would work pretty well on the bike. Does anyone go this route? I'm thinking about a Patagonia insulated Sidewall jacket for this winter.
Thanks in advance.

The cut of a skiing jacket will be a little different than a cycling specific jacket. Leaning over may expose your lower back.

Also, a shell/liner combination would probably work best. A one piece skiing jacket would probably be too warm for cycling.

Paul

Skiing and snowboarding *are* physical outdoor activities, but only 25% of the time. The other 75% is standing around waiting for the lift, and sitting around on the lift. Thus, coats for skiing and snowboarding are designed to keep you warm when you're standing around or sitting around.

Cycling is completely the opposite, and then some. It's a very physical activity and for many riders, it's nearly non-stop. So our needs are different.

I know hardly anyone does this any more, but shoveling show (with an actual shovel, not a snowblower or plow) is the same sort of activity. And a ski jacket is just about the last thing I want to wear when shoveling show, because it's too sweaty. Although they're just fine if you choose the OPEC-assisted method.

What works best for many winter riders is a couple of fairly light, wicking layers under a cycling jacket with vents for heat and sweat management.

Crossover equipment that does work well are skier's and snowboarder's gloves and mittens.

Edit: My avatar picture was taken in February. It was a warm day for February, around 25°F. I was wearing a baselayer, a second long-sleeve wicking shirt, and my BikeForums.net Great Lakes Region summer-weight jersey. We did a lot of climbing that day (the pic was taken at the top of a hill) and I was still too warm.

The point is that I'm amazed at how little I have to wear for winter cycling, and just as amazed at how much heat I generate doing it.

I don't actually snowboard or ski, at least not yet, but I would imagine that these types of jackets would work pretty well on the bike. Does anyone go this route? I'm thinking about a Patagonia insulated Sidewall jacket for this winter.
Thanks in advance.

Generally ski and snowboard jackets don't work that well unless you have only a short ride and don't work up a normal sweat. They are also generally too long in the front and too short in the back.

You can use about anything for a short easy ride. But if you are exercising or on a longer ride you need to get the shell and the layering right.

My initial reaction would be that they would be too warm for anything but really cold conditions.

In the single digits and below zero Fahrenheit temperatures I do wear a regular winter coat. Most temperatures are just too warm for that stuff though. Anything above 0F when the sun is out I end up with half of the jacket unzipped at some point, though I really do need it for the commute home at 9pm.

Layers Layers Layers. I did a lot of last winter (15F+) in a thermal shirt, wool sweater, and a denim long sleeve shirt to block the wind. Not optimal, but it worked and I could take off a layer if it got too warm.

Traditional winter coats just do not breathe. At all. You'll be drenched in sweat.

i'm sure cycling wear is better. but, i snowboarded before i ever cycled, and now i use my board gear for cycling with very positive results. especially my boarding mittens. they are perfect! and my jacket (optional hood, armpit vents). and improved wool socks (longer than they need to be but very comfortable)

edit: this is particularly the case for basic commuting. experience in grand rapids michigan and pittsburgh pennsylvania.

Skiing and snowboarding *are* physical outdoor activities, but only 25% of the time. The other 75% is standing around waiting for the lift, and sitting around on the lift. Thus, coats for skiing and snowboarding are designed to keep you warm when you're standing around or sitting around.


*Downhill* skiing, yes, but cross-country skiing is just like cycling, but at a lower speed.
I would suggest looking at cross-country ski wear.

I'm more into layers than a single-solution garment. Layers I can remove, one at a time, if I get too hot.

Okay I guess I rethink the snowboard jacket. I just wish bicycle oriented clothing wasn't so ugly. Twin Six has a very nice jacket that might work out with some base-layering, I'm just afraid of dropping a large sum on something that won't end up warm enough. It gets pretty cold here in Madison, WI.

I'm happy with just a cheap windbreaker. Anything heavier without expensive breathability just restricts movement and gets sweaty.

This winter, I'm considering this selection of clothing: long-sleeve base layer (like spandexy underarmour), bibs, long-sleeve jersey (lightweight), windvest, cheap fleece. Bibs on bottom, with long winter tights over them. Winter gloves, cycling balaclava. I'm hoping that the fleece will provide my arms with some warmth, while the vest underneath will block out any wind that gets through the fleece. Do you think the fleece is a good or bad idea, and if bad, what are my alternatives? I've found that jackets get too hot.

Fleece is pretty close to cheesecloth when it comes to wind. It sort of filters the air it lets through, which is most of it. If you have a thing for fleece and must wear it anyway, put the windproof layer on the outside of it. You'll find that when incorporated into winter jackets, makers put the fleece on the inside with the wind and water resistant layer on the outside.

FWIW, I find my arms get cold first, long before my core. I never could figure out why vests are so popular. If I'm wearing an extra layer on top, it's on my arms, not my core. YMMV.

Last winter I used a Ground Effect Frosty Boy over a wool jersey. I commuted to work with that combo down to about zero (F). Below zero I put another layer on.

The Frost Boy is a fleece sweater type thing that is wind proof in front. You can check it out online at www.groundeffect.co.nz. Or anything similar from the other manufacturers would also work.

+1 on everything TSL posted. You don't need to spend a forture to get a great cycling coat. If you can do without a fancy lable, then go and call Lou at www.foxwear.net. He can custom make you a coat for around $85 delivered to your house. Lou uses various types of fleece materials. Some of the fleece is extremely wind resistant, others breath. If you discuss your climate and your cycling needs he can help you determine what is the best combination for your riding. I have the Evap coat and it works great from aroudn 50F all the way down to 0F all wearing nothing more than a wicking T shirt as a base layer. In temps below 15F I tend to add a thin long sleeve jersey. When I get on the bike I feel cold to slightly cold. Within a mile I am comfy and by the time I get to work I am sweating heavily. The nice thing about modern soft shell coats is that they can hold in heat, but let out all the sweat. I used to wear a cheapy fleece with a "breathable" wind breaker. The inside of the windbreaker would be completely soaked with sweat. No such problems with the EVap coat. I also have the Power Shield pants for temps well below 50F. Those keep my legs warm right into the single digits. When the temps were hovering around 0F I added my rain pants as an extra wind barrier, but except for those extreme temps, the pants are fantastic on their own.

Happy riding,
André

Okay I guess I rethink the snowboard jacket. I just wish bicycle oriented clothing wasn't so ugly. Twin Six has a very nice jacket that might work out with some base-layering, I'm just afraid of dropping a large sum on something that won't end up warm enough. It gets pretty cold here in Madison, WI.

The jacket need not be cycling specific. It just needs to be made of the right kind of material for cold weather exercise. There are some casual outdoor jackets that are made of stretchy woven nylon or polyester that are both breathable and wind/water resistant. These will make good cycling jackets.

If you look for a soft shell breathable rain jacket, they will also work well for cycling.

For snowy and below freezing temperatures. A breathable jacket made of a woven stretchy material, like the old fashioned ski pants, makes a good outer layer. Insulation under the jacket need not be bike specific. Just needs to be breathable and wicking.

Check out the following link:

http://www.overstock.com/Clothing-Shoes/NordicTrack-Mens-Navy-Charcoal-Soft-Shell-Jacket/3850234/product.html?cid=123620&fp=F&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=11902682

http://www.rei.com/product/778659?cm_mmc=cse_froogle-_-datafeed-_-product-_-778659&mr:trackingCode=E5984FFE-FB85-DE11-B7F3-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA

*Downhill* skiing, yes, but cross-country skiing is just like cycling, but at a lower speed.
I would suggest looking at cross-country ski wear.

+ Lots.

A good long sleeved baselayer, breathable fleece and a super lightweight softshell jacket will cope, And most will be available in bright colours but without the horrid cycle team style.
when alpine ski touring I wear a patagonia capilene 3 crew, R2 fleece and a light pertex windshell and that is perfect. early morning starts can be as low as -15C and by mid morning it will be 20 or 25. It's much more versatile than buying an insulated ski jacket.

As stated by others, a shell outside with varying inner layers (how many and what materials to suit you, in various temps and winds, and for various ride lengths) is better than a ski/snowboard jacket with unadjustable insulation.

+1 on cross country skiing

My dad (I'm too much of a broke college student to buy technical gear for all sports so I stick with the stuff I had when I raced slalom in HS) wears basically the same stuff for XC Skiing and Biking.

It is actually very hard to tell which he is about to do before he gets the footwear on...IIRC the tights he has are not cycle padded and he wears shorts under them for biking

I use snowmobile suit and heavy jacket.

+1 on everything TSL posted. You don't need to spend a forture to get a great cycling coat. If you can do without a fancy lable, then go and call Lou at www.foxwear.net. He can custom make you a coat for around $85 delivered to your house. Lou uses various types of fleece materials. Some of the fleece is extremely wind resistant, others breath. If you discuss your climate and your cycling needs he can help you determine what is the best combination for your riding. I have the Evap coat and it works great from aroudn 50F all the way down to 0F all wearing nothing more than a wicking T shirt as a base layer. In temps below 15F I tend to add a thin long sleeve jersey. When I get on the bike I feel cold to slightly cold. Within a mile I am comfy and by the time I get to work I am sweating heavily. The nice thing about modern soft shell coats is that they can hold in heat, but let out all the sweat. I used to wear a cheapy fleece with a "breathable" wind breaker. The inside of the windbreaker would be completely soaked with sweat. No such problems with the EVap coat. I also have the Power Shield pants for temps well below 50F. Those keep my legs warm right into the single digits. When the temps were hovering around 0F I added my rain pants as an extra wind barrier, but except for those extreme temps, the pants are fantastic on their own.

Happy riding,
André

Any chance you can send a pic of the coat Lou made you?

I don't use ski/board specific clothing, but I don't wear a bike specific jacket either. It's just a Helly Hansen shell, which I also use on the slopes. It's main drawback and the drawback for ski/board jackets is that they flap in the wind.

If the Twin Six jacket you're looking at is a good shell, don't worry if it's not warm enough, just wear more underneath it. For vigorous cycling, a polypro/wool shirt and a good shell is good down to about 20 F for me. (http://www.championusa.com/champion/Products/CA615.aspx?&TRC=CSEC&cm_mmc=ComparisonShopping-_-google.com-_-men_activewear_thermal%20underwear-_-CA615&CAWELAID=192985008) Add more layers as needed.

Bike clothing isn't always ugly. I had a Cannondale jacket that was all black with reflective piping that was quite attractive.

Ski stuff works great, usually has a long tail and arm cut, and often made much MUCH better than bike stuff. However, I'm not much of a sweater and I can see this being a big problem for some. The higher quality stuff does breath. Love the north face stuff for riding in winter, or at night, and you can find lots of it used or on sale.

One things this thread misses so far is dressing for a specific length of time in the saddle. For a one-mile trip to the grocery store, I'll wear anything that quick to don. For a 5-6 mile commute to work, I normally go for a windbreaking shell and a sweater or two and a base layer under the shell. For a 3-4 hour trip I might carry some extra clothes in a bag just in case I stop or break down.

I used to wear a Carhart shirt as an outer layer. I never realized how freakin' heavy it was until I got a $23 Performance C9 jacket from Target. It allows pit, side, and arm venting.
Down to 20 degrees I wear the C9 jacket, 100% wool sweater from the Goodwill store, and a wicking T.
The vent areas on the jacket are wet to the touch after my rides but I stay warm and comfy. The jacket zipper allows adequate regulation. I am an extremely heavily sweating person.

One things this thread misses so far is dressing for a specific length of time in the saddle. For a one-mile trip to the grocery store, I'll wear anything that quick to don. For a 5-6 mile commute to work, I normally go for a windbreaking shell and a sweater or two and a base layer under the shell. For a 3-4 hour trip I might carry some extra clothes in a bag just in case I stop or break down.

Indeed, and if you are on a 3-4 hr trip it might be nice to swap out a sweaty midlayer for a fresh dry one near the halfway mark to prevent a chill.

The outer layer should be wind proof/wind resistant. Make sure you get something that can breathe as opposed to being completely wind or rain proof. The outer layer can be just a shell. Fleece is good as a middle layer. A wool or other wicking material can be used for the base layer. The base layer should be relatively thin and fit close to the skin but not so tight that it restricts circulation.

It doesn't matter so much what activities the layers were intended for. Often cycling specific stuff is expensive and not typically designed for really cold weather, but, like anything else it can be used in combination with other garments in layers to achieve the necessary warmth.

The only thing I need that's cycling specific is something with a chamois (pad). Some folks get by fine without one, and I won't bother with one if I'm only riding a few miles.

So in the winter I don't wear anything cycling specific on my upper body. For my lower body I'll wear padded cycling shorts or tights under another layer. I do have a set of Pearl Izumi Amfib bib tights but don't use them that often. I prefer a pair Craft X-Country ski windproof tights over cycling tights or shorts. They have an articulated knee that flexes easier than the Amfibs and they're not as noisy. ;-)

Any chance you can send a pic of the coat Lou made you?


I have the EVap coat. It looks just like what Lou has on his web site: http://www.foxwear.net/Assetts/Images/evap.jpg (see www.foxwear.net - Products - Jackets - E Vap coat. I have the newer style coat that has the full zipper. I also went with Yellow (Topaz). I can't remember what the material is, but it is fuzzy on the oustide and smooth on the inside. The main body is nearly 100% wind proof, yet it lets sweat out. The black stips you see are made of a more breathable material and that realy keep you comfy. You can get fancier looking wind proof fleece coats at the local sporting goods store, but not for $85 and custom made you.

Happy riding,

One things this thread misses so far is dressing for a specific length of time in the saddle. For a one-mile trip to the grocery store, I'll wear anything that quick to don. For a 5-6 mile commute to work, I normally go for a windbreaking shell and a sweater or two and a base layer under the shell. For a 3-4 hour trip I might carry some extra clothes in a bag just in case I stop or break down.

+1
I think riding conditions (where you live) and how far and hard you ride is important to answer this. I do not ride hard and far in the winter, and his area is cold (max this winter so far is -32*C). In cold weather my riding is more like pooteling, and most of the time it is in a jacket and trousers made for downhill skiing / snowboarding.

Also I do not undrstand that peopel like fleece. I like wool :love:

The optimal outer shell for winter cycling should include:

1. wind/water resistance
2. pit zips
3. rear vent
4. adjustable cuffs
5. high collar

Layer beneath appropriate for the temperature.

no but I've been eyeballing those snowboarding pants! probably a bit heavy for cycling, but I like a lot of what I've seen in terms of materials and features. I'll bet the same is true of snowboarding jackets - probably close to good for cycling but maybe too heavy and not long enough in the back? I also like the "styling" of snowboarding - a bit more fun than uptight roadwear

Big ole negative on the ski/board jacket....will be miserably and and extremely hot, won't breathe and will be too bulky. For skiing i use a north face gore tex shell and even that is too bulky and doesn't breathe well enough when I wear it on the bike.

Think more along the lines of this....http://www.nearbynow.com/product/3014840/Mountain%20View,%20CA%2094043?clinkid=productdetail_alsosee_3014840_1....When commuting I rock an older one and the only gripes I have is a lack of velcro on the cuffs, and it kinda rides up when I'm in the drops Stops damn near all the wind, virtually all snow short of a blizzard of thick heavy wet crap, and light to just below moderate rain. Throw on a thin under armor type base layer or/and a north face vaporwick long sleeve t-shirt, a layer of street clothes; usually a tshirt/nice shirt combo or occasionally a sweater and I'm good to go for all but the most extreme winter weather. I always throw a cheapo windbreaker in my bag for extremely wet and super cold weather. Ive used the windbreaker probably less than a dozen times this winter, many times only for a mile or two until i get too hot and I ride 5-7 days a week. Its all about layers man, you could get buy with a windbreaker if you have the right layers. This is my second winter with basically the same set up and I haven't encountered any weather I wouldn't ride in.

Disclaimer: I'm of Norwegian and Swedish ancestry, I love winter and I can generate some body heat I tell ya, especially when I get going, and well I think Ricky Bobby said it best...

^^^^^In regards to the post above about snowboarding pants, 3 words...way too baggy. Also too hot, i use the vents on a regular basis while skiing. Also too long as they are made to be worn with big boots, and even with my ski boots on the bottoms still drag and get dirty. Well at least mine would be(park oriented Burtons), and I'm pretty sure if your talking about the style of them your thinking of the park oriented equipment; the baggy flashy stuff.

I only wear my ski jacket if it's below -30C, and that's mostly psychological... I still end up getting too hot.

The jacket need not be cycling specific. It just needs to be made of the right kind of material for cold weather exercise. There are some casual outdoor jackets that are made of stretchy woven nylon or polyester that are both breathable and wind/water resistant. These will make good cycling jackets.

If you look for a soft shell breathable rain jacket, they will also work well for cycling.

For snowy and below freezing temperatures. A breathable jacket made of a woven stretchy material, like the old fashioned ski pants, makes a good outer layer. Insulation under the jacket need not be bike specific. Just needs to be breathable and wicking.

Check out the following link:

http://www.overstock.com/Clothing-Shoes/NordicTrack-Mens-Navy-Charcoal-Soft-Shell-Jacket/3850234/product.html?cid=123620&fp=F&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=11902682

http://www.rei.com/product/778659?cm_mmc=cse_froogle-_-datafeed-_-product-_-778659&mr:trackingCode=E5984FFE-FB85-DE11-B7F3-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA

+1
I wear the REI Taku shell. It is great for cycling. It has a longer back, long sleeves, big pit zips and is not cycle-wear hideous*. The collar/hood are not ideal - sort of bulky, but on those rare occasions when I need a hood - like a in a downpour - the hood works really well, so I'm not (officially) complaining about it. One of the nice things about using this shell is that not only is it great for winter, but it serves as an excellent rain jacket as well.


*uh, of course I do make it ugly by wearing a reflective safety vest over it while riding, but that comes off and stows easily so if I'm going anywhere else in public where my ego won't let me look like a bike clown, I can and do take off the vest and I instantly switch from High Vis Safety Dork to city uniform black.

I use a 30/15 K rated hard shell snowboard jacket. Its pretty light and tight fitted. Perfect for riding in the rain.