"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Pearl Izumi Winter gear opinions?

I have $140 store credit to a bike shop. I need winter gear badly. All I have right now are performance brand arm and leg warmers. So here is what they carry. I am looking for stuff that will be good down to about 40* If it is colder then that I probably won't ride.

Pearl Izumi Cyclone Glove

http://www.pearlizumi.com/phpThumb.php?src=/data/uploads/products/8770_021.jpg&w=290&h=290

Pearl Izumi Soft Shell Shoe Cover

http://www.pearlizumi.com/phpThumb.php?src=/data/uploads/products/9294_021.jpg&w=290&h=290

Pearl Izumi Barrier Skull Cap

http://www.pearlizumi.com/phpThumb.php?src=/data/uploads/products/9304_021.jpg&w=290&h=290

Pearl Izumi ELITE Softshell Cycling Tight

http://www.pearlizumi.com/phpThumb.php?src=/data/uploads/products/4192_021.jpg&w=290&h=290

I've always been happy with my Zumi cold weather gear. You might consider just some toe covers (heavier ones - I have some sort of cyclone model). Once it gets consistently in the 50s or so, I just put them on my shoes for the rest of the winter. I only need to remove them for drying after rain. Much simpler than full shoe covers -- and I don't find cold ankles to be an issue. If it gets really cold, then I pull shoe covers (18-year-old zumi covers) over the toe covers.

I have those shoe covers, they work pretty well for me down to ~0. I also have the scull cap.. does the job.

the cap will be fine.

forget those tights. get bib tights.

Thanks for the replies.

I think I am going to go with the gloves and cap definately as I need both badly. Hands and ears are getting pretty cold as the weather gets colder. I tried the cap on in the store. It doesnt seem like it will be all that warm but I wont know until I use it.

As far as the shoe covers. I think I may hold off on them. I have never had cold feet before. Ankles maybe alittle but hopefully socks can help that.

Botto, as far as the tights not being good. Is it because they have no chamois and slip over existing bibs?

look into other gloves.

bib tights. no chamlois. preferably not PI.

look into other gloves.

bib tights. no chamlois. preferably not PI.

bib tights dont have a chamois?

some do, some don't.

if they dont do you wear bibs under them? man i feel like such a noob.

yes noobie fred.

bibs always under.

I guess I just don't see the point of bib tights with no chamois. Why wear a pair of bibs and then put bib tights over them? Just buy bib tights with a chamois and be done.


bibs always under.

So bibs under bib tights even if the bib tights have a chamois too :innocent:

noob.

I wear the PI fleece lined bib tights. They have a chamosis.

If its warmer, I do just pull tights over my existing bibs.

I wear the PI fleece lined bib tights. They have a chamosis.

If its warmer, I do just pull tights over my existing bibs.

you rock dual chamois'? How does that feel?

noob.

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q156/funkykarma_bucket/emo-1.png

So bibs under bib tights even if the bib tights have a chamois too :innocent:

Yes. And underwear over the lot.

Yes. And underwear over the lot.

i lol'ed. im not that much of a noob. last year i tried to be a tough guy and rode with arm and leg warmers down to the low 40's mid 30's. i cant do that anymore.

i lol'ed. im not that much of a noob. last year i tried to be a tough guy and rode with arm and leg warmers down to the low 40's mid 30's. i cant do that anymore.

I can just wear arm/knee warmers if I have to, but its not comfortable..

I have PI tights.. although I believe they are different than the ones you posted.. they are really thick. they kick ass.. semi water proof and warm.

I have all of those minus the skull cap. I can honestly say there are amazing in any sub~25deg. I've never had to complain about how cold it was, the difficulty of the ride however,is another issue...

I have the gloves, and I can honestly say that I love them.

Honestly, I didn't use my tights even once last winter.

I had awesome fleece lined leg warmers. Never needed to drag out the tights. I did wear a jacket sometimes, but even that was too warm and I ended up opening it up a few times. This was in the 20's.

I think all the stuff you linked to looks good. I'd get it.

Also, pick up some PI glove liners. They're really light and thin, but they'd make your gloves good down another 5-10 degrees.

Get lobster claws for the real cold stuff. As for the skull cap, they rock, but I need to find something light for my face. Maybe a neoprene balaclava. I'm going to be riding with ski goggles this winter.

Also, pick up some PI glove liners. They're really light and thin, but they'd make your gloves good down another 5-10 degrees.

Glove liners, yes. PI glove liners, no. I have them, and they suck. Seams in all the wrong places, not stretchy or snug at all. Jynx, you have EMS on Long Island, right? Get their glove liners, instead. They're great, and they're only $15 or so. I might get myself a new pair next time I'm near an EMS.

glove liners, yes. Pi glove liners, no. I have them, and they suck. Seams in all the wrong places, not stretchy or snug at all. Jynx, you have ems on long island, right? Get their glove liners, instead. They're great, and they're only $15 or so. I might get myself a new pair next time i'm near an ems.

ems?

Get lobster claws for the real cold stuff. As for the skull cap, they rock, but I need to find something light for my face. Maybe a neoprene balaclava. I'm going to be riding with ski goggles this winter.

New England is almost never cold enough to make a balaclava necessary for road riding; grow a beard instead. :D


ems?

Eastern Mountain Sports.

There is one 10 miles from me which is not far at all. Seems a lot of the PI stuff doesn't get to good of reviews but I have $140 store credit I am trying to use. I have no problem buying winter gear somewhere else if the PI stuff won't be worth it and using the credit towards tires/tubes/chains, ect...

The gloves are great from 40˚ up to about 60. Great range, since probably 90% of my base miles are spent in those temps.

There is one 10 miles from me which is not far at all. Seems a lot of the PI stuff doesn't get to good of reviews but I have $140 store credit I am trying to use. I have no problem buying winter gear somewhere else if the PI stuff won't be worth it and using the credit towards tires/tubes/chains, ect...

Oh, the Cyclone gloves are just fine. I like mine a lot, they're excellent in the temperature range you're planning to ride in. It's the glove liners that aren't very nice. Who knows why.

I really don't like shoe covers - dedicated cold weather shoes are worth it to me. In general, taking 10 minutes to get dressed in winter sucks. Actual cold weather footgear means one less thing to do, and they're warmer, to boot, npi.

the gloves work to about 40, water makes them horrible.horrible things... if you are expecting moisture I would look elsewhere

The skullcap is decent, the shoe covers are passable-but if you are going with shoecovers, I'd look elsewhere.


Listen to B - he knows the way...

my personal preference:
1. dangly bits
2. bibs
3. bib-tights without chamois
(3b. tights with or without chamois will work here, with or without the bibs part... but the order is the key bit)

Buy stuff that will last and you will want to keep using - cheaper in the long run if you can at all pull it off.
#1 priority = tights: get good ones that keep out whatever variety of cold/moisture you have there.
#2 priority = get good gloves

Best bib tights I have (I only buy them without chamois, btw) were $15 at Performance. Just food for thought. Super warm, comfy, etc.

I bought some bib tights last year that work in temps down in the teens. But we're talking over 100 dollars. Ah, the days when my wife had a job and spending like there was no tomorrow. Fortunately I have just about everything I need for my water bottle freezing rides into work.

OP,
I have the PI full leg bib tights and they're super warm. So warm, that I rarely wear them. I typically wear bibs with leg warmers instead. It's better to wear layers than 1 warm item. If it's <20 degrees, you'll be fine, but at 40 degrees, you eventually want to strip the warmers off when riding in the sun.

PI makes great stuff, so I don't think you can go wrong.

I guess I just don't see the point of bib tights with no chamois. Why wear a pair of bibs and then put bib tights over them? Just buy bib tights with a chamois and be done.




Are you seriously saying you can't see the point in wearing two layers instead of one in cold weather?

Think about this now...

I bought some bib tights last year that work in temps down in the teens. But we're talking over 100 dollars. Ah, the days when my wife had a job and spending like there was no tomorrow. Fortunately I have just about everything I need for my water bottle freezing rides into work.

I bought performance fleece lined tights for like 20 bucks, and they're good into the teens...

I've worn my fleece lined leg warmers into the teens and been comfortable...

Indeed, two layers keeps your man-parts from falling off

forget those tights. get bib tights.

Agreed. Bib Tights are much better.

look into other gloves.

bib tights. no chamlois. preferably not PI.

a big +1

The PI gloves have weird padding bumps that don't seem to align with any kind of part of my hand that would want padding.

I use my skull cap down to 28 degrees. One pair of tights down to about 34 degrees. Those gloves to only about 40 degrees. Those booties to about 38 degrees.

40 isn't cold. HTFU :)

Agreed. Bib Tights are much better.


Disagree. Bibs + tights are better. Double the warmth where you need it, and they don't have to be washed after each ride. Buying 4-5 pairs of bib shorts is not cheap.

Disagree. Bibs + tights are better. Double the warmth where you need it, and they don't have to be washed after each ride. Buying 4-5 pairs of bib shorts is not cheap.

This, of course, is the central point. Tights over bibs. Always.

Are you seriously saying you can't see the point in wearing two layers instead of one in cold weather?

Think about this now...

No, I was not clear enough in what I meant. What I meant is bib tights with no chamois don't seem to make any sense. The reason being you would wear your regular bibs and then winter bibs over them. It seems a bit redundant as far as the two bibs/straps setup goes. Seems like it would make much more sense to wear regular bibs and then tights over them. I agree two layers seems like a better option.

Now are summer bibs with winter tights better than just winter tights with a chamois? I dont know.

Financially it seems better to just throw tights over my existing bibs. I cant afford whole bunch of winter bibs right now but I can afford a set of tights to go over my existing bibs.

vvvvvvv Pretty much what these guys say seems to make the most sense vvvvvv



Disagree. Bibs + tights are better. Double the warmth where you need it, and they don't have to be washed after each ride. Buying 4-5 pairs of bib shorts is not cheap.


This, of course, is the central point. Tights over bibs. Always.




a big +1

The PI gloves have weird padding bumps that don't seem to align with any kind of part of my hand that would want padding.

I went to the bike shop today. I tired the gloves on. I hate padded gloves and like you say they have these weird huge bumps. I just picked up the cap for now.

I have been using the same PI arm warmers for 10 years including two as a FT messenger in Boston. I also use the leg warmers, head cover, toe covers, and in the past have used the tights. Best winter gear on the market IMO.

Disagree. Bibs + tights are better. Double the warmth where you need it, and they don't have to be washed after each ride. Buying 4-5 pairs of bib shorts is not cheap.

read his post again.

Pearl Izumi ELITE Softshell Cycling Tight

http://www.pearlizumi.com/phpThumb.php?src=/data/uploads/products/4192_021.jpg&w=290&h=290

And for clarification these are not the model they have. They have the:

Pearl Izumi Slice ThermaFleece Tight. Not sure if these are better.

http://www.pearlizumi.com/phpThumb.php?src=/data/uploads/products/NDE1M19OYXZ5QmxrX3NsaWNlX3RoZXJtYWZsZWVjZV90aWdodC5qcGc=&w=290&h=290

I have been using the same PI arm warmers for 10 years including two as a FT messenger in Boston. I also use the leg warmers, head cover, toe covers, and in the past have used the tights. Best winter gear on the market IMO.

you've obviously never owned any assos winter gear.

Best winter gear on the market IMO.

Location: Santa Monica, CA

wat :twitchy:

And for clarification these are not the model they have. They have the:

Pearl Izumi Slice ThermaFleece Tight. Not sure if these are better.

http://ww w.pearlizumi.com/phpThumb.php?src=/data/uploads/products/NDE1M19OYXZ5QmxrX3NsaWNlX3RoZXJtYWZsZWVjZV90aWdodC5qcGc=&w=290&h=290

forgot to mention that every time i wear my PI bib tights, or knickers, i get a saddle sore.

you've been warned.

forgot to mention that every time i wear my PI bib tights, or knickers, i get a saddle sore.

you've been warned.

I have only bought the barrier cap so far. I do not like the gloves (ridiculous padding), i do not need shoe covers, and the tights don't seem good.

This place sucks and that is why I still have $140 credit there. I can't even spend money there when I try to.

great gloves, great thermal bibs and amphib tights. dont really care for thier caps or wnter jackets mostly.