San Francisco/Bay Area autumn/winter/spring apparel advice sought
Google sponsored links
ghileman
As the weather begins to cool in my first season on a road cycle in my beloved city by the Bay I am quickly realizing that my short sleve jersey/bib short attire ain't going to hack it for much longer.
Question: (ignoring winter and the harshest SF/Headlands days for a moment) how do the following additions to my jersey/bibshorts sound for getting me through a high percentage (60%+ - I'm mostly a fair weather rider) number of days I'll encounter autumn and then again in early spring: 2004 Craft Pro Short Sleeve Base Layer & 2004 Hincapie Super Roubaix Arenberg Arm Warmers?
Does anyone have any experience with these two items and can comment on their quality vs. competitors?
(For those not familiar with Bay Area autumn, winter, early spring weather: temps can run the gamut but when sunny a typical day will peak around the high 50s. Wind chill can have a dramatic effect, however, on the "feels like" temp even on sunny days. Further complicating the matter is the fact that I typically ride from SF over the Golden Gate bridge into the Headlands, where temps are often 10 or more degrees warmer than the city.)
A specific question on the 2004 Hincapie Super Roubaix Arenberg Arm Warmers: I have bad experiences with other arm warmers (Descente) sliding down my arms while I'm riding so that they are annoyingly resting below my jersey's short sleeve and thereby exposing skin to harsh elements. Does the "exclusive Hincapie Gel-Gripper" eliminate this problem?
Will the Craft base layer and arm warmers be enough for most autumn-spring conditions here, or am I definitely going to need a long sleeve jersey or more (jacket?) for a significant percentage of the riding days during the autumn/winter/spring time frame? Again, I wonder about the complicating factor of the temp/conditions differential between the city and Marin/Headlands.
I know from previous experience mountain biking in SF that wearing my warm weather gloves in cool weather will soon become untenable. Any glove suggestions? A Black/White color scheme would be a plus.
Last, for the really nasty days can someone talk through the logic of going with say the 2004 Hincapie Super Roubaix Arenberg Knee Warmers vs. full leg warmers? Is there anything more to this than simply the knee warmers offering not as much insulation as the full leg warmers? I have used leg warmers and really appreciate them on early morning or really cold days. Knee warmers appear inadequate to me for times when I would want leg protection.
Thank you for your thoughts.
The BikeForums Team
-adv-
This is an archived thread, you can find the full version of this thread, with images, links and more content here.
Well, I am on the East Coast, not the west, but we can have significant temp swings as well. and ofter times my ride will start in flat areas and end up on a mountain.
One versatile combo I use is knee warmers, arm warmers (both Louis Garneau), a Campy base layer (not sure it matters what brand), SS jersey, and a Pearl Izumi vest. The LG knee and arm warmers have worked fine. Arm and knee warmers can come off, as can the vest, during the ride. This combo kept me warm on a very windy ride in the mid-50's this weekend.
Next on my list is a lined LS jersey - trying to snag one on sale asap. I'll use this as it gets colder and on shorter rides where I don't expect as much temp variation.
jukt
Patagonia's Capilene base layers. Made from recycled soda bottles, they will get wet, they do not absorb moisture.
High thread count seals out wind. I will not ride with out them in cold weather. Many differant weights. Wash well and last a long time.
You won't regret wearing them. I wear a thin vest over the base layer.
As another convert to SF road riding over the last few months, I know what you mean about having to go out and pretty much be ready for whatever the weather throws at you. I've had good luck with PI arm warmers and full leg warmers for those damp, foggy morning rides. (No sliding down my legs/arms, and the arm warmers are plenty long enough to prevent any skin from being exposed. I'm between 6'0" and 6'1", weigh in at 160, and use a size M in both cases.) Also, depending on how windy it is, (my regular route takes me along the Great Highway from the Cliff House to Vicente), I also use a Descente windbreaker in addition to, or in lieu of, the arm warmers. Either way, arm/leg warmers and windbreaker will all stuff into my jersey pockets if I get too hot. I've always had a tendency to cramp, and have found that even if it's moderately cool, the leg warmers seem to help in staving off the cramps (mainly in my calves). I remember doing the Headlands climb a few weeks ago and it was so foggy you couldn't see more than 30 ft in front of you - a light would have really been useful on that ride to alert my presence to the cars!
SteveE
I live in the South Bay but frequently ride over the Santa Cruz Mtns to the coast. The most flexible combinationof me is shorts, knee warmers, shoe covers, wicking t-shirt, jersey, wind vest, and arm warmers. On cold days you may need full-fingered gloves. Knee wamers, arm warmers, and vest can all be folded up and stuck into the pockets of your jersey as conditions change. I have a pair of Trek arm warmers that stay up real well. I also have a pair of Sugoi arm warmers that are too large and have a tendency to slide down while riding. The knee warmers are made by Voler and stay in position pretty well. If I know that it's not going to warm up very much I'll wear a pair of knickers. As long as my knees are covered my legs feel fine and I don't need to cover the calves. I have a pair of full tights but I don't wear them too frequently. Maybe just for a short AM ride where I know it's not going to warm up a whole lot. A lot of folks carry a rain jacket as well but I have a tendency to get overheated when wearing one.
fogrider
I know the ride well, it could be windy and cold in sf and on the bridge...and in the morning the headlands can also be the same, but at least you're climbing. long sleeve base layer is the secrect. With arm warmers and long finger gloves and knee warmers for the cold days, you should be set. Some people like to add a vest if it's windy, but I get too warm.
Markedoc
1 vote for the vest - mine is mesh on the back side to breath, shell on the front side, zip it up when shady, open it up climbing, fits in back jersey pocket. Cheap too.
caloso
I'm just over the Coast range from you and we don't get too much colder. When it's in the 50's I think you can get away with arm and knee warmers.
Into the 40s: l/s capilene undershirt (another vote for Patagonia), l/s jersey, vest, shorts, tights, gloves.
Into the 30s: all that plus another baselayer, skicap, maybe some glove liners.
Also, last year, I grew a goatee during the winter. You'd be surprised how much it warms your face on a cold winter morning.
Velo Dog
And I used to think the Peninsula was cold....
I moved from the Bay Area to the Sierra 20+ years ago, and every winter I look longingly back at the days when I thought 50 degrees was cold. No kidding, people here at 5000 feet in the eastern Sierra ride in shorts and a long-sleeved jersey at temps that used to keep us indoors in Redwood City.
Assuming there hasn't been a drastic global chill since I left, you'll be able to go almost anywhere almost anytime in something like Patagonia Loose Tights, a light insulating layer and shell and a pair of gloves. Days are rarely below 50 degrees, and that's about when we break out the knee warmers around here.
caloso
Yeah, we're getting to the time of year when you'll show up to a group ride and some of the guys are dressed for a Himalayan expedition. Saturday morning I passed a guy wearing tights, full finger gloves, arm warmers, vest, and booties. Temp: 63F.
SteveE
I'm originally from the East Coast. I have to laugh when people complain about the wintertime weather here. It's never really cold and we hardly ever have sustained rains for days on end. Most of the time it seems to rain at night and clear up during the day. Usually all you have to deal with are showers. We are so spoiled!
Allen H
I have a pair of Voler and Pearl Izumi arm warmers. Both stay put and do the job. The Izumis are a little thicker, so I use those in colder temps - but when I expect the ride to be long enough and the temps to climb enough to shed them if necessary. Otherwise, if it's gonna stay colder, it's a long-sleeve jersey with a vest or windbreaker layer I can shed.
Below ~50 degrees, I wear knickers instead of my usual bib shorts; I haven't tried or needed leg warmers (which seem to be much more problematic in getting them to stay up than arm warmers, just observing other riders from club rides). I also carry a pair of full-fingered gloves for the descents on chilly mornings - usually switch back to the half-fingers when it warms up or if I'm riding on the flats.
kefin
For the past 3 or 4 years, the fall and winters here in the SF Bay Area have been pretty warm (I used to live in the East Coast and SF is definitely not cold -- just windy!). I usually wear a short-sleeve jersey with a DeFeet Un-D Shirt and arm warmers (DeFeet Armskins) when it's windy or chilly outside.
When the temp. goes to the low 50's and below, I add my DeFeet Kneekers. I've found that that's enough for most weather conditions.
In the winter I carry a Pearl Izumi windbreaker in my jersey pocket for the decent from Mt. Tam and for crossing Golden Gate Bridge.
In the Bay Area, I've found that it's not the cold that bothers you, it's the wind! As long as you're protected again the ubiquitous headwinds, you're OK! :)
I love riding in the fall -- not too hot and not too cold!