Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - what do you wear in the cold?

just wondering what everyone wears when it's cold as hell out.

i've got some under armor that i wear under several layers of cotton, which does the trick, but i'm gonna need more pretty soon. i have yet to shell out money for any sort of a wind-breakerish thing. i'm getting a balaclava and long johns soon.

This might be more appropriate for the winter biking forum. But since you asked....

At 35 or 40 deg F, I throw on a neck gaitor. I have no problem with breathing outside, but going inside induces serious coughing fits so I like to be able to pull it up over my mouth. At 35, I switch from the fingerless gloves to some fleece lined leather work gloves. At 30, I switch out the cotton jersey with cotton T on top for a heavy nylon jersey with cotton T (all under a cotton sweatshirt). At 25 or 30, on go the synthetic long underwear. Somewhere below that and I put on the wool socks (dunno, I just got a pair this year, but they're soooooo warm). Somewhere below that and I switch from the hoody to a proper windproof winter coat, I haven't yet hit that point, though I seem to recall that it's somewhere in the teens.

A lot of it also depends on how long your ride is. This is commuting garb for me and it's a quick 20 minute / 5 mile ride, so I don't need much.

What I do know is that I bailed when it hit -10 last winter. I aim to do better if we have a repeat this go round.

Cut-off tube socks make sweet arm warmers!

Layers. Stocking cap, gloves, windbreaker. Colder i throw on longjohns. Colder i replace the windbreaker with a coat. Colder i replace the gloves with winter gloves. Colder i ***** a lot and freeze. Last winter i rode some -10 degree days with windchill here in lovely kansas. It sucks.

Can't say B I T C H ? Seems rather tame.

When I bike into work..I often wear windpants at work, following my shower..I wear the windpants home when it is below 50...This past morining, when I took off it was like 43 degrees..Very cool for we woosie SO. Calers...I find windpants work much better in such cold conditions over leg warmers..
I just hate to wear such loose clothing during the ride...I notice very little traditional clothing holds up to the friction of the saddle...The windpants crotch area gets thread bear after not many rides at all..Seams start riping apart.No way to treat your favorite Addidas windpants.

You'll be a lot more comfortable if you can wear some wicking layers, especially against your skin. I wear a bike shirt and a windproof vest over that. The vest cuts the wind and retains heat. A windproof shell comes next and that takes me down to 25 degrees. I wear a hoodie over this with the hood under my helmet when it gets colder than that. My best discovery was cutting off a pair of boot socks and pulling them up around my knees under my tights. They are more flexible than the foam ski knee warmers, which are really too hot anyway. I wear bike shorts under my tights to avoid chafing and help pad my kiester.
Look for wickwear at a thrift shop. It's amazing what some people give away.

Wool not cotton, for smell resistance.

Wool not cotton because wool is the only natural fiber that remains warm when wet. The smell thing is just a nice side benefit. However, my wool selections are limited (I think more is on the way for the holidays though, I happened to see a letter addressed to the wife from Rivendell), so I sub in a synthetic base layer for wicking and throw cotton over the top and figure at least it's away from my skin. There's an old saying, "cotton kills."

I accidentally put my nice warm wool socks through the laundry and now they suck... I usually wear a ski jacket, some salomon ski gloves, jeans and hiking boots. This is good until about -10 to -15c. Once it gets past that I'll start layering under the jacket (with wicking bike clothes on at the base layer) and put on a pair of pearl izumi tights/snowpants deal that I picked up before winter. I have been considering getting a cycling specific jacket shell but my ski jackets work too well to really justify it.

Cycling specific clothes tend to be among the most expensive cold weather items, I suspect it's mainly because the market is so small. You can save money by looking at mainstream outdoor clothing that feature similar construction and materials. About the only thing that cycling specific clothing offers is construction that more readily accomodates a cycling posture and the type of movements you make while riding.

That's a little bit of an over-simplification, but not much.

A really cold AM ride, I wore my "Windstopper jacket. " That is about as comfortable as I have been out in the cold...

Last night :

Bike Shorts (cheapest Nashbar had)
Long Johns
Carhart work jeans
Cheap ankle socks
Mid-calf work socks, fairly thick, not wool
Caterpillar work boots (steel toes are kind of a bad idea in winter)
T-shirt
Fleece pullover
Leather motercycle jacket
Fleece neck thingy (just a tube basically - works and stays in place better than a scarf)
Thin fleece hat from Target
Snowboarding helmet with earflaps
Cheap gloves that are huge - they go about halfway up my forearm, so they stop that pesky wind problem at the wrist where your jacket meets your gloves

My toes and fingers were a little numb. It was really windy, and down below zero (real temp) by the end of the ride. One of the riders out last night (ajkloss42) did a century yesterday, and he was looking like he overdressed - everytime that we stopped to get inside, he was unzipping his outer layer of pants and taking off several layers on his torso. I don't know what all he was wearing. He did complain about his Pearl-Izumi gloves being too warm, so he'd sweat in them, and then they would get damp and when he put them back on they'd be really cold as the moisture froze...

#1 are windproof outer layers - once it gets below 40 degrees F or so, I really notice the difference. Adequate protection for hands, head, and feet is a very close #2. Layers underneath (varied for the conditions) is #3. This has worked for me for cold (a few high teens, mostly 20s and 30s) and dry conditions so far. Cold and wet will be a different story!

WooHoo, winter is here!
Today, Pajamas, I ain't going anywhere
Tomorrow, presuming the forecast is correct and it gets a touch colder I get to wear a winter outfit

1st layer
Med weight wool socks
cycling shorts
L/S thermal lycra cycling jersey my girl made me
balaklava

2nd layer
Neoprene socks
MEC winter tights, windstopper fronts
S/S Jersey

3rd layer
UTW 3/4 length pants
Fleecie!

Outer layer
Goretex unlined jacket (completely windproof) my girl made me

Accessories
Fleece neck thingie
headband w/windstop ears
sunglasses
Lake DH winter shoes (no vents thank god)
windstopper blackdiamond lined gloves over glove liners

Its -15c today with a W/C (standing still) of -25c
Tomorrow they promise -18 W/C -30 (standing still)
Clear and bright, no snow or ice. I love snow in the winter, snow means its only a lil below freezing usually. The COLD days are usually clear and bright.
Working tomorrow I'll be pushing -55c -60c when into the wind (that'd be around -67F for you fella down south)

It won't last all week though, I'm hoping for snow, a white christmas would be cool

I once walked to work with a -75F windchill (-60C) with nothing but my big heavy coat , gloves, and presumably some sort of head covering.

I remember my legs were SOOOO cold. I didn't know it was that cold until I got there and the soda I had put in my pocket had frozen solid and burst. My boss actually yelled at me for walking in that cold.

The irony is I was walking because it was too cold for the car to start. Ha! I'm an idiot. :)

yah when it gets to that W/C standing still I have to listen to loud rap music and get all riled up to go to work at all

The irony is I was walking because it was too cold for the car to start. Ha! I'm an idiot. :)

I remember my mom having to walk to the store in some really cold shiet because we had a deisel Oldsmobile to buy a birthday present for my little brother. The gasoline had become a gel, not a liquid. Luckily she had a US Airforce parka from Alaska that was old enough to have real wolf's fur around the hood - we had two of them. I still wish that I had one now. You could be out in pretty much any conditions with them and not worry. A helmet would have been impossible, though...

I don't have a lot of gear so I kinda improvise.
Two pairs of thick socks
Waterproof Tims
longjohns
two seperate pairs of legwarmers, one made from the arms of a really thick cheesy sweater
cheesy sweater, wool hoodie, Columbia fleece, scarf and hat
I can't wear my helmet and hat at the same time because of my dreads, any other ideas for covering my
head in this Minneapolis death season?

Use packing tape (clear unless you want to look extra trashy) and tape up the vents on the helmet. Voila, now it's a styrofoam head warmer.

I go for a pair of fleece pants, pair of jeans, and waterproof hiking boots under the torso, and above it
I wear underarmor, long sleeved t-shirt, hoody, and if necessary a down jacket.

I can't wear my helmet and hat at the same time because of my dreads, any other ideas for covering my head in this Minneapolis death season?

I'm a big fan of the pro-tec snowboarding helmets. They have different thicknesses of padding that you can use to vary for the head-gear you are using. They velcro in, so you can just switch to a thinner padding thing if you are using a thicker hat. I got mine at Eric's bike in Dinkytown. Check them out.

I'm all about the ziplock sandwich bags over my toes. Keeps the breeze out and keeps 'em toasty.

-mark

Dammit! I've been reading all this and dreaming about how it's supposed to snow tonight and tomorrow just in time to ride a little before I get on a plane to go visit family... Supposed to get 3 to 5.

And now I just got an email from the Emergency Email Network saying the warning's been cancelled and less snow is expected.

GRRR!!!

Torso: Swobo poly shirt, Team S&M jersey, hoodie, and a wind jacket.
Legs/Feet: Wool knickers, wool socks, polypro footies, adidas,
Hands/Head: poly glove liners, windproof gloves, cycling hat+wool cap, and my fleece neck-thingee.
Yay! Toastie! And then my flask of 18yr Jamesons...yummmmmmm.

Base layer -
Hind wicking running top, long sleeve (no cotton for me in this weather)
Helly Hansen 3/4 mesh wicking knickers (like tights)
Coolmax thin socks

Midweight -
Jeans/Pants/ 3/4 pants
Vintage wool cycling jersey 1
Vintage wool/acrylic cycling jersey 2
Neck gaitor
Glove liner

Outerwear -
Either: North Face Hyvent water/wind proof jacket with hood
or: Lowe Alpine thin puffer jacket
Diadora Gekos with Performance neoprene toastes (toe covers)
Marmot Windstopper gloves
Clover hat

Considering goggles - anyone use them? The snowboarding kind?

then you have to carry defogger and crap. face is the best part of the body for remaining exposed, all the blood flow being near the surface. I'm gonna put the ol facemask in my bag but I'll only use it if i need it cause it's such a hassle

I've definitely been thinking about goggles or some such. My eyes get all watery in cold, windy weather, which sometimes makes seeing a little more interesting. Actually, my biggest problem is rarely the cold itself, but rather the fact that it causes my face to leak all manners of liquid. Don't ride behind me below 35F or so.

I bought some Oakley goggles a couple of years ago when I was still delivering. I liked them, they kept everything nice and orange. I never really had any problem with them fogging up on me.

Torso: Company jersey, Castelli wool sweater and a Carhartt hoodie
Head: Aem Kei 'Jeep' cap
Legs: 3/4 bibs, Cut-off loose jeans, SealSkinz waterproof socks under big woolly socks, Adidas Superstars
Hands: Mittens

Hey presto!

haha, you all can suck it because the most i have to do is throw on a hoodie and MAYBE gloves for the early morning rides. florida winters rule my life.

Seems kinda boring and sad to me. :)

It's 60 degrees here today. I'm happy because I'll get some good miles in but wtf?

it might be more boring than riding during a northern winter but since i am a floridian i honestly don't think i would make it through a frigid winter day up there. basically, i am a wuss. i honestly give you guys huge props for being able to handle those conditions.

It depends a day in the low 50s to 40s I will wear a pair of cycling shorts some thin nylon track pants, smartwool socks, a thin ls wicking shirt, a short sleeve jersey, a ls jersey over that, and some mtb gloves or short finger gloves over some of those performance dot gloves.

Anything from 40 and below and I skip the vest and break out my Performance artic jersey, nashbar wind jacket, fleece pants with tights underneath, 2 pairs of socks with sandwhich bags to keep the wind out, and some heavy gloves from LBS. I also use earmuffs, a buff on my head, and a heavier buff around my neck and pulled over my face. I think my best winter piece though is the wool shirt I use, so think yet so warm.

Its funny I was reading through my training log from 2003 the first year I really rode and all winter I have days skipped because it was below 40; hell below 40 seems warm to me now.

In the cold for me, I am primarily commuting. Since my commute is only about 1.5 miles each way, I usually only wear my clothes for the day, and a cotton sweatshirt over them, with a nylong jacket/windbreaker over. This is plenty warm for me on my short commute.
On my hands, I wear a pair of THIN fleece single layer gloves from target, a $5 investment. Once again, prefect for my short commute. I have worn these gloves even down to sub-zero temps, and my hands have been fine. Keep wiggling your fingers and they'll be fine.
On my feet, I just wear my shoes for the day, usually pumas with cotton socks. My feet aren't cold on my short commute.
On my legs I just wear my pants for the day, which are jeans or carharts, right leg rolled up to mid-calf. The only day I didn't roll my pant leg up, my pant leg got caught in the chain and chainring, ripping my pants, and taking me down in traffic. Ooops! :p
Head, Just my Red Sox hat, and a fleece earwarmer over it. On really cold days, I put s winter hat over my head. I don't wear a helmet. My head and ears are toastly on my short commute.

For longer rides, not necessarily commuting I just wear wool socks, my chucks, a long underwear polypro top, a 1/2 zip fleece top, and my windbreaker. This setup has served me well, as I have rode in this setup in subzero temps. I also have x-c skiied, hiked in it, in sub sero temps. I have never been cold. For my pants, just same old carharts rolled up to mid calf as well. Single layer fleece gloves again, and an earwarmer over my Red Sox hat, and I'm set.

Oh yea, when it gets really cold like single digits or subzero, I whip out my red bandanna, and tie it around my face/neck/cheeks/chin bandit style. That way I can knock over a 7-11 on my commute, as well as stay warm! :D

On my legs I just wear my pants for the day, which are jeans or carharts, right leg rolled up to mid-calf. The only day I didn't roll my pant leg up, my pant leg got caught in the chain and chainring, ripping my pants, and taking me down in traffic. Ooops! :p

I'm usually wearing carharts, too. I cuff them when it's over 40, but below that, I use those little velcro cuff-tie thingies you can get at your LBS. They work well, and keep any cold air from drifting up your leg.

When it's cold to really cold:


gloves with a layer of liner
jeans or cordurouy pants (with a layer of bike shorts undearneath for longer rides)
stocking cap or cycling cap under a helmet
Salomon snowboarding jacket with a layer of jogging jacket underneath over a regular shirt of some sort
My Sidis with booties over them
knit or wool socks
A balaclava if it is really nasty out
Underwear (unless it's a comando kind of day)

Whats this cold stuff everone keeps talking about???

I own something like 2 or 3 hoodies. And the coldest place here to wear them is the movie theater. I've been here way to long. Moving back to the mainland is gonna be crazy.

I commute about 15 miles round trip and it gets down to the teens here and snow on the roads about a third of the time.

Starting at the bottom:

Sidetrak neoprene booties over Shimano shoes and CoolMax socks;

Performance bib tights with windproof fronts and breathable backs (kinda cheap and probably won't last a year, but they keep me warm without overheating);

Pearl Izumi long sleeve poly jersey with zip neck (got it cheap at Performance or Nashbar);

Windstopper jacket by Concurve, with removable sleeves (most of the time I take off the sleeves and wear arm warmers);

Weather Warrior gloves by Descente, sometimes with a wool liner (the most expensive item I wear);

Over The Glasses Goggles by Globalvision (I could not ride in temperatures as cold as I do without the goggles);

Nashbar skullcap; and,

Helmet with rain cover to plug the holes.

A coupla notes:

I have a lot of trouble with my goggles and glasses fogging.
I have tried several cures and none them work that well.
If I keep movin' they stay clear.
Can't do it (below 40 degrees) without the goggles, though.
With the goggles, I can comfortably go down to zero and maybe below.

I take my work clothes in a Messenger bag and change at work.
I take a good shower before I leave for work, use deodorant and cologne, and make sure I have clean clothes.
I hope I don't stink at work and I don't think I do.
If a person starts out clean, with clean clothes, I think they can handle a little sweat without offending people.
Did I mention clean clothes? :)

Finally, I always start out cold.
If I go out the front door and feel warm, I know I'll wind up baking about half way and get all sweaty.
If, on the other hand, I start out a little cold, I feel just right after a few minutes and get to work without really breaking a sweat.

Wearing my arm warmers and my windbreaker as a vest will take me down to the high 20's comfortably.

I keep my feet and hands warm, wear wind-resistant bib tights, arm warmers and a vest, and I wear goggles.

Does 45 degrees count? That's pretty cold right?

It was raining today so lets see:

Shorts, Long socks, undershirt, t-shirt, arm warmers, fingerless cycling gloves, cycling cap under my helmet and...uhmmm..oh yeah a windbreaker. I was going to bust out my cycling tights but I didnt feel like looking like a christmas elf.

Does 45 degrees count? That's pretty cold right?...

Yeah that counts as cold for us Angelenos.

I wear:
- Wool jersey with arm warmers or a wool sweater (t-shirt underneath)
- Those loud nylon pants or dickies
- These nice base layer type gloves by Pearl Izumi (mean to be worn under other gloves, but perfect alone here in LA)
- A beanie cap under the helmet to keep the ears from going numb.