Commuting - Its 5:00 AM, 27*F degrees and dark. How do you layer?

This morning was the first real test of the season. 27 degrees with a stiff north wind (headwind and/or crosswind all the way to work). I wore the old fashioned long underwear, both top and bottom. Thermal socks from Cabelas. My button-up uniform sheet and work trousers. Insulated hiking shoes. Topped it off with an insulated zip-up hoodie and heavy beanie.

I felt a chill every now and again but I was comfortable. The wind can just make things miserable if it gets through to the skin.

Its gonna snow a little tonight and I am planning to ride in the morning. I will be trying some heavier gear and I am anxious to see how it works. Just got a merino wool top that I am pretty pumped about after all I have read about merino wool.

So what's your layering agenda?

Same thing here and tomorrow morning snow too and a lot of wetness and wind. I commute in the dark to work too.

Top: jersey and heavier jacket.
Bottom: cycling bibs and wind breaker pants
Feet: Neoprene socks.
Booties: Fits over the show and breaks wind and keeps feet dry. Review is here (http://chefonabicycle.com/2012/11/02/product-review-showers-pass-shoe-covers-aka-booties/)

Head: Face mask, glasses, mirror and helmet.

Hands: Summer gloves and Bar Mitts which are awesome by the way.

speedo and a helmet. no gloves.

speedo and a helmet. no gloves.

Pics or it never happened!!

Forgot to mentioned gloves.... warm weather I just wore fingerless or none at all. It got cool and I switched to a pair of Underarmor's that I realled like. Lately I've been wearing an insulated pair of leather gloves I've had for years. I have a heavier pair of ski/winter gloves to wear but shifting gets clumsy, but doable.

Forgot to mentioned gloves.... warm weather I just wore fingerless or none at all. It got cool and I switched to a pair of Underarmor's that I realled like. Lately I've been wearing an insulated pair of leather gloves I've had for years. I have a heavier pair of ski/winter gloves to wear but shifting gets clumsy, but doable.

Check out bar mitts. They work great!

31 degrees here.

undershirt, base layer, thermal, and fleece up top. Ear warmers and a helmet on my head. Jeans down below. Normal socks and chuck taylors on my feet. My gloves were way too light, but I can't find my winter ones, so I had to make do. My hands ached by the end of my 5 mile ride. I might take the bus until I find my gloves or buy a new pair.

When I get to work I take off everything up top except the undershirt, add a nicer shirt on top, and have at it.

Feet: Neoprene socks.


I was afraid neopren would keep the humidity, sweat, inside and give cold feet. Is it?

I was afraid neopren would keep the humidity, sweat, inside and give cold feet. Is it?

Your feet will sweat but this works down to about 20 degrees. Below that I add wool over the neoprene.

For a 3am start I usually wear bike shorts, thermals (pants and shirt), spandex hiking pants over them, hiking shirt, Merino Socks calf length, Inner insulation jacket, hard shell/rain jacket. I have a beanie, open face ski mask, or baloclava depending on how cold it is. I wear either medium weighth bike gloves, fingerless motorcycle gloves, or thicker ski gloves depending on how cold my hands get.

an extra blanket and one fingered salute to those who try and get me out of bed :)

Not a morning person

I usually commute in the dark (5am Chicago suburbs) 12-15 miles each way. The other morning it was 28F (20F w/windchill) and was comfortable in the following (head-to-toe): Giro Prolight Road Helmet, Castelli Thermo skully cap (doesn't look like much but works great!), Tifosi Fototec glasses w/ Bike Peddler Take a Look Cycling mirror, Craft Warm CK Wool Roundneck LS top, Capo Verona Thermal jacket, Castelli Nanoflex Bib Tights, Darn Tough Vermont Merino Wool 1/4 Cushion socks, Castelli Narcisista Shoe covers, Bontrager Solstice Multisport shoes (SPD). The bib tights are expensive but oh so worth it!!!! The Capo Verona jacket I picked up on sale for $50 via Competitive Cyclist - I was skeptical at first about the claims of their revolutionary fabrics but the stuff really works!!!!!. The Craft CK Wool baselayer isn't that thick but it keeps me warm in conjunction with the Capo Verona. As the temperature drops I also have L.L. Bean GoreTex gloves and a Castelli Viso Face mask. My commuter is a 2011 Trek Madone 4.7 whereas I used to commute on a Trek FX. I used to wear multiple layers (mostly SmartWool products) but ended up being bulky and drenched in sweat by the time I made it to work. I find that the combination of products I wear maintain sufficient warmth without the bulkiness and I never feel damp, although the base-layer is damp when I arrive. This may be more in-depth than what you wanted but I did quite a bit of trial and error (i.e. spent a lot of money experimenting) to derive these results. I admit that I'm a bit chilled when I ride but I actually prefer it to being overheated . . . it prompts me to pedal faster so I can get to a hot shower quicker!!!!! Hope this helps!

25-30F my setup is a medium thermal top and my rain shell, thin (pearl izumi) hat beneath my Bern helmet, medium thickness gloves, medium thickness cycling tights <or> super thin thermals with my rain pants, hiking socks and my normal MTB shoes, plus clear lens glasses. Having a windproof outer layer allows you to wear MUCH less insulation. The idea is to start a little chilly - you'll heat up within the first mile.

I don't add much insulation until it drops below 19F

an extra blanket and one fingered salute to those who try and get me out of bed :)

Not a morning person

+1

There's a reason why I have a job that doesn't start until after lunch time.

Twenty-eight is my borderline between riding 'tween seasons wear and winter wear. If it was going to warm up, I might go with the 'tween seasons stuff. If it was going to stay 27 or drop, I'd go with the winter stuff.

In 'tween seasons wear at that 28, I'd have armwarmers, wicking long-sleeve t-shirt, Endura Luminite jacket on top. On bottom, I might go with kneewarmers and regular shorts under my Endura Thermolite Pro bib tights. I have a Sweatvac 40/60 beanie for under the helmet, Endura Full Monty gloves inside a larger pair of Endura Dexter windproof gloves. I'd use my Endura Road Overshoes over my three-season shoes.

If I went with my winter gear, it would be a long-sleeve wicking t-shirt and my Endura Gridlock jacket on top, regular shorts and Pearl Izumi AmFib bib tights on bottom. Sweatvac winter beanie under the helmet, probably inserting the winter liner into the helmet as well. Same glove combination, and my Lake winter cycling boots. That gets me down to the single-digits.

I run a long-sleeved T-shirt and windbreaker on top. Bottom is a pair of athletic pants and long underwear. Wool blend socks and Adidas sambas. I also roll a beanie and work gloves. For gloves I have three pairs. Over 35, it's wool knit. 35-25 are unlined Wells-Lamont gloves. Under 25, and I'm rocking lined W-L gloves.

I am lucky to have a shower at work so I go all bike cloths and then change. Ploy liner and mid weight hiking socks (I am going to buy toe covers as it get colder. Longest section of my ride is 35 min. My MTB shoes won't fit int my road shoe winter covers), summer weight bike shorts with chamois, Performance heavy fleece lined winter tights w/o chamois (good to 27 this past Monday). Poly t-shirt, long sleeve poly shirt, Heavy weight long sleeve, full zipper bike jersey and then wind breaker. I have long fingered MTB gloves good down to mid to upper 40s and then PEARL IZUMI Men's Elite Softshell Bike Gloves for anything colder. I have a thin fleece shirt and hvy long underwear top I am going to try replacing the long sleeve poly shirt as it gets colder. I wear a fleece beany under my helmet and just bought a Columbia fleece neck gator with Omni-Heat® thermal reflective technology.

This morning was the first real test of the season. 27 degrees with a stiff north wind (headwind and/or crosswind all the way to work).

Wool half zip shirt under full zip E Vap Plus coat (from Lou at Foxwear).
Long powershield pants (also from Lou at Foxwear).
Wool long johns along with me just in case the temperature drops while I'm at work.
Two pairs of wool socks with sandals.
Wind breaker booties are along with me just in case.
Glove liners and wool gloves go inside the bar mitts, outside if I get too warm along the way (e.g. it's a tailwind instead of a headwind).
Alpaca beanie covered by thin wool balaclava.
Wool chute neck gaitor is along with me just in case or takes the place of the balaclava if it's warmer after work.
Neoprene face mask is along with me just in case.

All wool above is merino except for the gloves which are ragwool.

My winter bike also has a frame bag containing rain suit and waterproof socks in case it warms while at work and starts to rain.

Same thing here and tomorrow morning snow too and a lot of wetness and wind. I commute in the dark to work too.

Head: Face mask......

What kind and where did you buy it? My fleece gator worked great this week at 27° but my nose was getting cold by the time my 35 minute ride ended.

For me, a wool sweater with a wind-proof thin jacket on top keeps me comfortable to down around 10 degrees F. I wear my work pants and shoes but for some reason I don't get cold down there. I leave my helmet at home and wear a thick wool cap (I look like the guy from the Monkees) and Performance brand full finger gloves.

Also, I use a 1500 lumen NiteRider light and it warms the air, kind of like a heater. Well, just kidding on that last thing . . .

27F is what... -2 to -3 Celsius?

Base layer: baggy bike shorts, merino wool T-shirt with long sleeves, wool/cotton mix socks. I'd prefer pure wool socks, but they wear out like nobody's business.
On top: windproof pants (currently Haglöfs G1000 hiking pants), merino wool buff for neck, thin ear flaps. For jacket I have an old runner's jacket that's somewhat wind resistant, on top of that I'd put an ANSI reflector jacket with long sleeves.
Hands: a pair of Halti XC skiing gloves
Feet: insulated hiking boots, ankle high. I forget the brand.

In those temps any rain/sleet/snow is going to be wet. So, if there's a reasonable chance for rain, I'd replace the G1000 pants and both jackets with Goretex Active shell. Sweaty, but waterproof.

--J

27F?

head: wool or polypro cap
torso: poly/wool/blend base tee, wool sweater, J&G wind jacket
hands: windstopper gloves
legs: headwind pants
feet: wool socks (and shoes, of course)

I layer the most when temps vary widely between my morning and afternoon commute, such as in the spring and fall. On a typical fall day with morning temps in the 30s-40s F and afternoon in 50s-60s, I wear bib shorts with knee warmers on my legs, and a wicking t-shirt, long-sleeve jersey and vest on top. I wear DeFeet wool socks and toe warmers during cool/cold weather in fall, winter and spring. On my head, I wear a skull cap that covers my ears under my helmet as well as a balacava on mornings with temps below 40.

Consistently old weather is actually easier to dress for than days when it's cold in the morning and warm in the afternoon. I have several winter-weight jackets and jerseys that will keep me warm down the teens and are still comfortable in temps up the low 50s. These include a Gore Phantom jacket, Craft rain jacket and Pearl Izumi Gavia jacket/jersey. I have several weights of wicking t-shirt base layers that I wear under my winter-weight jackets/jerseys depending on how cold it is. My warmest baselayer in an UnderArmor long-sleeve that I wear when temps are in the teens and low 20s, Craft base layers for the high teens, 20s and 30s and various poly t-shirts for temps in the 30s and warmer.

It was 27F here yesterday when I rode to work. Here's what I wore:

Head: Balaclava
Torso: Short sleeve t-shirt with a sweatshirt over the top.
Hands: My winter gloves.
Legs: A pair of sweatpants over regular underwear.
Feet: My regular socks.

I should have replaced the balaclava with just my headband (that keeps my ears covered.) The balaclava is just too warm for anything above 20 degrees F. I usually accidentally overdress a few times at the beginning of the season until I remind myself surprisingly how little clothing is needed for cold weather riding when you're moving and generating heat.

I would say (http://doohickie.blogspot.com/2009/01/clothing-considerations.html)

Bottom: Jeans with either tights or long underwear.
Top: T-shirt, long-sleeve t-shirt (or turtleneck), sweat shirt & light windbreaker.
Other: Heavier gloves (mine are fur-lined) or full-fingered cycling gloves for cold weather, plus balaclava. Toward the low end of the the temperature range a hat or hood may be needed with the balaclava.

27*F isn't layering time yet. At that temp I would wear probably just my normal long sleeve alertshirt, baggy shorts and put my rain jacket and pants over. Thicker wool socks, and a neck gaiter pulled up over my ears.

Down around 20*F I'll put underarmor under the shirt. Around 10*F I'll put on running tights under the shorts and do something about my feet. Somewhere around 0 to 5*F I'll lose the alertshirt and put on a poly sweat shirt.

Long underwear comes in at temps below zero.

Pics or it never happened!!

Don't tempt me.

When it's in the 30s, I just wear a t-shirt with a light windbreaker and a pair of warmups, thin cotton gloves and a snowboard helmet (with built-in ear warmers). There are multiple hills on my route and I'm still new to biking, so I work up quite a sweat and the chills alternate with heat - depending on if I'm going up or downhill.

Below freezing I usually wear the same thing, but with long underwear on underneath and thicker gloves. Maybe a double pair of socks if it's low 20s or below. It's an 8-mile ride and no matter how hard I try, I can't get myself to go really slow so I don't sweat. I usually take a full change of clothes and clean up when I get to work.

27*F isn't layering time yet.

It's always layering time...just sometimes you only need one. ;)

What kind and where did you buy it? My fleece gator worked great this week at 27° but my nose was getting cold by the time my 35 minute ride ended.

http://www.underarmour.com/shop/us/en/ua-coldgear-hood/pid1223223-001

Works great!

Top base: silk (long sleeve) very thin and light
Top next: wool jersey ( Earth, Wind & Rider) long sleeve
Neon shell over the top
Neck gaiter
Bottom: mountain bike shorts
Bottom next: shell swish pants
Riding gloves and Under Armour cold weather gloves
2 thin layers on my head under my helmet. one a thin poly summer sweat cap and the other a little thicker head cap
Roasty, Toasty warm

For 27F? It's a dry cold here in the high desert. 4 mile flat commute.

Merino wool or thick polypro top, fleece jacket, bright yellow REI rain jacket (good and windproof)
I have an old pair of Bellwether wind tights, and I recently scored a pair of Marmot wind tights ($1 at gear swap). I might put a pair of polyro base layer underneath.
Polypro skull cap and dog ears with my helmet.
PI winter gloves or a pair of old leather insulated ski gloves.
My heavy winter Shimano cycling shoes with neoprene foot covers.

I might be too warm with all the above at 27F. It's been 35-40F in the morning lately so I haven'y quite needed all of the above.

Next Monday morning is forecast 14F. I'll be ready!

This, although like TSL writes, you might go up or down one level depending on how conditions may change during the day or the ride. Or, in my case, when I haven't swapped in the studs and platforms yet and I'm still wearing the sandals and its 26F for the ride to work, I'll use a chemical warmer between the two sock layers when normally I wouldn't light one up intil 15F when I'm wearing the winter boots.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o85/WilburBudDark/misc/Clothing_vs_Temp.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o85/WilburBudDark/misc/Clothing_vs_Temp.jpg

Dude. You have far too much time on your hands.

Still, since you do, you need to incorporate the effects of wind and humidity.

I've only got 6 miles into work and like to challenge my cold tolerance so I typically go with:

Wicking thermal top with Goretex jacket over
Mountain bike shorts with non-cotton underwear
Medium thickness wool socks with regular shoes
Light Goretex ski gloves

This combination is good for me for 25-45F or so.

If it was colder or there was a high chance of rain, I'd probably throw some tights and an extra top layer in my bag and switch to biking sandals with waterproof socks.

I've only got 6 miles into work and like to challenge my cold tolerance so I typically go with:

Wicking thermal top with Goretex jacket over
Mountain bike shorts with non-cotton underwear
Medium thickness wool socks with regular shoes
Light Goretex ski gloves

This combination is good for me for 25-45F or so.

If it was colder or there was a high chance of rain, I'd probably throw some tights and an extra top layer in my bag and switch to biking sandals with waterproof socks.

Building your tolerance to the cold is a good thing...cept when it comes to your knees. Cover em up when it's under 60 or so and they'll still be happy-happy when you become an old fart.

Building your tolerance to the cold is a good thing...cept when it comes to your knees. Cover em up when it's under 60 or so and they'll still be happy-happy when you become an old fart.

Why is that? My legs are rarely the coldest part of me, even uncovered.

Why is that? My legs are rarely the coldest part of me, even uncovered.

Everybody is different but maybe it's a matter of too much layering.
For my part I try to wear the minimum possible to avoid sweat and often some parts of my body feel cold before others. Mostly due to cold wind.
When it happens i add windproof layers or insulation layers depending on the area.
The parts where i feel cold before others are:
knees, feet, hands, chin, ears, groin, nose, neck, trunk and forehead

Why is that? My legs are rarely the coldest part of me, even uncovered.

"When you cycle in adverse weather your knees are right out in the worst of it. Western theory recognizes that working connective tissues cold can cause micro-tears. Cartilage in particular has very little blood flow and heals slowly. Once roughened, cartilage tends to get worse rather than better and surgery to cut away the roughened portion may only provide temporary relief. Traditional Chinese medicine describes the effect of cold, damp and wind as "pernicious chi", a description that to my experience feels right. The insidious harm that may result can lead to chronic conditions of the sort we generalize as tendonitis and arthritis."
http://www.randonneurs.bc.ca/toolbox/knees.html

"When you cycle in adverse weather your knees are right out in the worst of it. Western theory recognizes that working connective tissues cold can cause micro-tears. Cartilage in particular has very little blood flow and heals slowly. Once roughened, cartilage tends to get worse rather than better and surgery to cut away the roughened portion may only provide temporary relief. Traditional Chinese medicine describes the effect of cold, damp and wind as "pernicious chi", a description that to my experience feels right. The insidious harm that may result can lead to chronic conditions of the sort we generalize as tendonitis and arthritis."
http://www.randonneurs.bc.ca/toolbox/knees.html

Thanks for that. Been suffering from tendinitis in the right knee for several years, and it definitely gets worse when it's colder out. I ride in shorts - every day. From when it's as low as 30/40's in the morning. Gonna go get myself a pair of biking pants to keep the knees warm.

27 degrees? Just below freezing...
- long sleeve baselayer
- softshell if not too windy, thin goretex if windy
- thin running tights
- lightweight xc ski gloves
- headband for the ears

Yesterday it was 12*F coming home (-1 with wind chill) and snowing fairly heavily. I wore:
- long sleeve baselayer
- softshell and thin goretex
- lined running tights with thin rain pants on top
- Fleece socks and goretex booties
- thick xc ski gloves uphill, downhill ski gloves downhill (my commute is predominantly uphill one way, I'm not switching with every hill!)
- headband for the ears
- buff for the face
- yellow sunglasses to keep snow out of my eyes

Calgary's weather is unreliable enough that I usually bring a variety of layers, like an extra fleece and two pairs of gloves. Yesterday the temperature dropped 5 degrees (C) from morning to evening, and it's going to fall again during the day today... I've never spent so much time checking the weather forecast as I have while living in this city!

27ish-35ish
bottoms: Levi's commuter jeans & long johns
feet: wool socks, mtb shoes, shoe covers
top: t-shirt, crew sweatshirt, light cycling windbreaker
hands: trigger mitt gloves with wool liner from army navy store
head: barrier skull cap

colder than that (18-27)
Add: underarmour coldgear turtleneck
face cover thing
substitute cold lizard polartech 100 tights for jeans & long johns

coldest (17 & below)
+ goggles & chemical hand/footwarmers

You have far too much time on your hands.
Well, it may appear that way at first, but for me it's a timesaver as all I do is check the temp on the handheld while walking from toothbrush to closet and throw on the identified items and I'm out the door without a thought of is it too much or too little. I do account for wind as written by going up or down a level if winds are more than 15mph (golf analogy, although me not a golfer). But, even though I can work with wet bulb temps well enough as an ME/PE, its too much effort in the morning when I'm not really awake while getting the bike underway.

5 am, 27*F and dark, my layering goes like this: Sheet, blanket, quilt. Snooze when alarm goes off at 7am.

From about -5C to about +10C (23F to 50F)
skull cap
long sleeve synthetic tee
sweater/fleece/jersey
windbreaker/cycling jacket
gloves
tights
thermal socks
cycling shoes
add shoe covers if light snow or rain

My commute is 12-15km (7.5-9 miles)
Just enough to feel a bit chilly for the first few minutes of the ride.
If I start getting too warm I unzip the jacket and mid layer.

This, although like TSL writes, you might go up or down one level depending on how conditions may change during the day or the ride. Or, in my case, when I haven't swapped in the studs and platforms yet and I'm still wearing the sandals and its 26F for the ride to work, I'll use a chemical warmer between the two sock layers when normally I wouldn't light one up intil 15F when I'm wearing the winter boots.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o85/WilburBudDark/misc/Clothing_vs_Temp.jpg

I've actually been thinking of doing a similar chart on my phone. Yours is close to what I do down to 20F. (I switch to my ski jacket at that point.)

I'm now in my second year of 4 season commuting and I'm starting to get a good handle on what to wear depending on the temperature & conditions.

Today it was -10C and I had:
- fleece hat under my helmut
- faux under armor, fleece pull-over, fleece jacket, generic coat vest, reflector vest,
- under armor bottoms, jeans, shell pants to cut the wind,
- two layers of socks under extra-tuffs
- wool mittens with wool liners.

I must have looked like the Michelin Man but my feet seem to have been frost bit a time or two too many and and are sensitive to the cold plus I am +50 years old and this year i seem to be a bit colder given the same temps than before.

Thanks for all the replies. I've been commuting going on three years. I have noticed that I have been getting better at estimating my layers/garments over the fall & winter months. Except when trying new stuff... that almost needs a test run before trying it at 4am!

It doesn't get that cold here but I ride at 5 am and 34 F which with wind
chill is like 27 F. Normally also have rain at the same time, a very cold rain.

At that temp I wear:
- thin balaclava over ears and face, cap for extra insulation on the head, and helmet over it all.
- medium weight fleece top
- a thin fleece vest sometimes
- rain jacket (I use an old Burley)
- medium weight gloves, kind of like you'd wear for XC skiing
- rain pants
- cycling shoes with thick-ish socks
- neoprene booties

And my normal wear to work pants, shirt, etc underneath.

I am cold for the first few blocks but can warm myself up after that. The fingers become the main problem. My commute is fairly short, if it were longer I'd definitely fit some Bar Mitts to the bike.

-3C (~27F ) is about the absolute coldest it gets here in Shanghai in the winter. Last winter on the coldest days I wore a standard short sleeve bike jersey, medium thickness fleece lined bib tights, a fleece lined somewhat waterproof outer jacket, a thin balaclava under my helmet, and reasonably thick gloves. On my feet I wore two pairs of wool socks (thin and thick) and standard cycling shoes, but I was never able to keep my feet warm.

This year I've bought a pair of fleece lined waterproof outer gloves that I can wear either alone (if not too cold) or over another pair of gloves (if below 0C). And on my feet I'm going to try to wear thick heavy hiking boots with wool socks - hopefully the thickness and lack of airflow, plus the fact that they're nearly waterproof, will keep my feet suitably warm. If not, I'll have to find a pair of warmer boots that fit me (a tall order in this country, given that I wear a size 47-48 (US12) in a country where it's difficult to find anything bigger than a 44.

... On my feet I wore two pairs of wool socks (thin and thick) and standard cycling shoes, but I was never able to keep my feet warm... And on my feet I'm going to try to wear thick heavy hiking boots with wool socks - hopefully the thickness and lack of airflow, plus the fact that they're nearly waterproof, will keep my feet suitably warm...

It is very important that your feet have room. If by layering socks you are having to squeeze your toes and feet into shoes or boots, you will not have a nice chamber for warmer air to act as their mini environment to buffer them from the elements.

This is why I wear sandals throughout the winter. I can wear up to 3 layers of socks --merino wool base layer(large), merino wool over that (extra large) and Power Stretch Socks from Foxwear that are big enough for the outer layer. This is a breathable solution. With adjustable sandals, nothing is cramped. If it gets down under 0F or is wet, I have a pair of booties that fit over the sandals. These are cheap, light weight, windbreaker type material and easy to carry along at all times when not in use.

If it's cold and raining, I put on waterproof socks -- feet stay dry, sandals dry fast at work. In the summer, sandals with no socks.