zazie

Hi there,

I've been commuting every day from Brooklyn to Manhattan since around April. I'm happy, and I want to bike through the winter. But today, temperatures are going to be in the 20s, is windy as hell and I kinda feel sick from the ride back home yesterday. I guess it's the moment to invest some money in winter gear. I know layering is the rule, but I'm totally lost here. I've seen some jackets that seem ok, like these ones -But i'm insure whether this will be enough protection through nYC winter:

https://www.rei.com/product/853922/su...-2011-closeout
https://www.rei.com/product/854341/su...-2012-closeout
https://www.rei.com/product/862259/pe...-2012-closeout


I also have a very think windbreaker and I do own one of these, but I doubt it's enough for biking: https://www.trekkinn.com/outdoor-moun...FS4aOgoddl0AJw

Also, I commute to University, and don't have an office there where I can get changed and just store my clothes, so I'd like to know if there are actually clothes that I can just wear on the road and off the bike... Totally lost, as you see.

The only thing I know for sure is that I'm getting a balaclava and some thermal socks, but that's pretty much all. Any advice would be gretaly appreciated.
Thanks!

zazie

blakcloud

You don't need to spend a fortune to keep warm. Your wind breaker and hoody are good starts. I would start with a thin layer consisting of long underwear and long undershirt, tight fitting to the body. Then your hoody and windbreaker. I would carry your shirt in what every you carry your stuff in. This needs to stay dry and not stink during the day. Put it on when you get to school. When you get to school turn your hoody inside out to dry quicker and let the moisture escape.

On really cold days add another layer. I am not convinced you need to by anything that you posted links to. I think the RPM jacket is going to keep all moisture in, the Firewall jacket could work but is too form fitting unless you buy a larger size. You need to be able to fit a layer underneath. The Elite Barrier jacket could work but you kind of already have a hoody and windbreaker why duplicate things. Try what you have before buying something. The balaclava is a good idea and you need a great pair of gloves.

In time you will get use to riding in cold and miserable conditions and won't think twice.

martianone

Don't forget - wear glasses.
The cold is hard on your eyes.
plus keeps road grit and snow/rain out of your eyes.

Standalone 

thin sweaters from thrift shops that someone shrunk.... these are excellent. only get 100% wool. I also recommend the super thin wool base layers from Smartwool or LL Bean. I have one of each, and they are essential.

No cotton, thanks. Except my boxers, I guess.

Bottoms are various cheap marshall's clearance rack black nylon track pants with or without manmade fabric long johns.

Polyester technical T, wool layer, thin clearance rack cycling windbreaker (turned out to be a women't XL, HA.). I do think that if you are going to buy something cycling specific for commuting, a windbreaker shell is nice. It's also reflective.

Wool socks and old sneakers. Thin wool hat.

Change of clothes in the messenger bag.

GuNoKo

Clear safety glasses from the hard wear store is what I use for night riding. A dollar or two a pair.

martianone

iMHO, riding glasses & mirror are the most important safety items - wear/use them all the time,

1nterceptor

Before spending money on bike specific clothing; I would suggest to use/try
stuff you already own. A thin windbreaker is fine; it's what you layer underneath
that you'll have to play with. It's possible to get too warm even in sub freezing
temps. I do use biking specific clothes. I like the neon colors of the jackets, the
pants are a bit stretchy, boots that are clipless compatible, they usually have
reflective bits, etc.


TEMP, 22F or -5C by 1nterceptor, on Flickr

walrus1

+1
@zazie I've been reading for a year in NYC making a similar commute to you with wearing mostly street clothes. Don't forget to wear a scarf around your face!

FBinNY 

The best insulator is air, so the objective is to trap as much air in small cells or pockets with the least amount of bulk. Multiple layers alternating thin tightly woven or knit layers between fluffy layers give you the most bang for the buck, but be sure to finish with a very tightly woven outer shell as a windstop. Any insulation outside of a wind stop is ineffective because wind will blow through it taking heat away as it passes.

I'm of the old keep arms and legs warm, and fingers and toes will follow school. This isn't magic, so you still need some common sense gloves and shoes and socks. But if your legs are allowed to get cold, nothing will keep your feet warm.

Finally, face, and ears depend on how long you're exposed. My commute is only 1/2 hour or less, with rolling hills to keep me warm, so my face and ears do OK down to about 20, but if the ride were longer I'd protect those too.

vol

I didn't know one should wear glasses when riding... I wear sunglasses when the sun is too bright, but I've never thought of wearing clear lens on any day... What for? the wind? Maybe I didn't feel the need because I don't ride very fast?

FBinNY 

While wind in your eyes isn't that bad in the summer. Winter wind can make your eyes tear petty badly. If you're fine with it, you can skip the glasses, but if you find your eyes starting to tear, you know the fix (or at least improvement).

vol

Well taken

kenwer

I work inside and out all day long as well as the 8 mile commute to and from work. The best thing I've found is silk long underwear. They fit under any pants, are very comfortable even for extended inside time, no sweating, and keep the chill off even in the teens. I find that I don't have to bulk up jacket-wise with them on.

cehowardGS

IMO, for real cold weather, you can't have the clothes do both dutes, er I mean do them well.. Something that will keep your warm in the cold, will most likely not be good to wear at work. Also, what would be good to wear at work, I can almost safely say will not keep you warm. Those items are okay, but basic long thermal underwear, maybe two layers to a are essential for dealing with cold weather. Also, good outer wear too. Looks shouldn't be the priority.. Just my two cents..

kingsqueak

Getting sand or grit or a bug in the eye is not great. Main problem is if it happens while you are in heavy traffic and a spot you can't easily pull over. It may not occur to you most other times but it is unpleasant if you encounter it.

I used to ride a motorcycle with my full face visor cracked open for ventilation without glasses on. Getting some blown sand in the eye while doing 60mph bumper to bumper is excitement I didn't need.

erig007

Clothes that do both exist but the few i know are very expensive.
They are all made of wool (odor resistant and warm) with a build in wind resistant layer and some of the Dale and Marmot are even stain and water resistant

Icebreaker



Dale of norway



66 north


Marmot

zazie

Thank you all for all this advice! - I did go out yesterday with the clothes I own and I felt I could pull it off in the 20s -we'll see how the winter goes... I'll definitely get the glasses and I can't wait to get the balaclava for my face - that's what suffers the most IMO.
Thanks!

Zazie

gregjones

I wear shooting glasses. You may only be doing 15mph on your bike, but a piece of gravel kicked up from a passing car could do a lot of damage. A cheap pair of safety glasses would serve as well. I just wouldn't trust fashion sunglasses.

blackhawknj

I wear blaze orange, I have a couple of hunter's shirts, 2 blaze orange "hoodie" sweatshirts I had a seamstress sew blaze orange nylon panels on, for the really cold a Wearguard heavy duty jacket.All are machine washable. I do the "Clark Kent/Superman" routine,keep business attire at the office.

katsrevenge

Hmmm... I live nearish to you. I rode some 6 miles today in under 20F in tights, cotton socks, ankle high moccasins (leather), wool skirt, T shirt, ankle length wool pea coat, scarf, wool hat and thinsulated mittens that turn into fingerless gloves.

I was toasty warm. These were all things in my closet. Only thing cold was the ears and cheeks but they were both exposed. I've ordered a hat and thinuslated gloves as the ones I have are fleece and don't breathe well. I picked ragg wool replacements and started making a thicker scarf... of wool. I really like wool.

I ordered these: https://www.sierratradingpost.com/gra...colorFamily=04 and https://www.sierratradingpost.com/gra...colorFamily=01

rumrunn6

don't get dark clothing to ride a bike *PLEASE*

erig007

It depends.

For the part that depends on what a cyclist is wearing Hi-vis bright colors are ineffective at night or at dawn that is mostly dark during winter days. What matter more are the reflective strips and lights that you use.

Study says cyclists should make themselves seen - but reflective clothing, not hi-vis, is the answer
https://road.cc/content/news/99660-hi...says-new-study

Why cycling in high-vis may be not as safe as you think
https://www.theguardian.com/environme...fe-fluorescent

You're not as visible on a bike at night as you think, new study shows
https://bikeportland.org/2013/05/20/y...dy-shows-87044

You can wear dark clothes during the night and be as safe as someone that don't if you do it properly
For instance, when it is dark I wear dark clothing with a minimalistic hi-vis strips "jacket" above. AND use reflective strips on ankles, helmet, frame, wheels, pedals and add blinking lights.

But Hi-vis is effective during the day when there is plenty of sunlight and even then it depends on the background that is behind you (from a driver standpoint) since what matter seems to be the high contrast level between the cyclist and the background. Not sure that a bright yellow jacket offer much more visibility than dark colors on those situations.




https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17054171
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...1012074657.htm
https://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.o.../20130067.full

And what you wear is only part of the solution

https://road.cc/content/news/99660-hi...says-new-study
https://road.cc/content/news/81753-in...ore-1-5-riders
https://arrow.monash.edu.au/vital/acc...y/monash:80938
https://www.publichealthreports.org/i...articleID=3020
https://catsip.berkeley.edu/new-study...icyclists-most
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19540966
https://www.southamptontriclub.co.uk/storage/TRL549.pdf

rumrunn6

um yeah ok, if you know you will never ride in daylight

erig007

Or maybe a mix of both.
If you look at this pic you see that the one that is the most visible here is the one with dark sleeves. Maybe a mix of both a dark jacket under a short sleeves hi-vis jacket and hi-vis gloves and shoes or the opposite would help handling most situations.

rumrunn6

it's pretty rare to ride in a golden forest. all the more reason to wear day-glo green because it doesn't really occur in nature like yellow does. also green can be seen by the color blind.

don't get me wrong, I love those women's coats, they are gorgeous. I know Manhattan is a fashion center. in fact I used to work at a fashion studio on Park Ave South between 17th & 18th St and walking around there is nothing like walking around metrowest Boston. in fact when I ride these suburbs, that's one thing, I can be dorky green but when I cycle 23 miles east into Boston I have adjust somewhat so that I fit in, but still stay visible

you bring up a good point about contrast so that you stand out from your surroundings