OldsCOOL

Being you are living where (compared to us) it is summer all the time, there is one general rule that works: start out with clothing you feel a little bit chilly with. When you warm up it will be just right. Simple.

Looigi

If it works, use it. Cycling specific clothing is generally less likely to bunch up, chafe, ride up or ride down, flap, billow, get soggy, etc. while riding. Many non-bike technical apparel items can work, but often don't fit well in a riding position with arms forward and knees pumping up and down. If you're riding short distances on a bike with an upright riding position, these can be less of an issue.

freedomrider1

you are correct sir. this took me a long time to get down, just did not like to start out cold. But after going 5 miles having to take stuff off i figured it out.

rydabent

I dare say that every DF rider that has bought "lycra cycling shorts" with a dead sheep skin or padding, are buying shorts to protect themselves from their bike.

OldsCOOL

I go through that every spring. It took a few of them to finally get a loose formula together. I wont wear shorts unless temps are near 60.

freedomrider1

Right anything much under 60 i cover the knees

fthomas

I agree with you, but for some reason I am extremely sensitive to cold. Could be the Plavix and other medications I'm on. Not sure! I agree that for most of the year, to include a lot of days in the winter long johns or thermal underwear will be overkill. Five years ago I used to have a ton of bicycle specific clothing and this time of year often wore Pearl Ozumi Amfib Tights over bib shorts with a winter jersey and a windbreaker on top.

Yep, want to ride with re-purposed clothing vs. bicycle specific. Rain is a whole other issue. Lycra or any other clothing is going to get pretty cool if wet. I just happen to have gore tex clothing left over from backpacking days. All I added was a $18 hood. Don't be overly harsh. I'm trying to figure out things on a extremely tight budget and could not afford bike specific clothing if I wanted to go that route. I hung on to my gore tex jacket, hiking pants and have lite weight hiking shoes with gore tex. I'm very glad I kept it. It came in handy in the Philippines and taking trips to the mountains in northern Luzon I was the only one dry and warm at 7,500 feet.

fietsbob

In 12/66 at the SanDiego Navy boot camp, in cotton dungarees on the parade grounds for 'marching up and down the square'
I was not what you would call 'warm' .

and I came there from Nor Cal not tropical Manila, PI.

qcpmsame 

I dare say you are wrong, as usual you are taking things and twisting them to suit your strange way of thinking.

dedhed

I'll assume "Diamond Frame"

gugie 

I've transformed from shaved legs and lycra in my youth to a style combo of Grant P. and Jan H.

This fall I completed a 500 mile tour of Washington State. I've been doing the wool undie thing commuting and on shorter rides, and decided to do a A-B test riding one day with wool undies and a overlayer of REI Zoic shorts bought at a garage sale (no liner) and lycra shorts with same overlayer. Up to about 40 miles I'm fine with the wool, but longer than that the lycra shorts with synthetic chamois (thin, not one of those new diaper types) is a bit more comfortable.

After that, wool socks and a wool t-shirt, with a vented, nylon shirt (Northface or REI Safari shirt) on top, and if it's cool/cold, I add a thin wool sweater.

Commuting 12 miles each way from Portland to Hillsboro in December, 35-45 degree weather and raining recently, a good pair of rain pants keeps me warm. Only if it's raining hard or really cold do I add a rain jacket, otherwise I find the inside of the rain jacket to be very wet from condensation. Jan Heine did a recent write up of avoiding rain jackets when riding hard, even in the rain. Layers of wool will keep you warm and dry, and let the sweat out.

I've been trying to ween myself from clipped in shoes as well. Waterproof, Chrome hightops keep my feet comfy on platform pedals.

Lycra and staying warm is an oxymoron.

tyrion

I've found wool sweaters to be more available in the warmer months at the Goodwill.

OldsCOOL

This is a truth, some of my frames are indeed rare gems.

freedomrider1

Ah, good point sir. thanks

gugie 

eBay.

Cashmere or merino wool sweaters in all sorts of sizes, $20-30 all day long. I spent $55 on three. Two of them are eye-talian.

gugie 

Why do you need windproof? Anything I wear that is windproof makes me feel like I'm riding in a sauna.

I commute bike+train in the morning, 5 miles, then ride 12 miles home. In Portland. December isn't over yet, and already we've broken a 75 year record for rain this month. And it's been cold, high 30's, low 40's while I'm riding isn't uncommon. I wear rain pants and waterproof high top shoes, and underneath everywhere. Unless the rain is coming down hard (and it's uncommonly common this month) wool on wool is just fine.

fthomas

Years ago Alpine Climbing in the Pacific Northwest wool was the only reasonable solution to the common drizzle and cool temperatures. The introduction of synthetic filled sleeping bags was another great step forward.

Lots of interesting solutions. I guess if money were no object I would be shopping at Rivendell Bikes and going the Grant Peterson route - wool and MUSA clothing. I'll just have to take some of the excellent recommendations and find out what works for me here.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Y'all!

erig007

Windproof at the front and breathable at the back. Wind resistant everywhere will do too especially at higher temperatures. I find it not as efficient at lower temperatures though as it requires to overdress to compensate the cold that goes through at the front leading to overheating or freezing.
If you're riding at 30F a little bit of wind going through the layers won't be as painful as if you ride at 0F or below.
I guess your solution is just fine for Socal or Portland weather also because a "wet" 30F isn't the same as a "dry" 30F.

freedomrider1

never thunk of that, thanks

gugie 

For the first time in several weeks, it was dry, about 35. I've ridden at 23 with two wool sweaters. 0F? I have my limits.

As stated before, you should be a bit chilly when you start riding in cold weather, otherwise you're dressed too warmly. On the way home my hands get cold, even with "lobster claw" winter gloves. Somewhere about 9-10 miles in, my hands warm back up.

If you're getting cold riding, ride harder, generate more heat. If it's cold and you're sweating, you're one short stop away from hypothermia. I've been on rides where I stayed away from the rain jacket, but had my woolie layers stacked up, but it just kept coming down harder and harder, and got soaked. I find that if I keep going, once you get soaked, that layer next to your skin stays relatively warm - wetsuits operate that way, if the layer is thick enough, you're gold.

Here I am on a bike trip in the Sierras last year.


I'm soaked in this picture. A few miles later I changed into winter gloves. A mile after that it started hailing, and the temperature dropped to where we could see our breath. My buddy had a rain jacket on, and nearly got hypothermia. I stayed warm.

nkfrench 

When I was a college student doing my easy 3-mile bike commutes, I had civilian clothes for riding, including in temperatures < 20F. My baselayer was probably a cotton mock turtleneck; over it I wore a oiled wool Danish seaman's turtleneck sweater; on top was a snorkel parka. Big leather work gloves. Just blue jeans and sneakers and knee socks on the bottom. That gorgeous sweater and coat had to come off immediately when I got indoors as it was seriously warm.

I finish plenty of rides with chain grease on my calves and hands despite keeping the drivetrain quite clean. Pick clothes where you don't mind the stains and/or you can clean them off the fabric without damaging it.