baraadnan1

Hi, im planning to transport (move) between the apartment and the university by bike, so I took a look at Bike Shop | Bike-Discount: Shop with Best Price Guarantee ,and I noticed that 1.required winter clothes are very expensive ,, 2.when I arrive the university, where can I put the gloves, shoe cover, head cover, bag cover, legs cover, jacket (all waterproof) ?? because they will be very wet with rain and maybe snow !! Do I have to carry a big bag for them ?! or what ?!

baraadnan1

Guys...

JonathanGennick 

Try asking further down in the winter cycling forum. There are some really experienced people in there.

Skip past General in the forum listing. Scroll further down. Look for Winter Cycling. Post in that one.

ShortLegCyclist

Winter riding gear does NOT have to be expensive.

It also doesn't have to be bike/cycling specific.

If you have ski/snowboard wear like base layers, fleeces and shells, that will work fine, including ski and snowboard helmets.

You don't need a $100 insulated jersey to ride through the winter. A $20 thrift shop wool sweater will get you through just fine.

fietsbob

So , where you talkin about Willis?

cale

Depending on the distance of the commute, the temperature, and road conditions, you may not need anything more than a pair of light weight gloves for cool-to-cold weather and heavy gloves for the coldest. A face mask will help a lot if it is very cold. Some people get a helmet cover.

Longer distance rides are more comfortable when your clothes are tighter fitting. Training in the winter might mean getting a long sleeve jersey, a pair of tights, and some shoe covers (they help insulate the shoes and delay the freezing of your toes). But you can get by with a single item of each if you layer (a wicking undershirt and long sleeve jersey for example) and don't mind washing them more frequently.

Finally, you should winterize and protect your bike. Get fenders first. Nothing makes a bigger difference between two possibilities: arriving and attending class on time and arriving, changing and being late. Get safety lights for your bike. Get the best lock you can afford. (A fancy helmet for $150 will look silly sitting on your shelf if your $50 lock was cut to steal your bike. College campuses are typically rife with bike crime.)

rekmeyata

I don't ride or commute once it gets below freezing or it's snowing. The expense of winter cycling clothing, added expense of bike upkeep, comfort level, with the added issue of safety just doesn't make it worth it. If I didn't have a car I would take public transit. Some guys like this type of weather to cycle in, I'm not one of them, I spent most of my life California! Now I live in NE indiana.

molten

How could you adapt to change from California weather to NE Indiana weather? (esp if you were in soCal)
How would you be one of those to mentally adapt from car to public transit, as primary transportation. Most cyclists don't have such mindset. Even more, ones with families.

baraadnan1

is this jacket good ? And can I wear it over my normal jacket ?

The jacket:
Northwave Manty - Rain Jacket | Jackets Shop

fietsbob

That an Ability or a Permission question?

CliffordK

Each commute is different.

My winter garb is fairly minimal, and mainly designed about keeping one dry. Good ventilation is key with one's jacket. Fleece or a sweater is nice. I typically use generic non bike specific rain pants.

As mentioned, lights are good for the shorter days.

I've ridden with toe clips for years.... and I think just wore whatever shoes I had on the bike.
Recently I've gone to SPDs, and now have summer and winter shoes. No shoe covers to mess with. I usually change shoes if I'm planning to be off the bike for a few hours, but it isn't necessary.

no1mad 

OP, while I commend your diligence in researching what gear to select, I also understand that you're preparing for a major move. My advice would be to hold off on buying anything until after the move- see what works for the locals and start building off of that.

baraadnan1

guys, what about the second question ?! where to put the wet clothes ?!

GovernorSilver

Wear clothes that dry fast. You also want these clothes to be "moisture-wicking" - this means that the sweat you generate while riding your bike will be quickly wicked away, so you don't freeze from your own sweat.

gregf83 

You should probably ask that question of the university you'll be attending. It's been a while since I was at school but we used to have lockers. Living in Vancouver we also used to walk around between classes, sometimes with a 10 min walk, in the rain and didn't store our wet clothes anywhere.

Just get a decent waterproof shell and you should be fine. I wouldn't bother with shoe covers unless you're commuting a long distance.

Where are you going to school and how far is your commute?

baraadnan1

Heidelberg-Germany, ~12km one way (~24km room-uni + uni-room)

fietsbob

I wear a Cyclist's Rain cape, and have mudguards on the bike, rain is not a Problem.

I only need rain overtrousers when the storms blow in from the sea..

mozad655

Cycling is simple. Don't overcomplicate it. Even during winter. You don't need to pay any money for fancy clothes. Just wear regular clothes. If its raining, then buy a set of regular rainproof pants and jacket. They are pretty cheap. And a cheap pair of gloves if you don't already have one.

CliffordK

That is a moderate commute.

Is it flat or hilly? What is the weather like?

I really cut my teeth on winter commuting in Portland, OR where I had a pretty wicked morning hill climb. Warmth was never a problem, but good jacket ventilation was important. For that one, I had a locker an shower available if needed, but I think I only showered periodically when I ran instead of biking.

Many universities often have athletic facilities that you can use/rent.

molten

This is the land of where ASSOS is the norm.
The reliable apparel.

baraadnan1

I'm very confused! I think im gonna stop all that! and just use buses/trains (normal transportation)

baraadnan1

Here is some information about that area:
Heidelberg, Germany Weather Averages | Monthly Average High and Low Temperature | Average Precipitation and Rainfall days | World Weather Online

GovernorSilver

Why don't you just attend your university classes in the same clothes you wear when you ride your bike? When I was in university, a lot of students did that and nobody cared. If you wear quick-drying clothes as advised, no matter how wet you are when you arrive at university, I suspect that in the time it will take for you to lock your bike, look for a seat in class, and sit down in class, your clothes will be completely dry by the time your butt is in the classroom seat.

What I'm planning to wear for commute in the winter - granted this is in DC, not Germany. I know that my body produces a lot of heat when I ride my bike, maybe yours is different, so I'm quite conscious of not wearing so much that I sweat like a pig. I went on a demanding hike wearing a heavy winter jacket and had to take it off, despite the temperature being 45 F. I was just sweating so much with all the winter clothes on.

Pants - water-resistant, dries fast, wicks away sweat : Novara Tempest Bike Tights - Men's - REI.com

Under-the-pants - cheap polyester blend base layer bottoms (my grandpa used to call them "long johns") - wick away sweat and dry fast... wore these last winter under my office slacks and they work just fine.

Under the shirt - cheap polyester blend base layer long-sleeve top - also wore these last winter.

Shirt - one of my moisture-wicking, quick-drying t-shirts.

Arm warmers (only in case the shirt is not enough - note the price!) - Novara Thermal Tech Arm Warmers - REI.com

Jacket - a Pearl Izumi cycling jacket I picked on sale for cheap.

Socks - I have several pairs of quick-drying socks I bought for less than $8/pair on sale: https://www.rei.com/product/891278/pearl-izumi-elite-low-bike-socks-mens-2014-closeout

Shoes - Probably just my skate shoes. This is the type used by some surfers (primarily wake boarding) so they probably dry fast too. I know my Converse shoes dry fast but they might be a bit thin for winter.

If there's any ice on the ground, then I'll just take the Metro. I don't have a designated "winter bike" yet with the studded tires for handling ice. We don't have much snowstorms here. Me and my roommate once took a walk on the Mt. Vernon Trail on Christmas Day - a bit chilly but quite dry.

vatdim

The mass transit is probably a good option, since it's usually quite well developed in Germany. However, it does come at a cost.

Since you are still new to bike commuting, I'd suggest starting out slowly. Don't plan on the winter commute right away. Some winters are actually warmer or have less snowfall. You might get a good surprise. If not, you can come back to the forum and check again for more specific advice when you are ready to start buying your winter gear. And you always have the mass transit option, which is a good thing. Just do things one at a time and you'll be fine.

ShortLegCyclist

The winter gear you need for cycling is no bulkier and will be no wetter than the gear students who walk or bus to school will have.

Just do with your gear what they do with theirs.

There's nothing about cycling that will make your gear bulkier or wetter than someone who walked to class in the rain or snow.