It's getting cold out there! - Cold Weather Gear
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Party Central
Posts: 434
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
It's getting cold out there! - Cold Weather Gear
Thanks so much for all your help so far Dever peeps. I'm LOVING it here. I've been out 4 times in the last week but today it was colder than I am prepared for, and it's only September.
I wanted to ask those that have endured the seasons here what kind of gear I need to be accumulating before the real cold gets here. I have normal s/s jerseys, bibs, 1 pair of knickers and some arm warmers, but I don't even own a jacket or anything yet. I'm assuming I'll want some full insulated tights? What about jackets and vests? Do you guys recommend thermal ones or just windshell types?
This afternoon when I went out I had my knickers, 2 jerseys, armwarmers and gloves and I was chilly after 10 miles. I can only imagine it's going to get a lot worse!
I wanted to ask those that have endured the seasons here what kind of gear I need to be accumulating before the real cold gets here. I have normal s/s jerseys, bibs, 1 pair of knickers and some arm warmers, but I don't even own a jacket or anything yet. I'm assuming I'll want some full insulated tights? What about jackets and vests? Do you guys recommend thermal ones or just windshell types?
This afternoon when I went out I had my knickers, 2 jerseys, armwarmers and gloves and I was chilly after 10 miles. I can only imagine it's going to get a lot worse!
#2
Banned.
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 20,917
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
You get used to it - sort of an acclimation.
I have been riding early in the morning (5:00 am) lately, using my lights.
I wear tights or nylon workouts, several layers on top - like an under jersey, a jersey and a wind breaker, and full-fingered gloves. I have 3 jerseys with hoods, and they come in real handy. Sometimes I wear two windbreakers, which are both very light and very warm.
Layers are the solution, not a heavy coat.
And, our weather is such that it is likely to be 60F in January.
Have fun!
I have been riding early in the morning (5:00 am) lately, using my lights.
I wear tights or nylon workouts, several layers on top - like an under jersey, a jersey and a wind breaker, and full-fingered gloves. I have 3 jerseys with hoods, and they come in real handy. Sometimes I wear two windbreakers, which are both very light and very warm.
Layers are the solution, not a heavy coat.
And, our weather is such that it is likely to be 60F in January.
Have fun!
#3
Mountain Goat
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 2,244
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse 3 Carbon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Denver is all about layers. The days can change drastically this time of year. I have been out in shorts and caught in the snow in the fall. A nice warm and sunny day can turn cold and snowy in a matter of hours. Look West and if the mountains are lost in a cloud, that front could be down here quickly. Most of the time it won't come down though and it will just be mild in Denver.
You will probably want arm warmers and a vest for sweaty descents on cool days, as well as some warmer cycling gloves. In the winter, I sometimes wear tights over my shorts, but it is often warm enough not to.
You will probably want arm warmers and a vest for sweaty descents on cool days, as well as some warmer cycling gloves. In the winter, I sometimes wear tights over my shorts, but it is often warm enough not to.
#4
Crankenstein
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Spokane
Posts: 4,037
Bikes: Novara Randonee (TankerBelle)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
My cold weather gear consists of:
Long underwear
sweats
Whatever pants I'm wearing for the day
wind resistant running pants (Only if it's raining or wet snow)
Underarmor-clone baselayer
Whatever shirt I'm wearing (t-shirt or Sweatshirt, depending on weather)
Hoodie
Windbreaker
One or two pair of socks (One thermal if needed)
Waterproof hiking boots
Lightweight hunting gloves (water and wind resistant)
balaclava
knit cap
clear, yellow, and tinted safety glasses (Tinted for sunny days, clear for night or rain, yellow or clear for snow)
Mix and match as required for conditions... I've ridden down to -5F with that gear and been very comfortable. (12.5 mile ride that I did on two different occasions at that temp)
Long underwear
sweats
Whatever pants I'm wearing for the day
wind resistant running pants (Only if it's raining or wet snow)
Underarmor-clone baselayer
Whatever shirt I'm wearing (t-shirt or Sweatshirt, depending on weather)
Hoodie
Windbreaker
One or two pair of socks (One thermal if needed)
Waterproof hiking boots
Lightweight hunting gloves (water and wind resistant)
balaclava
knit cap
clear, yellow, and tinted safety glasses (Tinted for sunny days, clear for night or rain, yellow or clear for snow)
Mix and match as required for conditions... I've ridden down to -5F with that gear and been very comfortable. (12.5 mile ride that I did on two different occasions at that temp)
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Wheat Ridge, CO
Posts: 1,076
Bikes: '93 Bridgestone MB-3, '88 Marinoni road bike, '00 Marinoni Piuma, '01 Riv A/R
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
A helmet liner or balaclava that fits under the helmet will go a long way toward keeping your whole body warm, and they don't take up much space in your pocket.
#6
impressive member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: fort collins
Posts: 2,706
Bikes: c'dale supersix, jamis trilogy, spec. tricross
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
showers pass elite 2.0 jacket/shell, this fuzzy REI poly insulating layer, UA heavy baselayer, PI amphib tights Chrome shins, seak skinz socks and specialized taho shoes. when it gets really cold and i switch to my lake winter boots.
swobo 6 panel wool cap with ear flaps, light thin balaclava, waterproof helmet cover keeps heat in the helmet without getting so clammy.
thin mountain hardware glove liners under some PI zephyr gloves.
variations on the above are good for me down to about -5 degrees F.
swobo 6 panel wool cap with ear flaps, light thin balaclava, waterproof helmet cover keeps heat in the helmet without getting so clammy.
thin mountain hardware glove liners under some PI zephyr gloves.
variations on the above are good for me down to about -5 degrees F.
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Party Central
Posts: 434
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks for the responses guys. The more I keep riding here, the more I'm seeing the advantage to buying a lot of different layers. I think I have most everything ordered at this point, except that I don't own a jacket of any type yet...
I like Voler products... do you guys recommend getting their "windshell jacket" or the "thermal jacket" as my outer layer? Any reason that I would need some sort of vest as well?
Sorry for the lame questions, but I've never lived in an area that gets cold at all.
Thanks, Bryce
I like Voler products... do you guys recommend getting their "windshell jacket" or the "thermal jacket" as my outer layer? Any reason that I would need some sort of vest as well?
Sorry for the lame questions, but I've never lived in an area that gets cold at all.
Thanks, Bryce
#9
Banned.
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 20,917
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
Went riding early this am, 42F in Parker.
Bibs, Tights, under layer, jersey with hood, two very light Tyvek windbreakers, full fingered gloves, shoes and socks - perfectly warm and delightful.
Bibs, Tights, under layer, jersey with hood, two very light Tyvek windbreakers, full fingered gloves, shoes and socks - perfectly warm and delightful.
#10
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,362
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6219 Post(s)
Liked 4,217 Times
in
2,364 Posts
Thanks for the responses guys. The more I keep riding here, the more I'm seeing the advantage to buying a lot of different layers. I think I have most everything ordered at this point, except that I don't own a jacket of any type yet...
I like Voler products... do you guys recommend getting their "windshell jacket" or the "thermal jacket" as my outer layer? Any reason that I would need some sort of vest as well?
Sorry for the lame questions, but I've never lived in an area that gets cold at all.
Thanks, Bryce
I like Voler products... do you guys recommend getting their "windshell jacket" or the "thermal jacket" as my outer layer? Any reason that I would need some sort of vest as well?
Sorry for the lame questions, but I've never lived in an area that gets cold at all.
Thanks, Bryce
Find your problem areas and get them insulated first. Everyone is different. Some people have problems with hands, some with heads, some with feet, etc. Find your cold spots and take precautions to keep them from getting cold and you'll go much further.
For laying, many thin layers are better than one thick one. A thin wind resistant outer layer...like the windshell jacket...is better than a jacket that has its own thermal layer. You can always add, or remove, a layer under a thin jacket but you can't remove a jacket's thermal layer. You have to remove the jacket and then lose your wind blockage. Wind is your enemy, especially here where the air is so dry, block it and, again, you'll go much further. Pearl Izumi makes Zephyr jackets which are good wind resistant jackets that aren't too expensive.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#11
Mountain Goat
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 2,244
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse 3 Carbon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I just got a new Gore soft shell at REI today. The fit seems good and tight and the arms zip off. However, it is a bit big for packing, so I imagine I will need to start out wearing it and add the arms if it gets colder.
I generally like to climb, so I get really warm on the way up and really cold on the way down. I am hoping the soft shell will add a nice breathable option, but now that it has warmed up again, it will be a while before I try it out.
I generally like to climb, so I get really warm on the way up and really cold on the way down. I am hoping the soft shell will add a nice breathable option, but now that it has warmed up again, it will be a while before I try it out.