What a great idea! I'm gonna hit my local Army Surplus on Tuesday!old USMC 'wooly pully' sweater
What a great idea! I'm gonna hit my local Army Surplus on Tuesday!old USMC 'wooly pully' sweater
"I'm taken between Aardvark and Abacus" ~ me, these days.
"I came out for exercise, gentle exercise, and to notice the scenery and to botanise. And no sooner do I get on that accursed machine than off I go hammer and tongs."
~ H.G. Wells, The Wheels of Chance
skullcap
helmet
glasses
short-sleeve coolmax shirt
long sleeve jersey (very lightweight)
Columbia Titanium softshell jacket
REI Hi-Viz shell
Pearl shorts
Sugoi heavy tights
coolmax socks
wool socks
Shimano MTB shoes
lobster gloves
It was 38F this morning as the sun came up, and windy. The shell was a bit overkill, as the softshell would have been fine. But the shell is screaming yellow, and the softshell is "aubergine" and not at all visible. I was quite comfy, only had to unzip the jackets a bit.
Today I wore:
Head:
Helmet, Ear band, Lightweight Balaclava
Torso
New Performance winter cycling jersey-midweight,Pearl Izumi Zephyr jacket.
Legs
Nashbar Epic Cycling shorts, Foxwear Powershield tights.
Feet.
LIghtweight WAlmart socks, Heavy pair of wool socks from Walmart.
Shimano Mountain bike shoes. HIgh top.
Hands
LIghtweight fleece gloves from Target, Heavy weight Thinsulate convertible mittens from Walmart.
Conditions
30 F, Started out in the dark. After sunrise sky was clear. Rode 1 hour 40 minutes (21 miles) on dirt gravel roads.
Notes:
New jersey is midweight fleece. This is warmer than anything i normally use. Got along ok, but good thing i wore lighter jacket. Jersey is borderline to hot for 30 F.
Ooooops. Don't forget your most important itemOriginally Posted by Bikepacker67
I carry a very sharp 7" knife.
I know how to use it if I need to use it (God willing I'll never need to)
Same setup, except silk socks instead of coolmax. It was 30F, but less windy than yesterday. My legs and feet were a bit cold, but not enough to break out the booties or the gore-tex wind pants. Maybe next week.
Condition: 37F and steady rain
Clothing: Zakk Microfiber Brief with Clasps
That's all! . . . . Uhh, that's all for underpants.
Fleece balaclava
EMS techwick t-shirt, EMS Rumney Sweater, PI Barrier Jacket
PI Shorts, PI Amfib Tights, alpaca wool socks, mtb shoes
Temp was 35, and overcast.
A few weeks ago I went for a ride wearing a generic 50/50 polypro/cotton Thermal shirt, a long sleeve cotton T-shirt, a cheap department store fleece jacket with an EMS Gust jacket (windbreaker). Although I wasn't warm or hot, I was cool to comfortable. But, the windbreaker didn't breathe, and I ended up "clammy" and then cold.
So this time, I wore one of my "wicking" shirts as well as the "dri-release" sweater, got rid of the cotton, and wore what I thought was ample insulation with the POI jacket. But, I was cold. So I added a mountain hardware transition vest, and although I warmed up some, I still considered myself cold. Now to top it off, I was also wet, to the point that some paper money in the pocket of the sweater was damp.
My face and legs were plenty warm. I wouldn't change anything there.
But what can I do about the cold and damp feeling? Could I have mistaken cold for wet and cold. Should I add more insulation? If so, a heavier vest or heavier jacket? I was sweating as evidenced by the wet money. Would merino wool against the skin help make me feel warm?
So many different technologies and layers its hard to decide what to do.
Jon
Here's what works well for me between 30-45F
Poly or wool base layer
Wool sweater
J&G Wind Jacket, which is breathable and water resistant...using the front zipper and pit zips to regulate.
When colder I may add a fleece or cotton/poly sweatshirt under the jacket.
Wool will keep you both warmer and dryer...and even if you do get wet, you'll feel warm.
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
Thanks, so as not to get off topic here, I'll start a new thread.
Jan. 1, 2006
Head: helmet, lightweight balaclava, and Oakley M-frames
Torso: longsleeve generic underarmour, shortsleeve jersey, longsleeve jersey, and Novarra softshell wind jacket
Legs: generic underarmour, Novarra tights, and Velowear bib shorts
Hands: thin polygloves under Thinsulate wind gloves
Feet: thin poly sock, and heavy Thinsulate sock
Conditions: mid 30's F, cloudy, and dry
Notes: This was my first cold weather ride. I was very comfortable, and warmed up quickly on this 12.5 mile ride. This experience has me convinced that riding in the cold is very do-able, and fun.
It's interesting that I just noticed this thread today, because two days ago, before I saw this thread, I had an idea for a database very similar to this. You would be able log conditions, gear, and results, then this information could be used in the future to make recommendations for similar conditions. For I was envisioning it being personalized, to help remind you what has worked well in the past for you in these conditions. But I suppose it could also roll together everyone's data to make a "group recomendation" as well.
The tricky part will be coming up with the formulas to compare the conditions being queried to the conditions in the database and rate each gear combination accordingly. Might be a lot of trial and error.
It would be way cool to have this on an Internet page. And in a perfect world, I would have an infinite amount of free time to do it myself. But don't hold your breath waiting for it. If any other computer geek out there wants to steal my idea and implement it, be my guest!
Portland Maine Bicycle Commuting Meetup
Head: skull cap, helmet
Torso: Nike pro fit jersey, thermal poly top, red poly short sleeved loose shirt (it serves no purpose but for my vanity), and an old nike windbreaker
Legs: Cycling shorts and tights
Hands: lightweight novaro gloves
Feet: cotton socks and a set of wool socks. Not to metion my tennis shoes.
Weather: 20-24F, dark, and no wind. Distance and time: 15 miles at 1 hr.
Notes: windbreaker needs to go. Everything else breathes quite well. No point when the windbreaker turns me into a sauna. The tights\cycling shorts combo were at the lower end of my tolerance level.
Conditions: Windy, about 35deg., dark
Route: 4mi (I know, hardly worth dressing for), in 20 minutes.
Head and torso: Old polypro underwear top. Crappy hooded [m]Old Navy fleece pullover that someone gave me for Xmas 5-6 years ago. Performance wind jacket. The ON fleece works surprisingly well, actually. It's cut slim, the hood is lined and fits under my helmet (Old Specialized Mtn Man).
Legs: Bibs and old Dark Continent overpants. Wool socks. Street shoes (using clips/straps on commuter bike).
Today I wore:
Head:
Helmet, Ear band, Lightweight Balaclava
Torso
Performance Winter Cycling Jersey, Lightweight unlined vest, Performance Gore Tex Cycling jacket.
Legs
Nashbar Epic Cycling shorts, Foxwear Powershield tights.
Feet.
Synthetic midweight socks from Walmart, Heavy pair of wool socks from Walmart.
For shoes I wore a new pair of size 47 Lake MXZ300 Winter Cycling shoes. Just got them yesterday so this was my maiden voyage. Shoes did fine but I am wondering how cold i can wear them in.
Toes were getting just noticeably cold even at these temps. Hmmmmmmmmm.
Hands
LIghtweight fleece gloves from Target, Heavy weight Thinsulate convertible mittens from Walmart.
Conditions
22 F, North wind 10 mph. Started out in the dark. After sunrise sky was clear. Rode 2 hrs, 5 minutes. (25 miles gravel, dirt roads)
Notes:
Removed vest 3 miles into ride. Too hot. These shoes are supposed to be the shiznit for Winter cycling. I'll give a few more rides to before i give a review. Initial concern is potential for cold toes.
Weather 26 F windy, light snow
Descente balaclava
Duofold 100% merino LS baselayer
Noth Face Flight Series midlayer
Gore Bike Wear Tool Tricot jacket (vents open)
Gore Bike Wear Action bibs
Fox MTB ranger shorts
2 pairs wool socks
Addidas MTB vented shoes
Swany leather gloves with polyester lining
First cold weather ride that I didn't wind up soaking wet with sweat.
Toes cold, but everything else was perfect.
Thought maybe I would chime in with a report of what worked for those who dont have a lot of fancy stuff.
Today the weather was high 38, this morning is was 33 (feels like 24).
Silk mid-weight long underwear top and bottom
Skintight cotton/acrylic underwear top, t-shirt on top
Hooded zip up sweatshirt
Wool skullcap over baseball hat
Jeans
Full fingered cycling gloves, with polypro liners but I didn't end up wearing them.
Wool Hiking socks
Hemp skate shoes
I don't have a real long commute though. I was going to wear my fleece balaclava but I didn't feel that cold once I was outside. My commute is only a mile or so, however, but I took a short jaunt through downtown and this setup was more than adequate.
Drop the temperature 12 degrees celcius and there was a bit of a change in clothing!
Today I wore:
Conditions:
-2C/28.4F, North-west wind light. Started out in day, but the sun started to set, and it got cooler. Rode 1.5 hours. (34.5 kms)
Head:
Helmet, Headband, Neck gaiter
Torso:
Polypro base layer - long sleeved, Wool layer - long sleeved, Fleece layer - long sleeved, Winter jacket - lined.
Legs:
MEC shorts, Illumilite tights, Sweatpants - thin, light.
Feet:
Thin socks, Heavy wool socks, Lake mtn bike shoes, nylon booties.
Hands:
Lightweight lined, waterproof gloves.
Notes:
Comfortable, except for my feet which started to get a little cool toward the end.
30 degrees with wet snow, and wet roads.
Today I wore:
Head:
Helmet and nothing else on head
Torso
Northface Mountain Light Gortex jacket, over an REI light merino wool sweater
Legs
boxer shorts, and Foxwear Durastretch Rain Pants
Feet.
LIghtweight sock-guy mtn bike socks. Vasque gortex hiking boots
Hands
Kombi winter gloves, non waterproof
Conditions
30 F and clowdy in the morning on the way into work. 30F and snowing on the way home. Roads were wet, without sticking snow.
Notes:
Just got my new Foxwear Durastretch Rain Pants and they were really great. Made by a guy out of Salmon, Idaho, and recommened by icebike.com....I'd concure with the recommendation. No complaints during my 15 miles of riding today, but if I were going any further in the snow, I think I would have prefered to wear some type of head band.
Today I wore:
Head:
REI polar fleece balaclava, LG fleece skull cap, Briko helmet w/LG cover, Bolle goggles
Torso
Patagonia expedition weight capilene, Canari fleece jersey, REI fleece lined vest. Arcteryx sidewinder jacket.
Legs
Patagonia expedition weight capilene, Performance Triflex bib tights
Feet.
Heavy Polypro socks, Lake MXZ 300's
Hands
REI thin polypro liners, Nashbar lobster claw mittens
Conditions
-31F, light Ice Fog, no wind
Notes:
Lots of Icing problems on my commute to work, the fleece balaclava is too thick to really breath through and the the moist air collects on the goggles, the problem goes away when I leave my nose out but then I have to watch my speed or I frostbite my nose again. Feet and hands were fine, torso and legs were good too. This is mostly skiing and climbing gear I'm wearing. Biggest problem is that 1 or 2 minutes indoors with this outfit and I'm sweating like a hog.
1/17/05 ride:
road/city 30 miles
40f +/- and drizzling
helmet & headband
insulated long-sleeve ski shirt/long-sleeve cotton t-shirt/Fox plastic rain jacket
Pearl Izumi winter gloves (still got frozen fingers from time-to-time)
long tights/jeans
SockGuys socks/SIDI Dominator I (since it was Ben Franklin's b-day, I had on his beer quote socks, which I decided at the last minute would be OK alone, so I skipped the Gore-Tex footies. Wrong answer!! When I got back home, it took some massaging to get the feeling in my tootsies again.)
Head: Black vinyl waterproof liner + custom wool ski cap (both inside helmet), poly gaitor
Hands: Cross country ski gloves
Torso: Marmot ATV softshell, medium wt wool sweater, sport top
Legs: Gap flare jeans
Feet: Ultimax Wool socks, Gaerne Winter boot
Conditions: 41F misty, wet roads. TL Distance 11mi. Comfortable on 3mi descent 25-35mph
Comments: Did not need soft shell or gloves for return ride. Comfortable, blended in well at the store. Side spray from cars, dried and blew off pink sweater!
Tempature in the mid to upper 50's here today.Really nice for Janurary.First I started with a pair of Spandex shorts.Then some flannel lined,nylon warm ups.Top half got a short sleeved spandex jersey and covered that with a cotton,hooded,sweat jacket.Cotton Wal-Store sockies,my well worn leather slipper shoes,a light balaclava and snow board gloves,went and did about 20 miles.Who the hell has got the cash for space age clothing?
people with jobs who ride bicycles by choice?
Conditions today: low fourties, rainy, but not too rainy.
I wore:
Head: Gore Windstopper next2skin beanie, helmet
Top: Wool LS t-shirt, heavyweight wool sweater, blaze orange hunting safety vest
Bottoms: wicking briefs, cotton pants, wool socks, leather shoes, deerskin work gloves.
rode my basket bike for two hours running errands, maybe 15 miles or so.
Comments: Comfy, warm, a little damp at the end of the ride, stylish.
"Evidence, anecdote and methodology all support planning for roadway bike traffic."
Yup,That's me.Got a job and a bike.And a mortgage,three kids to feed,a couple of cats,a truck,a car.Who the hell has money for space age clothing?
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