Bob Ross

Well, I had an epiphany this weekend...or, perhaps more accurately, I came to my senses after a prolonged stupidity episode.

Friday it was 9°F. No, I did *not* go riding! But then Saturday it was 35°, so not only did I run out happily to cycle, but I foolishly thought it would be balmy...since, at least compared to the previous day, it was.

But 35° is still 35°. Like an idiot, all I wore was a longsleeve polypro base layer, a lightweight longsleeve polyester jersey, and a longsleeve Ibex Ampara Merino wool jersey. 15 miles into my ride, I am one unhappy camper. It's not too bad when I'm stopped; it's the wind when I'm riding that's just cutting straight through to my core.

Mercifully there's a wonderful bike shop at the 20 mile point, where I just happened to have a store credit. Shivering & bordering on hypothermia, I run in and start looking at all the full winter jackets. But then I realize a winter jacket will be overkill for the ride home, as I still have 3 layers on. Plus I have a nice winter jacket at home, I just forgot to wear it!

Remembering that I'd been thinking about a one of those windvests that's just a big mesh back, I decide to take a chance on a Sugoi they're selling for $50. Front is extremely thin, lightweight wind-blocking material. Back is nothin' but net. (Plus two rear pockets and a generous smattering of ScotchBrite reflective material.) Even if it doesn't save my life on the ride home, I figure it'll get some use in the Spring (should I survive).

Within minutes I realize this is the smartest decision I've ever made regarding my winter wardrobe. It does EXACTLY what I need it to do: keeps my core warm. I don't find myself wishing I had any additional coverage, I don't find myself *too* warm or *too* steamy like I do with my old Canari windvest, plus it fits better so it's more aero than the Canari. I went out Sunday in 38° wearing the exact same outfit and I was so comfortable it was almost laughable. Lesson learned.

vrkelley

29F Frosty, ice patches. Clear skies

HEAD: Alpaca homemade cap, baclava neck wrap, clear plastic/fleece wind blocker (bocks vents in helmet)
TORSO: ShowersPass rain jacket, Marmot softshell, Eddie Bauer wool zip, thin wool camisole
LEGS: ShowersPass rain pant, PI Therma Fleece, Thin Wool tights (with feet)
FEET: Cashmere sock and Garnae winter racing boot
HANDS: Kombie ski mittens

Distance 9.7mi one way
Comments Cold legs, low cadence due to binding at leg. Should have worn the Schoeller WB400 ski pants instead. Should have worn seal-skin socks instead of the cashmere

TJHOO

30-32degF; wind chill 22-27
32 miles non stop

Head: ear warmers and thick balaclava; Helmet, thin helmet cover;

Torso: Thin Duofold polyester long sleeve base layer which has full turtleneck; Trek med thickness jersey wind protected in chest only

Legs: pair thin Duofold undershorts; Med thickness Pearl tights;

Feet: Smartwool socks x2 pair, chemical toe heaters inside under toes, Sidi Genius Mega's (2 sizes large), hand heaters outside shoe above toes and under heel; 2 pairs toe covers, 1 pair med weight full booties over that

Hands: Outdoor Research mitts

Result: Everything felt just about right. Upper body a little sweaty. Hands were actually too warm; got sweaty; however I guess the mitts breathed enough to keep the sweat from freezing b/c hands stayed very warm! Feet a little cool toward end of ride.

Portis

Well actually it was yesterday:

Today I wore:

Head:

Helmet, 2 Ear bands, 2 Lightweight Balaclavas

Torso

Performance Winter Cycling Jersey, Lightweight unlined vest, Performance Gore Tex Cycling jacket.

Legs

Nashbar Epic Cycling shorts, Foxwear Powershield tights, LIghtwieght tights.

Feet.

Defeet midweight Merino Wool socks, Heavy pair of wool socks from Walmart.
Lake MXZ 300 Shoes, with a pair of oversocks over the top. (from foxwear)

Hands

LIghtweight fleece gloves from Target, Windbloc Flip Mitts from Glacier Glove


Conditions

13 F,

Note: Feet stayed pretty warm, but starting to chill after hour and 15 minutes or so. Everything else was good.

vrkelley

24F Frosty, ice patches. Clear skies

HEAD: Alpaca homemade cap, baclava neck wrap, clear plastic/fleece wind blocker (bocks vents in helmet)
TORSO: ShowersPass rain jacket, Marmot softshell, Eddie Bauer wool zip, thin wool camisole
LEGS: ShowersPass rain pant, PI Therma Fleece, Thin Wool tights (with feet)
FEET: Cashmere sock and Seal skin liner Garnae winter racing boot
HANDS: Kombie ski mittens

Distance 9.7mi one way
Comments Legs cold to the touch but tights were damp with sweat. Cold left foot. Maybe from the extra wind on that side as cars are passing

Bob Ross

!?!?!?!?!?!

TreeUnit

The other day: 2F, very little snow

Head- Balaclava, Plexiglas Work goggles from Lowes, Helmet
Torso - 100% Cotton T-Shirt, 100% Cotton Button Down, Mostly Cotton Sweater, Nylon Jacket
Hands- Glove Liners of unknown material, and Wool Gloves
Legs- Blue Jeans
Feets- Cheap Non-speical socks, Adidas Tuscany Shoes

chephy

CONDITIONS: 1 F (-22 F with windchill). Some of that tiny stinging snow. Strong wind with gusts up to 35 mph.

HEAD: MEC Polartec 200c peruvian hat, Louis Garneau Oro Course helmet (has small vents which is good in this kind of weather)

TORSO: some generic polyester turtleneck as a base layer, Etxeondo jersey, wool sweater, RipZone Core jacket

LEGS: thin long johns and cheapo skiing pants

FEET: thin merino wool cycling socks, thick army socks, army boots

HANDS: MEC lobster mitts

Felt mostly good, maybe slightly overdressed the torso. Toes froze. Face and eyes need some sort of protection...

zippered

(thanks to whoever wrote the "format")

Today I wore:

Head:

helmet, cool-max balaclava, fleece cycling cap, clear safety glasses, fleece neck bandana

Torso

long sleeve shirt, fleece zip-up sweater, fleece-lined cycling jacket

Legs

leotards and corduroy pants! (hey, i had to go to "work" )

Feet.

cadet wool socks (hand-me-down!), Lake MXZ 300 shoes

Hands

mec lobster gloves

Conditions

-14 celcius (about -27 with the windchill), wind west 39kms/h gusting to 55 going... -10 return (about -20 wind chill), wind west 30kms/h gusting to 39 (through fresh snowfall, in rush hour traffic, on slicks)...

got home in one piece, with only the tip of my right thumb a little numb. i can't really complain though, because it's such a short distance that i have to go! (rhyme not intended?)

RomSpaceKnight

sk8er helmet, bolle goggles, fleece ear warmers, neporene mask, LG jacket, long sleeved jersey, helly hanson long sleeved t, short sleeved jersey, longjohns, columbia snowboard pants, work socks, shiman MTB shoes, sugoi booties, one size fits all stretchy gloves, columbia snowboarder gloves

tittyj

hello all-

Chicago- big surprise... cold and windy.

commute- 10 miles each way.

weather- 8 degrees, feels like -4, wind in my face at 15mph.(amazing going and coming)

i wore-
head- pearl balaclava with pearl training hat and my eclipse helmet.

body- cannondale base layer, gore jersey, gore windproof/waterproof "tool" jacket.

legs- sugoi rs flex shorts, sugoi leg warmers, with old 70's short stretch jeans.

hands- pearl lobster gloves.

feet- cycling socks with specialized wool trainer socks over.

shoes- specialized sport mountain shoes with pearl toe warmers.

bike- rode my steel centurion with record/chorus.

over all i was not effected by the weather, my hands were too warm and my toes got cold at the end of my ride.

just another cold day.

my 2 cents.

thanks

Telix

Champaign, IL - Temp ~27F. Minimal wind. 1.5 mile commute to class.

Base layer: Champion polyester short-sleeve shirt
Mid layer: Rapha merino wool Fixed. jersey
Outer layer: Gore Tool jacket
Gloves: Thinsulate (waiting on my Pearl Izumi inferno's)
Legs: Jeans
Socks: Thick smart-wool-esque
Shoes: Leather Chuck Taylors
Head: Helmet

I wish I had worn my balaclava as my face and ears ended up pretty cold. I don't know what I was thinking. My thinsulate gloves still suck in terms of windproofing, but the PI's should be here soon. The gore + jersey are perfect for these temperatures, though.

tallerik

The following has worked extremely well for me for the past couple years of winter cycling in Boston.
Of course, I need the heat generated from cycling to stay warm and I could not walk more than a block with this set-up on a cold day in Boston.
But the trick for me is getting rid of the heat rather than sweating to death.
I use this setup from mid december to mid march.
I ride fixed/track, so I will stay a bit warmer than the average free-wheel cyclist.
But, this set-up has been rock solid for me.



Location-boston, Todays temp 3 degrees, dist. 15 miles. to work and 15 miles back to home.

Torso/Arms: Craft pro zero base layer, salsa wool long sleeve jersey, loki jacket. (Really works well for staying dry and staying warm. Without the craft product I would be far to sweaty)
Head: cinelli cycling cap with carhartt stocking cap. (yeah, should wear a helmet, I know)
Legs: Cannondale fleece lined full length spandex under levi pants. (pants with an underlayer will last all winter)
Hands: Caraft Siberian gloves. Normally love craft products, but size xl is a bit small so my tips of the finger get colder thant they should.
Feet: Defeet wool socks and sidi dominator II. (Toes stay warm so long as I am not standing still to long)

Ernesto Schwein

-42F; no wind
6.5 miles

Head: Thick pile balaclava, LG power cap; Helmet, LG helmet cover, Bolle goggles

Torso: Patagonia expedition weight capilene, REI shelled fleece vest, Canari boulder pile jersey, Arcteryx sidewinder jacket.

Legs: Patagonia expedition weight capilene, Addidas arctic bib tights

Feet: Generic heavy polypropylene socks, Lake MZ300 boots, Gator neoprene over booties

Hands: Generic polypro glove liners, Nashbar lobster claw mittens

Observation: Feet and legs were great, torso was fine, fingers were getting a little tingly, impossible to keep the face warm at this temp and you really have to watch your speed with any exposed skin the alternative is covering the mouth and totally icing up the goggles and building a massive snot-cicle below the nose. All-in-all silly weather, people that say they enjoy this sort of thing have brain damage.

caloso

Today I wore:

Head:

helmet, cycling cap

Torso and arms

poly baselayer, shortsleeve jersey, armwarmers

Legs

bibs and kneewarmers

Feet.

smarwool socks, sidi genius, and kucharik neoprene toewarmers

Hands

poly glove liners under generic fingerless gloves

Conditions

48F, overcast and windy

A bit chilly to start but once I warmed up it was just about perfect. Armwarmers and kneewarmers are the perfect spring accessories. [/QUOTE]

Bob Ross

Today I wore

...a hole in the carpet, pacing back & forth waiting for this damn snow to stop!

Snow_canuck

Today I wore:

Head:

balaclava, with a toque over that

Torso:

t-shirt,flece sweater, light flece jacket and my $180 bike shop jacket over top of it all.

Legs:

Jeans with long undies!!!

Feet.:

Blundstone #500, basic socks. I need better socks and riding winter shoes.

Hands:

decent gloves

Conditions:

-16c(3f), (-21c with the windchill), with continental country ride tires, 700*37

OK, only had to go 10km. Toes were starting to feel cold, rest of me was just toasty.

midschool22

Conditions:
37F with 10 mph winds

Duration:
1 hour

Head
Old Colorado Avalanche stocking cap (helmet on order)

Torso
Hook Ups t-shirt
Nike short sleeve jersey
Nike thermal arm warmers
Dickies thermal hoodie
Light windbreaker

Hands
Nike team fingerless gloves
Wal-Mart wool gloves

Lower half
Nike Race shorts
Nike thermal tights
Sweatpants

Feet
Champion socks
Trek neoprene booties

At first I thought that it might not be enough. After a bit, I was nice and toasty. The only thing I would change would be to add thicker socks (even with the booties) and a balaclava.

Portis

I guess I will take the honor of posting the first thread of the season.


Today I wore:

Head:

Ear band/Helmet

Torso

Performance Winter Cycling Jersey, Lightweight unlined vest,

Legs

PI Ultra Sensor Cycling shorts, Leg Warmers


Feet.

Defeet midweight Merino Wool socks, Shimaon Cycling shoes

Hands

Trek light-midweight gloves.


Conditions

45 F, NE wind 5-10 mph. Started out in the dark. After sunrise sky was clear. Rode 2 hr. 3 minutes. (32 miles)

Notes:
None

daredevil

We rode in similar conditions today. I love the 40's. Then again, I love the 90's too!

But Portis, this ain't winter yet! Please don't try to hasten its arrival.

Portis

No it's not winter, but the thread addresses winter (cold) specific clothing needed for said conditions. It has to be in the uppder to mid 40's before i really wear anything different than summer.

daredevil

I understand. Just giving you a hard time.

This morning was low 40's for me. When I got some speed up I was feeling some sting on the face for the first time this season. Otherwise I had a smartwool beanie under the helmet, some long finger gloves, a long sleeve jersey and a fleece jacket. Nothing special on the feet. Very comfortable.

We're supposed to be at 30 for a low around here right now.

btw, I started reading this thread at the top of the last page and was astounded folks in Chicago and Seattle were below freezing. When I saw someone say they were in single digits, the moron here figured it out. It was last winter!

WhiteRabbit

Conditions - 38F, clear and calm, sun just peaking up over the mountains as I started

Head:

Fleece balaclava, helmet

Torso

Longsleeve REI merino shirt, poly jersey

Legs

cycling shorts, REI commuter rain pants


Feet.

Champion cycling socks, lightweight merino hiking socks, mesh shoes

Hands

3 season full fingered gloves


Notes:
This was the first ride I have done with the balaclava, and also the first ride <45F that my lungs haven't been in pain afterwards. My hands were cold, so I will wear my actaul winter gloves tomorrow.

daredevil

Same conditions as WhiteRabbit - 38 clear and calm

also wore a balaclava and tried for the first time some Smartwool glove liners under some regular ole nothing special full finger glove. Worked fine.

Otherwise I had a long sleeve jersey under a fleece jacket. Only one pair of Defeet Blaze Chili socks and a pair of Sporthill tights.

Very comfortable.

caloso

This is a tough time of year. It's high 40s when I leave the house, but it can be 10 or 15 degrees warmer when I arrive at the office. So, it's layers: arm and knee warmers, thin full finger gloves, and a wind vest. I usually end up taking half that stuff off.