Fastfwd01

I’m new to cycling and it’s quickly approaching the time of year here (and must already be elsewhere) for me to have to order a jacket and other winter gear to extend my cycling season into the cooler months. I’m trying to figure out what my layers are going to be right now.

What I’m seeing is that it seems like everything I start trying to look at was last year’s line and they are sold out of any color and size that I’m interested in. Cannondale, Pearl Izumi, etc.

What’s the deal? When might I expect a new line to come out? I would think they would be available by this time unless they come out in spring and they’re just sold out by winter and you have to pick over leftovers? Surely not?

Dave Cutter

New lines are out. You should be able to find plenty on line... if your LBS is light on stock. But why not just ask the places you visit?

cafzali

In all likelihood, the season hasn't changed enough in your neck of the woods for the local shops to stock them in sufficient quantity yet. Even in the Northeast, things haven't gotten cold enough that you see people in actual winter gear yet. While you'd expect shops to adapt for the upcoming season already, clothes are decent sellers for some and not as big for many others. Perhaps your LBS doesn't sell that much apparel and doesn't stock a lot. Add to that, things really don't change that much from one year to the next, so if they didn't sell out last year's stock, they may wait for that to happen before ordering new.

Fastfwd01

I’m looking online actually. I’m afraid I’m not flush enough to pay the premium my local bike shops would charge on items like this. I’ll buy my tubes, etc. locally, but I can’t afford their prices on stuff like this.

This for instance is on the Cannondale website as a current year product, but it is sold out and not to be found. Possibly it was just popular and sold out quick, but I might believe they would keep enough stock through the fall?

https://www.cannondale.com/nam_en/apparel/fall-winter/men-s/l-e-winter-jacket

I’m not even sure that is ‘the’ jacket, but an example. I do sort of like that one now that I’m looking at jackets. Not very subdued, but I was born in ’71 – so, I could see me in it.

Pearl Izumi seems to be the same story. There are a handful of new items out, but a lot of their lineup is nearly sold out online. The stuff I’ve looked at anyway.
I’m thinking I want something that is less protective for rain – I’m not going to ride in the rain anyway. Probably a soft shell type of jacket.

jwarner

I ride in a regular-old windstopper soft shell jacket from Mountain Hardware throughout most of the winter. Works just as well as any of the cycling-specific jackets I've had or seen. Stuff that doesn't say [insert bike company name here] is generally less expensive, but just as good in my opinion.

Fastfwd01

I've got a nice Montbell synthetic jacket that I probably could wear, but since I started cycling I've dropped more weight and it's an XL that is a bit large on me now. I could use a new jacket the fits properly too. Some of these might be a poor choice for anything but cycling, but I might enjoy wearing it casually off the bike.

a1penguin

Cycling jackets usually have longer tails in the rear so that you have adequate protection in a riding position. Perhaps you can make do this winter with what you have and purchase winter clothing on sale next spring. I find REI Novara brand clothing to be reasonable quality. I often pick up stuff with the roughly quarterly 20% off coupons or from the sale rack in the off season. For me 37ºF is about as cold as it gets in winter in California, so a couple of layers and a windshell works quite well.

Fastfwd01

I gave up and jumped on a 22% discount code for a single item from Nashbar this morning (why in the world I keep letting their gimmicky deal tricks work on me I have no idea). Picked up the Cannondale Performance Soft Shell Jacket. I may regret at some point that I've invested in Cannondale branded clothing, but they seem high quality and I'm a full on Cannondale fan boy currently.

I see absolutely nothing in regards to reviews on this jacket online to speak of. It states it has a 'polyurethane barrier' - which might equate to not being super breathable, but whatever. I've seen a few comments here about people not putting too much stock in the 'breathability' of jackets, etc. Just open the zipper if you need air - sounds reasonable enough to me.

It does appear to be another of the items with a dwindling stock being discounted - so, I jumped on it. Good looking enough. I can't deal with the Cannondale Green thing - so, I went with white and black with red accents. Would have preferred black. It might be stylish enough to wear casually on occasion if desired.

pdlamb

Immediate panic may have passed, but for the record, I don't have much use for "winter" cycling jackets. My winter jacket is my rain jacket, with plenty of zippers and vents. Those keep me from overheating. The layers underneath the jacket keep me warm.

scoatw

That is how I do it. I have a J&G jacket that is just as windproof as it is waterproof. My mid layer is a Sport Hill Cross country ski jacket that is light and warm. After that I just adjust my under layers. I've been doing that going on winter #8 .