pastorbobnlnh 

Every winter we seem to run across a series of questions about clothing, shoes, gloves, and other equipment needed in order to ride our bikes through the winter. Yes, I know there is a Winter Cycling Forum, but they don't know us and we don't know them. And yes, I know such a thread is useless to our brother and sister C&Vers who live in such wonderful winter wonderlands as Florida, Arizona, southern California, etc., not to mention other parts of the world, where temps rarely dip into the 50sF.

Let's use this thread to suggest ways to keep us going through the "off season" when wrenching in the shop is not enough and we need ride outdoors and survive while we do so!

My first product to endorse: Columbia's Omni Heat Gloves.





I wore them for their first ride this evening. The temp was 29F and my fingers never became cold. They are great. I did see them at TJMaxx the other day at some very affordable prices.

So what are our fellow C&V cold weather riders using successfully to stay warm?

Harlan

Commuting to work is almost the only way I can ride during the week in the winter. A super nice light and touring bike is my best suggestion!

Sixty Fiver

I know those folks in the WCF intimately... I am not one for too many synthetics when good old fashioned wool does such an incredible job of keeping me warm and dry during our frosty northern winters.

My Columbia Bugaboo / Omnitech jacket is the bomb... it is the layer that goes on over the wool.

auchencrow

Nokian studded tires. An absolute must-have for winter riding.

Sixty Fiver

I roll my own...

AZORCH

Gore Bike Wear Windstopper Headband. This is the best ear protector I've ever used; been wearing one for two years now: it's very lightweight, yet my ears stay warm and don't get buffeted by cold air or wind at all.

JPZ66

I think this will be an excellent thread. Also, don't kid yourself about some of those warm, sunny states....it occassionally snows even here in Vegas !

I love wool. However, looking ahead to my reloc to the PNW, I hope there might be a forthcoming endorsement for some light or medium weight gore-tex that I will wear over wool, to repel the wet.

Joe

ZippyThePinhead

Winter-- such as we have here in SoCal-- gets me to break out my Sugoi Wallaroo merino jersey, my Diadora Chili Extremes (<45F), and a few other things.

Planning to ride out tomorrow on my 1983 SR Semi Pro, rolling at about 6:30 a.m. It's supposed to be about 50F, so I'll wear my usual road shoes with toe covers.

Do we get some compensation for product placement in this thread?

Sixty Fiver

You need more credibility.



I would endorse the Surly Pugsley as one of the best winter bicycles a person can own and one of the funnest bicycles to ride... period.

due ruote 

For my head, I like a thin polypro balaclava under my helmet. I also have a wool hat from Ibex. It's nice for mild/chilly weather, but leaves some forehead uncovered and doesn't have the full neck coverage like the balaclava.

I have some old PI gloves that are super warm; almost too much unless it's below 30F.

Wool arm warmers are great and versatile.

It's pretty easy these days to pick up nice synthetic base layers at TJ Maxx or Marshall's for a good price.

I have some neoprene socks that keep my feet quite warm down to 35F or so, especially if I wear a light liner underneath. Colder than that, I break out the booties.

ZippyThePinhead

Hey, man... it's not my fault that it was around 80F (27C) here just a couple of days ago, and around 90F (32C) about two weeks ago. I don't make the weather... I just take it for what it's worth.

pastorbobnlnh 

Great suggestions so far, even from our fellow C&Vers living in warmer climes during the winter. Winter is relative, depending on location, location, location!

I'd love to ride a Pugsley at some point. Frank the Welder has a pair of Large Marge tires/wheels in his shop and they are incredible.

For my second endorsement, I'm going to suggest Hot Hands and their various warmer products.

Specifically I use the original hand warmer in a built in pocket in my gloves for times when it hits the mid 20sF and lower.



And the toe warmer with adhesive, but I wear them on top of my toes where there is more room in my boots.



I have poor circulation in my feet from letting them become too cold while skiing back in the 1980s. Hot Hands really solves this challenge.

Michael Angelo 

I wear a long sleeve T-Shirt and a scarf. Keeps me warm in these sub 70 deg. winter days.

rootboy 

Smart arse.

poprad

Best purchase for me this year: Lupine Wilma 6 headlight. It's like riding at noon in the summer sun, but only in the cone of vision you need. It turns pitch black into ridiculously bright trail. This winter it's letting me take to the trail instead of trying to dice with the evening traffic in the dark. Expensive but worth every penny. I didn't believe the hype until I tested it in an unlit underground garage; it's brighter than my 2000 Suzuki Bandit motorcycle headlight on highbeam.



Best long-term review, Gore Tool jacket. I don't think they still have the cool brown I got it in, but I bought this in 2010 and for non-driving rain it's been the best jacket for winter riding I've had. I could throw out all but my full-Goretex waterproof with this one. Long underarm zips make it comfortable from about 45 degrees down to the low single digits. I absolutely love it.

nlerner

I recently bought a set of Dog Earz:

https://www.treefortbikes.com/product...z,-Helmet.html

They attach to my helmet straps and do a great job of keeping my ears warm (and that's in addition to my Ibex wool cap with ear flaps that I wear when it's in the mid 40s or lower).

mickey85

This morning it was about 24*. I wore Wells-Lamont insulated gloves, a windbreaker with mockneck underneath, headband, athletic pants, and long johns. Shoes were Adidas Sambas with wool socks. The athletic pants leave a bit to be desired, but they're not terrible. The bike is a fendered Peugeot UO-8 fixed gear rolling Specialized Captain CX 700X34 cross tires.

old's'cool

I'm very fond of my Earbags®, as they keep my ears warm, while allowing air to circulate over my brow and the rest of my head, so I don't get too sweaty; and one day, I'm hoping they'll help me get a date like the gal in the photo.



Similarly, my GORE BIKE WEAR® WINDSTOPPER® Soft Shell jacket keeps me warm with just a t-shirt underneath, yet breathes very well so I don't get too sweaty when riding hard. It features porous panels under the arms and in the back that help in this regard.

JAG410

Clothing from foxwear.net! I had Lou make me some custom winter commuting pants that go over my work clothes, they work great all winter long.

rootboy 

I like my merino wool skullcap under the helmet, from Vintage Velos. And the wool tights from Ibex which have that "Climawool" or whatever it is ....facing to keep the wind from passing through. Also bought a nice neck gaiter in Merino, made by Minus 33.

auchencrow

Clothing-wise, I favor a wool toque, scarf (pictured) - and a flannel-lined sweatshirt under a fleece-lined jacket.
I find that's plenty warm enough for riding from ~32* F down to the single digits.

seedsbelize 

I'll be in northern Ohio for 18 days, beginning this coming Tuesday. Thanks for the tips. Unfortunately the only bike I have there is an '87 Prelude, with 25mm tires, and no fenders. Hopefully the roads will be dry. Hopefully I'll be able to convince myself to actually leave the house.

rootboy 

Is that an alien sitting on your computer desk, Auchen'?

If not, it looks like a fire hazard!

OTS 

I love my Moose Mitts.
Mine are the basic black model but they came out in a Hi-Vis model.


https://www.trails-edge.com/retail/te...mfbikemits.htm

Worth every penny to me to be able to keep riding in winter.

auchencrow

No - It's just that winter riding makes us all look a bit "alien":