At least for Tucson. Like 40 degrees!!!
I know, it ain't Minnesota, but my sleeveless jersey and running shorts are totally not going to cut it anymore for this noob.
Thank God I had the foresight to dig my skullcap out of the winter clothes bag, or else the wind would've frozen my eardrums.

My list of things to hunt down at the thrift stores this afternoon/evening:
*Long-sleeve thermal/underarmor/something
*More pairs of wool socks
*Wind jacket
*Gloves

I'm open to suggestions (bear in mind I did say thrift stores so expensive biking gear is prolly not an option)...?

I have seen on tv that the mornings can get cold in the desert. Bundle up.

Suggestion? MAN UP!

26 deg and foggy for my commute.

Funny. Up here in Minnesota, it was 68 degrees this morning before dawn.

Though with a passing cold front the temps will be a bit more seasonal (30s in the morning).

Heh heh - that's definitely part of my strategy.
But... I'm betting you didn't do the 26 degree commute in a sleeveless jersey

I hear you, Chandler,AZ this morning 44 degrees and of coarse I started my long 40 mile commute today. I will be digging out the winter gear tonight.

Why not just go out for a pair of sweat pants, a long sleeved T-shirt, and (if you can find one) a warm vest, or spring jacket?

It was 55 degrees when I left for work this morning, and I felt cold in my long sleeve shirt and shorts. It's funny how winter acclimatizes you though. I know in February, I won't think anything of going out in 10 degree temps. Of course I'll be dressed differently too, though...

This is a great thread to read! I grew up in Tucson and used to live in Tempe (daily commuter to ASU campus)... thinking in my AZ mindset 44 seems cold but since I just moved to CO that is a great ride only clothing change is a long-sleeve jersey! It was in the low 30's, damp, and dark this morning and for my bus-commute day (only 6mi RT instead of the normal 40mi RT) mother nature had dusted the foothills with her fairy dust (snow). Regardless the weather, still a GREAT ride.

My motto (that many here also have), if you are cold... ride faster! *results may vary especially on ice. *snicker*

Yea, so far it hasn't been too bad here in MI, my coldest commute thus far was high 30's, and i just wore my jeans with the right leg rolled up just under the knee, a wicking long sleeved t-shirt, and a wind breaker with Gloves. I was cool, but not cold. I just worked a bit harder to keep my body temperature up.

I just bought some wind breaking water resistant cycling pants for the winter to wear over some tights/long johns, and a nice fleece to wear under the wind breaker for the extra cold weather.

On my list is a skull cap, Winter riding shoes/boots, a Balaclava, goggles, and some heavier duty gloves.

I am also picking up two free bikes. I am hoping to convert those to winter/rain bikes. Most likely modestly geared Single Speeds on the cheap.

It was below 30 in Flagstaff this morning. Our high today won't be much out of the 40s.

48F at 6:30 this morning in Tempe, AZ. Just my usual short sleeve and shorts. But switched to wool socks in my sandals. Cozy. Moderately cool temps don't bother me for short rides like my 9mi commute.

It will be back to 98F for the PM ride by Friday.

This graph show the sudden drop in temp over the last days.

Al

Layer with layers you can take off - a hat, gloves, a lightweight(!) windbreaker, maybe (just maybe) nylon pants. Don't feel like you have to bundle up as much as you would for standing outside, motionless.

Think occasional wind chill, not bone-chilling cold, for early winter conditions.

Good to know info. I'm traveling to Yuma late this week. Better throw a long sleeve sweater in my bag just in case.

John

I guess I am just a total wus, I like cool weather but I never get use to riding in it.

Should be quite a bit warmer in Yuma late this week.
https://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/USAZ0275.html

I live in Tucson because I hate the cold. This morning was cold for Tucson!

Today was the first day since last March I have had to wear long pants instead of cargo shorts to work.

What solutions are there for climates where it is 35 at 9 am and 55 at Noon. Underarmour. Fleece?. I wish it possible to find something you could peel off as the temperature rises, yet not be stuck with excess weight.. Still, not freeze at 9 AM... Is such a combination possible. ?.

For 40 degree weather i put on a sweatshirt, and gloves. I can still wear shorts, and usually do because of how warm it gets later on in the day.

the whole key is layers. find a short and/or long sleeve shirt (anything but cotton, preferably) then a sweatshirt, then a (breathable) windbreaker type of deal. I'm love thrift stores, and where i am that's all readily available there.

for gloves you can get pay $25-30 for some cycling specfic gloves, or go to a store (Dick's, Hibbits, etc.) and get neoprene glove liners. They cost about $12, and are great.

edit: a hat works wonders. Your head is the main place you lose heat. When i backpack a hat is the easiet/lightest/most compact way to regulate heat, and same concept applies biking.

Yah the desert is odd - it was 40 when I left the house, it'll be high 70s for the ride home.

Hopefully I can score some under-armor or something this afternoon. By the feel this morning, having sleeves and gloves will be half the battle.
Anybody know if it gets much colder than this in Tucson?
Man, the things you don't notice until you stop driving your car...

It's like that this time of year in my area. Low temps early morning and 30F changes during the day. It's the time for light vests, arm/leg warmers, head bands, and other items that can be removed/carried when it warms up.
Starting soon - through April are the short days with lots of layers, harder messier commutes, longer prep times, and storage issues. I'm already longing for spring.

I hear you man! It was 41 degrees in south Chandler when I left the house at 435am. Luckily I went to REI and purchased a pair of windgloves and a IQ PearlIZUMi windbreaker Sunday. I wore my bike shorts, gloves, wicking shirt, long-sleeve cotton shirt, and new jacket. The first 10 minutes were a bit chilly but about 4 miles into my 17 mile commute I was toasty and started to sweat. I am thankful the jacket has zippered vents that helped me 'cool' down. Overall, I was quite pleased knowing I could bear a cold-read Arizona cold morning.

Last year, I found some calisthenics before a cold/cool ride really helped out. I'm a fan of jumping jacks to start things off.

Most every winter in the Valley of the Sun there are several mornings below freezing. 27F is the lowest yet for me.

Al