Hi all.. I'm rather new to commuting, and also doing it for health reasons... so I don't want to entirely stop over the winter.

I need something that'll keep me dry and warm, both top and bottom. Here in Pittsburgh PA, it rains a lot, and is always gray and cold and windy in the winter...

From what I've read here, I know I should layer, and have a decent shell to shield me from the elements. I was recommended the Stealth Jacket by Endura, and it looks great, and has awesome reviews... the downside is that it's $300!! Is there anything else I should look at? I have another softshell jecket, but the cold does get in from the back (where jerseys are usually longer to compensate for riding posture). If consensus is that it's a great jacket, I may just bite the bullet and buy it.

How about pants? I'd like to have my legs not freeze... are track pants usually good enough? I usually wear bike shorts on the commute, and change when I arrive work/home. But if they don't help with the cold, or gets soaked easily, what are my alternatives? do I really need softshell-like pants as well?

Thanks!

And on top of all that, what do you all think of arm warmers and leg warmers?

I find that Pearl Izumi leg warmers work wonders, along with a pair of long underwear under (water proof(?)) track pants, your legs should be quite toasty. As for the jacket, I don't see any reason to spend $300. I bought a rain jacket from Performance for $80, has giant under-arm sleeves, doesn't make you feel stuffy. I believe it's called "Performance Ultra Rain Jacket". Make sure your head stays warm too, Performance has balaclavas for ~$15, very useful for keeping your ears from freezing off.

In Portland this is kind of the name of the game for keeping yourself warm / dry:

https://www.showerspass.com/catalog/m.../mens-elite-20

As you can see it has a flap that extends over your rear region.

Yikes, that jacket costs more than some bikes. Check the New Balance (running store) website for tights and jerseys. J&G for rainshell and pants. Insulation is highly individual. I have lots of different items and materials collected over the years. Turtlenecks, fleeces, hoodies, etc. YMMV.

H

Arm and leg warmers are best for variable temps. For regular all-day cold, tights and long-sleeve jeresey are more comfortable, quicker to apply, looser fit and wont slip down.
For cold rain you need a breathable waterproof with drop tail, high collar, underarm vents, bright colour and reflective stuff.
I am less picky about waterproof pants than tops.
As a base layer it is hard to beat superfine merino. A basic T-shirt is all you need. Add midlayer jersey and/or woollen jumpers as required.
I find that a sleeveless gillet with thin synthetic insulation is good as an outer layer on cold nights. I sometimes remove it half way through the ride, no messing around with mid-layers.
Also use a neck-tube , a helmet with minimal vents.
Winter footwear is different to summer ones.

Oh, for keeping your head dry, just place a shower cap over your helmet. Looks a bit odd, but your head won't freeze off.

I am not sure how long your commute is, so this probably doesn't apply to you if you travel very far.

For my 7+ mile commute (one way), I didn't really bother with a lot of specialized clothing and did well. I used longer wool socks, long johns, and instead of cotton undershirt I wore a thin(ish) merino sweater directly on skin. Over it I had a dress shirt etc. I wore my regular coat, which I sometimes took off when it got too warm after a couple of miles. I also carried with me a thinner extra jacket (in case of rain) from Performance, that I could easily pack away.
A balaclava is essential and I had old ski gloves that worked well.

The merino sweaters cost me 20-30 dollars, and the jacket I got on sale for 40. The balaclava was 25.

Check out the Winter forum. They give a lot of good, practical advice.

It basically boils down to layering. A good outer layer shell to keep out the wind and elements. A good base layer (next to skin) to keep you warm and dry. And something between the two to add some insulation. When it gets colder I might add an additional layer or thicker piece of clothing depending on the temps. I have nothing except leg warmers which are considered cycling specific. I usually wear those when temps get down below 30.

Yeah, layering, merino wool and spend some time in the Winter forum

Hey, I spent 10 years in Da 'Burgh. Will be doing the Dirty Dozen in 2012. Close knit Merino wool in layers w/an Anorak windbreaker. Get a cycling jersey w/an attached hood. Some sort of helmet cover whether it's a shower cap or cycling specific. A basebal cap or visor will keep rain from getting on one's goggles. Fenders for sure. Gore-tex gloves or mittens w/liners. Performance booties from www.performancebike.com and gaiters from www.campmor.com or www.sierratradingpost.com. Spend some time at the Red and White thriftstore on Highway 51...I've always found good stuff there. Keep a towell at work and a change of clothes.

All that being said I got a set of J&G raingear(jacket, pants and helmet cover) from www.bicycleclothing.com and have been more than pleased w/t performance. My rt commute is 40 miles, I'm a tourer and utility cyclist as well, so I didn't mind spending the money. If you need a good lbs go to Piitsburgh Pro Bikes in Squirrel Hill and ask for Alan or if you're towards Monroeville go to PBPB and ask for Chuck. They usually have 'old stock' stuff that's discounted alot. I got winter gear there on discount that I still use after 13 years.

get the good stuff

For a Jacket I use MEC SuperMicroft Cycling Jacket. MEC.ca I know your are in the states but I am sure you can get it shipped. $66 CDN.
Nothing special about this jacket. Pit zips. Can buy it in nice big bird yellow. I don't understand dark colours for bike clothes...

Feet I still use my clipless pedal. Heavy work wool stocks and MEC Cycling Shoe Covers $30 dollars.

Still looking for winter pants. Currently using long wool tights. Warm yes but heavy as all... when wet.

Good luck!

Thanks a lot, everyone! Some great advices here, and I will definitely go out and try some merino wool...

nashcommguy, thanks for the heads up on lbs... I actually go to ProBikes quite frequently, as I live not far away, and the guys there are so much better/nicer than any other local shops. I talk to Alan and Aaron a good bit, sometimes, I just kinda hang out there with them... definitely my fav. lbs so far.

Im running a columbia rain shell that i layer under for warmth and some rain pants i got off amazon i generally wear shorts under them since they dont breath at all but in the real cold its nice to have a oven around you. Its a very waterproof set up thats both warm and cheap total for both around 100 bucks. Look on cabelas.com they generally are always having a sale on jackets.

TBH, I think the hardest weather to dress for is minus 1 to +5 (centigrade) with rain. If you have a long ride it is very hard to stay dry; combine the wet with wind and the wind chill can be major. Once it gets too cold for rain things are much easier. [disclaimer: I have no experience of temperatures below -16Centigrade]

Best thing you could ever do for yourself and your bike in the rain is a set of full coverage fenders with long mudflaps. They'll keep the roadspray down and away from your feet and drivetrain. It's so much easier to keep dry if all you need to worry about is the stuff falling from the sky. At this point, you can try a cycling poncho or even a modified dollar store poncho.

I have full fenders. I'm talking about the type of wet where there is up to 6" of water on the road; heavy traffic in those conditions throws up so much water is is no way of staying dry.

lmcq784,

First, might be helpful to give an idea of the temperatures you are likely to encounter and whether its cold-dry or wet-dry. Here in Vancouver (PNW), it basically rains and rains for the winter. Gets to freezing or slightly above freezing with some wind chill. Based on my rides this week so far, I wear a pair of thin lycra leggings and generic polyester shorts, thick socks and sneakers for shoes. When it gets colder, I have a pair of thicker, winter lycra leggings waiting for deployment. I also have a pair of generic rain pants from a rain suit I originally bought for golf. However I am unlikely to use it as I don't ride when it pouring rain.

For the top, I wear a long sleeve cotton t-shirt with a waterproof yet breathable cycling windbreaker. The jacket is more important than the pants. The jacket will also retain your body heat once you have warmed up on the ride.

A cycling-specific outer layer has:

- longer sleeves to prevent the sleeves from riding up your forearms when you bend at the elbows. The longer sleeves also allow a better seal with the hand gloves you are likely to be wearing so the cold wind doesn't pierce those joints.

- a snug fit if sized right so it doesn't catch as much wind

- a zippered collar design that keeps your neck warm

- a longer tail so the jacket drapes over your butt for protection against the elements

- nylon or some sort of high tech breathable yet water proof fabric

- some have pockets at the back or credit card pockets along the arms to carry small items for convenience

- bright colors with reflective stripes\paint silkscreened onto the jacket

They are well worth the initial investment. I bought mine discounted at my LBS for around $80. The key here is layering. A warm torso and feet goes a long ways to enjoying your commute. I find my ears getting cold a far greater discomfort so I think the next item on my list is a pair of ear muffs.

The winter weather here in Pittsburgh varies a lot... from (throughout) December to March, we can have 50 deg F with rain, all the way to -10 to -20 deg F with freezing rain. It doesn't snow very often, at least not ones that stick very well, and we have more rain and freezing rain, (and rain that freezes overnight, a lot). So winter here tends to be more wet, and is very windy.

I don't have a very long commute right now... only ~4 miles each way. But that's mostly downhill going to work, and uphill coming home (after a loooong day). Very different workouts.

I may end up commuting less in the winter, but will definitely still want to ride on the weekends, so any advice relevant to commuting will still apply (and be beneficial).

Thanks, everyone!

Cold weather commuting gear consists three layers:

1. a good wind blocking layer. Usually a lightweight, thin shell.
2. an insulation layer. Usually wool or micro fleece.
3. a moisture wicking layer worn close to the skin.

For colder weather, I add more insulating layers.

I looked at cycling specific jackets and got freaked out by the prices. Instead I went to a work clothing store and bought a wind and waterproof winter shell complete with pit zips and other ventilation for under CDN $90. I figure that work style clothing will do me on my long and short commutes without breaking the bank. Under the shell I wear a fleecy sweater or a jogging style jacket (depending on how cold it is) and a wicking sports shirt. As far as the lower half goes, I wearing cycling shorts, thermal long underwear and then waterproof rain pants that I picked up at a surplus store. I also bought a pair of winter work gloves at the same surplus place for a fraction of cycling specific stuff. For footwear, I wear combat boots and for when it gets really cold I bought some velcro shoe covers that will fit over both my regular cycling shoes and the combat boots for CDN $30 at Mountain Equipment Co-op. (mec.ca). I also picked up helmet liners, a smooth spandex style one, a fleecy jogging style toque and for really cold work a thin balaclava. The other thing to be concerned about is visibility and I bought a reflective vest to go over my dark coloured work jacket in addition to my regular light setup.