Layering System and Ideal riding wear
 

Hey guys,

I know I have seen bits and pieces of an answer for this all over the forums, but a clear concise collection of answers targeted toward this would be helpful for me, and maybe other possible riders.

Although we are close to spring, we are not quite out of the woods yet, and I am starting up as a full time commuter this month and want to make sure I dress right. I am wondering if you guys could give me an idea of some ideal selections of clothing you wear in both the cold and warm months. Many of us end up in school, or the workplace, and dress correctly makes all the difference in quickly transferring when reaching this new place. IN addition, I am especially interested in the best way to layer your clothing for a cold ride, in which you can not feel all constricted, but still warm, and isolated.

Thanks in advance.

People here are pretty good about giving advice. However, details on your commute would be helpful. How long? What's the temperature when you get out? I dress up for my work and, even though it's cold in the morning, I sometimes underdress. I grin and bear it since I don't want to get so hot when I get to my subway. I know others will dress in multiple layers and for long commutes, shed layers as they warm up.

Great point in being more detailed. Well, I mainly have two commutes.

One is a 4 mile (each way) to school, involving a fair number of decent hills. I live in New Jersey, so year round, I'll have temperatures from 25F - 95F, it really varies.

The other ride is 11 miles each way, and has even more hills.

Hope this helps a bit.

The winter forum has a sticky entitled "what I wore today" or something like that that may be helpful. Basically though you want 3 layers:

Base layer: lightweight, fits close to skin, and wicks moisture away

Warmth layer: Something insulating like a fleece pullover

Outer layer: Windproof and water resistant



An example of a base layer is Under Armor Cold Gear. Target has much less expensive stuff that works well.

The outer layer isn't supposed to be bulky. A shell is really all you need.

Some garments combine multiple layers in one. I don't know many people that wear 3 layers on their hands.

Wool and some synthetics are good. Cotton is not.

I second you on your choices with a couple of variances.

Cold Weather:

1. My base layer is active weight generic thermal underwear from Wally World.

2. My second layer is a t-shirt and my Under Armour 95% polyester % 5% Spandex long sleeve.

3. Top layer is my Mil Spec M-65 field jacket with zip out liner.

4. For gloves I choose my D3A standard issue Army gloves with wool inner liner gloves and full leather outer gloves.

5. For a hat I just use a cheap beanie under my helmet.

Rain:

1. I have a 5 dollar rubberized coat with armpit vents that I picked up at salvation army. As far as my legs getting wet I don't really care as long as it is above 55 degrees.

Wind:

1. I have a cheap windbreaker that I use when it is windy but there is only aa slight chill in the air.

As far as any in between weather where one of my systems is not suitable I just mix and match with whatever works best for me.

Be sure to keep track of what you wear in the beginning. After a while you'llbe able to look at the weather and go back to your list to see what you wore last time to be comfortable. Here's my clothing log.
https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?...Gc&output=html

Can't comment on real winter since I am in S. Cal. However, I do ride in "Desert" area where temperature fluctuates wildly in a single day. (as much as 45f in single day and typically around 25-30f)
For bottom I have 3 different ones. Long tights for "winter time" - works great for 32F-60F for me. Short tights from 50F-whaterver. For warmer time, I just use knickers (casual). It depends also on distance. I typically do ride 30 miles a day so bike specific cloth is more than viable.
For top, I prefer lightweight merino either short or long sleeve for all temperature above 32F. I do wear bike specific synthetic jersey for warmer weather when I don't need shell on top (it gets clammy with shell on... unlike merino I have). 1 piece of eVent jacket I use between 32F (could go lower of course) to 50F. Over 50F, I would overheat on any kind of shell.
For the time I have to wait in cold, I carry one long sleeve midweight merino wool long sleeve during winter time to put on. Only use it when it is below 40F and have to wait more than 10 minutes standing still.
I would imagine base layer to cover for summer and mid layer for your winter should do the trick.

You guys were all a really big help. I went to a local REI today, and picked up a bunch of great stuff! I appreciate your help.

Don't forget to haunt your local thriftstores, yardsales, liquidation sales, etc. A 100% silk balaclava is a must. http://www.campmor.com Have fun. Try to get 100% natural, close knit fabrics whenever possible.

REI is awesome for picking up stuff, love their gear. I would reccomend arm warmers and leg warmers and just discovered I want knee warmers too for those days when it starts out cold and end ups hot or vise-versa.

A lot of it depends too on how hard you ride. I crank right along, just under the hammering level, so I can get by with less than the guys who ride easy. This winter I closed my pit zips on only one day. It was below zero (F). I don't wear more than one layer under my jacket until the teens or so.

In the 'tween seasons, if I don't need my jacket for the rain, I usually wear two long-sleeve wicking t-shirts, the outer one in hi-viz. I may add armwarmers under them in the 30s if it's really windy or really damp. That drops to a single layer (the hi-viz wicking t-shirt) above 50.

I wear unpadded bib tights over my shorts below about 50. I have three different pair depending on temperature. I use kneewarmers from 50 to 65.

And let's not neglect the heat:

1) shorts
2) sandals w/o socks

To me the toughest to dress for is riding in cold, windy, hard rain. Wearing waterproof outer shell to keep the rain off means getting soaked from sweating versus wearing water resistant or not and getting soaked from cold rain. I always chose the former, but eventually end up cold and just have to tough out the last 15 to 20 minutes.

I always carry my rain gear until the summer months, when it's warm enough to just get wet from rain. Heck, some days when it's really hot I wish for rain.

And to me there is nothing better than the days you arrive at your destination completely dry of sweat and having been comfortable during the ride because you nailed the riding apparel. I wish I could do that more often.

I do a lot of riding in cold, windy rain. Its not like that all the time but I have to expect it.
My winter kit is merino T shirt, long-sleeved jersey or polo-neck, thin-med woolen sweater and a highly breathable outer layer by Paramo.
Synthetic inner layers are OK but get smelly. Merino is good to wear all day.
The midlayer is least important, I wear ordinary shirts, cheap polonecks, whatever I want.
Woolen sweaters are good insulation, I prefer them to fleece.
I also carry a very lightweight insulated sleeveless gilled for extra insulation. This can go underneath my shell for best insulation or on top of the shell for easy on/off-ability.
Also use windstopper fleece gloves, a neck tube and I carry a woollen hat for emergency use.
Ive tried lots of different waterproofs but for winter commuting nothing matches Paramo. I have ridden all day in cold rain (8 hrs) and stayed comfortable. It is as breathable as a simple windproof. Before I used to use a simple windproof for dry and a gortex jacket for when it rained, now I only use one jacket.

Legwear is less important. You can use casual polycotton slacks or cargo pants, anything that dries quickly so no jeans. In cold rain I wear waterproof pants, Im not too picky about which ones. Personally I only wear padded shorts over 1hr and Ive been riding a lot of 1.5hrs without them recently. Just normal underwear.

If you moderate your effort and use your layering you dont have to sweat. In my experience , over 4 miles it is more effective to ride slowly than to ride fast then wait for a cooldown at the end.