RFEngineer

So my morning commute has regularly been in the 50s F. I only have regular short sleeve jerseys and one long sleeve thermal jersey (overkill). After being cold for a few weeks, I wore a regular cotton undershirt under my cycling jersey this morning. I was definitely warmer, but I don't really think it's the right solution. Is there an alternative to $40+ cycling "base layers." What should I wear, that is cheap, under my jersey in this temperature?
Thanks!
Alan

JanMM

Stores like Target or Kohls carry inexpensive wicking poly long or short sleeve or sleeveless athletic shirts. Some of which work very well as undershirts. and cost much less than UnderArmour, etc.

alcjphil

Keep in mind that good quality base layers do not have to be cycling specific. They can serve for all kinds of cool weather activities. This can make spending a bit more easier to accept. Also such clothing will last for many, many years. Usually the most difficult thing is to keep your legs warm enough, riding in the cold is very hard on your knees. Fortunately, knee warmers are one of the least expensive cycling specific items of clothing you can buy

Machka 

We also have a Winter Forum here with threads about what to wear at cooler temps.

Winter Cycling

Wittyname

My morning commute has been upper 40s to low/mid 50s for the last two weeks, I've just been wearing a wicking tshirt under my jersey, as well as arm and leg warmers and a balaclava. For the ride home, it all packs into the small trunk bag that doubles as a lunch box, so no extra luggage needed.

f4rrest

If it's just a bit cold getting started, I put a paper towel down the front of my jersey. Pull it out once I warm up.

If it's slightly colder, I'll add arm warmers. Those are easy to remove and stash in pocket if needed.

Squashednuts

Thin Merino wool tops are great for warmth, not bulky, good as base layers.
And can be used for multiple activities

Sixty Fiver

If you have an army surplus location see if they have the lightweight military base layer (brown)... I paid $4.00 a set for mine and love it.

It goes on under what are usually cotton duck pants, a merino zip up and a shell jacket... gloves, boots, and a toque are also part of the package.

When you layer up you can adjust accordingly... I change my footwear according to the weather and can lose the shell when it is warmer although pretty soon the cold is going to be pretty consistent.

Dave Cutter

I wear UN-brand UnderArmour look-a-like stuff. It's tight and stretchy and dissipates moisture while still blocking wind. As it gets colder... I add a lightweight thermal shirt, arm warmers, or a lightweight windbreaker.

But more importantly I added a rear rack with a trunk bag. So I can dress as light as I know I should.... and still have a back-up jacket in case I was wrong. It also gives me room to take something off and store it if/when the sun comes out.

Elvo

It's 9 pm here in socal and it's 78 degrees...

RonH

Look for sales online and you can find some good cool/cold "cycling" clothes. Here's a guide that may help.

JohnDThompson 

I think the OP asked for affordable solutions…

MichaelW

As the temp cools off from shorts and T shirt weather, you can go either of 2 ways. Insulate your top or your bottom half. I use both methods randomly.
Arm and leg warmers help in highly variable conditions. 2 layers of shirt act as a wind baffle. If you want a cycling jersey outer layer, you can use a normal T shirt style or long-sleeved T as your base.
You can add a windproof sleeveless gillet.

bikemig 

Sierra design and REI outlet both have very good prices on outdoor gear. As others have said, you don't need cycling specific gear. In fact, when it gets really cold, I don't use any cycling specific gear other than a helmet.

wolfchild

50F isn't really cold. A long sleeve merino wool base layer and a polyester t-shirt should be enough to keep warm...If it's 50F and windy with rain then I add a thin athletic hoody made of wicking and quick drying polyester fabric.
No need for cycling specific gear...Under Armor, North Face, Nike, Adidas, Icebreaker make all kinds of athletic/workout apparel which is suitable for cycling.

fietsbob

-1A Wind Break , on the front of the bike, reduces the air trying to get through the front of your clothes ..

I really Liked that function from My Zzipper 'thriller' fairing on my 24mi RT commute.

not mine: https://www.zzipper.com/images/prod_df/Untitled-8.jpg


Back in the Day, at the top of passes they'1' had a stack of newspapers , and Handed Them Out as Riders went By,

They'2' put them under their then sweat saturated wool Jerseys . before descending the other side .

coupster

Wicking base layers with a jersey and a wind breaker as temps drop is the way to go. Be mindful that a byproduct of the wicking process keeping you dry and warm is the transfer of all that moisture to the outer layer. Depending on the material, it will be a sodden mess when you stop. Walmart has a good selection of base layers, however my go-to is here.
Men's Base Layer: Average savings of 38% at Sierra Trading Post

berner

For the last week it has been mid 50s F in the AM here. I wear a Tee shirt of some sort under a long sleeve jersey. Just a few days ago I found a hi-intensity yellow, long sleeve jersey at Walmart for $7. It did not have pockets in back but I sewed in some home made pockets made from fabric I already had. It has not been cold enough to wear a wind proof vest over the jersey. Instead, from some hypoallergenic fabric I also already had, I cut out a bib that slips over my head and covers the chest only. If it's a few degrees cooler, that calls for arm warmers. As temps warm up an hour or so later, the bib and arm warmers roll up small and will fit in a jersey pocket. From my hiking and backpacking days, I has a large selection of warmer and much warmer clothes, including a selection of gloves for mid- winter days here.

As has already been said, keep and eye peeled for clothing not specific to cycling but which will work fine. As a tinkerer, I have a small sewing machine and modify gear to suit my purposes which I enjoy doing.

Homebrew01

I use a few pages of last week's newspaper between layers as a windbreak on colder days.

Doug5150

Wear anything as long as it's not cotton. Cotton is the only bad fabric for cold-weather activities.

Cotton absorbs moisture (sweat) and then takes a LONG time to dry. The fibers also shrink in diameter + lengthen when they get wet, so it goes loose and chafes and doesn't block wind as well either (even cotton socks are bad).

Any cheaper synthetic clothing layers from the sporting goods department (or store) are good. The ONLY condition is that they contain NO COTTON. Even your socks should be synthetic.

There is also wool,,, which is natural, but does not absorb moisture.
I think it's scratchy and won't have it.
Others find it acceptable, but that still leaves you with the "other" wool problem--that you rarely ever find wool clothing of any kind for low prices. So synthetic is where it's at.

Besides, you can't find wool in dayglow clashing mismatched colors, and how you going to look like a bicycle rider without that?!?!?

chasm54

rubbish. Wool.

Partly rubbish. It is natural, but it does absorb moisture. You think polyester absorbs moisture?

You thnk incorrectly. Buy some merino baselayers, there is nothing scratchy about them and they wick moisture suberbly.

Only if you want an inferior product that stinks to high heaven.

erig007

There isn't one type of wool but many. Some are more scratchy than others.
Try merino. Not the smoothest outthere but definitively softer than the old wool of grand grand grandpa and grand grand grandma

wphamilton

As several have mentioned just get some wicking shirts for under your jersey. Inexpensive, comfortable, light, and effective. It gets colder - wear two.

What should I wear, that is cheap

It's always struck me how much our perceptions change. I don't wear anything different for temperatures in the 50's, but I used to wear extra even in the 60's. So you can't really say what someone else "should" wear at given temperatures. But in general it works to add more of the same kinds of layers until it gets "really cold", and at that point some kind of outer layer that primarily blocks the wind.

wolfchild

Wool is the best material for socks, always has been and always will be. Wool has stood the test of time. Synthetic socks are as bad as cotton socks.

Who cares about looking like a bicycle rider ??. I know I don't.

alcjphil

My favourite socks, even for very hot summer rides, are wool. I have quite a few pairs of good synthetic socks, but there is nothing like a good pair of wool socks. Ride today was a good example, Starting temperature was about 8C, so I opted for toe warmers. Later on, the temperature climbed to almost 20C. Toes stayed warm and dry throughout the whole ride. I have many Merino wool undershirts I bought in Costco for about $12 each. I wear them year round as T shirts in summer and as base layers for cross country skiing in winter. As a bonus, they were sold in several different colours. I am wearing a nice green one as I type this