rick47601

What do you all use for cold weather clothing
My first cold weather cycling is coming . Like to know what I need
Right now
Aero tech jersey and cycling shorts
Basic cycling sock and gloves off amazon
Any recommendation
Thank you
Rick

GrainBrain

Check out the Winter Cycling section on this site. There's a whole sticky dedicated to documenting what we wear.

I get by with under armour type clothing and jogging gear meant for the cold. Sometime I may buy actual cycling specific gear, but it's not really needed cruising around on the mtb.

Kedosto

One word: Layering.


-Kedosto

Wilmingtech

If you cant take it off and put it in your pocket dont buy it

(Sans your bib shorts/three quarter/full length tights, dont need you pulling those off and trying to squeeze them in your pocket)

Gresp15C

I'm always removing / adding layers in colder weather. I strap a drawstring bag to my rack, so I can keep my extra layers there without worrying about losing them.

backonblack

Visit a North Face store, they will have everything you need to keep warm/ dry.

BarryVee

On the way down to fifty degrees for road I may add to summer jersey and bibs:
arm and leg warmers (Leg warmers nearly always below 70 degrees not because I feel cold but to keep the muscles warm)
headband style ear warmers
helmet liner/skull cap
tech tee
wind vest or wind proof jacket (particularly carried for long climbs where clothing gets damp with sweat, and put on to retain core temp during long fast descents).
toe covers-or maybe just duct tape some shoe vents
And if it isn't going to warm up much a thermal jersey in place of the short sleeve jersey & arm warmers.
Any colder I may add or replace with:
long sleeve poly undershirt
tights
neck gaiter
neoprene shoe covers-below 40 degrees for me
full finger gloves
Socks are always the same thin wool cycle specific
And if threatening, a rain jacket. But only when I figure on not being able to stay warm when wet.
Oh, and full disclosure I do not ride much below 30 degrees ever.

rick47601

Thank you all
Rick

woodcraft

Depends on what you mean by cold,

but knickers or tights, long sleeve thermal jersey, full finger gloves, & hat w/ ear covering

are key.

Tights without pad to go over you shorts are versatile.

I wear knickers with tall (ski) socks quite a bit. Can pull the socks down if it warms up.

BobbyG

Like bike seats, dressing for cold weather riding is very personal. I commuter so I have a bag. I can adjust my layers along the way.

The most helpful advice I got here on bikeforums was to slightly under-dress. Dress for how you Will feel after 10 minutes if riding. Less sweat means less moisture which means warmer riding on the cold.

Viich

Also, dress warmer for slightly above freezing than slightly below. Wet = feeling cold. If your layers stay dry like they do below freezing you stay warmer.

SylvainG

This is the chart I made when weather starts to get colder/warmer because somehow from year to year, I can't remember what I wore the previous year...

canklecat

If the budget is tight, visit Ross or any similar discount store and snag some wicking fabric t-shirts and long sleeve shirts, boxer/briefs and jogging pants from Under Armor, Champion, Skora, Nike, etc. They're all very similar, much better than cotton, and easier to care for than merino wool. The better poly wicking fabrics will resist odors as well as merino wool, are lighter and dry quicker.

The best values may be Champion Vapor tees and Skora, which appear to be very similarly made with nearly identical fabrics and reinforced necks to prevent losing shape or sagging.

But during recent visits to Ross I'm seeing discounted duds from Under Armor, Nike, etc., for the same price as regularly priced Champion clothing. The only catch is a limited selection and sizes.

bicyclridr4life

In winter, I use a snowmobile suit, fur lined bomber cap, fur lined gloves, wool socks, and muckluck boots. (Boots rated to -90°F. I don't like cold toes.)

MikeyMK

You need your surface to be windproof, as all the wool in Wales won't work if the wind is going through it.

I'm car free and I've found a simple formula for keeping warm on the bike all day; usual warm clothing with a waterproof layer. Even gloves, I'll have a nice wool glove with plenty of circulation, then a thin large windproof one over the top. I previously used a waterproof over-coat over a warm one, though last winter I had a coat that did it all - built like a sleeping bag but also waterproof, with a windproof hood (beanie underneath, keep your head warm).

remember: Clothes don't keep you warm. Warm air keeps you warm. Clothes merely harness warm air. Their job is to hold a layer of warm air around you and keep it there. So you have an understructure and a shell.

Teamprovicycle

For training hard work out race rides , or a long or short commute. be more specific .

Training i do i thermal layer under compression tops and tights . i do one thing thats two layers of wool socks over my road shoes . i am so tired of reading people saying " oh i buy my shoes a size up so i can wear thicker socks " ! Thats the dubbest thing i read on forums about winter riding . why waste a pair of shoes and mess up your shoe fit when you can just wear the socks over your shoes . i put a thermal layer inbetween the socks and under my insert works well for a few hours .

commute i just wear regular winter clothes lake boots and i wrap a long sleeve thermal shirt around my kneck ...

Witterings

I bought one of these last year but slightly different colours .. more yellow on the front ... this was after I'd bought a heavier jacket that just got too hot after 3 miles

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/cyc...cycling-jacket

Best thing I ever bought and whilst they're showing as out of stock online they were still in the shop Monday morning on the rack, this seems to be the same just different colours
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/cyc...cket-black-red

The front is windproof but the underneath of the sleeves and the back is breathable, I wore it down to zero with a combination of either short sleeve jersey, long sleeve base layer or both on colder days and it's absolutely brilliant and very easy to control your temperature.

A gaitor is really good to put around your neck / face as well.

Ogsarg

Everyone is a bit different when it comes to dealing with weather. My advice is to have a number of things to layer and figure out what works for you at different temps and don't forget about exposure time. What works for one hour, may not work for two or longer.

I do early morning rides 2-3 days a week all year round. When I get up (4AM) I check my outdoor thermometer and dress appropriately. I have 3 different weight gloves, short and long sleeve non-thermal jerseys, a thermal jersey, 3 different weight base layers, long non-thermal bibs, thermal bibs, a balaclava, and a few different weight socks to choose from. I ride down to freezing temps, which is about as cold as it gets here.

Having done this for a couple years now, I've gotten pretty good at figuring out what will work.

Retro Grouch 

For me the biggest issue has always been what to wear on my legs. Tights have always seemed inadequate for temperatures below 40 F, and anything other than tights tends to get caught on my chainring. A couple of years ago somebody suggested cross country skying pants. I found a pair that zips up snug in the ankle area but is thicker and better insulated above that. I really like them.

What to wear on my upper torso is relatively easy. It's mostly a matter of how many layers and how to pack the layers that become "too much" as the day goes on.

rumrunn6

exposed skin is a liability

wipekitty

How cold are we talking, and what kind of precipitation and humidity levels are involved?

For me, the pieces that I use the most in "normal" cold weather (something like 30-50F), assuming no heavy precipitation, include:

• Packable wind jacket
• Long sleeve jersey
• Thin merino baselayer for the top (used either with long sleeve jersey or normal short sleeved jersey)
• Neoprene shoe covers
• Ear warmer headband
• Cycling glasses with good coverage
• Thin balaclava
• Lightly insulated gloves (my favorites are the ones from the hardware store)
• Thin to medium weight wool socks

Rain gear for heavy precipitation is another story, as is my "kit" for our Wisconsisota winters. Once we start talking 15F and below, the setup looks quite a bit different.

Bikewolf

Good advice. I still struggle with this one to be honest. Your comment reminds me to try again. Got me a cheap sleeveless thin vest to try and bridge the gap when necessary this year, so courage is growing ;-)

rick47601

Thank you
Good info
Rick

Hoopdriver

Man, it's October and temps are still in the mid to upper eighties. It's crazy. I can't recall in the last 30 years having the AC on in October. Where are you? Send some of that cold this way.

So on topic. Last winter I bought some wool Italian Alpine Army knickers at a surplus store. Wore them with wool over the knee wader socks. Wore them when temps were sub 20 F and was as toasty as a radiator cat.