I wanted to get an idea of what kind of clothing you guys are wearing in our area. I know this can be very subjective but I am just looking for ideas. I look at jackets like showers pass 2.0 and think it may be overkill for this area but not sure. I know I like warm feet, chest, and hands. Cold legs dont seem to bother me much. I really like my specialized gel half gloves but they dont seem to make a long finger option. I am not sure on options for keeping feet warm either. I also do not know whats a better option a helmet cover or a cap/hat? So any advice would be appreciated.

Legs-KEEP THEM WARM. Your knees have very little insulation and when it gets cold, the fluid in your joints does not have the same viscosity as when they're warm and you risk ruining your knees in the long run. I wear Defeet Wool Kneekers which will stay warm even if wet. Any wool knee or leg warmers will do. If it's really cold, You can go with tights over your shorts but it doesn't generally get that cold in the bay area.

Feet-I like dry feet more than warm feet but they usually go hand in hand. I have a set of Bellwether Aqua-No booties for when it's wet. Other times, I just use wool defeet socks.

Chest-A standard base layer and my jersey is usually fine for me. If it's a little colder, I'll throw in a wind vest. If it's wet, I'll use a light rain jacket, but remember, you'll end up sweating under that jacket and be wet anyways.

Arms- Arm warmers are usually fine for me. I alternate between Defeet Wool Arm skins or the arm warmers from Voler that match my team kit.

hands- I have a set of full finger mtb gloves that I use on occasion but usually I just go with half gloves (because I forget to grab the other kind). I also have a pair of thin wind proof REI gloves that I will wear over my half gloves for extra warmth.

Head- I generally don't have an issue with keeping my head warm but when I need to, I wear a thin coolmax skull cap under my helmet that can also cover my ears. Remember, dry=warm.

I know it's been a cool summer but I haven't even started thinking about fall yet let alone winter!

Everyone has different levels of comfort with regard to being hot or cold and then it also depends on how long you'll be riding and at what intensity. My rule of thumb is that if I'm warm enough when I leave the house then I've overdressed. I aim to be chilly when leaving knowing that my body will start generating lots of heat within 5-10 minutes of physical activity.

Are you an everyday rain-or-shine bike commuter? Or a weekend warrior who skips the weekends when it is raining (or the mornings when it is freezing)?

I plan on riding 6 days a week all year.

If you're riding during normal commute hours, you need to be prepared for dark, windy, cold, and potentially very wet conditions. Wind chill temperatures can be below freezing. I recommend rain pants and a water resistant jacket. How expensive you want to go depends on how many hours you will be riding. Cheap stuff is not as comfortable, but that's not a big deal for shorter rides. Also, closer fitting stuff avoids the parachute effect if you're riding at higher speeds.

If you're riding in traffic in the dark, get brighter colors as well as lots of lights.

I commute 5 days a week. Only time I don't commute is on days when it is pouring rain. One thing I hate most is that feeling of bulkness from all those clothing. I like thermal shirts such as Patagonia and an extra thermal over that during the winter morning. Then I just use a Rei Novara bicycling jacket over that to break the wind. If it is windy, I will also wear a green construction like safety vest with reflective strip over that.

As for the pants, I'm a big fan of 5.11 tactical pants. They are constructed on the heavier side which last longer than most pants, especially when the chain ring gear teeth snag on the pants whenever I have to carry my bike up the Bart stair. The heavier material they use for those pants also keeps the chill away. They have pockets everwhere to carry my smaller item. Along with that, some 5.11 sock are better than most regular sock. You can buys these at places that sell law enforcement store. Those store also carry a good line of gloves for security personel who has to work outdoor.

I've been biking around 7:30ish AM and that's the most wet/foggiest time, well the morning.

I was all out, I had leg warmers and my new yellow Pearl Izumi coat.

I use a cap that goes under the helmet. I have gear for really cold weather in case I ride in the valley where I occasionally see snow. It just depends on the day. Usually thick socks, knee warmers, long sleeve base layer, and ear protection is adequate. A nice thin windbreaker is good for descents to keep the wind off your wet body.

Even when commuting to school at 6 in the morning when it was about 35 degrees out, the most I wore was 3/4 length pants, full fingered gloves, and a windbreaker to keep my torso warm. Granted, I was only doing about 5 miles in the mornings when it was that cold out, but if you are going longer, might want to get something a little toastier.

I am the same though as my legs always seem to be one of the last things to get cold. It is rare that I will actually need something warmer for the legs. Also, the cap is definitely nice an keeps short haired people warmer on the noggin.

Come on...it's California. No need for the ridiculous winter booties and down jackets I see people wear around here. Last year, there was a pretty impressive cold snap (again, for CALIFORNIA), and I went on the coldest ride of the year, 35 degrees all day. And even on that day, I only needed toe booties, tights, vest and thin gloves.

Maybe I'm more warm-blooded than others, but I see way too many people overdo it when it comes to bundling up. Either that, or I'm just working harder than everyone else.

The one thing I do agree with is keeping the knees warm. If I'm descending Diablo in the cold, my knees absolutely ache if I forget to throw on the knee warmers. But other than that, unless you are riding at a very easy pace, you'll warm up pretty quickly in the winters we have here. No need to go out and buy a whole winter wardrobe, just a few essentials.

I agree with this. Layers are the way to go. Nothing says you can only wear one jersey or shirt. Wear two or three if you need to. If you are still chilly in the torso, put some folded newspaper or thin cardboard under the front of a jersey - it works wonders as a wind block. And you can toss it when it gets too warm.

Personally, I pretty much never wear long sleeved jerseys, but I will wear multiple SS wool jerseys and a pair of arm warmers. If/when it warms up, I take off the arm warmers and unzip the jerseys.

I go back and forth between shorts plus leg warmers and shorts plus a 25 year old pair of wool tights I bought back east. Both work fine. Shorts plus leg warmers is more flexible, though.

For your feet, wear a pair of medium thickness wool hiking socks from REI or some such place. (No, they are not itchy - they are very soft and comfy.) If you are cold blooded, maybe get some toe covers.

Cover your ears. You can lose a surprising amount of heat through them. For NorCal, one of those headband-ear warmer thingies is probably enough. If you need more, either a helmet cover (I think of them as helmet condoms) or a plain old cycling cap (worn under the helmet) should be plenty. The cap is more convenient, but the cover is better in the rain.

One other thing - it is not possible in chilly weather to dress so that you are 100% comfortable 100% of the time. Expect to be a bit chilly on descents and a bit warmer than you'd like on climbs. On the flats, you should be well within your personal comfort range. I have found that if I feel a little bit chilly when I step out of the house, I'm good to go, as the effort will warm me up to the desired level in very short order.