Winter Riding Gear Question
 

In the past when winter comes, I just retreat to my trainer. Since I live in NC where winters are not really that bad, I have decided to ride regularly this winter (a cut-off around freezing - I'm a cold weather wimp).

I don't have much along the lines of winter riding gear. I've got a single pair of arm warmers and pair of leg warmers, a light and a heavy vest (don't like either one as they are too loose around the shoulders), some winter gloves, and that is pretty much it.

I'm sure that this will tend to be 'learn and buy as you go', and it is still 95 degrees outside. But to get started in riding between 30 and 45 degrees, what else should I be pretty confident that I will need here? I do have one 'Underarmour clone' long sleeve shirt that we purchased for other reasons, FWIW.

Thanks.

dave

I rode down to 16f last winter in Ohio. I used a LG thermal long sleeve jersey with target c9 duo dry long sleeve shirts layered underneath. Then used a windproof layer and a c9 target hoodie on top. Looking at soft shells right now to replace the c9 hoodie with something bike specific. I picked up a pair of fleece lined thermal bibs in the spring blowout of winter gear :-).

Lake winter shoes are on the big brown truck headed to my house. My goal this winter is 20 miles at 0f if it manages to get that cold. Reflective insoles and wool socks will do you for 30f probably, with some shoe covers. The non cycling insoles help shut down the "pumping" action that moves air through your shoes and freezes your feet. I got the reflective Insoles on Amazon.

Hands and feet were the tough part :-)

Neoprene Shoe covers should be good enough if you're not going below freezing. I got Northwave winter shoes for sub-freezing.
I have 5-6 pairs of winter gloves in different weights depending on the temp. I buy $5 -$10 gloves form discount clothing stores, or the "sale" bin at whatever store I happen to be in.
I sometimes carry lighter gloves in my pocket if the temps are likely to rise mid-ride
Maybe a thin hat under the helmet.

Also, check the "winter cycling" forum.

Layers. Also: If you're warm when you walk out the door, you're going to overheat a few miles into your ride and spend a couple hours stewing in your own sweat, feeling clammy. It's gross and not the way to deal with winter riding.

Wool makes a fantastic base layer. It wicks pretty well, dries pretty quickly (not as fast as synthetics but much quicker than a lot of fabrics) and keeps you warm and feeling dry when it's wet.

How much insulation you need depends on how cold it is.

If you get dry winters, pick up a down vest. You can get one pretty cheap if you shop around, mine was $35 at Costco. Doesn't need superb quality. It should fit into a bottle cage in its stuff sack. On really cold days, it goes on over your jacket.

Hands, feet, and head really depend on the person and the conditions.

I find a lightweight windblock layer to be really important. If I have something reasonably insulative on, and then can keep cold air from whistling through it to my skin, I'm usually pretty comfortable. The particular item I use is the Rapha gilet--it's lightweight enough I can wear it in summer and not overheat, but it makes any winter outfit immensely warmer. It's probably my favorite/most used item of bike apparel.

I'll echo SeattleForrest to advocate for layers and wool. Wool keeps better insulative properties when wet than most fabrics, so if you've broken a sweat up the big climb, it'll still feel warm on the way back down. (Or if you're out in the rain, etc.) A hat also helps me a lot. I have a thin wool cap that packs up smaller than a Gu packet, but makes an amazing difference when I put it on. Shoe covers and serious gloves also really help, though for me, they are only effective if I get my core temperature up. If I don't get my heart really pumping, nothing in the world keeps my fingers and toes warm.

An article I find handy
Training and Fitness | Bicycling

Since we live in the same area I'll tell you what I wear. I always start my rides at sunrise unless I drive up for a group ride. The thing about the winter here is it can be freezing when I start out but it warms up fast on sunny days. 40+ is warm to me with winter gear on.

The absolute best thing you can buy is a convertible jacket, one where the sleeves zip off. I've had a Nalini for about 8 years but I bought a Castelli Poggio on sale a few weeks ago. They aren't full on thermal below zero winter jackets but they are windproof which is the most important thing. Underneath I'll wear a sleeveless wool baselayer and long sleeve jersey. If it's below 32 degrees I'll add my Under Armor winter top. When I warm up I'll take my sleeves off and still have a vest. Sometimes I unzip that because I heat up quicker than normal. That's all I need.

Any winter bib tight is good, my legs never get too hot (I have Castelli and PI). Below freezing I'll add my leg warmers underneath mostly for the windproofing on my knees. I put duct tape over the vents of my shoes and slide on neoprene windproof toe covers and wool socks are a must have. I have some old windproof winter gloves but always bring my summer gloves because my hands heat up when it starts pushing 40 degrees. Lastly, I have an old Pearl Izumi winter skull cap to cover my ears and I end up removing that a few miles into the ride. I never cover my face, ever. My face might freeze for the first mile or two but then I'm good.

That's all I need here. Of course everyone is different and I see some people go a complete ride with stuff I would wear in Antarctica. I would fry if I wore some of the stuff I see people here with. The key is windproof stuff that you can download as you're riding, along with wool whatever you can get.

After lots of years of trial and error, this ^^^ is exactly what I've settled on too.

Humiditiy seems to make a difference too, if it stays below 32f for a week or more the air dries out.

Thanks to all for the helpful input. A related true story.

Back in the 90's I went for an early morning (late fall) ride outside of Carmel, Ca. (weekend trip). It started out cool'ish but the highs were forecast in the 80's. I wore some kind of cycling jersey outer layer thing and took it off after about an hour. And I tied it around my waist.

Somehow on a moderate downhill the jersey got caught in my rear wheel, and sucked into my brake calipers (at 30 mph). It shredded my tire, my jersey, and mucked things up so much that I could not get anything apart. An area LBS had to remove the calipers to resolve the situation. I ended up hiding my bike in the bushes and got a ride back from a friendly older gent driving a Ford Pinto (whose gas tank had not yet exploded).

dave

my winters are 70 degrees ...

It's a good time to be hunting deals on winter stuff. This is a terrific piece, and a few of the colors are on sale at $90:

Castelli Trasparente Due Wind Long Sleeve Jersey | Competitive Cyclist

And Craft makes great base layers. I did not start with those, but it's all I wear now.

In our area, a combination of wool baselayers of different weights, windproof vest and long sleeve thermal jersey works for dry conditions, a waterproof jacket with pit zips and lots of openings if it's raining. Most fall and winter days I can get away with a long sleeve wool shirt up to 260 weight and a vest. Bibs and leg warmers or bibs and tights depending on temperature keep the knees and legs warm.

sierratradingpost.com usually has decent deals on Icebreaker and Smartwool shirts.

Coastal Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts does not get too cold to ride too often. Generally, we are able to ride on most winter days that are, typically, not less than the freezing point. A pair of tights below, sometimes two pairs if it is really cold, long sleeve top with wool base layer and a wood blocking vest or long sleeves. Feet need wool hiking socks and shoe covers. Gloves are cheap fleece with windproof shells worn or in a pocket. Cap is fleece worn under the helmet. I also cover the vent openings in the helmet with whatever tape is on hand, say duct tape or plastic electrical tape.

Below 40*F I ride with insulated, windproof tights, Shimano winter SPD boots and Pearl Izumie lobster mitts.

First of all, I ride all winter, however I don't ride when it has frozen the night before on the hilltops and the temperature is still below 40°. I will ride down to about 35° and steady rain or even in the snow, as long as it is not sticking. I don't ride on ice, hence no studded tires, etc. I run fenders and long mudflaps all winter. Michelin PRO4 Endurance in 25mm are the best winter tires I've tried, and I've tried a lot of tires. I use thick wool cycling socks in the winter. They're a little hard to find.

I don't wear waterproof anything, except for the Gore gloves and Lake MTB boots when it's really bad. I find it much better to wear breathable stuff and just layer up enough to stay warm.

[Progression; your exact temperature range for each option will be your own:

1) Plain SS jersey, naked knees, short finger gloves, Sidi Dominator shoes - summer, right? From there:
2) Add wind vest and arm warmers
3) Add short sleeve Craft underlayer and substitute Pearl Izumi Elite Softshell glove for short fingers

From here, always bring a wind vest and Voler Jet jacket in Hi Viz on every ride, bring the PI Elite gloves along even when starting with warmer gloves.

4) Substitute Voler Jet jacket in Hi Viz for vest and add leg warmers, substitute Performance Zonda or PI P.R.O. Softshell gloves
5) Substitute long sleeve Craft underlayer for short sleeve, add arm warmers (this is a versatile combo)
6) Substitute long sleeve jersey for short sleeve jersey-and-arm-warmers combo
7) Substitute Pearl Izumi (PI) Elite Thermal tights with pad for shorts and leg warmers. Add Sugoi Resistor booties if dry or showery. Substitute Lake MXZ303 shoes for the Dominators if wet.
8) When it's really cold and wet, substitute heavy winter jersey or add a second long long sleeve jersey, substitute PI Elite Amfib tights w/o pad and shorts for the padded thermal tights, add dry suit ankle seals over the tops of the Lake shoes (very important), substitute Gore Bike Wear XENON GORE-TEX Gloves or Giro 100 Proof Gloves (even warmer).

Stay home. It is now 34° and raining.

I live north of Charlotte so similar climates although our winters are a little cooler. My schedule is flexible - that makes a huge difference. I'm able to ride mid-day. The reason I say this is that I'm able to ride 10-12 hrs/week (most weeks) and never head out if it's under 40 degrees. There's a few really cold weeks where I just hit the trainer for about 5-6 hours. The 40 degree method along with warm/windproof gear works well for me. Unless you just have to ride real early in the day, you should be fine.

For me, this method keeps cycling enjoyable. I also try to ride only on sunny winter days - for warmth & I just feel better riding in the sun!!

I've seen it mentioned somewhere to partially dress then warm up on trainer, then finish dressing and ride pre warmed up.

If it's not a race, just an ordinary solo or group ride, I dress so I'm shivering pretty good in the parking lot while waiting to get started. Leaving the house, I stand around for a while outside before starting to ride to check my clothing choices.

My winter route is pretty boring and every mile offers a chance to make a left turn and head back, extreme issues just a u turn :-)

I'm not sure if you know, but there is a Winter Cycling forum here which has just started to become a little more active ...

Winter Cycling

Good Merino wool is your best layer.

Thanks - at the time that I posted this looked like a 'winter forum' in the literal sense.

dave