Time for Tights?
 

Say it isn't so! It's bad enough the days are getting so short, but does it have to get cold already?

This morning I headed out with a windbreaker, light gloves and regular shorts. At first I was surprised that even with the jacket it was a little chilly. after a few minutes of climbing, though, I started to think it was unnecessary. But what really surprised me was something I don't recall ever experiencing before. Toward the end of this morning's somewhat brief ride was my favorite little descent: a couple of bends, a little bump, then a nice wide, relatively flat straightaway. Love to see how long I can keep up speed on that. Well, the moment I dial down the watts towards the end (there's a 90 degree bend) my legs get cold all of a sudden and start acting like I just got on the bike: i.e., not warmed up like they should have been by then. Just all of a sudden cold. Guess I shoulda kept the heat on.

I am good with knee warmers down to 50F, give or take a few degrees. Then it's tights over bibs. YMMV.

What was the weather like during the night?

Sometimes cold air settles into small depressions or low spots when the winds are calm, especially with clear skies. I ride a bit at night here in Georgia and the cold air often settles into the valley's cut by all the creeks around here. It doesn't even have to be valley but even just a slightly low spot relative to the surrounding area. The temperature difference can be profound.


-Tim-

I ride in sleeves, knee warmers, and a hat on mornings where other guys in our group show up in sleeveless jersey's and shorts. Depends on how hot or cold you run. Around here though its nothing this time of year to have huge temperature swings from early morning to around noon so I always try to wear something that I can unzip or pull off if it gets hot.

I was watching the weather channel and they said "Godzilla El Nino" was coming with record cold this winter.

Sadly I ride the trainer in my garage and this still has me concerned. Anything below 50 and I'm frozen. Super cold mornings make the garage surprisingly, super cold.

I'm always amazed by how different people are when it comes to temperature.

Last year I was riding on a low-40 degree day, and I had windstopper tights on, a fleece-lined riding jacket, a headband, long fingered gloves, and shoe covers, and I saw a guy riding in shorts and a short sleeve jersey. I mean how can you not get hypothermia riding like that?

On the rides that I was talking about most of the guys not wearing sleeves or tights are probably 50+ pounds heavier than I am. I'm cold right now just sitting here in the office.

Anything under 70 means arm warmers and a vest for me. :)

Yeah I typically wear a summer weight long sleeve under armour type shirt and cycling cap for 70's.

Low 40's I have a sleeveless wool top under the jersey, arm warmers and vest. By the end of the ride the arm warmers and vest are in the jersey pockets. Full finger gloves don't come on until it's in the 30's. And then I'll carry my regular gloves if it's supposed to warm up during the ride. if you get cold, ride harder.

On a ride at over 70 degrees F in the spring, passing through a Baltimore suburb, I saw a rider in tights and long sleeves ahead of me. I guessed that anyone with that much winter cycling clothing on on a warm morning had to be European or South American, probably a current or former pro. Up close, I saw that he was heavily tanned (check), fairly compact of build (check), and wearing expensive-looking (i.e., genuine) team clothing, including Castelli tights with a huge embroidered Castelli logo on each thigh (check and mate).

Final proof of pro status: when I passed, he glanced at me but didn't bother speeding up even the tiniest bit.

knee warmers, tights and bibs ftw
:thumb:

That's why I now have a space heater with a timer. I was going to the garage at about 5- 5:30 AM to start so I would have the oil filled heater turn on at about 4:30 - 4:45 AM and off 15 before My session ended. The oil stays hot longer and I like it to cool some before I leave the garage.

As for being cold, I am still 15 lbs overweight but have always been warm. I like things cold. I might put on a windbreaker when the temps are in the 60's but would still be in short sleeves and shorts. I do have one short sleeve jersey whose material is heavier than the typical short sleeve jersey and that is perfect for days starting in the mid to upper 50's but not going over 70. Long sleeves come in when the temps hit the 50's but I tend to wear leg warmers. Tights are only for 40's and below. At this point, I also add a good softshell jacket instead of the windbreaker.

But that is me.

I used to weigh 235. Wouldn't wear sleeves ever. Now I'm 158 or so, frozen constantly but even with all the extra clothes I go up hill so much faster.

On our group.ride a few days ago one guy wore a jacket...it was in the low 70s...He has said that anything below 65.and he won't ride at all!

Some days I wear merino wool long johns. Only when it's really cold, though. I've worn them on days I don't need them, and I always overheat. Too much warmth on my chest and I'll sweat a little, too much on my legs and I'll drown in it. Maybe it's just me?

Hot air rises, cold air settles. I've noticed the same thing many times hiking and backpacking in the mountains.

Wow.

I have a neighbor who wears hoodies and scarves in July if he's in the shade. Says he has a metabolic condition that makes him cold. I think he's just a hipster. If the scarf wasn't enough to prove it, he has a fixie. In hilly Seattle.

I'm from Texas, don't even start thinking about any kind of cold weather gear until it hits the low 50's. But I lived in NJ for three years and I saw the same thing you described. A lot of riders broke out the winter stuff when it's in the 60's and 70's. Even civilian clothing. I thought northerners could handle the cold. I also learned it's a myth that they can drive good in the snow.

Cold weather isn't 50's. Heck, that's still summer here (Minnesota). The rule in our house is shorts if the temp is 50 or warmer. I'm not going to tights until around 30's, maybe low 40's if it's windy or really damp. I'll wear knee warmers down to 50 just because I have a bad knee and it complains if it gets cold.

I've ridden in the winter before, but this year I'm getting a fatbike and I'm going to go hard at it all winter. Winter here, it's not unusual at all to get -20 (i.e. normal) and we hit -30F enough that it's not a big deal; a curiosity for sure, but not a big deal.

That all said, degree for degree doesn't match around the country. A 0F day in MN is colder than a 0F day in Colorado for all intents and purposes, for example.

J.

Exactly.

J.

Maybe if you're getting that overheated during a ride, your fitness is suffering! :D

Full-fingered gloves, wool socks, and a wool beanie go a long way, for me. Also something warm in one of the water bottles. At about 45 degrees, I need to cover everything. (Yes, I'm a CA weather weenie.)