Look for warmers that have silicone grippers on both sides of the hem. One to grip your thigh; the other the grip the inside of your shorts. I've had LG and Castelli knee warmers like this: never a problem. I've also had cheap Nashbar warmers that only had one way grippers; those weren't as good at staying in place.

One of the rare worthwhile articles out of Bicycling magazine
https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear...g-cold-weather

It depends on temperature and how sunny it is.

Dropping below 55-60, I wear a wind jacket
Below 45-50, I switch to a thermal jersey and may wear thermal tights
At 45, I add gloves

Merino wool is great, but it is some serious magic as a base layer in 'interchangeable' conditions (35 - 55 F).

I would pair with arm/leg warmers (merino if possible; check out Ibex or Smartwool) and some gloves. Between 40 - 53 F and assuming no rain, I go with full-finger gloves (no need for cycling-specific ones).

This is actually one of the easiest temperature zones for me to dress for!
Starting with my usual summer kit -- i.e, a short-sleeved jersey and bib shorts:
- as soon as it dips below 65°F I add knee warmers
- when it dips below 60° I add a sleeveless or short-sleeved base layer
- somewhere in that 55-60°F range I add arm warmers
- below 50°F I swap out the short-sleeved jersey for a long-sleeved jersey
- below 45° I swap out the knee warmers for leg warmers, and add a wind vest
- somewhere between ~38° and 32°F I swap out the vest for a jacket

Note, none of those temperatures are absolute, just general guidelines.

Very much legit: Fast Talk podcast, ep. 7: Cold, bare legs make you dumb, not tough | VeloNews.com

Okie dokie, just ordered a long sleeve jersey, leg warmers, and padded tights

this is my "note to self" on my phone

bike wear

60-99 shorts and ss jersey (maybe arm warmers)
50-60 shorts, ss jersey, *arm warmers
45-55 shorts, *knee warmers, *medium base layer, ss jersey, *long finger gloves
40-50 *polar knickers, short sleeve jersey, *jacket, *warmer long finger gloves
35-45 *polar knickers, *long sleeve jersey, *jacket, *warmer long finger gloves
30-40 *polar tights, *thin base layer, *long sleeve jersey, jacket, winter gloves, thin wool socks, mb boots or shoe covers, hat

which is for dry weather. cold and wet is a whole nother can of worms.

and for windy i adjust -10 deg on the gear.

arm warmers, leg warmers and either a vest or one of those super light wind breakers that can crunch up to about the size of your palm.

Last year on the coldest days when I was out... I swore someone should make "double front panel assless merino long johns" for under the leg warmers under the polar tights.

Saturday, I parked my car in a pullout, scrambled down to the shore, and swam in Lake Kachess. It was a little creepy with the submerged trees, until I got out deep enough not to bump into any. And it was 94 F so the water was real refreshing. It's good to be prepared and order stuff so it arrives before you need it, but come on, summer isn't gone yet. Enjoy it while it's here.

The northeast had an early cold snap. 55 in NYC. Then just a couple days later... 85 this afternoon.

Green Mountain Stage Race in Vermont was a nightmare with temps in the 40's and wind driven rain.

Hopefully we have a relatively normal rest of September.

It's september in chicago...we could see 20f at any time from here on out lol.

Edit: actually...looked it up. Record low isnt into the 20's until october. But still. Summer is about over

It's almost never that my core feels cold. It's the extremities - hands, feet, and head. Below the mid-40s, shoe covers are a must, and if your regular shoes are well-vented, you might cover the vents with duct tape or similar. Good gloves are essential, though serious lobster-claws and the like aren't needed until sub-freezing weather, and a snug skull cap that fits under your helmet.

It can't happen soon enough. Bring on the rain and snow. Deliver us from evil. Kill the red destroyer.