boshk

I'm trying to figure what bib and jersey to buy for cooler weather riding without having to buy every possible combination.

Current wardrobe is mainly summer/autumn gear
Castelli Perfetto SS jersey & Velocissmo bib shorts
Pearl Izumi Select Pursuit SS jersey
Rapha Brevet Long Sleeve jersey
Castelli Arm and Knee Warmers

Weather here gets down to around 8C(45F) but only for at most a week or two.

I want a windproof/blocker long sleeve, was set to get the Perfetto Long Sleeve which according to their website is for 6-15�C (42-60�F) but I went out with my Perfetto SS (10-18�C) and arm leg warmers in 12�C, a little windy and its was way too cold. Is the LS version constructed differently??

Also a little lost with the bibs. There's bib tight, bib 3/4 length and then the thermal versions bib thermal shorts, bib thermal tights, bib thermal 3/4..........

Can I get away without having to use a baselayer? I have a Craft Active Extreme LS base but quite frankly, it feels harsh, its does keep me warm-ish, wicks good, but I know its there.

What do you guys have in your autumn/winter wardrobe?

Carbonfiberboy 

For temps between 35� and 55� I wear a combination of a Craft LS Mix and Match, Voler LS Winter Jersey, Voler Jet Wind Jacket, and Craft wind vest. The Voler jersey doesn't block wind at all, so getting the correct warmth for conditions is a simple matter of jacket, vest, or nothing, and zipper position. The jacket and vest easily stuff into a jersey pocket.

TimothyH

For 45F I would recommend the Castelli Alpha Wind Jersey with a light or heavier base layer depending on your tolerance and age. Note that this is the jersey, not the jacket and has been renamed Alpha ROS jersey for 2018.

Above 60F it gets warm but it is a great garment from the low 40's through the 50's. It has a very unique construction with wind block and a separate insulating layer in the front and an open fleece fabric in the rear to vent moisture and heat. The Competitive Cyclist website explains the garment well. It is amazing. I would also recommend the Nanoflex 2 bib knickers. Knickers are called "3/4" in some places. They have the advantage of shedding light road spray. I wear the Alpha Wind Jersey with a Craft Active Extreme base layer or if I feel a little extra neck protection is needed I might wear an Under Armor Cold Gear mock turtleneck compression base layer. These and the Nanoflex 2 bib tights are the staples of my wardrobe for rides from 38� through the mid 50's.

Top them off with Castelli Scalda gloves you you will be the most stylish cyclist in Hong Kong!


-Tim-

Carbonfiberboy 

For legs, in the dry:
I go bare above 55�
45-55 - leg warmers
40-45 - Pearl Izumi thermal tights
below 40� - Pearl Izumi Thermal Barrier tights

In the rain:
55 and up - leg warmers
50-55 - PI Thermal tights over shorts
45-55 - PI Thermal Barrier tights over shorts
Below 45 - PI AmFib tights over shorts

However everyone has to experiment for themselves. Clothing for cool conditions is always going to depend on how many watts a person normally puts out and how much body insulation (fat) they have. For me, I always prefer being too cool to being too warm. Too warm kills my power. Too cool encourages me.

exmechanic89

Man I would love to see even the 30's here right now. It's been in the single digits every morning for a while, I havent done my daily ride in 5 days. High 20's is about as cold as I can deal with cold weather riding, and this super low temp, high wind weather is too much even for me.

So for now I'm doing a lot of indoor cardio workouts, but sure miss riding.

memebag

It was 42�, overcast and misty for most of my ride Sunday. I wore:

• thin socks
• same bib shorts I wear in summer
• short sleeve wicking base layer shirt
• short sleeve jersey
• 7mesh Synergy long sleeve wind breaker jersey
• thin fingerless gloves

42� isn't cold enough for leg warmers and such.

San Pedro

Everyone feels differently, so you'll have to kind of find what works for you.

In the quest to save money, I'd try and layering underneath your jersey. It doesn't need to be cycling specific, but it helps if your clothes breathe.

Full length tights (maybe with the leg warmers if you are still cold) would be something to look into, and thermals might be good, but you'll have to stop using them sooner.

Clipped_in

I bought a Castelli San Remo 2 thermo skinsuit this past fall and I love it for riding in the ~40�F to 60�F temp range. Very comfortable and not bulky, with good wind protection. I have a lot of other cold weather riding gear, but this is now my go-to if I know I won't have a big temperature fluctuation during the ride and it isn't really cold. It's a little spendy, but well worth it for me. There are some good online deals right now.

Drew Eckhardt 

At 45 degrees F I like
- A wind shell (LG speedzone with cut-out to reach jersey pockets) that can be stowed in a pocket as temperature increases
- A thermal jersey (usually Voler), still comfortable without the wind shell up to 55-60 degrees because it does nothing to block wind. LG thermal jerseys work the same way, but have heavier fabric, are looser, and have bigger pockets. I have six so I don't need to reuse between weekly washes.
- Thermal tights (LG) with no chamois (can be worn all week then washed on the weekend). No cold spots like leg warmers, and they never slip.
- Gloves

- The same shorts, shoes, and socks I wear in warmer weather.

32-40 I want uninsulated shoe covers and a thermal jacket (Voler) too. A thermal base layer can add the same warmth as the thermal jacket, but it's a one-wear per wash clothing article, and doesn't unzip when things warm up.

40-45 is a between zone. Before sunrise a partially zipped thermal jacket is OK; much after it's better to skip that.

boshk

Thanks. Went to try out some cool/winter gear at Rapha but most of them didn't really fit me. Will go and see if I can find some Endura/Giordana/Castelli stuff today at LBS.
The Rapha Core bib tights were exceptionally comfortable but too long in the ankle area. Core jacket & jersey were weird sizing. Classic bib Shorts II were really nice too. You can easily see why people rave about them. Have yet to try on the high end Giordana FRC bib and Assos Mille bibs.

Seems like the general consensus is that tights are for the 30-45���F, those temperatures doesn't happen too often here in Hong Kong so I ordered some Castelli 3/4 and a dhb tights......see which fits better.

Purchased 2 more baselayers as you guys have suggested, 1 windproof ss from Craft and another normal ss.
Most expensive is the Rapha winter windblocker jersey which I can return if it doesn't fit or I don't like, then I'll just order the Castelli Perfetto Long Sleeve or Trasparente jersey from a CRC.

Sy Reene

Thermal tights only? On bare skin, and you wear them for a full week of riding before washing?
Do you normally ride chamois-less?

Drew Eckhardt 

They go with the same cycling shorts I use in warmer weather, wearing each pair one day with a weekly laundry load cleaning all of them.

I still accept the weight penalty of shoes that I could avoid by screwing cleats directly to my feet.

I also wear socks, but figured those also didn't need mentioning.

Sy Reene

Okey doke.. Yes, I now see it was obvious you wear cycling shorts (with chamois I suppose), but "not bibs" under your tights. Sorry for the misread.

San Pedro

My guess is that if you're from Hong Kong then your tolerance for cold will be much lower than guys living in most of the US.

FWIW, I have had good luck with dhb bibs and bib tights, just not the bottom shelf stuff.

San Pedro

Different genes than me. I am freezing at that temperature.

boshk

Actually, the Wiggle/CRC dhb brand isn't bad at all.
I did order their Flashlight tights, was good, not like Castelli or Rapha but good enough BUT they stitched it the wrong way round....so had to return them.
Lets see how the dhb Aeron Roubaix bib tights do.

rivers

8*C is leg warmer territory for me, and a light thermal baselayer top if it's going to be dry with light winds. If it's going to be windy, I'll go with thermal tights and a light thermal top. Wet, the rain jacket gets added.

Seattle Forrest

This is the right answer.

Also, dress for the second mile not the first.