Essential Winter Clothing

[leecunni]

I went out yesterday in my shorts and long sleeve top. The wind was quite strong and the heavens opened. I got drenched and my legs and feet where freezing. After three hours it got very unpleasant. If I am going to carry on through the winter I better sort myself out with some gear that will protect me from the elements.

Can anyone advise me on the essentials please. I was thinking of getting a decent waterproof jacket & waterproof gloves.

What is the best leg gear for winter?
How do you keep your feet warm?

Anything else I have missed?

Thanks

 

[snorri]

Anything else I have missed?

Yes, you have not told us about the cycling you intend to do in winter, eg Utility cycling, leisurely cycling, off road, on road, performance or sport cycling?
I find a woolly hat the most important piece of winter cycle wear

 

[accountantpete]

+1 for the woolly hat.

You also can look at

1) Overshoes (these allow cleats to engage with the pedal)

2) A good pair of tights.

Whatever you get, make sure it is breathable or you will heat up like a furnace and then just as quickly cool down as the sweat starts to chill. If it is especially cold I use a long-sleeved football jersey as a base layer,then a cycling top and then the jacket.

 

[leecunni]

Snorri,

I am looking at journeys of anywhere from 20 - 60 miles. The miles will be done on a road bike and nothing too strenuous, I am justing trying to get fit and drop some weight.

Is it necessary to change tires in winter?

Thanks

 

[SimonC]

Snorri,

I am looking at journeys of anywhere from 20 - 60 miles. The miles will be done on a road bike and nothing too strenuous, I am justing trying to get fit and drop some weight.

Is it necessary to change tires in winter?

Thanks

I use Michelin Prorace 3 in summer, and Conti Ultra Gatorskins in winter. Tend to get more punctures in the wet, mainly cos of general crud being washed onto the road. Not a problem in our glorious dry summers

Fit some mudguards for winter also, you will stay much drier and also not spray anybody who happens to be riding behind you.

Other than that, wooly hat for sure, good gloves, neoprene overshoes are most important for staying comfortable. You dont want too much on, I always find I'm a bit cold when I set off, but you soon warm up.

 

[snorri]

As SimonC says, although I don't change my tyres until they are worn out.
It depends on your locality, but I like to carry fully waterproof jacket and trousers in winter. If you get wet to the skin you can very soon get dangerously cold if you have to stop for a puncture or mechanical problem in an isolated bit of country. Although modern breathable stuff is a great improvement on the old gear you still have to ease back on the exertions or you will be wet inside and out.
I never go far in winter without some extra clothing in my rear pannier, and often carry a flask of tea or coffee too.
Take care in the frosty weather, when there is a danger of icy roads and your journey is not essential....you know the story.

 

[GrasB]

Decent over shoes are a must, if it looks like it may rain I put them on as they don't really effect my performance. I always carry with me a waterproof jacket, over-trousers & gloves. That said it has to get damn wet before I consider putting the trousers & jacket on as I get to hot way to quickly & then literally collapse with exhaustion. However if I do need to stop I can whip them out of the bag and soon my own body heat will keep my nice n' toasty with the added advantage of my own portable personal sauna.

 

[Randochap]

+1 for mudguards and mudflap, incl. rear mudflap if you ride in a group...and booties/overshoes. Consider a good vest to wear under your rainjacket in colder weather. Generally, you want to use multiple layers, which gives more options than one or two thick, heavy layers. My usual cold/wet gear includes:

TOP

• polyester skull cap (thick wool in subzero)
• helmet cover w/ neck flap for torrential rain
• poly base-layer (sometimes 2nd merino wool in subzero)
• long-sleeve jersey (wool and/or poly)
• fleece cycling vest w/ 3 rear pockets
• rain jacket, w/ pit zips
• full-finger gloves ("lobster-style" for subzero or cold/wet)

BOTTOM

• shorts (X2 in subzero)
• tights or winter leg warmers
• wool socks
• shoes
• booties (in very cold weather neoprene over shoes, then coated-nylon covers on top)

See clothing section here, incl. clickable pic.

Generally, use a heavier, cheaper tyres for winter as you'll likely get more flats in wet. Studded tyres are available for ice and snow.

 

[kewb]

fleece hat
fleece waterproof full gloves
water repellent longs
lightweight wind resistant top with fleece top
waterproof gore tex shoes
gore tex jkt and overtrousers in case ? but only for extremes as somebody just said i dont want to collapse from heat exaustion .

 

[Cking]

A skull cap that covers your ears. Esential for frosty mornings!

Rgds Cking

 

[PK99]

Thermal buff - combined head/ear/mouth cover and neck draught excluder

 

[Wobbly Wheels]

I wish there were some more "normal" style clothes for cycling. I ride in walking wear, but I suppose it's not ideal. I really don't look good in cycling gear, I mean really, not good. Skin tight shorts or leggings or the dreaded lycra... especially not!

I tend to use my hiking trousers, a t-shirt and hiking jacket. I'd rather have looser clothes than dead tight.

 

[Randochap]

I tend to use my hiking trousers, a t-shirt and hiking jacket. I'd rather have looser clothes than dead tight.

Lycra is not tight ... wet cotton on the other hand ....

 

[accountantpete]

I should add that I always carry two spare inner tubes in the winter -you don't want to be mending a puncture in the cold.

 

[Jonathan M]

Winter equipment, from head to toe

Cold & dry (those blue sky frosty days)
Lusso thermal skull cap under helmet
Long sleev base layer
Vest base layer
Short sleeve cycle top
Gore windstopper top
Bib shorts
Gore windstopper fronted bibtights
Sealskinz merino waterproof socks
Neoprene overshoes
(wooly hat in a pocket in case of problems)

Cold wet days (most of the time in winter)
Cycling cap under helmet
Long sleeve thermal layer
"warm" long sleeved cycle top
Waterproof or windproof top, according to rainfall
bib shorts
Roubaix lycra bib tights
Sealskinz merino socks
Neoprene overshoes

In between days (wet but milder)
As above but probably some 3/4 length roubaix bibs.

Gloves - some Pearl Izumi waterproof thermal gloves +/- helly hansen lifa inner gloves according to weather.

All the above has been accumulated over many years, always see what works for you. Keep an eye out in the bike mags (Cycling weekly is often a good one) for sale items, the Windstopper top I use is a Shimano one, but is full windstopper and only cost £40, the bib tights weer £60, still expensive but so useful to have. I'd always make room in a pocket for some sort of waterproof unless I'm 100% sure that it will not rain, usually on the really cold frosty days, but even then another layer on top if you stop is always good.

That equipment has stood me in good stead for rides of up to 100km.

Edit: forgot to say I'll usually wear a buff type thing, especially when it is raining, stops some of the rain making its way down the neck of a waterproof. When it is really cold stops your face from turning to ice.