Keeping Warm in Cold / Winter Cycyling

[chrisb1357]

Hi all,

Well as its started to get cold weather now and winter soon I am looking to purchase some warmer gear. In the summer I only was only using padded shorts and jersey. I see most people in cold weather use full bottoms / tights and some have shorts ontop. Not sure about the top half.

My budget is not high so was going to take a trip to decathlon

Any tips will be nice

 

[defy-one]

the best bit of kit you can buy is a full sleeve compression top. over this put a t shirt and finally a full sleeve top. wear a scalp cap under your helmet to keep your head warm. a buff helps keep the face warm. decent gloves.

 

[oilyormo]

a lot depends on how far you plan to cycle. for example on the cold days i commute to work (3 miles) wearing wind/ rain proof jacket, t shirt and jumper, full length lycra tights and track suite bottoms plus thermal socks and bob hat and gloves and am just about to break sweat when i arrive to work.
for a sunday 50 miler its just full length lycra tights, cycling top (long sleeve) and wind/water proof jacket plus bob hat that i remove after 25 mile or so

 

[Boon 51]

Hi all,

Well as its started to get cold weather now and winter soon I am looking to purchase some warmer gear. In the summer I only was only using padded shorts and jersey. I see most people in cold weather use full bottoms / tights and some have shorts ontop. Not sure about the top half.

My budget is not high so was going to take a trip to decathlon

Any tips will be nice

Decathlon is a good start they do have some good stuff.. or try Sportsdirect in your local town if you have one.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I'm still cycling the three miles to work in shorts and polo shirt at the moment, if I wear anything else I still get sweaty. I've started wearing long fingered gloves and a buff to protect my lugoles.

Like you I don't have the financial luxury of being able to buy winter specific kit, but on longer rides those long sleeve compression tops are a huge help. I also wear two pairs of thin socks and some calf length Lidl compression socks. My cycling shoes have huge vents so they're currently covered in gaffa tape.

I did manage to get some overshoes and they also help.

My knees are still out on display though.

 

[Broadside]

I use Lycra tights and long sleeve tops at this time of year, you can put a short sleeve summer jersey underneath as a base layer which saves buying more kit.

http://www.cycle-clothing.co.uk/ are pretty good value, also check out Tenn Outdoors kit, I have their roubaix bib tights and they are very warm, I can only wear them when it is sub 5C.

 

[Mo1959]

[quote="Andrew_Culture, post: 2169483, member: 21241"
My knees are still out on display though.[/quote]

You need to come up here if you are too warm. Full of good intentions for an early cycle but looked out to sparkly roads and haven't risked it.

 

[simmi]

The wamest baselayer I have is merino wool, also have a couple of under armours which are also quite good. I am always wet whatever I wear all this stuff about wicking moisture etc is all well and good but if you are working hard you will produce more sweat than you can wick away. With the wool I am at least warm and wet.
My problem is my feet, is there anything you can do to keep your feet warm, yesterday had thin socks with sealskinz socks and overshoes my feet were like blocks of ice half my toes were white!

 

[mattobrien]

My problem is my feet, is there anything you can do to keep your feet warm, yesterday had thin socks with sealskinz socks and overshoes my feet were like blocks of ice half my toes were white!

I actually found it warmer to only wear my thermal sealskinz, without thin socks underneath. It almost felt like the thin socks were stopping the thermals working as well.

I have bought some thermal dhb socks to use this year too, as the sealskinz are a bugger to dry once washed. You need to turn them inside out half way through the drying process.

 

[wisdom]

Layers are good for the top half and a good quality waterproof and windproof jacket.
I use muddy fox padded tights (cheap from sports direct)They are good for the money.If its really cold i wear altura winter cruisers which are toasty but quite expensive if you are on a tight budget

 

[lulubel]

My biggest problem in winter (as I've recently discovered) is very hilly rides. I tend to get soaked with sweat on the climbs when I'm going slowly and working hard, and freezing cold on the descents, when I'm going fast for minimal effort. I've just ordered a good windproof jacket, with the plan to wear it unzipped on the climbs, and zip it up to protect against the windchill on the descents. Then I can vary the number/thickness of layers underneath depending on the conditions.

 

[slowmotion]

I have some Helly Hansen LJs and a long sleeve vest. The vest has a synthetic fabric against your skin and a merino outer layer. They are pretty warm. I wear other stuff too, BTW.

 

[Andrew_P]

The best addition to my winter warmers was the windstopper jacket, stopping the wind means I create my own heat that is retained. I just have a long sleeve jersey underneath. Pair of bib longs, Northwave Celcius boots with thermal socks complete it. IMO The single most important thing for keeping warm in the cold and wet is a decent front long mudguard. No amount of layers will resist getting drenched by road spray.

Will probably add a base l+buff+under helmet skull cap for minus temps.