the whole kit, caboodle and the kitchen sink

[JohnRedcoRn]

with winter approaching, and a couple of longish rides planned, i wonder, do folk generally prepare for every eventuality in terms of weather ? specifically i mean waterproof trousers (lycra seems to recover from a shower/drizzle but its no fun being drenched in a downpour).

or do you just tend to 'wing it' ? there seems to be an endless list of essential kit !

i'm taking my cycling seriously but i seem to be spending a lot of money on bike gear, even trying to get bargains....sooner or later mrs redcorns going to notice the wads of cash going out on the bank statements !!

more or less sorted for tops, waterproof night vis jacket, shorts+baggies, but going to need winter gloves, long trousers, waterproof trousers.....sheeeeeeesh !!

can anyone do me a list of the absolute bare essentials excluding stuff i could genuinely do without ??

any advice on this would be very much appreciated, thanks !

 

[Landslide]

I stick with lycra. It dries out pretty quickly once you're stopped. I can't see myself doing any significant distance in overtrousers - IME they just get too clammy.

For long rides I go for overshoes, roubaix bib tights, waterproof jacket + gloves, and sometimes a cotton cap under my helmet.

I'm still searching for some good waterproof gloves. In past years I've tried Chiba Protect and Altura Shield but to no avail. Mebbe some Seal Skinz this winter.

For shorter rides (e.g. commuting), as long as it's not too cold, I take the approach that the less I wear, the less fabric there is to soak up water.

 

[roadiewill]

all im buying is...

arm warmers
leg warmers
baselayer
winter gloves
waterproof overshoes
poss a windproof gillet

I already have a dhb hiviz jacket which is fine for extra cold days, but I tend to find I get too hot wearing it anyway and then I am stuck with it for the rest of the ride. Some guys here will probs say to dress in layers then peel off as you go which is a great way of doing it if you have space to carry a jacket etc, but I prefer setting off a little cold but then warming up nicely without any extra luggage. Just make sure the extremeties are covered up, feet, hands and head if its super cold

 

[roadiewill]

landslide,

what exactly is the roubaix stuff? I have some spesh roubaix arm warmers, which I think were a little more expensive than their other 'model', any ideas why? I guess its a special type of material in some way

 

[porridge]

with winter approaching, and a couple of longish rides planned, i wonder, do folk generally prepare for every eventuality in terms of weather ? specifically i mean waterproof trousers (lycra seems to recover from a shower/drizzle but its no fun being drenched in a downpour).

or do you just tend to 'wing it' ? there seems to be an endless list of essential kit !

i'm taking my cycling seriously but i seem to be spending a lot of money on bike gear, even trying to get bargains....sooner or later mrs redcorns going to notice the wads of cash going out on the bank statements !!

more or less sorted for tops, waterproof night vis jacket, shorts+baggies, but going to need winter gloves, long trousers, waterproof trousers.....sheeeeeeesh !!

can anyone do me a list of the absolute bare essentials excluding stuff i could genuinely do without ??

any advice on this would be very much appreciated, thanks !

Hey John

I know exactly how you feel !!

I started cycling to work in May for two reasons, to get fit, lose some weight AND just as important "to save money", well i've got a bit fitter and i've lost a bit of weight, but I seem to be spending A LOT of money on equipment, there always seems to be something else I need and its always very expensive !!.

Here's my list of essesntials, but im only a newbie and wet behind the ears.


Must have

1. Lyra shorts with padding (at least a couple of pairs)
2 Long Sleeve and short sleeve cycling top
3. WATERPROOF jacket
4. Lightweight showerproof jacket
5. At least a 1W front light
6. rear light
7. A few pairs of baggie shorts (bought from anywhere £2-3 quid each)
8. A couple of spare inner tubes
9. Tyre levers
10. Pair of gloves

Now as a safety first type of newbie cyclist, I would say yellow is my preference for items 2,3 and 4


Have bought, but possibly have done without

Rear Pannier carrier
Rear pannier
Long Bib
Pair of glasses (cost £6)
Pair of cycling shoes
waterproof overshoes


When will it all end?, as for where to buy?, well a mixture really, wiggle, edinburgh cooperative bike sale, cycle express, chain reaction and evans cycles

shop around, if I had one criticism of this site, it would be the lack of pointing out where the bargain (but still decent) can be found at any given time.

Good luck, hide the receipts and do what I do (convince yourself that you will save money in the long run)

 

[Landslide]

landslide,

what exactly is the roubaix stuff? I have some spesh roubaix arm warmers, which I think were a little more expensive than their other 'model', any ideas why? I guess its a special type of material in some way

(Seems to be) a generic term for fleece-backed lycra. Warmer than a single skin of lycra. I guess it's named for the "Hell of the North" conditions.

 

[JohnRedcoRn]

THANK you folks !! one more question -

**leg warmers >>> add on to shorts if its cold (cheaper than long trousers)

** is it ok to wear the thin inner shorts (with pad) underneath a pair of longs (like the lidl ones which have a not very good pad) ?

this forum is great !!

 

[Landslide]

That's two questions!

Um, yes, and yes.

And to your last sentiment, yes.

 

[JohnRedcoRn]

so padded inners under another pad, thats ok, no friction issues ?

damn i'm thinking about this too much, best go easy on the coffee

 

[Landslide]

The point of a chammy is to stick to your nethers, thus allowing the exterior of your clothes to slide across the saddle etc. therefore, no chafing twixt chammy and nethers.
An extra pad on the outside should not affect this anti-chafe effect.
I suppose that on the downside, the extra padding could be akin to an overly soft saddle, but I doubt it'd make too much difference (especially if you're using some shorts/tights with a not particularly good chammy).

If you're worried about over-thinking any further, you could have a G&T instead?

 

[palinurus]

THANK you folks !! one more question -

**leg warmers >>> add on to shorts if its cold (cheaper than long trousers)

** is it ok to wear the thin inner shorts (with pad) underneath a pair of longs (like the lidl ones which have a not very good pad) ?

this forum is great !!

Leg warmers aren't warm enough for the depths of winter, they are great in the autumn- particularly if it's chilly early on then gets warmer- you can then remove them.

I've got a number of pairs of cheap and/or worn out padded shorts which I use under non-padded tights in the winter. Works fine.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

there are rumours (and very well founded ones) that aldi's usually excellent value for money winter cycling kit is going on sale later this month…

 

[JohnRedcoRn]

right, i just spent 65 quid on a shortsleeve top, arm and leg warmers and winter gloves. WIGGLE - pretty good prices.
REALLY cant spend anymore on bike kit until end of september payday !!!

so now i have ;

2 x padded lycra shorts
1 x baggies with inner padded shorts
1 x long sleeved top (dhb, light and probably best for summer)
1 x long sleeved ski top (not bike specific, good for colder winds)
1 x night vision waterproof

the new stuff ;
arm warmers
leg warmers
shortsleeve top
winter gloves.

i was using a pair of lycra (i think) nike tops i used to wear for the gym - tight fitting . not bike specific - I shall use these as BASE LAYERS when it gets really cold as my budget dictates i shall need some panniers for planned overnight stay rides.

and 'proper' cycling shoes are out of the question - i wear a pair of casual shoe / trainer type things - a bit sturdier than a running shoe and they dont look out of place with the rest of the kit.

 

[Dayvo]

You may have seen this already:

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=18021

 

[Baggy]

I suffer from cold thighs on long winter rides, and also my waterproof seems to funnel water straight into the front of my shorts' pads. I hate waterproof trousers so have bought a pair of these to see if they make a difference:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Rainlegs_Leg_Protectors/5360021879/

Not tried them properly yet but have heard good things about them.