to wear fleece from start of journey?

[szygy]

I was wondering what the percieved wisdom is around how much insulation to wear at this time of year?
Generally I start off wearing something warm, and then take it off after about 4-5 miles when I am very warm. Maybe it would be better to leave in just a shirt and then warm up on the bike as quickly as I can? I tend to find when I do it this way my hands and feet get cold and take ages to warm up.

 

[gavintc]

My principle is generally to leave the house a little bit chilly as the ride will warm you up quite quickly. If you start the ride warm, you will overheat after only a few miles.

 

[avsd]

+1 for starting cool and warming up as you cycle.

 

[jimboalee]

Have a read through this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_comfort



I did all my research and calcs before Wikipedia was invented. I had to sit and read through information sheets sent out to me by clothing manufacturers.

 

[the_mikey]

I start cool and usually warm up as the ride goes, rather than wear a fleece I wear a base layer and a long sleeved cycling jersey, a fleece will get too hot unless you're really taking it easy and is too heavy to carry around.

 

[Norm]

a fleece will get too hot unless you're really taking it easy and is too heavy to carry around.

Not necessarily. I am one of life's warmer-blooded peeps, I am far more likely to overheat than chill, so most of the year I just wear a t-shirt.

When it gets below around 10 degrees, I have a light-weight Berghaus fleece which I wear over the t-shirt. Because it's designed for walkers, it's relatively wind-proof, and it is all I need until the temperature drops below freezing, at which point I put an Altura cycling jacket over the top.

On the other hand, if I'm using the bike to head off to town, I'll wear a Regatta (oh, the shame) lined fleece, which is wind-proof and water resistant.

 

[the_mikey]

On the other hand, if I'm using the bike to head off to town, I'll wear a Regatta (oh, the shame) lined fleece, which is wind-proof and water resistant.

I have one of those for work, I work outdoors often so it's most welcome then!

 

[Norm]

Label-snobbery aside, it is good, a handy grab-it that works in most situations.

In fact, I'm just off to the fireworks... guess what I'll be wearing.

 

[ventoux50]

wicking base layer, long sleeved cycling shirt and a windproof gilet are the basics for me at the moment,
will add a buff round the neck and a thicker 'roubaix' style jacket and tights at the first signs of frost.

oh and at least a race cap under the helmet.

and long fingered gloves,

and waterproof overshoes,

and sunglasses to keep crud out of eyes (lenses dependant on light conditions.

Takes me a good half hour to get ready -

then just as I'm about to step out the door, I usually need a poo !




bugger !

 

[yello]

then just as I'm about to step out the door, I usually need a poo !

You too huh? Why is that? I can sense it brewing, can even go and have a try to no avail, but the moment I buckle up my shoes and head for the door the bowels decide that now is the hour.

With relation to the OP, I'm another cold starter. Like norm, I run hot and if I've got too many layers on - or the wrong ones - then I'll be steaming up within 20 minutes. So I'd never wear fleece, and could pledge my troth (whatever that means!) to gilets and arm warmers!

 

[byegad]

I'm the opposite and wear plenty of layers all year round. This time of year sees me with a Long sleeve windproof and at least two layers underneath. I often wear a technical T-shirt, long sleeve fleece and gilet in warmer weather.

 

[Northern Exile]

On my c. 6.5 mile city commute, I find overheating much more of a problem than being too cold, even at this time of year. So my normal cycling wear is shirtsleeves. Can't imagine wearing a fleece! I would be beetroot-faced and sweating like a pig by the time I got to work. But I've only been doing this commute for a few weeks (my ride to work was less than 2 miles before that) so maybe as I get fitter I'll start to feel the need for warmer clothing when I'm riding?
I do wear gloves because even when generally warm I find my fingers can get a bit numb in the cold, and I have a cotton sweatshirt and knitted cap to hand in case I do feel hypothermia coming on.

 

[mcshroom]

On colder days I have a craghoppers bodywarmer which is a good compromise.

In general commuting I find that the hill half a mile in tends to warm me up so I set of cold, but always make sure my hands and feet are well covered up as if they start cold they take forever to warm up.

 

[ASC1951]

Generally I start off wearing something warm, and then take it off after about 4-5 miles when I am very warm. Maybe it would be better to leave in just a shirt and then warm up on the bike as quickly as I can?

It also depends how long your ride is. I was out for eight hours yesterday, which is long enough for me to cool down again, so I wear what keeps me warm all day and go out a bit slower at the beginning. I also took a thin windproof just in case I needed topping up around dusk.

 

[jimboalee]

Deciding what clothing to wear is a tricky number.



Firstly, the insulation properties of the clothes should be known. Cotton and lycra fabric have a coefficient of 0.03 (W/m.K) when its damp with sweat.



The amount of energy transmission is ( the coefficient / thickness of fabric m ) * area exposed to windchill * ( Neutral Skin Temp – Equivalent Skin temp according to the Windchill factor ).



Example ( 0.03 / 0.001 ) * 0.41 m^2 * ( 33 – 6.40 Deg C ) = 330 Watts = 4.7 kCals per minute being sunk away by the damp 1 mm thick cotton shirt & lycra shorts; riding at 14 mph through 20 C air.