What do I need for winter

[pinkkaz]

I subscribe to the Alpkit newsletter, and they have a new item of kit: Waterproof Jeans!!

http://www.alpkit.com/colab/projects/jeanius/

Not fair though as they are only doing mens sizes at the moment. As soon as they start doing women's I don't think I'll be wearing anything else... (anything else on my legs, that is...)

 

[summerdays]

As a person whose jeans were completely soaked in my 5 minute cycle ride today, that I detoured home to get changed before going to school I could wear those too (in ladies style of course).

 

[PrettyboyTim]

I can't see the point of bib shorts and all that malarkey for a commute.

Last winter when it got cold I wore some tracksuit bottoms, T-shirt with a fleece over the top and some cheap thinsulate gloves. If it was raining hard I would replace the fleece with a waterproof cycling jacket and I'd also sometimes wear the rainlegs if it was really chucking it down.

This year I've ordered some leg warmers to wear with my normal shorts rather than go for the tracky bottoms.

 

[goo_mason]

I can't see the point of bib shorts and all that malarkey for a commute..

I can - comfortable, snug and warm at 6am on a freezing cold winter 10-mile commute to work. Before I got them I wore less suitable clothing and the difference in comfort was like night and day.

 

[PrettyboyTim]

I can - comfortable, snug and warm at 6am on a freezing cold winter 10-mile commute to work.

I guess it makes quite difference when / where you commute. Living in London and riding at 8:30 it doesn't get all that cold.

Quite a bit different if you live on Hoth, I suppose.

 

[Headgardener]

I wore shorts all last Winter. I'm so hairy I don't get cold (except for finger tips and toes).

However, goo mason very wisely recommended protecting the knees in the cold. So thought I would get myself some old-fashioned running knee supports. Warmth and knee support, you see. This Lunchtime found some nice ones for sale in the City Runner near Blackfriars Bridge - the one in London - for sale at £3.99. However they were branded with Lansdowne. And then I wondered whether I would end up looking like a 70s throwback with knee supports and shorts. Don't really want 3/4 length thingies though. So mulling on it. Prob pick a pair up tonight on the way home and see how they go.

Also popped into Condor Bikes on the Grays Inn Road (The one in London ) as they have clearances sometimes.

Browsed for a while in a Bin full of shorts with a sign saying "Silly Prices". Shop assistant finally took pity on me and told me that

"These are all women's shorts, sir."

Expensive shop.

 

[goo_mason]

However, goo mason very wisely recommended protecting the knees in the cold.

I would indeed after having read about protecting them to prevent problems in later life. I've had dodgy knees since my late teens, so I'm determined to protect them as best I can.

And, funnily enough, since I started cycling my knees have almost ceased to give me any bother at all.

 

[peanut]

I Shop assistant finally took pity on me and told me that

"These are all women's shorts, sir."

Expensive shop.

glad I'm not the only short sighted rider.
I found myself looking for some work trousers in the kiddies section of Matalan the other day

 

[HJ]

Well, the Assos girl does...

Ah but does she ride dressed like that??


My recommendation for cheep winter gear is Ronhill Bikesters get the DXB version the water just rolls off them, I have even used them for skiing as snow doesn't stick to them.

 

[cyclenic]

cold

I'm getting confused, with such a wide range of clothing types, and an even wider range of web site to buy them off of.

What would be the best to buy.

(considering i'm female)

would i be better to buy:

tights or trousers?

and is there a difference between base layer trousers and tights?

and should i look for the best bargains, or just try cheepy lidl's clothing seens as i'm a newbie?

 

[cyclenic]

cold

And if i wear padded under shorts, di i need to buy cycle specific trousers, or shorts, or can i wear any type of sports wear?

 

[Fiona N]

Hi again cyclenic
With regards to trousers or tights - it depends how cold, how far and how self-conscious.
Trousers are usually more normal-looking obviously but may not be as warm (although people complain about sweating buckets in water-proof trousers. Never wear them myself ) as tights, especially the so-called 'roubaix' tights which are stretchy, fairly windproof, lycra fabric with a warm fleecy inner layer. For a longish distance in cold weather, I'd definitely go for tights and hang the comments/non-admiring glances I might get. But I admit to wearing Gore Bike Wear (pricey stuff but it lasts forever as it's really well made) trousers or 3/4 length trousers for making short trips to the shops as I'm no longer a svelte 25 year old and I wish to spare peoples' sensibilities.

Cycling trousers often have a removable inner short or liner with the padding so you can choose whether or not to use it. Tights (or bib-tights) come in both padded and unpadded versions so you can decide to use cyle shorts or not with the latter.

A sort of compromise is looser Ron Hill-type trousers over cycling shorts. I used to do this when I commuted, especially in Autumn as a cold morning might be followed by a milder afternoon return ride so the combination was more flexible. Nowadays I work from home and only ride for pleasure (apart from shopping trips ) so I favour tights, both full length and 3/4 length which again are nice for Autumn but probably not enough for real winter (assuming we get some this year).

Price-wise, I'd tend to spend as much as you can on quality tights or trousers. Gore, Pearl Izumi, Endura, Sugoi and several other quality makes do women-specific gear which is definitely better than blokes unless you're the shape of a bloke. Check out the http://www.minx-girl.com/ and http://www.girlsruntoo.co.uk websites to have a look at some nice gear then see if Wiggle and other big bike sites have better prices.

 

[cyclenic]

bottoms

Execelent thats great fiona thanks (i like the pig i think he's cute)