What to wear? (fair weather cyclist turning hardcore!)

[gillian]

Have a big charity ride in May but haven't been on my bike for months due to the constant rain! Time to change that! I need to get kitted out but with what?
I don't think my top half is an issue ... More what should I wear on my legs to keep warm/dry or even just warm!
I'm guessing I need mudguards ... Are these easy to fit?
Any other advice?

 

[Saluki]

Padded longs are a must. Or shorts with lovely leg warmers work but longs are warmer IMO. I tend to wear my NightVision 'council' Orange jacket in the winter as I can get a fleece under there, being a bit nesh and all. I have my Sealskinz Gloves, Merino Wool socks (3 pairs for cost of 2 in Go Outdoors at the mo) and I have MTB boots rather than my MTB or Road shoes. Much warmer and waterproof too. I also have my fleece buff. Cycling cap or buff hat under my lid and I'm good to go.
If I have my regular MTB or Road shoes on, I have my zippy-uppy overshoes on. Warm and toasty feet are a must for me.
My bikes won't take a traditional mudguard but one of our lovely CCers is sending me a crud catcher which will help.

 

[13 rider]

@Saluki has about covered it overshoes are great especially if you are wearing cycling shoes .
Mudguards vary bike to bike and can be a pain to fit .Good job to get Local bike shop to fit but will save you and your bike getting wet
What bike do you ride.

 

[vickster]

Altura winter cruisers over padded shorts, 3/4 or longs are warm and comfy

Mudguards let your bike shop have the pain of finding ones that fit and fitting the buggers

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

What is the bike? If it has the eyelets and sufficient clearance I'll recommend Tortec mudguards which I found pretty straightforward to fit and have stayed secure since (unlike some guards I've had in the past).

 

[mjr]

rainlegs are brilliant. Waterproof trousers when torrential is worth the rustling. Overshoes. Military boots or wellies when torrential. Merino long socks. Thermal tights.

 

[Fubar]

Have a big charity ride in May but haven't been on my bike for months due to the constant rain! Time to change that! I need to get kitted out but with what?
I don't think my top half is an issue ... More what should I wear on my legs to keep warm/dry or even just warm!
I'm guessing I need mudguards ... Are these easy to fit?
Any other advice?

All good advice, I would go with layers, then you can peel off if it gets too warm - at the weekend it was so cold I had arm and leg warmers, then base layer, biblongs, Roubaix jacket (fleece lined), fleecy buff, Sealskinz hat, gloves and gore overshoes - in fact I'm surprised I could move! Watch jackets as they can become "boil in the bag".

Also accept that, even with all of the above if the weather is bad enough you are likely to get wet - once you get your head round that you'll be fine! Good luck

 

[montroseloon]

Neoprene shoe covers help keep the feet warm and dry. Planet X was doing a deal pack for about £20 of a wooly hat, skull cap, glasses, arm warmers, a buff and the neoprene shoe covers

 

[mjr]

Cycling cap or buff hat under my lid and I'm good to go.

Please, before doing that, check whether your helmet manual contains a lovely warning like this:

Anything between your head and the helmet can reduce the protection. A cap, scarf, or even some high-volume hairstyles might allow the helmet to move during an impact. Barrettes, headphones, or anything else under your helmet can injure you if the helmet is impacted

I'm helmet-sceptic so I suspect this is so they can flog approved helmet covers or warmer winter helmets or something, but I could be wrong.

 

[Saluki]

Please, before doing that, check whether your helmet manual contains a lovely warning like this:

I'm helmet-sceptic so I suspect this is so they can flog approved helmet covers or warmer winter helmets or something, but I could be wrong.

I did not know that! I have bouffey hair, this time of year! We never had all this nonsense with our horse riding helmets. we all had scarves under to keep our ears warm - buffs nowadays.
I'll keep doing what I'm doing though.
I had to smile at "helmet manual". I never even looked at the one that came with mine.

 

[mjr]

I had to smile at "helmet manual". I never even looked at the one that came with mine.

I don't think many of the helmet-wearing minority do, based on how many are worn contrary to the instructions. I don't understand why anyone would wear one in a way that won't provide even the limited protection the manufacturers claim (and I thought that even when I wore one), but we should probably discuss that on https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/the-cyclechat-helmet-debate-thread.187059 rather than here.

 

[Saluki]

I don't think many of the helmet-wearing minority do, based on how many are worn contrary to the instructions. I don't understand why anyone would wear one in a way that won't provide even the limited protection the manufacturers claim (and I thought that even when I wore one), but we should probably discuss that on https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/the-cyclechat-helmet-debate-thread.187059 rather than here.

I find that it keeps my head warmer in winter. Also, it's somewhere to put my little blinky helmet light. I have read, on several occasions, that if not wearing a helmet, that compensation claims for road injuries when car drivers are at fault, can be held up. I still cannot see how wearing a helmet will stop a broken arm but, I do tend to wear one when on the road but under no illusions as it its usefulness at a high speed.
However, I have come off upon not seeing a pothole in time - nobody in a vehicle anywhere near me, just one of those things - and knocked my bonce on a kerb and I reckon that the helmet saved me from the worst of the force.

If I am riding on trails like the Marriotts Way etc, I tend to wear a bobble hat, not a lid. Keeps my head and ears toasty warm.

 

[MichaelW2]

If you have mudguard eyelets, use full-length standard bolt-on 'guards, not clip-on ones.
Most hybrid bikes have rear eyelets and front suspension without eyelets, but you can't but a pair of 'guards in this configuration.
Fitting 'guards is a faff and sometimes the supplied hardware is of poor quality. I ofren replace small components with zip-ties, usually at the rear chainstay bridge.

For winter leggings, note that padded items should be washed after every ride. It is easier to use padded shorts as underwear and unpadded leggings over. Ron Hill bikesters are good, not over-insulated.
In cold, wet condition, waterproof over-trousers can work, unless you are riding really hard.
Feet are always hard to keep comfortable. Summer shoes are too permeable and tight. Winter cycling boots often aspire to arctic protection, when we just need cold rain protection. Wool socks are best.

A neck buff or tube is useful. In really cold conditions, I wear 2 in a balaclava config.

 

[mjr]

I find that it keeps my head warmer in winter.

Which is strange when so many helmets are marketed on their ventilation

I have read, on several occasions, that if not wearing a helmet, that compensation claims for road injuries when car drivers are at fault, can be held up

That should only happen if you suffer a head injury that a helmet would be expected to prevent... if you'll repost your claims in the helmet debate, I'll explain why the rest of them are disputed, but I felt the old compensation myth was worth correcting here.

 

[MichaelW2]

Cheap helmets have more helmet and less air, so provide better insulation in winter. I like the basic helmets from MET.