winter clothing

[ELL]

I haven't been out for a while on the bike because i am a big wuss and don't like the cold, but I am itching to get out again one weekend soon for a ride but have no winter clothing all I have is shorts, T-shirts and 1 sports jacket as i normally go to the gym in winter. Can anyone recommend me something cheap that i could buy as i wont be using it all that much but want to be warm when i go out.

 

[MacB]

Ell, started out with same idea as you, 'cheap', swiftly realised that term is subjective especially in cycling. Think 3-4 layers, all quite thin, breathable and out wind/waterproof. Merino wool seems to get highest marks but also highest price, unless you're lucky. some of the cheaper synthetics are associated with getting smelly and staying smelly, even after being washed.

I've gone with knee warmers(easily put on or off), cycle shorts with insert, jogging bottoms(might upgrade to Ron Hill tracksters), merino wool t shirt, fleece mid layer(cheapo one from Peacocks) and Altura Night Vision jacket. I have thermal gloves, but need to add windstopper layer, though washing up gloves do in short term. Have wooly hat, one of those instant roll neck/tube things(from a ski shop). Toasty most of the time but windchill doesn't half act fast. Need to watch it when I'm going downhill after overheating on an incline, I can lose body heat really fast.

Beyond that it's trial and error, layering is the best advice and I avoid cotton now. It just soaks up sweat and then gets cold and clammy for rest of ride.

 

[snakehips]

I agree with layering. I have cycled through several winters with clothing not specifically designed for cycling. In Sports World at the mo they have windproof 'nylon' jackets for a fiver or so. Not perfect but certainly cheap.

 

[purplepolly]

keep your head and neck well insulated and the rest of you will a lot warmer - a polartec Buff is good in this kind of weather, well worth the money

 

[gbb]

Today, i are mostly wearing..
Ron Hill Bikesters, with Aldi winter bib longs over the top. The glory of the bibs are they keep your hips and sides warm. For the price...brilliant. Looks wise...not too bad for commuting. Not briilliant, but ok.
Normal thermal long sleeve vest under my tshirt and work jumper, with an Altura Nevis Jacket.
Nike cycling cap. Just covers the ears...bt like a skulll cap. Very good.
Bolle Viper 'safety' glasses. Cheap, look ok, and keep the stingy cold out of your eyes. These are my favourite thing for the cold...cheap (about £5)and very very effective.
For commuting, i often wear a pair of latex examination style gloves under my winter gloves...they keep the warmth in your hands. A bit sweaty if you push hard and get hot...but generally, they make a huge difference.

Altura Nevis jacket...between £35 and £50
Aldi bibs..i think they were £12
Nike cap...about £15
Thermal shirt...get them from anywhere...about £3
Bolle Vipers..local engineering suppliers etc (or ebay)..about £5
Latex gloves..between £3 and £6..useful for bike maintenence..and errrr....best not go there
Ron Hill Tracksters or Bikesters...about £15 to £25.

I had 3/4 hour commute tonight..i can honestly say, apart from very sliightly cold hands and feet...toasty warm otherwise.

 

[clutterydrawer]

Layers of any clothes you have, for the good reason that you will get very warm very quickly and need to take some off.

I usually start off with 5-6 on (or 9,today) and get to work with 2-3 left.

 

[Blonde]

I agree with the latex gloves idea - it's cheap and it really works. I had to resort to this several times recently on stupidly cold rides (wearing them over the top of liner gloves, and underneath my winter/outer gloves) when my hands were alternately numb or hurting 'cos of the cold. It stopped the numbness and hurting after a few minutes riding. Not reccommended for long distances (unless you enjoy having clammy shrivelled skin) but good for emergencies and short rides.

Several media reports recently stated that recent scientific studies concluded it's a nonsense that you loose much heat through your head and that keeping your core warm is the most important thing. However you will find that your extremities feel colder if you are struggling to keep your core warm. I don't find I need to take any layers off mid-ride at this time of year, as the weather and temperature is not very variable over the course of a ride, so I just use two layers; a merino wool base layer and warm winter (windproof) jacket over the top. In the recent extreme cold I have added a windproof gilet over this as well. In my experience using some windproofing (over a good wicking baselayer) makes more difference than adding another base or mid layer especially if the weather/temperature is not going to change much over your riding period. My windproof bibs are the warmest I've got, even though they are slightly thinner and less bulky than some others I have. Remember that it's fine to start off feeling a bit chilly, as long as you soon warm up.

 

[Over The Hill]

I got kitted out with stuff from Aldi - for about £60

My approach is - kit to keep the wet out. seperate kit to keep the cold out. Rare that you need both as it is usually warmer when it rains but can do.

I get out and about at any temp above freezing. Below that - bugger it take the car, I dont want to come off on ice.

Three layers on top top layer either to keep out cold wind or rain. Bottom half two layers plus over trousers for rain. I also have some shoe cover things which are good and a fairly good pair of gloves.

I wear a thin hat under my bike lid, I have bunged up most of the holes on the bike lid with foam to cut down the wind flow- just left two small gaps for a bit of venting.

 

[Cubist]

Being blessed with the sort of head that the Lord decided NOT to cover with hair, I can heartily recommend a Zandana/bandanna in this weather. They cost less than a fiver on ebay, and stop windchill on the old solar panel. Also found that when it all gets a bit sweaty when I'm pushing it along, it soaks up the sweat. You can also use them to play pirates and irritate the wife who thinks I look a bit of a knob when I wear it in the house.

Marks and Spencer do a great climate control top. For 20 of your earth pounds it is made from cotton and polyester mix. It wicks well, fits snug and is supposed to manage body heat. It doesn't make you smell like a polecat's hindparts in quite the same way as pure polyester does. CCUK winter bibs and a windproof microfleece complete the ensemble.

For those really cold mornings I have taken to wearing a buff. My mate got it for my birthday and it even has a reflective scotchlite stripe! Pulled up it covers the mouth, nose and ears. You can look like a true Ninja, but my glasses steam up as soon as I stop moving.......

Don't skimp on gloves. £30 will buy you a pair of Sealskinz windproof, waterproof, breathable MTB gloves with gel palms. Treat yourself.

 

[nilling]

+1 for Aldi/Lidl cycling/ski clothing if you are on a budget

They had merino wool base layers recently are they any good?

 

[upandover]

I've been cycling the last few days at minus temps (-3 on the way home last night) with a base layer, mid layer and a waterproof jacket (my good walking one), and feeling good in it. I also use a buff, or a very thin fleece balaclava, which is great when it's very cold.

I would say the most important part for me is the baselayer. I overheat quickly, and when I've not worn a good baselayer, I get very cold with sweat next to my skin when things begin to cool down (downhill etc)

I find with buff's they get to wet as I breathe out, and so get cold on downhills (my last 3 miles home), but the stop me spending the whole evening coughing from the cold air inhalation!

Love the gloves idea - I'll have to try it.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

i've yet to see conditions that are too cold for my aldi bib longs (and i ride all year round). a pair of proper shorts underneath is usually in order.

in addition to those items i've recently been wearing an aldi ls shirt under a heavy duty cycling rain jacket, aldi winter gloves, overshoes and hat. when it's really cold i use a ski mask. it takes a while to put it all on, even when i'm only on the bike for less than 20 minutes, but i don't arrive frozen.

 

[MacB]

Don't skimp on gloves. £30 will buy you a pair of Sealskinz windproof, waterproof, breathable MTB gloves with gel palms. Treat yourself.

Cubist, any specific glove recommendations? I could really do with getting them ordered online quickly?......thanks.....Al

 

[Disgruntled Goat]

Buy a decent base layer. I don't care if it is expensive. In fact more expensive the better usually. It will be the best clothing investment you ever made.

As an impoverished student I bought a Jack Wolfskin BL for about £25 which made me feel quesey at the time. I still use it regularly today, 15 years later.

 

[Disgruntled Goat]

They had merino wool base layers recently are they any good?

Generally,


YES!