What To Wear In Winter

General cycling advice ( NOT technical ! )
jb
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Re: What To Wear In Winter

Post by jb »

Those of us not allergic to saddle bags can change into a spare base layer at the half way point and be cosy warm in the café.
Cheers
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Vorpal
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Re: What To Wear In Winter

Post by Vorpal »

I go for layers. That way I can adjust as needed. If I'm going to be out in the countryside, or gone for several hours, I carry one more layer than I think I need, just in case the weather changes abruptly, I'm stuck waiting outside because of a mechanical, or having to fix a puncture, or something. I normally remove a layer once I warm up, which means I actually have two extra layers for most of my ride.

For example, between 0 & 5 degrees, I start out in:

merino base layer top
merino thin knit jumper
jacket (unlined shell on the upper end of the range, lined on the lower end)
thermal tights
thin cycling/walking trousers
wool socks
walking boots
gloves
wooly headband (ear warmer) over a baseball style cap
buff

After approximately 1/2 hour, the thin knit jumper, trousers, and buff will come off, though I usually take off the jacket and put on the jumper at any cafe stops, and after the stop, put the other layers back on until I warm up again.

Colder than freezing, and the thin knit layer becomes a thicker one, I use warmer trousers, warmer socks, winter walking boots, merino glove liners, etc.

I do have stuff for much colder weather (I live in Norway), and sometimes cycle in temperatures as cold as -8. I don't really enjoy cycling in colder weather, and generally ski, walk or bus, instead.

My tights & gloves are the only cycling specific clothing. I use the same clothes for cycling, hiking, & cross country skiing.
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Oldjohnw
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Re: What To Wear In Winter

Post by Oldjohnw »

Whilst there is now a huge array of specialised kit available, both for walking and cycling, wool probably remains on balance the best.
John
axel_knutt
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Re: What To Wear In Winter

Post by axel_knutt »

I don't know the lowest temperature I was cycling in, but bottles filled with hot water were coming back frozen after about 3 hours. On days like that I was wearing:

T shirt
3 fleece jumpers
fleece jacket
Pertex windproof jacket
Helly Hansen long johns
3 Ron Hill Bikesters
balaclava
woolly hat
2 pairs of fleece gloves
thin socks
thick woolly socks
trainers
home made polythene pogies over the toe clips

If you can cycle faster than me you might not need that much, though.
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ANTONISH
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Re: What To Wear In Winter

Post by ANTONISH »

axel_knutt wrote: 12 Oct 2021, 4:39pm I don't know the lowest temperature I was cycling in, but bottles filled with hot water were coming back frozen after about 3 hours. On days like that I was wearing:

T shirt
3 fleece jumpers
fleece jacket
Pertex windproof jacket
Helly Hansen long johns
3 Ron Hill Bikesters
balaclava
woolly hat
2 pairs of fleece gloves
thin socks
thick woolly socks
trainers
home made polythene pogies over the toe clips

If you can cycle faster than me you might not need that much, though.
It must have been hell riding uphill.
Jamesh
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Re: What To Wear In Winter

Post by Jamesh »

For really cold weather -5 - 5 Deg

I wear tech t shirt, mid layer, winter jacket and waterproof over too!

Shorts and thermal tights over top.

Shoes and over shoes, Aldi gloves, buff and helmet.

Feel like a Michelin man but works!!

Cheers James
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Hellhound
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Re: What To Wear In Winter

Post by Hellhound »

mattsccm wrote: 10 Oct 2021, 2:25pm Vest. (why all this modern twaddle calling it a base layer?) Poly prop thing. All much of a muchness and I have tried stacks over the last 40
Because a vest is a vest and a base layer is a base layer?
A vest is sleeveless.Base layers are either short or long sleeved,tight fitting and made of synthetic material.
For me it's a skull cap under my helmet with a buff around my neck.I start with the skull cap in Autumn as I get ear-ache if it's cool and windy.
Base layer,mid layer of either short or long sleeve cycling jersey with a soft shell top layer.I also carry a thin waterproof gillet.I never use a hard shell waterproof jacket as I just boil in the bag.
Long Roubaix bib-tights,merino wool socks.Overshoes if it's sub zero.
Long finger neoprene gloves.
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mjr
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Re: What To Wear In Winter

Post by mjr »

Hellhound wrote: 13 Oct 2021, 2:55pm
mattsccm wrote: 10 Oct 2021, 2:25pm Vest. (why all this modern twaddle calling it a base layer?) Poly prop thing. All much of a muchness and I have tried stacks over the last 40
Because a vest is a vest and a base layer is a base layer?
A vest is sleeveless.Base layers are either short or long sleeved,tight fitting and made of synthetic material.
Long sleeve vest at M&S: https://www.marksandspencer.com/premium ... d-60440377

Sleeveless base layer at PX: https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CLPX365PE ... base-layer
For me it's a skull cap under my helmet with a buff around my neck.I start with the skull cap in Autumn as I get ear-ache if it's cool and windy.
I suggest only wearing a cap under your helmet if its manual says it is OK. Wearing a helmet and then ignoring its maker's warnings seems worse than not wearing one at all.
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
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Hellhound
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Re: What To Wear In Winter

Post by Hellhound »

mjr wrote: 13 Oct 2021, 4:39pm
Hellhound wrote: 13 Oct 2021, 2:55pm
mattsccm wrote: 10 Oct 2021, 2:25pm Vest. (why all this modern twaddle calling it a base layer?) Poly prop thing. All much of a muchness and I have tried stacks over the last 40
Because a vest is a vest and a base layer is a base layer?
A vest is sleeveless.Base layers are either short or long sleeved,tight fitting and made of synthetic material.
Long sleeve vest at M&S: https://www.marksandspencer.com/premium ... d-60440377

Sleeveless base layer at PX: https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CLPX365PE ... base-layer
For me it's a skull cap under my helmet with a buff around my neck.I start with the skull cap in Autumn as I get ear-ache if it's cool and windy.
I suggest only wearing a cap under your helmet if its manual says it is OK. Wearing a helmet and then ignoring its maker's warnings seems worse than not wearing one at all.
:lol: :lol: :lol:
The one in the M&S link is a long sleeve T-shirt/shirt
The one in the Planet-X link is a sleeveless baselayer
This is a vest:-
Image
Generally worn under everyday clothing by elderly peeps in the cold or on the beach at the seaside with their socks and sandals or in Gym's by muscle bound types wanting to show the world their physique :wink:

Re your helmet comment,which has no bearing on the OPs question,but I will answer.I wear a skull cap not a cap.You are,I assume,aware what a skull cap is?I shave my head and wear a paper thin lycra layer between my scalp and the helmet which is probably much less intrusive than a thick head of hair :wink:
Having said that I have never come across any guidance in any instructions from any helmet manufacturer regarding the wearing of skull caps or indeed cycling caps under a helmet.
If you want to argue about things under helmets I suggest you start a thread in the helmets sub-section :wink:
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mjr
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Re: What To Wear In Winter

Post by mjr »

Hellhound wrote: 13 Oct 2021, 7:21pm [...] I shave my head and wear a paper thin lycra layer between my scalp and the helmet which is probably much less intrusive than a thick head of hair :wink:
Having said that I have never come across any guidance in any instructions from any helmet manufacturer regarding the wearing of skull caps or indeed cycling caps under a helmet.
If you want to argue about things under helmets I suggest you start a thread in the helmets sub-section :wink:
No arguing from me. Just advice that people should check the manual for their particular helmet. I believe some are fine with it (and I think some even sell things to wear under them), but others aren't. Specialized definitely used to warn against wearing any sort of caps under their helmets... and against voluminous hairstyles, too!
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
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geocycle
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Re: What To Wear In Winter

Post by geocycle »

mjr wrote: 13 Oct 2021, 7:38pm
Hellhound wrote: 13 Oct 2021, 7:21pm [...] I shave my head and wear a paper thin lycra layer between my scalp and the helmet which is probably much less intrusive than a thick head of hair :wink:
Having said that I have never come across any guidance in any instructions from any helmet manufacturer regarding the wearing of skull caps or indeed cycling caps under a helmet.
If you want to argue about things under helmets I suggest you start a thread in the helmets sub-section :wink:
No arguing from me. Just advice that people should check the manual for their particular helmet. I believe some are fine with it (and I think some even sell things to wear under them), but others aren't. Specialized definitely used to warn against wearing any sort of caps under their helmets... and against voluminous hairstyles, too!
I can confirm that specialized still advise against caps under helmets. My guess is that it is related to the performance of MIPS with probably some litigation cover built in. Personally, I will be wearing a merino skull cap under my helmet in winter.
VinceLedge
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Re: What To Wear In Winter

Post by VinceLedge »

If really cold I wear winter bib longs, long sleeve baselayer, long sleeve cycle jersey , either windproof or not depending on temp and a windproof gilet on top. Have a thin windproof jacket in the bag if get colder or it rains, neoprene overshoes pretty much all winter. Thickness of gloves vary on temp but often carry a pair of waterproof ones in a pocket in case of rain or hands getting colder.
On coldest days wear a pair of ski gloves.
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[XAP]Bob
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Re: What To Wear In Winter

Post by [XAP]Bob »

Cycling in Helsinki when the big display on the power station was reading -6 in the morning I was in thinnish office trousers a t shirt and an open jacket - I think I had a pair of plain wool gloves on as well (they certainly weren't thick, but they might not have been wool). I can't recall if I had a fleece hat pulled over my ears, it's entirely possible.
Admittedly I didn't have to cycle more than a few miles, but I wasn't getting cold, and I wasn't pushing hard either.


Cycling over here I used to wear more than that, but we tend to have significantly damper cold.
Down to ~zero I used to have some winter tights, if the weather was awful I'd add some bikesters over those, a long sleeved t shirt and potentially a windproof gilet. Gloves were my biggest benefit, and a buff to cover my ears.. Below ~-5 I'd put the winter boots on and a proper hat. I might even consider an extra layer on my torso.

If your riding doesn't suffer from long interruptions then you should be keeping yourself fairly warm anyway.
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cycle tramp
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Re: What To Wear In Winter

Post by cycle tramp »

A nice woolly jumper :)
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nez
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Re: What To Wear In Winter

Post by nez »

jb wrote: 12 Oct 2021, 9:38am Those of us not allergic to saddle bags can change into a spare base layer at the half way point and be cosy warm in the café.
Trouble with saddle bags if you ride in a group is ‘could I put my jacket in your saddle bag?’ ;-)
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