Clothing advice needed

[Maximusi]

Hi All,

I bought myself a E bike for commuting and previously nit a massive rider (about 5 to 8 miles at a time where as my commute is 13 miles)

I enjoy it very much however I have a very hard time regulating my temperature even without cycling plus I need to be water proof for the coming months.

Basically I get incredibly cold and find it really hard to cycle for the first 15 minutes really struggling then all of a sudden I am overheating and it's horrible. I find I have to start if on mild days with jeans polo shirt and hooded jumper all on.

Also I agreed with myself I need to cycle at least 3 times a week and now we are in autumn that means rain. I can't imagine anything worse that cycling when soaked through so my idea was to get a lightweight breathable jacket (with hood?) to keep me dry and some waterproof trousers. I shower and change at work but prefer not to be too hot as my body struggles to cool down after.

I am not looking to spend a fortune but at the same time don't want to cheap out and be unhappy.

What would be really nice is to have a black and red jacket to match my bike but that's not a requirement (Giant Dirt e+1)

Is anyone able to help recommend something to me please I need to get asap.

Thanks in advance.

[mattsccm]

First, you'll get a million different replies, mostly split between those who recommend specific cycling kit and those who say that they don't need it. Nowadays the latter will be in the minority but that doesn't make them wrong as I reckon much kit is bought because we want not need.You will have to try it for yourself and its cheaper to start without and add rather than buy then not need.
Over trousers tend not to be used unless commuting (and not wanting to change clothes) etc as getting wet legs isn't a big deal unless its very cold. try something light and with close fitting lower legs.
Jacket to suit. Cycling specific will be closer fitting but not geared for lots of layers as you don't need much in this country unless riding gently and most cycling specific kit makes at least a nod in the direction of speed and to some extent working hard.
Layers underneath allow removal of kit as you need which of course is a pain if its every few minutes but 'the human temperature control along with sweating which you may wish to avoid as it can make you chilly later.
I am much the same as you so like many I start off cold but very soon warm up.

Specific kit recommendations won't help a lot apart from pointing you in the right direction as we are all different and all they will do is tell you what some one has bought . Look at whats next to you skin to at least inhibit sweat being uncomfortable.
If you can shower go for it. best way to cool you down.
Battery fading but wait for more contributions.

[Heltor Chasca]

Black and red jacket? Altura Mahem for you [emoji6][emoji106]

[hamster]

It's hard to think of something less suited to cycling than jeans - fat seams to sit on, plus cold and clingy if even slightly damp.
The secret is layering - you can then add or discard quickly to regulate temperature.

What I would suggest:
Legs:
Ron Hill tracksters. These are £10-20, completely indestructible and won't hold water. Until it's full-on rain you won't need overtrousers - you stay drier with them and evaporation compared to sweating into waterproofs.
https://activeweargroup.com/mens/jog-bo ... rrp-23.00/
Top:
Any non-cotton base layer (try to find a wicking one). Add a soft shell jacket, plus a dayglo yellow gilet for visibility. In summer it will be the top and gilet, moving up to the whole lot in winter. Start with it all zipped up, when you are warm you can open the zips to regulate temperature.
https://activeweargroup.com/mens/t-shir ... p-t-shirt/

For winter a buff / neck tube, gloves and thick wool socks make a huge difference.

Yesterday I got it all wrong and had to discard my jacket, but it was compact and I could roll it up and stuff it into a back pocket.

[meic]

The difference with cycling is that you get your own special cooling, which is wind, mostly head wind.
If you ride in hills this cools you severely when doing nothing going down and stops working when you are working hard going up.
So probably the keypoint of cycling clothing is windproofing rather than insulating. You can fine tune this by turning the windproofing "on" or "off", through an easy opening front or better still pit zips.
That windproofing layer could also be a waterproofing layer but they dont normally breathe as well, need special washing and treating and cost more.

A light weight windproof shell (pertex is a wonderful fabric) over an insulating layer like a cycling jersey can help to stop you getting either too hot or too cold.
The insulating layer can be so open that the wind blows straight through, if you need to be cooled rapidly or itself a fairly tight material that just lets a little wind through, then you pick between them to suit what sort of day or sort of person it is.

[pwa]

With any vigorous outdoor activity in cool weather you should expect to feel a bit cold when you start off, and if you have got your clothing right you will warm up after a few minutes. So, within reason, an initial chill is okay. With cycling you have the extra cooling from wind chill, which can be even more significant if your ride starts at the top of a hill. Having your speed boosted and effort reduced by riding an e-bike will add to this.

You can try to get your clothing just right from the start, accepting a bit of initial chill, or you can dress in thin layers that can be taken off as you warm up.

[eileithyia]

If you struggle with over heating, then I wonder if overtrousers is the right way to go.
Jeans are terrible to cycle in (or any outdoor activity when wet.. they absorb water and can cause a variety of problems). Some tracksuit bottoms, if you do not want to go down the ultra cycle kit stuff, that dries quickly while at work would be best.

Have you considered the good ol fashioned cape? They are still available, cover most of the area you want to keep dry and provides some way of getting some air circulating to help keep you cool...... I admit it would not be my choice but then I try not to commute in any waterproofs unless for absolute downpours as I get far too hot inside them.....
Only use waterproofs when absolutely necessary.
Also consider using a windproof that can be easily removed and stowed once you have warmed up.... to help insulate initially then prevent overheating ... I used to have a mile or more descent on winter mornings and even cooler days all year round, from the the front door... and thin nylon 'race cape' was essential until I got pedalling and warmed up...

[[XAP]Bob]

My Aldi running jackets are still in use - although I do have to look at restoring their water resistance...

[mjr]

Plenty of good advice above. I also second the comments about trying to find trousers that absorb water less than jeans. Even then, I prefer "rainlegs" (waterproofs that only cover the front/top of the thigh and knee) to full waterproof trousers.

Capes are good and don't warm me up as much as a waterproof jacket, but of course they do make cycling a lot less aerodynamic (to put it mildly!) and are a bit more faff to don and remove.

[NUKe]

For the top half try the 3 layer method
1 a wicking layer next to the skin, either synthetic or Marino wool. something that get the sweat away from the Skin.
2 insulating layer , can be an old jumper and depending on temp you can vary the thickness
3 A weather proof layer you can vary this depending on the weather forecast, wind proof for cold days and waterproof for wet days.
Water proof jackets will claim different levels of breathability, none of them are . But if you are insistent on wearing all the time look for 2 things
1 Lined mesh interior will keep the condensation away from your clothes
2 Pit zips under arm zip allow you let air
Most cyclist will tell you need the jacket close fitting, this is to do with aerodynamics. I would say in your case go for a slightly relaxed fit as you are e biking and not looking to time trial to work.
Lots of makes to choose from if you want cycle specific look at Altura night vision, Endura, lusso and Funkier also have offering. If you’re not worried or don’t want cycle specific, look at stuff for hillwalking, although these can be pricey.

Legs has been said avoid jeans, they are cold when wet. Cycle tights are great and probably a good starting point, and they don't have to be skin tight. . You can always wear long johns underneath if you find its too cold but the legs do more work and need less weather protection. Save the water proofs for when its bucketing down, as they will just make you sweat. By all means carry them.
Boots and gloves can help as well.

What you will find it rains a lot less than you think, it might be worth working out how to carry waterproofs rather than wearing all the time. If you have to cycle with no other option, you will find what works and what doesn’t.

[mjr]

What you will find it rains a lot less than you think, it might be worth working out how to carry waterproofs rather than wearing all the time. If you have to cycle with no other option, you will find what works and what doesn’t.

On the "how to carry" option, The Range has a set of three dry bags for £7 although they're rather thin. I'm currently using the 2 litre bag to carry my waterproof (but remember to air it out occasionally, especially if put away damp), the 4 litre for my toolkit (including 8 inch mini-pump with gauge) and the 8 litre to carry jumpers and any other clothes I want kept dry. All three get dropped in whatever saddlebag or pannier I'm using that day.

The Range also now stocks Regatta clothing (including some clearance) and a larger range of bike spares, although take care if you've a typical modern UK bike because the range selection is quite European - for example, our local branch has only singlespeed/hub-gear ⅛" chain, not derailleur widths.

As to finding what works - there is no bad weather, only the wrong clothes.

[hamster]

Water proof jackets will claim different levels of breathability, none of them are .

Agreed (sort-of) - breathable jackets DO work, it's just that none are capable of breathinig away moisture fast enough when you are doing something reasonably vigorous like cycling.
It's paradoxical but you stay dry on damp days by wearing something like merino, Ron Hills or fleece. You get wet, but the air moving past you dries you quickly. Obviously there is a fine balance between getting soaked and cold and just damp and then dry off.

In the winter I always spend the first 10 minutes cold and thinking I have under-dressed, then I warm through and become comfortable.

[Maximusi]

Thank you for all the information so far.

I am thinking about this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Altura-Night-V ... th=1&psc=1

and possibly this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Altura-Airstre ... acket+mens


Thoughts?

[Maximusi]

Or possibly this https://www.amazon.co.uk/OUTON-Breathab ... th=1&psc=1

[meic]

I like the look of the Outon jacket because I very much like windproof fronts.
I have however been disappointed by a couple of them. I have a Polaris which I have worn a lot for the past twelve years but it didnt have the windproofing on the arms which means it is only good on the warmer cold days.
Then I got an Endura which was windproof on arms and chest but it was just a membrane without the normal material part so it is cold unless you overdress underneath it. It was quite well insulated on the back though.
Eventually I got another Polaris which is both a bit insulating and windproof on body and arms, at last!

The problem is that what we wear is pretty personal, we are all different in how much heat we produce, how much we sweat and how we feel the cold and on which bits of our body. So it is hard to say I like this jacket, so you will too.

I do like something that I can throw in the washing machine, frequently, without it costing the earth in treatments. So wearing a waterproof other than in the rain is minimised.