What do I need for winter clothing?

messier0101

Hi,

As winter draws nearer each day, I'm thinking I am going to have to give up my SS-jersey and arm-warmers pretty soon.

What should one normally wear during a winter commute? (It's my 1st winter commuting on bike )

Regards,

Big n Daft

This winter I shall mainly be wearing:

A base layer, cycling jersey and a waterproof but breathable jacket.

On the bottom half, bib tights and a pair of shorts.

That's it.

palinurus

Long-sleeved jerseys (although I find I can get a long way through the year with arm warmers- as long as there isn't an annoying gap at the top where the cold air gets in), tights (leg warmers will do on milder days), gloves. You'll need a waterproof jacket of some kind- you probably already have one if you commute anyway.

A gilet or a windproof jacket is very useful for those days when there's a horrible cold headwind. For many years I just used a waterproof jacket over my jersey- whether raining or not- keeps you warm, but not so comfortable on warmer days. Overshoes are useful if your feet get cold.

Something for the ears: I use a wooly hat, but you can get caps that'll fit under a helmet.

ash68

windproof jacket for dry cold days
waterproof jacket for wet days
long sleeved base layer
gloves,skull cap, overshoes
bibtights
Also helps to have spare dry kit at work for return journey just in case you get soaked in the morning.
Depending on where you live and how keen you are to cycle to work, a shovel may be handy for any snowdrifts over 3 feet deep

messier0101

would a wind-proof jacket be better than a water-proof one? Surely one that is wind-proof will provide some sort of water-resistance?

Shadowduck

How long's your commute, LCFC85? I take around 35 minutes, probably longer in torrential rain and I've found that anything less than 100% waterproof won't keep the rain out for the full distance.

I've given up on breathable jackets and bought a traditional rain cape to use with a wind / waterproof fleece underneath. I probably look a total prat but at 6:30AM in a downpour I don't much care so long as I'm dry - there's plenty of air circulation and the cape will also keep the worst of the weather off your legs so a pair of breathable overtrousers and overshoes can cope ok. Topped off with a helmet cover it's a fairly good amount of protection without getting too sweaty.

ash68

some windproof jackets are fairly water resistant, but not waterproof .IMHO I would rather have a waterproof than a windproof if I only had one jacket. .Windproofs help keep the cold at bay and any light showers are ok.Waterproofs obviusly keep you dryer in heavy rain.Depends on what you feel you need most, and how much your prepared to pay.

baudman

Base layer! Make mine merino! The single most-important thing!

Take a look at http://teamcpa.vox.com/library/post/tip---what-to-wear-2.html - I did this coming into our Winter.

messier0101

my commute is only 30min too SD, but I've never cycled in a proper down pour, only in light rain, which I'm not too bothered about.

How warm does a water-proof jacket keep you? TBH here in the UK our winters are no longer freezing anyhow, so I'm thinking a water-proof one should do.

Any recommendations for a water-proof (preferable wind-poof too) jacket? Circa £100.

Top half I plan on wearing a LS-jersey with a jacket on top.
Bottom half, bibtights with 3/4 joggers over them (still ashamed to go out in Lycra :oops: lol)

In addition to winter gloves and a skull cap if need be under my helmet.

Am I missing anything?

p.s. sorry for the absolute newb post lol, I've been commuting since March, so it's my 1st winter.

Shadowduck

LCFC85 wrote:

How warm does a water-proof jacket keep you? TBH here in the UK our winters are no longer freezing anyhow, so I'm thinking a water-proof one should do.

I've found that getting cold on a bike is only really a problem for the first five or ten minutes - after you've built up steam it's ok so long as you keep the wind off. You can always wear an extra layer, but make sure you have the option to take something off if you start to overheat!

A fully waterproof jacket will probably make you sweat so much it's as wet inside as out, while breathable ones don't seem to be able to keep the water out for longer than 20 minutes or so in my experience. Then again, I've never spent £100 on one so you may be in with a chance!

LCFC85 wrote:

Am I missing anything?

Overshoes, unless you've got some alternative plan for your feet.

LCFC85 wrote:

*snip* ... sorry for the absolute newb post ... *snip*

It's better to ask before you spend the money. Unfortunately, everybody seems to have a different opinion so you may end up more confused than you started!

Gussio

When the temperature approaches -50C, it is essential that you invest in one of these: http://www.baskcanada.com/Featured/down ... timate.htm

Rykard

I haven't been out in the real rain yet, but I can only echo those above. When I've been out and it was cold I put my waterproof jacket on. At the end of my 3 miles commute i was absolutely boiling, steam coming off me. Layers is the way to go... if you can get changed/shower at work maybe a light waterproof top...

Greggyr

For me , all the above.. my earwarming headband is very good, and I wear a cycling cap under my helmet which keeps a lot of rain off my glasses .. Also, overshoes and decent gloves are a must.. I really enjoy winter commuting, I only stop if it's below freezing..
Rgds
Greg

Mossrider

Where are you riding? I'm based in Pennine Yorkshire and frankly, certain days of the year, nothing short of the assos windproof will do (and even with good gloves / overshoes you can forget feeling your fingers / feet after a few minutes). I'm normally pretty immune to the cold, but it is a different thing on a bike at 20mph on a cold wet/frosty night.

It has to be layers...

Gloves
Skull cap (covering the ears!)
good longsleeved base layer
windproof top
A good gilet - the most versatile bit of clothing you can get
Optional Showerproof jacket (if rain is a poss) - it'll keep you warm enough for 30 minutes - my commute is near 2 hrs) The gilet is fine for the light stuff and I get by with that mainly.
Thermal longs (I prefer longs to bib tights but that's just me)
overshoes
Food - you'll burn more energy just keeping warm.

At the moment I get by quite happily dressed for Autumn -
Shrt sleeved top,
armwarmers
Gilet
longs or shorts + kneewarmers
buff under the lid
overshoes
choice of full or fingerless gloves

ash68

LCFC85,for a liitle over £120 you could choose to buy two jackets. A waterproof Altura Night Vision jacket for around £64( available in black or yellow, both with lots of reflective trim) I've just bought one for the winter and so far it's been waterproof, no problems. This would leave £56 for a descent windproof jacket.All good bike shops will have a selection in stock.The advantage of 2 jackets IMO is that if you get soaked in the morning, you've still got a dry windproof top for the home journey, it's better than putting on a cold,wet waterproof at night,..

Shadowduck

ash68 wrote:

*snip* ... waterproof Altura Night Vision jacket ... *snip*

Um. The last breathable / waterproof jacket I had was a Night Vision. They pack down nice and small and the scotchlite is very impressive but I found it more water-resistant than waterproof and the main zip broke after a few weeks so it went back.

I hope you have more luck with it! I might have just got a Friday afternoon one...

Cyclegent

I seem to manage ok with a 1950s type cotton windcheater, cotton trousers (both treated with Scotchgard spray) and an army surplus WW2 scrim net scarf which keeps the wind out but absorbs perspiration as well.

I rarely wear waterproofs as I find you get almost as wet on the inside as the out, unless it's absolutely teeming I find proofed cotton keeps the worst out for up to 30 mins or so. I have a raincape but I find it flaps about too much.

It never gets really cold in London but I do have a padded jacket for very cold days - wore it about three times last winter.

Cycling in 'normal' (ish) clothes is important for me as I like to think it encourages the idea of cycling as a normal form of transport, not a specialist sport.

ash68

Shadowduck wrote:

ash68 wrote:

*snip* ... waterproof Altura Night Vision jacket ... *snip*

Um. The last breathable / waterproof jacket I had was a Night Vision. They pack down nice and small and the scotchlite is very impressive but I found it more water-resistant than waterproof and the main zip broke after a few weeks so it went back.

I hope you have more luck with it! I might have just got a Friday afternoon one...
Hope so, bought this one after having an Altura phase400 for 2 years. Was impressed with that one, got it half price in the sales. After two wet winters it's just starting to seep in water now. had a zip problem with an Endura commuter and that put me off that make of jackets, could have been a one off, as their a popular jacket as well. Really impressed with the reflectives on the night vision and that helped sway the decisionThink for a really waterproof jacket ,Gore for example, it would be well over £100,bit too much for me.

messier0101

Any other recommendations on a water-proof jacket?

london_commuter

I started commuting five months ago so am thinking about this too! Currently I have an Altura Nevis jacket. I've been out in torrential downpours and it's been good at keeping out the rain. Quality-wise I have no complaints. The zips still work and it hasn't fallen apart yet. I do find that I got hot during the spring/summer but this isn't really a problem now that the weather has got cooler. I just wear a long-sleeved top under the jacket and after 10 minutes find I have to unzip the jacket to cool down a bit.

Up to now I have been wearing shorts. On a couple of cold mornings I have used leg warmers but found that they kept falling down which was a little irritating! I recently purchased some padded bib tights so what I plan to do is wear these under my normal shorts.

messier0101

@ london-commuter!!!

I had the same problem with leg warmers 1st time I wore them, at the traffic lights I would have to put them back up, making look like I was wear a pair of tights :oops:

I'm going to my LBS soon and see how the Altura Night Vision is.....

gilbert_by_proxy

I too am looking for a good waterproof jacket. I have a plastic bag that someone gave me but I am sweating far too much in it!

I have been told to spend a lot, by 2 people saying that GoreTex Paclite is the best (they both spent about £200). I am looking at:

http://www.montane.co.uk/productdetails ... =108&rid=7

http://www.gore-tex.co.uk/remote/Satell ... ionWrapper

Any comments?

baudman

Cyclegent wrote:

I rarely wear waterproofs as I find you get almost as wet on the inside as the out, unless it's absolutely teeming I find proofed cotton keeps the worst out for up to 30 mins or so.

Same. Once it gets colder I wear some type of thermal first layer and then (generally) a cotton t-shirt over the top. If I know it's gonna rain, then I substitute the cotton for something else - technical fabric of some type. If you wear the correct gear, even wet you are toasty.

Oh - and as other posters have pointed out - the first 5 mins on the bike don't count when ascertaining how warmly you should dress. It takes you a while to warm up.

hamboman

you don't need any of that expensive cr4p, just wear a jumper under your jacket. If it's really cold, wear two. Simple.

messier0101

Well here I was willing to spend around £100 and I found this little bargain:

http://ribblecycles.co.uk/details.asp?G ... TUZJAC0350

I had enough change left over to get a pair of winter bib-tights too :P

Thanks everyone for your input!

I got a pair of overshoes and a skull cap remaining......

Does it make a difference what overshoes you get, if they are for road shoes or not?

i.e. this pair with MT shoes?
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... 0Overshoes
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... 0Overshoes

ash68

which colour jacket did you go for? certainly got a good price.
IMO i would go for the night/vision overshoes as they have velco fastening at the rear as opposed to a zip. This gives a little more tolerance if your mtb shoes are a little bulkier than road shoes.Unless you can try the others on for size before you buy.

messier0101

I went for the black.....not a big fan of bright jackets....

I ended up getting the overshoes and trousers from the Altura Night vision range. Got the trousers and overshoes both for £61 inc P&P from cycle-express.co.uk.....all in all a good bargain for this winter I think

I just hope it's good stuff

Clever Pun

I'm looking to get winter shoes...

I tend to opt for mtb shoes as I have to walk around a bit and it saves the cleat.....

I'm thinking about these
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360032088&N=Northwave%20Celsius%20J%20GTX%20Boots

any good? or are there some recommendations from you guys??