Keeping Warm

pjh

This morning I did 23 miles out of what should have been my usual 30 mile loop and had to cut it short as I was flippin cold!

I was wearing a t-shirt with an Endura jersey over the top with bib tights. Temperature here today was 8 degrees C. Even though I was training reasonably hard (Avge HR 163) I just couldn't seem to get warm (especially my hands and feet).

Should I be wearing more layers and does anyone have any recommendations for shoes that are warm

Toks

pjh wrote:

Even though I was training reasonably hard (Avge HR 163) I just couldn't seem to get warm (especially my hands and feet).

Should I be wearing more layers and does anyone have any recommendations for shoes that are warm

Er that depends whether you like feeling freezing cold or warm when you ride. I know what I prefer...If its the former take some cash or a credit card and get down to a good bike shop. It sounds like you need to do some winter shopping

andrewgturnbull

pjh wrote:

This morning I did 23 miles out of what should have been my usual 30 mile loop and had to cut it short as I was flippin cold!

I was wearing a t-shirt with an Endura jersey over the top with bib tights. Temperature here today was 8 degrees C. Even though I was training reasonably hard (Avge HR 163) I just couldn't seem to get warm (especially my hands and feet).

Should I be wearing more layers and does anyone have any recommendations for shoes that are warm

Hi there.

It was -3 this morning here. I was running, not riding so a base layer, a windproof shell, a pair of ron hills and a beanie was all I needed. I'm riding tomorrow (2hr commute) and will be laying out the following kit:

Neoprene shoe covers
Full length bib tights over shorts
2 base layers
Winter jacket (wind and water proof)
Neck gaiter buff thingmy
Skull cap under helmet
Winter gloves.

If it gets really cold I could add:
Old pair of socks streched over shoes under shoe covers
2nd pair of tights
Arm warmers under jacket
Glove liners inside winter gloves
Helmet cover over helmet (stretched swim cap will do in an emergency)
Balaclava.

Survived down to about -5 last year - it never got any colder than that, and I never needed the helmet cover or the balaclava.

Cheers, Andy

ps The other answer is of course: ride faster!
pps Just re-read the original post. 8 degrees! Is that supposed to be cold? I was racing in shorts and short sleeved jersey yesterday...

andyp

It sounds like you were underdressed - even for 8 degrees. You'll be a lot colder when the real winter arrives.

I'd recommend the following;

- a decent base layer such as a merino wool one
- shorts
- bib tights
- a decent winter outer layer (Gore Tempo or similar)
- woollen socks like Assos or DeFeet Woolly Bullies
- overshoes
- a hat
- decent gloves


When it's really cold I'll add an additional layer beneath my jacket.

stevejmo7

1 degree on commute to work and zero back. Short slieved thermal vest, bib tights, jersey and armwarmers, thin showerproof jacket - just right, no sweating and comfortably warm. Most important parts are fingers and feet, the rest take care of themselves. If really cold I wear three pairs of thin gloeves and overshoes as nothing more miserable than cold extremeties.
However,despite four lights, still nearly wiped out by moron opening car door about two feet away and another bloke running across the bike path within inches of front wheel - just another average ride in the dark

Wooliferkins

I can't recommend Merino socks enough. Woolly Warmers from Polaris are my choice. Toasty. Not sorted my fingers yet. Don't want to go to mittens yet but me finger tips were screaming when I got in 1/2 an hour ago. Got some silk liners somewhere. Where did I carefully put those away last spring?

andyp

Wooliferkins wrote:

I can't recommend Merino socks enough. Woolly Warmers from Polaris are my choice. Toasty. Not sorted my fingers yet. Don't want to go to mittens yet but me finger tips were screaming when I got in 1/2 an hour ago. Got some silk liners somewhere. Where did I carefully put those away last spring?

Stop resisting!

I spent a winter in Switzerland and rode in temperatures as low as -10 and the Pearl Izumi lobster gloves I had kept my hands warm all the time. They can be too warm for an English winter.

My current winter gloves are a pair of Sealskinz gloves and they are very warm too. Have you tried them?

Wooliferkins

I kept my artic mittens when I left the military, it always seems a bit lightweight to put them on at the first frost!

pjh

You're right ... it was my hands and feet more than anything else that were cold.

Down to the LBS for some oveshoes methinks (maybe Santa will bring me a nice winter jacket if I can behave between now and Xmas )

Any recommendations for the Jacket?

andrewgturnbull

pjh wrote:

You're right ... it was my hands and feet more than anything else that were cold.

Down to the LBS for some oveshoes methinks (maybe Santa will bring me a nice winter jacket if I can behave between now and Xmas )

Any recommendations for the Jacket?

Hi again.

Don't forget the hat. You lose more heat through your head then anywhere else - especially when most helmets are designed with umpteen cooling vents...

Your hands and feet get cold because your brain decides that you are too cold, and starts shutting down blood flow to the extremeties in order to protect your vital organs. Keeping your head warm does more to convince your body that you're hot then anything else.

Cheers, Andy

ps Jacket recommendations. The best one you can afford! If you've got Assos money then great, otherwise I reckon Altura score best on the value for money stakes. I think my winter jacket is an Altura Nevis and is still going stong after 5 years. Cost about £60 I think.

Wooliferkins

I use a Polaris Vortex combined with a base layer and a Goretex wind/waterproof. Only draw back is it's colour black only with reflective piping. Warm as toast though.

andyp

There have been a few threads on winter jackets over in Know How recently so might be best to search there.

I've a Gore Tempo softshell jacket and it's easily the best winter jacket I've owned. I think they may have renamed it now but any of the Gore softshell jackets will do. They are about a £100.

I'm not sure on the Assos ones - they are appear to be too influenced by S & M for my liking! :shock:

jhop

For me it got even colder this evening.
Started my commute home about 4.00 in pleasant late afternoon sunshine but by 5.30 in the dark it was pretty cold and even though I stopped and put on the extra layer that had kept me cosy on the way in this morning once cold I just did not warm up.
My question is would it have been better to get a little too hot rather than have to try to restore some warmth to my hands and feet later as the temperature seemed to drop rapidly?
I just can't seem to get extremeties warm by riding harder once cold.

pjh

I agree jhop ... I increased the intensity of the ride trying to get some warmth into my toes ... didn't work ... hence cutting the ride short!

I think a pair of windproof overshoes (after having researched a bit) look like a very sound investment

dennisn

Wear no cotton anything, at all, period. All wool, polypro, nylon, etc.

Dennis Noward

ellesse

Omg, i'm really odd....
knee warmers, loose shorts, thin t-shirt and my florescent single skin jacket, (+ gloves & undies).
My HR avg's about 145.

andyp

ellesse wrote:

Omg, i'm really odd....
knee warmers, loose shorts, thin t-shirt and my florescent single skin jacket, (+ gloves & undies).
My HR avg's about 145.

How long do you ride for though? If you're going out for 3-4 hours then you need to keep warm.

Plus some people feel the cold more than others. Personally I think it gets worse as you get older. I definitely wear more now than I ever used too.

BeaconRuth

pjh wrote:

Any recommendations for the Jacket?

Assos Airblock. Without a doubt it's the best bit of cycle clothing I've ever owned and it was worth every penny. I don't usually get excited about cycle clothing - all my clothing does its job reasonably well, but there's something about my winter Assos top that marks it out. Very comfortable, very warm, very hardwearing - and it has 5 deep pockets which are a godsend for stuffing with food for a long winter ride.

Ruth

Hotblack Desiato

2 degrees here yesterday morning.

Smelly Helly
DHB Compton zip neck
Fox Racing shell
DHB 3/4 bib tights
Fox Thermal Paw gloves
Endura overshoes

Mid layer had to come off after 30 mins.


.

popette

pjh wrote:

You're right ... it was my hands and feet more than anything else that were cold.

Down to the LBS for some oveshoes methinks (maybe Santa will bring me a nice winter jacket if I can behave between now and Xmas )

Any recommendations for the Jacket?

I've just bought a Gore Phantom - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... m%20Jacket

it's really well thought out - good pockets at the back, yellow with reflective bits so you can be seen, sleeves that zip off thus extending it's usefulness throughout the year. I really love it.

I wore a balaclava on my night ride last night. I looked like a nun but I feel really tough with it on! I scoffed at it at first but now I wouldn't mind a full face covering balaclava with just my eyes peaking out. ,

Monty Dog

Dress to stay warm when moving, not standing still - if you initially feel cold when starting out, but warm up in about 10 minutes is probably right. If you need to stop, put a jacket on to stay warm. The hardest rides to cope with are the 5 hours plus in January - if you get cold after 3-4 hours it's very hard to get going again - at about the same time as your blood sugar level plummets and you're still 40 miles from home. Gore softshell jackets are probably the best combination of performance and price - Assos are better for faster-paced riding as the Gore can be too warm. A good wicking baselayer is essential - a cold clammy baselayer can chill you pretty quickly. I also find lycra shorts under bibtights clammy - better off with thermal undershorts or padded tights.

pjh

Found myself passing by AW Cycles (Reading) today while out on business and couldn't resist a quick look.

Trouble is it was a £300 look

I picked up an Assos Airblock Jacket and base layer plus some gloves for the wife (she keeps nicking mine and they look silly on her) and some overshoes and .... and ... :oops:

I'm blaming Ruth

Have to say I've tried on the Assos gear and first impression is that it feels superb. (If it wasn't pouring with rain here I'd be out right now in the dark trying it out Can't wait to get out in the cold and feel nice and toasty from now on.

chrisw12

So you bought new winter clothes but you can't go out and use them because it's raining. Good choice, :roll:

pjh

Assos Airblock .... windproof NOT waterproof ??

I wish people would read posts before they reply sometimes! Anyway what's it to you if I prefer NOT ride in the rain?

chrisw12

Mate, chill, it was just a joke. I found it funny that you bought a new jacket but you couldn't use it because it was rainning, that's all. Perhaps you should have bought a windproof and waterproof jacket.

BeaconRuth

pjh wrote:

I picked up an Assos Airblock Jacket and base layer plus some gloves for the wife (she keeps nicking mine and they look silly on her) and some overshoes and .... and ... :oops:

I'm blaming Ruth

ME?! I didn't say nuffin!

I confidently predict you'll love your Assos jacket. Let us know what you think, won't you?

Ruth

shockedsoshocked

I've found that a wicking long sleeved bass layer, a long sleeved windproof jersey thing, with a standard cycling jersey on top is pretty effective (although i've had to remove the windproof layer on a few occaisons since i get too hot).

Then again, if I stop at any point while riding I visibly steam.

DaveyL

ShockedSoShocked wrote:

I've found that a wicking long sleeved bass layer, a long sleeved windproof jersey thing, with a standard cycling jersey on top is pretty effective (although i've had to remove the windproof layer on a few occaisons since i get too hot).

Then again, if I stop at any point while riding I visibly steam.

Sounds a bit fishy to me....

timestar

I always suffered from cold feet on long winter rides until I tried slipping my "socked" feet into plastic sandwich bags then into my shoes. I know not great for ventilation but they always stay warm.

shockedsoshocked

DaveyL wrote:

ShockedSoShocked wrote:

I've found that a wicking long sleeved bass layer, a long sleeved windproof jersey thing, with a standard cycling jersey on top is pretty effective (although i've had to remove the windproof layer on a few occaisons since i get too hot).

Then again, if I stop at any point while riding I visibly steam.

Sounds a bit fishy to me....

Haha. Funnily enough I was drooling over Rickenbackers on the net while typing that.

phreak

How do people stop the dribbles in this cold? I've been out a few times and have constantly been wiping my nose.