Recommendations for Winter wear

nolance

Ok guys I've got my tips for getting up hills from you, now I need some advice on good quality clothing.I've got a great pair of Lusso bib tights which seem to do a good job but as yet I haven't got a top.Ideally I would like a one that is waterproof and suitable for wearing on top of a base layer.I'm not intending to go out in howling wind or heavy rain but need something that will work if i get caught when out .I don't want to break the bank either but prepared to pay the going rate for good quality.While i'm asking, any good base layers recommended?
Jeff.

John C.

Have a look at the Altura night vission, http://www.tredz.co.uk/products-Night-V ... _12005.htm, the wind stopper not the waterproof one, You will have to pay a lot for a waterproof that is really breathable but the wind-stopper is fairly waterproof, more than just showerproof . I have seen them cheaper so have a look around. The one I have is Yellow not the black as in the picture

Brian B

I splashed out this winter and got an Assos Airblock 851 jacket. Perfect for what you describe as it is hot enough to wear with just a base layer. I wish i had got one years ago.

nolance

Spookily enough I tried one of those Nightvision jackets on in my local shop,only thing i wasn't sure about the dark colour(not sure yellow ids my colour either) but at least I know it comes highly recommended

sean65

Hi there,

It's worth considering breathability as well. No point keeping the wet out if your soaked in sweat inside.

I've just gone for a top draw Endura Venturi Event jacket. It does a great job of pulling the sweat out and keeping the rain out.

Again, it's a dark colour and maybe more than you want to spend.

Regards base layers I use a HH stripe (DRY) not sure of the official name but it's long sleeved with stripes running down the arms. Does a good job.

Wiggle seem to be sole traders for a new line of Italian cycle cloths called dhb. I believe their stuff is quite good.

thatlondon

I personally find that spending lots of money on an expensive waterproof for the bike is a false economy. I have a £50 rain jacket, it packs up small to fit into the back pocket of my jersey keeps me extremely dry and although not completely breathable I don't mind sweating a little. I find that its not just the breathability of a jacket which makes you sweat its the fact that they keep you bloody warm being almost completely impervious to the wind.

I personally think that a good wind-stopper one size bigger than your normal jersey is the most useful thing for winter training. If its cold you can put a couple of layers underneath If its warm wear less. If its any help this is what I would normally wear on a morning training ride. However some people are more tolerant of cold than others, I can tolerate the cold but id rather not. Personally I would rather be a little too warm than cold, i can always unzip a layer.

Not Raining / Not too cold (rain jacket in jersey pocket):
long sleeve base layer.
Windstopper jacket.

Not Raining / Cold (rain jacket in jersey pocket):
long sleeve base layer
Long sleeve jersey
Windstopper jacket.

Raining / Not too cold:
Long sleeve Base layer
Long Sleeve Jersey
Rain Jacket

Raining / Cold:
Long sleeve Base layer
Windstopper jersey
Rain Jacket

If money is no object then buy the best, if it is an object then get a good jacket that will keep you warm and out on the bike and a cheap rain jacket that will only be used when it is actually raining not just wet. Unless there is rain falling from the sky I would not put on a waterproof, but I always carry one just in case it starts to rain.

I hope this helps its not easy to plan what to wear until you have tried loads of equipment and experienced just what the weather has to offer. Just look at it at the moment, December and 10-13 degrees... crazy.

Nic

il_principe

Castelli's "Solo" jacket

It's totally windproof yet will fit in your jersey pocket. Although it's not advertised as waterproof IME it is certainly shower proof. I wear mine over a long sleeve jersey and it keeps me very toasty, I love the fact that if I get too hot then I can just stash it away as well.
It also has a flip up collar which is great for keeping your neck warm as well.

I got mine from the States for £70 but Comobike will order in Castelli stuffstuff and they can be much cheaper than the UK.

http://castelli-cycling.com/eng/rosso_corsa.php?pagina=articoli&id=7501&col=010&l=rosso_corsa

sean65

thatlondon wrote:

I personally find that spending lots of money on an expensive waterproof for the bike is a false economy. I have a £50 rain jacket, it packs up small to fit into the back pocket of my jersey keeps me extremely dry and although not completely breathable I don't mind sweating a little. I find that its not just the breathability of a jacket which makes you sweat its the fact that they keep you bloody warm being almost completely impervious to the wind.

But if you stop at a cafe or to fix a puncture you'll get cold very quickly if your jacket is not breathable. On very cold days this will happen very quickly.

Again, it depends what sort of riding you do and if you generally ride somewhere where you'll be in doors then a windstoper is just fine. If you ride in winter and spend time outside during or after your ride it's good to have cloths that keep wicking away until you're dry.

We all pay through the nose for these specialist sports clothes. I'm just glad my sport is cycling and not Skiing.

pst88

I have the Altura Night Vision Waterproof jacket and can highly recommend it. Got caught out in the pouring rain the other day and it held up admirably. I wear it over a cycle jersey. Whilst it claims to be breathable I do tend to build up a bit of a sweat but not too bad. Now my only problem is what to wear on my legs, not sure if i want to go for lycra just yet.

John C.

Another point for the windstopper night vision is it is machine washable with a non bio powder, most waterproofs get smelly and require soap flakes only and then a reproof.

Mossrider

Yep the Assos 851 is fantastic, only problem is is can be too warm! I tend not to wear mine unless its around 5 degrees. As a base layer I wear the Helly henson long sleeve tops and they are excellent

oldwelshman

nolance wrote:

Ok guys I've got my tips for getting up hills from you, now I need some advice on good quality clothing.I've got a great pair of Lusso bib tights which seem to do a good job but as yet I haven't got a top.Ideally I would like a one that is waterproof and suitable for wearing on top of a base layer.I'm not intending to go out in howling wind or heavy rain but need something that will work if i get caught when out .I don't want to break the bank either but prepared to pay the going rate for good quality.While i'm asking, any good base layers recommended?
Jeff.

For base layer I go to JJB which have NIke and some others from £9 to £12, they are great.
On top of this I wear a summer jersey and arm warmers.
Then depending on temp wear a ls jersy or assos airblock.
I got 2 airbloks from ebay for £45 each, excellent value
As some one else stated it is not really worth investing in an expensive waterproof if not intendiong to commute or ride in rain regular.
The Nevis are good but too warm and bulky if you intend to do any fast riding.
I just carry a cheap lusso wrapped in pocket (£20 from Parkers) in case of emergencies.

terongi

Layer up with lots of thin breathable layers with a waterproof one on top if you need it.

I use a merino wool base layer, a short sleeve jersey, arm warmers and a waterproof shell.

Layering has the following advantages

:arrow: more versatile choice of combinations when you leave the house
:arrow: it's easy to carry unused thin layers in pockets
:arrow: you can adapt to temperature change on the go (warming up from exertion, change in ambient temperature, cafe stop etc).
:arrow: if you damage a layer or it wears out, you can cheaply replace or upgrade it without changing the whole system.

If you just wear a base layer and a gore-tex do-everything rainjacket, then when you heat up internally, you have no way to adjust your temperature no matter how breathable the material is.

(Edited format)

Brian B

Not trying to be smart or funny here but if I want to cool down I can always pull down my zip on my jacket and do this before I start longish climbs on which I know from experience I will generate more heat due to effort.

Layering does not stop you from over heating and it is hard to calculate how cold it is before actually riding and therefore hard to know how many layers to wear. The general rule off the thumb if it is cold when you are getting your bike out off the shed you should be okay when riding due to the heat generated with exercise is not precise and most folk tend to over layer so thy can take layer off if they get to hot.

A good tight fitting windproof jacket with a quality base layer should be enough to get most people through 90% of a brittish winter.

feel

Was in asda tonight and got a long sleeved lightweight thermal vest for £7 hopefully should be a good base layer.

redddraggon

I find the nike pro baselayers the best. You can get them from sports soccer for barely over £10.

I had loads bought for rugby, when I took up cycling I bought a few more. Brilliant kit.

Over them I wear an Aldi winter jacket (£15), and over the top of that I put a flouro yellow wind jacket if it's dark.