Kit for autumn and winter

carl_p

I'm fairly new to cycling so my kit collection is little more than a pair of shorts!

Want to get some sort of wardrobe sorted for the winter but what should I actually get? Jackets can be quite expensive so are they really necessary? I don't use my bike for commuting so it will be down to recreational rides at weekends. What do you guys typically wear?

redddraggon

A good jacket should last for years and years, so is normally worth splashing out on.

I've got a Assos Jacket - quality is outstanding, definitely last for years and years, but look to pay around £140 :shock:

You'll need some winter tights, I'd go for cheaper unpadded tights and put some decent shorts on underneath.

guv001

Sometimes when its really cold I wear a t-shirt other than that I just wear bibshorts with nothing on underneath. Seriously I would suggest getting a long sleeve jersey and a waterproof. You can always just wear a normal jacket/tops to keep you warm. I would also recommend a set of tights that combine with your shorts they are good cause you can use shorts all year round. Most of all I would get some neoprene type shoe covers as these not only keep you feet dry they also keep them warm.

Scrumple

Get down Lidl and hope they have some jackets left at £7.99.
Buy some Ron Hill over trousers.

Cheap n easy.

stronginthesun

hands and feet are the first to suffer

justyn_c_uk

I bought a nice jacket, wore it once and overheated.

I have found that good baselayers (campag windproof/de marchi/prendas), long sleeve jerseys, a pair of overshoes (P-X), ruddy good gloves and a good gilet are loaded into my wardrobe. Oh, also arm and leg warmers as well.

redddraggon

justyn_c_uk wrote:

I bought a nice jacket, wore it once and overheated.

It probably wasn't that great then, I was still wearing my Assos jacket in April.

Scrumple

What are ruddy good gloves? Any recommendations?

justyn_c_uk

Goves are gloves for the keyboard illiterate

Redddragon, the jacket is fantastic, I wear it all the time, just not on the bike. I have found that as I carry a bit of weight I heat up really quickly and even when its below zero I need to layer up really carefully. Plus the wife would notice Assos entering the house (I still have to get some Castelli shorts past her).

feel

Aldi did some excellent padded winter cycling trousers/tights last year. Unfortunately only bought one pair last year. They also did an under helmet liner and gloves and shoe covers all at very respectable prices. With a bit of luck they might do something similar in a month or two. I eventually paid approx £55 for an altura jacket that i have been very pleased with.

hugo15

I would recommend a gillet. I usually wear a long sleeve base layer, long sleeve jersey and a gillet to keep the wind out in all but the coldest weather. A gillet will also roll up small and will go in a jersey pocket so you can de-layer if it starts to warm up.

I would also recommend Altura Night Vision Gloves. Windproof and waterproof and keep my hands toasty.

Assos winter socks. These will keep your feet warm in all conditions. They are brilliant!!

I also got an Endura skull cap last winter. Thought I would overheat in it but it was great. Wore it loads.

carl_p

Many thanks for all your replies.

I've successfully bid for an Altura jacket on Ebay - hope it fits.

Have drawn up the following shortlist of remaining items:

- tights, cheap as I can reasonably get but still wear my padded shorts underneath
- winter socks
- full fingered gloves
- skull cap
- long sleeve base layer
- long sleeve jersey
- warm gillet

Right where's Mrs P's purse...

pneumatic

As an alternative to tights, I have a couple of pairs of what i think are climbing/hiking legging things, fleecy on the inside, incredibly hard wearing, breathable and water repellant on the outside. With a thin pair of cycling shorts underneath, I am always cosy, even when it is very wet or sub zero.

They were cheap and have certainly been my best investment (on a £ per wear basis). This year, I have been wearing them most of the "Summer", too!

I also have some good Specialized BG long fingered gloves with very grippy palms and fingers and an Altura jacket that is great with a base layer only, even when it is baltic.

A buff is a good thing to have in your back pocket (or on your head/neck) over the winter.

Lagavulin

Full-fingered glove wise I've got a pair of Specialized Deflects. I've found these to be good all year round for all but the coldest of mornings. For that I have a pair of Specialized Radiants. These are tostie warm, waterproof but rather bulky. They are however the 2007 BG version. I think the current ones have been slimmed down a bit.

Crapaud

Carl_P wrote:

Many thanks for all your replies.

I've successfully bid for an Altura jacket on Ebay - hope it fits.

Have drawn up the following shortlist of remaining items:

- tights, cheap as I can reasonably get but still wear my padded shorts underneath
- winter socks
- full fingered gloves
- skull cap
- long sleeve base layer
- long sleeve jersey
- warm gillet

Right where's Mrs P's purse...

Whatever you go for, go for quality rather than cheapness. I've tried buget stuff before and, mostly, I got what I paid for - barely functional kit that left me cold and miserable.

Most of my kit's from Endura. Their stuff consistantly gets a 'best buy' from C+, and IME is v good VFM. Worth a look IMO.

If your budget'll stretch to it, Goretex Windstopper kit is excellent. Their full finger gloves are worth their weight in gold. A cheaper pair of larger waterproof gloves over the top of them are a winning combination in the cold and wet. Likewise the jackets.

thexvw

Carl_P wrote:

Many thanks for all your replies.

I've successfully bid for an Altura jacket on Ebay - hope it fits.

Have drawn up the following shortlist of remaining items:

- tights, cheap as I can reasonably get but still wear my padded shorts underneath
- winter socks
- full fingered gloves
- skull cap
- long sleeve base layer
- long sleeve jersey
- warm gillet

Right where's Mrs P's purse...

I have an Altura jacket, good choice. As an alternative to winter socks get a pair of waterproof overshoes. I have a pair of BBB hardwear which are really good. You can wear ordinary sport socks then.

I have a pair of sealskin gloves, warm and waterproof. I bought Lusso base layers and skull caps both reasonably priced and effective.

woody-som

tights- I found ron hill bikesters perfectly fine. cheap at around £10, and the pair I have this will be the 3rd winter for them.

thexvw

Ive got the Ron Hills as well, and would recommend them also

mortozola

With the UK weather and temperatures being so fickle, even in winter, having changeable clothing combinations is a good way to go. It also means your clothing covers riding from autumn to spring instead of just winter.

As a substitute for your long sleeve jersey, maybe consider a short sleeve one and a set of arm warmers. I also use thin running gloves under my short fingered mitts which can of course be removed as your hands warm.

Slipknotjonny

I bought some Sealskinz gloves last winter they cost about £25 and are entirely windproof and waterproof but breathe as well, they are not cycling specific gloves.

They come with tacky pimples on the palm and fingers, which grip like glue, I think that they are made for canoeing and stuff like that.

They are absolutely fatastic, wish I'd had some when I was in the Army!