Winter commute. What to wear?

Matty1235

To All the Winter commuters out there, what do you find to be the best combination?

The route is a hilly 15 miles each way, the budget is low so need flexible gear. The main thing is bottoms, waterproof trousers sound appealing, arriving to work dry but are they uncomfortable and do they flap around. I have Tights but they get wet through.

Is there the ideal outfit, not to baggy, comfortable, waterproof and breathable with some reflective material.

Thanks

cougie

Do you have full mudguards and flaps ? They will keep most of the water off you.

Get that sorted and your tights will be the best idea. For visibility - get a fluo Gilet from JJB and if you ride in the dark - I'd think about getting a reflective jacket from there too. They are mesh and will go over any kit you have. Plus - if you look like a builder - maybe white van man will go easy on you ?

redddraggon

Last winter I wore the same as I would for training through the winter.

So bib tights, base layer, winter jacket, overshoes/socks, full fingered gloves (and skull cap under helmet if it's really cold)

Matty1235

Hi,

Thanks for the reply, I don't have mudguards yet, but that won't stop the Rain from the sky getting me, and this is Ashbourne where it seems to rain non stop. The budget is £50 for some type of legwear, so I wouldn't at the moment be able to get both?

martynsnooks

I would agree with coughie mudguards make a big difference you would be surprised I commute 8 miles each way and yes my tights do still get wet but not to that uncomforatble stage they used to get to without mudguards. I would rather have tights that are a bit wet that can dry off when at work rather than wearing waterproofs but thats me

staffo

I agree with the other replies and would go for layering instead. I commuted 16 miles each way in all weathers for 2 years and only wore a waterproof jacket once for a couple of miles until it became to hot. Waterproof gear keeps rain out and sweat in,not nice
If you're worried about wet legs then maybe a pair of rainlegs is the way to go.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/PriceDrop/12/ ... 360039484/

cougie

Matty - you get far wetter with spray than you do from the rain - unless its that monsoon rain in which case we're all stuffed.

singlespeedexplosif

Decent pair of bib longs. No need for mudguards. And second the comments about waterproofs. Really unnecessary for most cycling.

SPOODZILLA

I wear baggy shorts, long sleeve bike top and full finger gloves for my 13 miles each way ride. I've come to accept that if your out on a bike for 40 mins in the rain, your gonna get wet.

jhop

Bib tights are my choice too and if its very wet overshoes with sealskinz socks. Mud-guards are also, as others have said, helpful.

I find a cotton cap under my helmet helpful particularly protecting my eyes from headlight glare. I also wear clear glasses which reduce eye watering in the cold.

Layers are the key even with gloves which on cold mornings can let you down so thin thermal base layer gloves help quite a bit.

The worst hazard is the ice and sub zero temperatures we sometimes get Jan / Feb. time I have a thermal balaclava (Campag) which serves me well on these particularly cold times.

I cycle to work every day and have done so for over 20 years; it is amazing how infrequently you actually get wet and even over the wet year we have had it rarely rains at the exact time of the journey.

Cyclists at my place of work have a secure bike shed and shower / drying room in which to change and leave stuff to dry ready for the return trip homewards in the evening.

giant_man

Every winter, skull cap is a definite. Much better than getting cold ears believe me.

A decent base layer is also an essential and something more than just cycling shoes on your feet. Winter boots (ideally a size too large, to create 'warm air space' is preferential) or overshoes to keep the cold out.

Decent socks, such as De Fee 'Aireator' are excellent. When really cold a decent cycling balaclava is good also.

Gloves with glove liners to keep your hands warm as well. Second the comment about clear lensed glasses too.

Mossrider

Head - skull cap is great in very cold conditions, otherwise a buff is perfect (and I use them year round).
Top - decent winter jersey with gilet down to about 5/6 degrees. Carry a light rain jacket then you have a spare layer aswell as waterproofing. Below that temperature I have an Assos Airblock - expensive but worth every penny.
Bottoms - Lusso max repel tights. Not too expensive and have proved excellent.
Gloves - I carry two pairs so I don't get cold / sweaty, choosing between heavy lined, lightly lined and fingerless depending on the conditions.
Boots - decent overshoes are not an option.

Matty1235

Its interesting about overshoes, I have seen these boots on offer any experience of them?

Thanks
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=19586

rhext

Speaking as someone who commutes 12 miles from Belper......so not dissimilar to yours in terms of hills and weather.

1) Overshoes are a complete waste of money over that distance unless you're going to fit mudguards. Spray comes up underneath them. If I wear overshoes, my feet don't start to squelch until about half-way through the ride (as opposed to the first mile), but squelch they do. I might try some waterproof winter boots - but not until I've sorted the mudguards.

2) I'm definitely fitting mudguards this year. After the ride home on Tuesday where it wasn't actually raining very hard, but I still had to wring my socks and shorts out into the sink, I'm convinced that most of my drenching comes from kick-up from the road, not the sky (the front wheel convincingly soaks your feet, while the back wheel sees nicely to your back).

3) Nice fleecy bib tights saw me through all last winter - even the worst conditions. Yes, I got wringing wet, but did not get cold. And, for me, over that distance, the discomfort of wet legs is perhaps less than the discomfort of overheated (while still pretty damp) legs caused by overtrousers. And I suspect the mudguards will sort the 'icy cold streams down the back of the legs' syndrome.

4) As far as top goes, I am lucky enough to have a Gore-tex paclight jacket, which is fantastic. But I also invested in a Lusso jacket (think it was about £40 - perhaps similar to this one http://www.lusso-clothing.co.uk/viewdet ... rget=60212 ), which is a kind of softshell/fleece. Turns out that not only was it warm enough to use with just a baselayer on the coldest days last year, it also sheds enough water that I didn't really use the paclight much. It leaks a bit, of course, but even the best waterproofs only delay the inevitable if you're doing that kind of distance.

singlespeedexplosif

Overshoes are a complete waste of money over that distance unless you're going to fit mudguards.

I'd disagree entirely. Overshoes are a good idea whether you use mudguards or not. It doesn't matter if you get wet - it's the 'wind' (or movement of air caused by your motion) which is the problem. Overshoes keep feet nice and toasty even if they are soaking. Coupled with Woolie Boolies and a pair of winter boots they keep me nice and warm on my 24km commute. It's colder getting into work socks and shoes in a central-heated office

rhext

singlespeedexplosif wrote:

I'd disagree entirely. Overshoes are a good idea whether you use mudguards or not. It doesn't matter if you get wet - it's the 'wind' (or movement of air caused by your motion) which is the problem. Overshoes keep feet nice and toasty even if they are soaking. Coupled with Woolie Boolies and a pair of winter boots they keep me nice and warm on my 24km commute. It's colder getting into work socks and shoes in a central-heated office

Ah, well, you probably move faster than I do. For me, an extra pair of socks does the trick, even when drenched!

jazzkailey

Mudguards are good if nothing else to allow you to stick flourescent tape on for higher visability.
If you wear a rucksack a hi-viz jacket will be concealed from behind. Get a polaris or hump rucksack cover. They're highly visable.

mclarent

I have in my backpack, Overtrousers (Altura), Racepac (just the front, the back's permenantly attached), a flouro jacket from Decathlon (folds down really small) and some Endura overshoes. All that packs into a small drawstring bag and just sits there(!)

My daily wear is baggy shorts (Decathlon), warm gloves (Endura), a reflective windproof jobby (Altura) and a normal jersey. Will be adding a base layer as well when the weather gets colder. If it's really cold in the morning I stick my overtrousers on.

I think the overshoes are a must have - nothing nicer than toasty feet on a cold / wet ride home!