Winter Wear Under 3'C

NWLondoner

Ok summer is still here (allegedly) but I want to start planning for which gear I need to buy for the coming months.


Last winter I went down the layering route and wore a merino wool base layer, dhb Merston Bib Tights,dhb Rogate Long Sleeve Jersey and a Gore Helium Gilet.

On most rides this was enough but on the coldest days 3'C and under I froze my nuts off. My main problem was my calves. They just froze and obviously contracted so they just came too stiff and I could NOT get any heat into them.

Would wearing leg warmers underneath be an option or would a "higher" end brand bib tight I,e Assos be a better bet?

My top half was usually ok but I did have to resort to wearing my waterproof jacket on the coldest days but to be honest I felt like an oven ready turkey. I want to ditch this and go with a windproof jacket as it is better to be warm than dry. I have looked at the Assos range i and just wondered, do you wear these jackets over a Jersey and base-layer or just over a base-layer?

graeme_s-2

I haven't experienced cold calfs under longs, but what socks and shoes are you wearing? I wear some nice lewiskit merino wool socks which keep my feet nice and warm. I'd imagine cold feet could lead to cold legs.

I wear an Altura Reflex windproof jacket in the winter which I love, breathable but windproof makes it very versatile, and I've stayed warm in it right down to -7 with just a thin merino base layer underneath. I personally have never worn a jersey under a jacket. Would just tend to wear a base layer

BigG67

It's windproof that you need to look for and then layer up under.

I use Assos bibtights that have full length (waist to ankle) windproofing but I don't think they do them anymore....Gore might. Then an Air Jack 851 jacket.

Teamed up with overshoes (Endura), 3/4 bibshorts under the tights, a Buff under the helmet and over the ears, thin base layer, very light fleece (on the coldests days) and an old pair of loose fitting but thin climbing/walking windproof gloves over my mitts I get out when there's snow on the ground and the temp is well below zero.

Wooliferkins

+1 for merino socks and windproof longs. Maybe up your cadence to keep you a bit warmer? I use Polaris BL tee or zip base layers. Above zero a Polaris Niterider ll jacket, sub zero a Polaris Vortex jacket. Goretex wind/water proof shell in the rain. Campag windproof longs (a treat for my shallow side) I've been using Polaris Wooly warmer socks but they're sadly discontinued so I suspect Defeet wooly boolies will get tried this year. A shoebag full of gloves. The gore ones fell victim to ergo lever finger but were warm and dry. Never really been cold enough for the Vortex gloves got some nice Adidas windproof gloves that haven't been temperature tested yet. BBB hardwear overshoes.

Zendog1

I have the same problem - calfs and feet freezing.

Legwarmers under tights sort of work but makes bending legs hard work.

Just bought a pair of these http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/productde ... NDUZBBT250 to try this winter. At that price they seem to be selling well - only medium left.

andyp

Are you going for a holistic approach, i.e. do you wear a hat, decent gloves, overshoes etc as well as the jacket, longs etc? Cold can strike anywhere on the body but normally can be prevented by taking your mum's age old advice and wrapping up warm. Wearing a good hat and decent gloves can make a world of difference.

NWLondoner

andyp wrote:

Are you going for a holistic approach, i.e. do you wear a hat, decent gloves, overshoes etc as well as the jacket, longs etc? Cold can strike anywhere on the body but normally can be prevented by taking your mum's age old advice and wrapping up warm. Wearing a good hat and decent gloves can make a world of difference.

yes, gloves, overshoes, skull cap

still got freezing calves

bompington

3°? You mean +3°? Call that winter? Season's best last winter -5, PB is currently -7.
I've just acquired some overshoes since winter may start any minute here in Scotland, I usually wear shorts + ronhill type leggings, waterproof top over 1, 2 or 3 thermals depending on temp, the overshoes should patch the only hole in my armour - there were days last winter when my feet were wet within 60 seconds of setting out, sometimes I still coudn't feel them after 10 minutes in the shower at work.
And to think my new (i.e. summer) bike has just arrived...

AidanR

Gawd, I only wear DHB biblongs and a merino baselayer with a thin windproof jersey, gloves and ear warmers... that sees me down to below freezing here in Scotland. At 3 degrees I probably wouldn't even bother with the baselayer or I'd overheat!

Wappygixer

What about a warming muscle rub?

alfablue

Assos bib longs are windproof I believe (well, my g/f's are, I can't afford them). I use DHB bib longs, they have a fleecy inside, and double layers over the knees. On days when the temp approaches 0 degrees I wear some base layer long pants (long johns) - got them from Aldi for a fiver, seems to do the trick. I wear two pairs of socks as toes get cold (need shoes with enough space for this). Overshoes work as well, but I shredded mine pretty quickly by walking in them

Up top, my Gore Paclite keeps the wind and water off, at these low temperatures it works well, no boil in the bag. For long / all day rides, I think it is important to stay dry, as soon as effort levels drop I quickly get cold if wet. I use a windproof for shorter rides.

As for muscle rub, this will cause peripheral vasodilation and the parts you apply it to will act like radiators and will drop your core temperature more quickly.

NWLondoner

bompington wrote:

3°? You mean +3°? Call that winter? Season's best last winter -5, PB is currently -7.
I

LOL I said +3' as a starting range. This is when my current gear started to struggle. Last year i did go out in under 0' and with the wind chill felt like minus 10 at least. Everything froze including both by drink bottles.

Monty Dog

If getting cold lower extremeties, then it may be as much to do with good circulation - perhaps your shoes are too tight and your tights restricting bloodflow? I've ridden in minus temperatures in 3/4 tights and find windproof tights too warm in all but the most arctic of conditions. I wouldn't recommend a waterproof outer layer in winter in anything above moderate effort unless raining heavily - you just get too warm - a windstopper outer layer is far more useful and will keep you warm when wet - wet GoreTex has zero insulation proporties. A jacket like a Gore Tool (try Evans sale) is seriously warm and better value than Assos.

giant_man

I second Monty's comments about shoes being too tight. My winter boots are one size too large for a reason. Decent winter socks such as woolie boolies leaves 'warm air space' in the toe box area which you need for warm air circulation.

Works for me anyway.

Stone Glider

I bought a pair of Cannondale full fingered gloves which are very good. They have a special "lobster claw" sleave which you can slide out of a pocket in the glove and cover the three unengaged fingers. Makes a remarkable amount of difference on a very cold day. Sadly, to make the sleave pack back into the pocket, it is made out of cobwebs and swiftly disintegrates

However the gloves, plus a pair of Altura lining gloves keep hands toasty in most weathers.