Right I've had enough - winter clothing poll

london-red
london-red Posts: 1,266
edited November 2009 in Road buying advice
After going round in circles for too long wondering whether I should invest in some proper winter gear, I think a poll is the best way to sort it out. Please vote, you'll make a confused man, well, less confused. (Hopefully).

As the poll suggests, I commute more miles than I ride socially and ideally want something which will work for both

Comments

  • london-red
    london-red Posts: 1,266
    Shameless bump. Layering seems to winning out.
  • soveda
    soveda Posts: 306
    Your categories are not exclusive of each other. Layering with a soft shell as your baseline to go up and down from is best.
    How far and how hard do you commute?
  • london-red
    london-red Posts: 1,266
    No, I realise that but I see laying as a few inexpensive buys and the other two as including at lease one large outlay, if that makes sense.

    Commute is a round trip of about 22 miles ridden pretty hard.
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    Oxygen jacket, with a Montane lightweight waterproof in a pocket for when it's hoofing it down. That's me.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • Harry182
    Harry182 Posts: 1,170
    edited November 2009
    Considering your 40% weekend, I voted for layering as it seems the most versatile option. I have an Altura softshell which I love but find it is too warm to ride in above 5 degrees Celsius or so.

    PS - Nice bike.
  • singlespeedexplosif
    singlespeedexplosif Posts: 1,564
    merino baselayer, windproof jacket. c'est tout.
  • hopper1
    hopper1 Posts: 4,389
    I use the layering method in general, but if it looks, or is crap outside, I'll start straight away with the base top and Assos 851 jacket.
    It's not waterproof, but keeps me warm once I've got wet.
    I can't wear a boil in the bag waterproof!
    Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I always layer up anyway - I'd only ride without a vest of some sort if it was >30 degrees or so. Your rucksack would probably knacker the expensive jacket too - and your back is always going to be wet with that over it anyway.
  • london-red
    london-red Posts: 1,266
    Harry - thanks, it's a beautiful bike to ride.

    As for the layers versus jacket, I think I'm going to go with the majority and save myself some cash. Ultimately, the sweaty back issue (and the damage a sack can do to a good jacket) is something that's been nagging me.

    If by February I'm struggling, I might invest in an Oxygen.
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    Yes, I'm back to go on about the Aldi gear I bought again!
    Soft shell jacket, bib longs, gloves, overshoes total about £40. Add a cheap thermal top and that did fine for 7°, torrential rain and strong winds this morning. I could feel the water in my shoes after about 40 minutes, but the jacket kept my top half more or less dry all the way. Legs were wet quite soon but never cold or uncomfortable.
    When the weather starts to get properly cold I'll add another base layer & a buff as a scarf - it can pull up over mouth, nose and ears for extremity-numbing descents, then pull down to allow breathing and ventilation for climbs.

    I used to have a great merino top - no warmer or more comfortable than any other base layer, but way less stinky! I could never be bothered handwashing gear though, and it literally disintegrated.

    One thing that occurred to me this morning as I dumped all my kit into a binbag (I ride one way and drive the other, something I'm quite grateful for on days when the kit is this wet on arrival) is that the wet kit weighs really quite a lot - maybe 4kg or more. Makes you think about spending money on carbon bottle cages and the like...
  • hopper1
    hopper1 Posts: 4,389
    bompington wrote:
    Yes, I'm back to go on about the Aldi gear I bought again!
    Soft shell jacket, bib longs, gloves, overshoes total about £40. Add a cheap thermal top and that did fine for 7°, torrential rain and strong winds this morning. I could feel the water in my shoes after about 40 minutes, but the jacket kept my top half more or less dry all the way. Legs were wet quite soon but never cold or uncomfortable.
    When the weather starts to get properly cold I'll add another base layer & a buff as a scarf - it can pull up over mouth, nose and ears for extremity-numbing descents, then pull down to allow breathing and ventilation for climbs.

    I used to have a great merino top - no warmer or more comfortable than any other base layer, but way less stinky! I could never be bothered handwashing gear though, and it literally disintegrated.

    One thing that occurred to me this morning as I dumped all my kit into a binbag (I ride one way and drive the other, something I'm quite grateful for on days when the kit is this wet on arrival) is that the wet kit weighs really quite a lot - maybe 4kg or more. Makes you think about spending money on carbon bottle cages and the like...
    :shock: Do you tow your car in on the back of your bike? :wink:
    Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    hopper1 wrote:
    bompington wrote:
    I ride one way and drive the other
    :shock: Do you tow your car in on the back of your bike? :wink:
    Actually if you fold it tightly it fits in the seat pack

    In truth, I drive to work on monday, leave the car and cycle home, then back in on tues, repeat wed & thurs. I sometimes do it both ways but I'll freely admit a hilly 19 mile route just takes too much out of me.

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