Commuter clothing competition

nic_77

I'm happily persevering with my 12 mile each way commute despite the rain. I'm lucky to have showers at work so it's not a problem wearing lots of layers to keep warm and dry, except it seems to take for ever to put everything on in the right order:

first pair of socks
long sleeve merino base layer
bib tights
second pair of socks
bib shorts
long sleeve thermal jersey
gilet or waterproof
shoes
overshoes
neck warmer
merino hat
undergloves
helmet
overgloves

My (Friday) question is who has the fewest (or most) number of items of clothing for their winter commute... I count 14!

To put it in other ways, who is the hardiest or who has the best technical kit ?

Nic

MonkeyMonster

socks
shoes
shorts
ss-jersey
helmet
gloves

Doubt I can beaten as most of the not-helmeteers don hats...

Wallace1492

nic_77 wrote:

I'm happily persevering with my 12 mile each way commute despite the rain. I'm lucky to have showers at work so it's not a problem wearing lots of layers to keep warm and dry, except it seems to take for ever to put everything on in the right order:

first pair of socks
long sleeve merino base layer
bib tights
second pair of socks
bib shorts
long sleeve thermal jersey
gilet or waterproof
shoes
overshoes
neck warmer
merino hat
undergloves
helmet
overgloves

My (Friday) question is who has the fewest (or most) number of items of clothing for their winter commute... I count 14!

To put it in other ways, who is the hardiest or who has the best technical kit ?

Nic

Where in the name of gawd are you commuting? Greenland?

Wooliferkins

Socks,
Polaris base layer
Adidas windproof longs
Polaris Nightrider ll windproof jacket
Adidas wind gloves
Buff as hat.
Shoes
Overshoes
Goretex if wet.

9

SBezza

Socks
Bib Tights
Base Layer
Arm Warmers
Jersey
Jacket
Skull Cap (if cold outside)
Helmet
Shoes
Overshoes (if wet)
Gloves

11 items

roger_merriman

I have a 2 mile commute each way so not worth getting cycle clothing, so it's jeans + tea shirt + thin coat if wet + jumper if cold.

ah no I do use trouser clips, as my work jeans are wide.

andy83

two pairs of socks (counting as one as put them on together :P )
Adidas base layer
bib tights
Arm warmers
ss jersey
hat
gloves
shoes
overshoes
altura nevis or night vision jacket which ever dont smell as much
reflective ankle straps

nic_77

Wallace1492 wrote:

Where in the name of gawd are you commuting? Greenland?

Secretly I'm hoping to score the highest number of items in my own competition

I have no illusions of being hard - my thermal top is shocking pink after all!

That said, it is cold in Cambridgeshire on winter mornings and I regularly arrive frosted over but warm inside my Michelin man outfit!

Nic

suzyb

If it's specific cycle clothing we're talking then...

shorts
jersey
jacket
gloves
headwarmer (which usually comes off half way)
helmet (would that be classes as clothing)

Plus normal everyday socks, trainers and undies.

Wallace1492

Socks
Shoes
Overshoes
Tights
Long sleeved base layer
Long sleeved jersey
Hat
Gloves

asprilla

Thong.
Gloves.
Helmet.









But in real life;

Bib Shorts
LS Jersey
Socks
Gillet
Gloves
Shoes
Helmet

If it's very wet then Overshoes and swap the Gillet for aJacket.

MonkeyMonster

Asprilla wrote:

Mankini
Gloves.
Helmet.

Fixed that for you...

asprilla

True, although I prefer to think of it as a Bib Thong.

FeynmanC

Asprilla wrote:

True, although I prefer to think of it as a Bib Thong.

Does it have a chamoix, or are you just pleased to see us?

asprilla

FeynmanC wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

True, although I prefer to think of it as a Bib Thong.

Does it have a chamoix, or are you just pleased to see us?

Unfortunately that is actually a banana in my pocket....

The Rookie

Socks, pants, 3/4 lengths, base layer, soft shell, gloves, Helmet, shoes.

No showers at work.....

Simon

Cafewanda

At the minute I wear:

socks
shoes
3/4 padded tights
bra top
baselayer
helmet
gloves
earrings

Journey home will include:

hi-viz vest
yellow legwarmers

I win. What's my prize?

Clever Pun

socks
shoes
3/4's bib
ls jersey
cap
gloves

that's it
I was wearing arm warmers, ss jersey and a gilet in the mornings and less in the evenings but it's dropped to far for that now

unscarred

From the gound up:

Old trainers
socks
3/4 length shorts
pants
T-shirt
gloves
hi-viz rainproof jacket
helmet

I don't bother with the jacket unless it's actually raining or very cold.
Thinking about swapping the shorts for bib-tights just because they get waterlogged very easily, but I'll miss the pockets.

beverick

nic_77 wrote:

I'm happily persevering with my 12 mile each way commute despite the rain. I'm lucky to have showers at work so it's not a problem wearing lots of layers to keep warm and dry, except it seems to take for ever to put everything on in the right order:

first pair of socks
long sleeve merino base layer
bib tights
second pair of socks
bib shorts
long sleeve thermal jersey
gilet or waterproof
shoes
overshoes
neck warmer
merino hat
undergloves
helmet
overgloves

My (Friday) question is who has the fewest (or most) number of items of clothing for their winter commute... I count 14!

To put it in other ways, who is the hardiest or who has the best technical kit ?

Nic

Judging from that list there's something wrong with your thermo-regulatory system. Either that or you're trying to compensate for the lack of a sauna at work.

Unless it's really cold (when the woolly at comes out) the usual winter gear is:

cycling shoes;
ankle socks or shoe liners;
neoprene or goretex waterproof overshoes depending on road conditions;
'Baggy' shorts;
short or long sleeved sleeved cycling top under one of either long sleeved plain, long sleeved thermal, windstopper or goretex waterproof top depending on weather conditions (so two tops basically!);
lightweight or middleweight fleece gloves or waterproof mits again depending on weather conditions;
Helmet or woolly hat.

Bob

Sailorchick

In the rain this morning it was :
SS jersey
3/4 length ronhill trousers
Rainlegs
Hi Vis jacket (Aldi)
socks
trainers
helmet
short finger gloves

Got to work far too warm due to the jacket.

When it gets colder I have polypro leggings and tops to add for warmth. I also use the Aldi soft shell jacket when its not raining instead of the high vis and just add an ikea high vis waist jacket at night.

gabriel959

nic_77 wrote:

I'm happily persevering with my 12 mile each way commute despite the rain. I'm lucky to have showers at work so it's not a problem wearing lots of layers to keep warm and dry, except it seems to take for ever to put everything on in the right order:

first pair of socks
long sleeve merino base layer
bib tights
second pair of socks
bib shorts
long sleeve thermal jersey
gilet or waterproof
shoes
overshoes
neck warmer
merino hat
undergloves
helmet
overgloves

My (Friday) question is who has the fewest (or most) number of items of clothing for their winter commute... I count 14!

To put it in other ways, who is the hardiest or who has the best technical kit ?

Nic

I also live in Cambridge and I only wear:

Socks
Knee Warmers
Shorts or Bib shorts
L/S Base Layer
L/S Jersey
Gloves
Shoes
Skull cap
Helmet

If it is raining or very windy I also wear my weatherproof emergency jacket (Montane Featherlite Velo)

Glove liners (or undergloves as you call them) are only used in the midst of winter (that is Dec, Jan and Feb) and when it is really cold (less than 5c)
Overshoes are only used when its raining, snowing or is less than 5c
You don’t need a second pair of socks if you have decent ones for winter (Thermolite or Merino ones)

I would say that you are over killing it but then again your body temperature might be completely messed up!

il_principe

nic_77 wrote:

I'm happily persevering with my 12 mile each way commute despite the rain. I'm lucky to have showers at work so it's not a problem wearing lots of layers to keep warm and dry, except it seems to take for ever to put everything on in the right order:

first pair of socks
long sleeve merino base layer
bib tights
second pair of socks
bib shorts
long sleeve thermal jersey
gilet or waterproof
shoes
overshoes
neck warmer
merino hat
undergloves
helmet
overgloves

My (Friday) question is who has the fewest (or most) number of items of clothing for their winter commute... I count 14!

To put it in other ways, who is the hardiest or who has the best technical kit ?

Nic

Pffft - Irrelevant.

Does it co-ordinate?

FeynmanC

Shimano road shoes
Neoprene overshoes
Waterproof socks
Reflective reversible neoprene ankle bands (scotchlite one side, hiviz yellow the other)
Bib tights
Baselayer
Aldi winter softshell (bloody good value!)
Either gillet or waterproof jacket
Buff, with the fleecy bit on it.
Altura Night Vision Gloves (2010 model, so actually 2 pairs of gloves!)
Bandana as a sweatband (made such a difference using this, though DONT get a red one, unless you want a permanently pink forehead at work :oops: )
Helmet.
Clear glasses.

It take AGES to get ready, but i'm warm even when it's raining pretty heavily, which is important to me on the 25 mile trip to or from work.

nic_77

beverick wrote:

Judging from that list there's something wrong with your thermo-regulatory system.

I didn’t want to go down this route, but I’ve now been backed into a corner with two allegations about my thermoregulatory ability

There is one other parameter to take into consideration… body fat percentage!
I’m currently running at around 13-14%, so maybe I can use this to justify the little extra insulation?

gabriel959 wrote:

Glove liners (or undergloves as you call them) are only used in the midst of winter (that is Dec, Jan and Feb) and when it is really cold (less than 5c)
Overshoes are only used when its raining, snowing or is less than 5c

It was below 5 degrees when I set out early on Tuesday…

gabriel959 wrote:

I would say that you are over killing it

you’re probably right though, and I was definitely a little warm yesterday, but it’s better than being frozen cold!

Which way are you heading? I ride from Cambourne to St Neots, west of Cambridge.

Nic

sem69

I've experimented with all kinds of layers but this works best for me...

Socks
Shoes
Tights
Base layer
Long sleeve jersey
lightweight gloves
Helmet

If it's raining...
Overshoes
Gilet (need to get a waterproof jacket as I've given up with the boil in the bag altura)
Waterproof gloves

gabriel959

nic_77 wrote:

beverick wrote:

Judging from that list there's something wrong with your thermo-regulatory system.

I didn’t want to go down this route, but I’ve now been backed into a corner with two allegations about my thermoregulatory ability

There is one other parameter to take into consideration… body fat percentage!
I’m currently running at around 13-14%, so maybe I can use this to justify the little extra insulation?

gabriel959 wrote:

Glove liners (or undergloves as you call them) are only used in the midst of winter (that is Dec, Jan and Feb) and when it is really cold (less than 5c)
Overshoes are only used when its raining, snowing or is less than 5c

It was below 5 degrees when I set out early on Tuesday…

gabriel959 wrote:

I would say that you are over killing it

you’re probably right though, and I was definitely a little warm yesterday, but it’s better than being frozen cold!

Which way are you heading? I ride from Cambourne to St Neots, west of Cambridge.

Nic

We haven’t had anything less than 5c yet over here or may be it’s because it only takes me around 15/20 minutes to do my 5 mile commute each way and my hands don’t have time to get cold

Regarding my commute...

I have a slightly shorter commute than you – nice this morning today wasn’t it? :twisted:

I go from Fen Ditton (North Cambridge to Fulbourn (East Cambridge)

Do you use the A428 or do you use the back roads? That main road is a bit unsafe IMO.

moonio

In the morning (after a hot bath )
Leggings (non cycling)
Stretch trousers (non cycling)
Ankle tights
Nike Rift trainers
non cycling top
night vision soft shell jacket
Snood
leather gloves

In the evening
I add a tracksuit top and armwarmers

rolf_f

nic_77 wrote:

There is one other parameter to take into consideration… body fat percentage!
I’m currently running at around 13-14%, so maybe I can use this to justify the little extra insulation?

I'm on 6.5% so no you can't

markp2

As it has been wet all this week, my list is for a 7 mile hilly(ish) country lane commute is;

Shorts
Waterproof(ish) top
Shoes
Gloves
Helmet

Water wings would have been useful tonight as I had to go through some floods!

I don't wear socks as they only get wet. if I start to get cold, I pedal harder!

MadammeMarie

Long sleeve Endura base layer
Thermal Endura tights
Wool Pearl Izumi socks
Pearl Izumi or Gore fleece
Endura rainproof jacket
Buff
Neck warmer
Altura Gloves

If it's raining:
Endura rainproof trousers
Overshoes

Have showers at work.