You can tell winter's coming...

Aidy

... by the sheer number of muppets driving right now.

So many drivers over the past few days with zero road sense and no spatial awareness. Lost count of the number of close shaves I've had this week - my insult muscles are certainly getting a good workout.

_Brun_

Better evidence of winter approaching is the proportion of complete weapons who don't think they need lights, despite riding home at around 8pm when it's been pretty much dark for the best part of an hour.

At a rough guess I reckon over half the people I saw on the way home last night had no lights at all, and a lot of those that did either only had one, or were still using the same batteries they bought two years ago.

Of course most of the above were wearing helmets, because they're very conscientious about their safety. They are helmets.

rjsterry

Indeed. One chap in Mitcham was dressed head to toe in black, including a black woolly hat, on a black BSO with no lights. The Army should speak to him about camouflage in urban environments as he was almost invisible.

nich

Aidy wrote:

... by the sheer number of muppets driving right now.

So many drivers over the past few days with zero road sense and no spatial awareness. Lost count of the number of close shaves I've had this week - my insult muscles are certainly getting a good workout.

This is the worse week I've ever experienced

Perhaps it's something in the water :twisted:

_Brun_

The worst week is the one after the clocks change. This is nothing.

oscarbudgie

_Brun_ wrote:

The worst week is the one after the clocks change. This is nothing.

+1

Amazing how widespread nervousness about the approach of winter is at the moment - not just amongst cyclists. I guess because last winter was (for this country) long and severe.

Aidy

oscarbudgie wrote:

_Brun_ wrote:

The worst week is the one after the clocks change. This is nothing.

+1

Amazing how widespread nervousness about the approach of winter is at the moment - not just amongst cyclists. I guess because last winter was (for this country) long and severe.

I'm not particularly nervous about it, I just like summer.

SmellTheGlove

...the buff has had a couple of morning outings already.

I know I know.

pitchshifter

This will be my first commute in the winter.

Any must buys? (other than lights)

I am still in shorts and t-shirt, I have noticed a few people in full thermal tights and winter jacket bit extreme no?

SmellTheGlove

pitchshifter wrote:

This will be my first commute in the winter.

Any must buys? (other than lights)

A buff - or even two

fnegroni

Aidy wrote:

... by the sheer number of muppets driving right now.

So many drivers over the past few days with zero road sense and no spatial awareness. Lost count of the number of close shaves I've had this week - my insult muscles are certainly getting a good workout.

Must say I have noticed this too.

Was going to have a rant about it but I thought "maybe it's just me...". How wrong was I!

Incidentally, the worse overtake by far was by a learner driver: not his/her fault, but the fault of the alleged instructor: close and dead slow overtake just before approaching bend with oncoming traffic and to top it all off, a swerve to the left just inches from my front wheel.

They were going so slow I was going to try and keep up but realised it would have been silly...

cjcp

pitchshifter wrote:

This will be my first commute in the winter.

Any must buys? (other than lights)

I am still in shorts and t-shirt, I have noticed a few people in full thermal tights and winter jacket bit extreme no?

Depends how much you feel the cold. I wrap up like an eskimo, so have the following:

1. full finger gloves (with baselayer gloves)
2. Overshoes
3. a variety of baselayers
4. long sleeved jersey
5. warm socks
6. Gore Phantom II jacket or Altura Night Vision jacket
7. a buff
8. a beanie or a thermal skull cap
9. fleece-lined running tights (to go under the bib shorts)
10. Chapstick! and vaseline on the cheeks.

_Brun_

pitchshifter wrote:

I am still in shorts and t-shirt, I have noticed a few people in full thermal tights and winter jacket bit extreme no?

I was surprised by this too. I think these people are known as 'Southerners'.

LiT excepted, she's somehow unafflicted.

thistle_

pitchshifter wrote:

Any must buys? (other than lights)

Get yourself down to Aldi and get some thicker gloves, maybe some socks and some waterproofs (if you like that sort of thing). It's this week's "special" along with 500ml of spanish extra virgin olive oil.

pitchshifter wrote:

I am still in shorts and t-shirt, I have noticed a few people in full thermal tights and winter jacket bit extreme no?

I think full thermals are a bit OTT at the moment but some people feel the cold more than others, and it was a bit breezy the other day. It's Autumn at the moment, not Winter yet.

nich

Shorts for Life!

If I can manage mtb'ing down Snowdon in freezing icey snowing conditions, in shorts, I can manage the mean streets of London!

SmellTheGlove

@pitchshifter

how long's the trip?

cjcp

nich wrote:

Shorts for Life!

If I can manage mtb'ing down Snowdon in freezing icey snowing conditions, in shorts, I can manage the mean streets of London!

Your knees! Think of your knees, man!!! :shock:

pitchshifter

40 mins. Still getting pretty sticky once I get in, full gas most of the time though..

Knee warmers worth it? or just full tights?

jonginge

Personally, I think warmers are great. Just started using the armwarmers again this week. Soon the kneewarmers will make an appearance. That'll do for most london conditions. I also have legwarmers and full-on roubaix bibtights (the dhb merstons are ace for commuting in deepest winter). The tights only got used for a couple of weeks last winter.

fnegroni

thistle (MBNW) wrote:

I think full thermals are a bit OTT at the moment but some people feel the cold more than others, and it was a bit breezy the other day. It's Autumn at the moment, not Winter yet.

I think it depends on how regularly people cycle.
I cycle every day so I get accustomed to the weather cooling down and end up still wearing my summer clothes, but carry a long sleeve base layer with me just in case.

cjcp

pitchshifter wrote:

40 mins. Still getting pretty sticky once I get in, full gas most of the time though..

Knee warmers worth it? or just full tights?

If it's your first winter of commuting, best to gear up.

I find my full tights have the edge over knee warmers when its cold and wet. I'll take a spare pair of tights into work too so I have something dry to change into.

W1

cjcp wrote:

pitchshifter wrote:

This will be my first commute in the winter.

Any must buys? (other than lights)

I am still in shorts and t-shirt, I have noticed a few people in full thermal tights and winter jacket bit extreme no?

Depends how much you feel the cold. I wrap up like an eskimo, so have the following:

1. full finger gloves (with baselayer gloves)
2. Overshoes
3. a variety of baselayers
4. long sleeved jersey
5. warm socks
6. Gore Phantom II jacket or Altura Night Vision jacket
7. a buff
8. a beanie or a thermal skull cap
9. fleece-lined running tights (to go under the bib shorts)
10. Chapstick! and vaseline on the cheeks.

You big blouse CJCP.

When it's under 10 degrees - long sleeves.
When the clocks go back - tracksuit bottoms
When it's under 5 degrees - long sleeve top over short sleeve top
When it's sub zero - wooly hat and two pairs of socks and gloves

Canny Jock

It's only my hands that get really cold. Still wearing short sleeve base layer, shorts and fingerless mitts for now, but in darkest winter I wear a long sleeve base layer and a jacket, 3/4 length shorts and full finger waterproof gloves. For really cold, an extra pair of gloves underneath and calf length Sealskins, and as above a buff covering neck, ears and exposed (ok, bald) head.

And I agree about traffic this week - much heavier as well.

tgotb

pitchshifter wrote:

Knee warmers worth it? or just full tights?

Knee warmers really come into their own when you've been wearing tights for weeks and you get a warmer day. Swapping back to shorts and knee warmers, and giving your calves an airing, is wonderful...

Rooner

t-shirt, shorts and gilet for commute at the mo, although for early morning runs I've gone back to the merino t shirt (best buy for winter, you don't know how good they are until you wear one!).

What I have noticed this week is the HUGE increase in commuting cyclists, normally only 3 to 4 regulars, now dozen to twenty. Must be noobs as I can waste'em on my heavy ol' mountain bike and they are on nice road bikes. I blame the Tour of Britain!

Hot Orange

cjcp wrote:

7. a buff

A what?

pitchshifter

Hot Orange wrote:

cjcp wrote:

7. a buff

A what?

a fairly versatile piece of kit

http://www.buffwear.com/catalog/

Wallace1492

Jeeeez guys what's the problem?

Shorts - all winter, tights if it is < 0C
Short sleeved base top, with long sleeved jersey on top. Will change jersey to soft shell jacket if below 5C.
If raining, shell jacket on top.

Long finger gloves, ski gloves when < -5C

Woolie Boolie socks, cycling shoes. Overshoes in the rain, Northwave GTX as an option.

Hot Orange

pitchshifter wrote:

Hot Orange wrote:

cjcp wrote:

7. a buff

A what?

a fairly versatile piece of kit

http://www.buffwear.com/catalog/

Oh, I see. Something else for the shopping list, then... Ta!

SimonAH

As my old dad used to say "The heat is in the pipes boy". As soon as I crank it up I'm warm as toast. The only bits of me that ever get cold are finger tips and the end of my nose.

Not much you can do about the nose, but gloves go from fingerless knog leather mits to thinnish grippy gloves bought from a hiking shop to leather motorcycling gloves when the brass monkeys start asking around for brazing shops.

gbsahne001

still in shorts but have moved to a long sleeve running T shirt; sleeves are rolled up within a few minutes though.