The sad realisation that your winter wardrode...

spasypaddy

... needs replacing

4 pairs of tights:
2 have massive rips on the arse panels
2 have no zippers left
1 was brand new last year and are good

Winter jerseys:
1 the elastic has gone on the wrists
1 the zip has gone
1 the sealed seams has gone
1 was brand new last year and is good

winter boots:
dont close properly any more and let too much water in

Gloves:
midweight ones are gone, lost to the wind last march
heavy ones are somewhere in my drawer

Going to be an expensive month

rubertoe

I'm in need of some more winter tights; I dont think that you will be the only one spending.

Gonna get another pair of the DHB ones, and some Leg warmers.

spasypaddy

ive got my eye on some new gore ones and some hincapie ones

Paul E

I have built mine up over a few months as I knew I needed a lot of new kit

TheStone

In a world where most things are disposable, there's something nice in having to replace stuff that you really have worn out.
Especially if you've done it under your own power!

roger_merriman

I have been adding to my winter stuff, mainly winter boots, lightweight walking boots since I use flats since. My cycling shoes are vented so start to get a tad cool.

I do need some full gloves at some point but so far mitts are fine.

meanredspider

I'm wondering if my Assos stuff will ever wear out - no sign yet

spasypaddy

meanredspider wrote:

I'm wondering if my Assos stuff will ever wear out - no sign yet

its just different level cost though... gore stuff always last well. Im happy with 3+ years out of everything and then needing replacing

meanredspider

spasypaddy wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

I'm wondering if my Assos stuff will ever wear out - no sign yet

its just different level cost though... gore stuff always last well. Im happy with 3+ years out of everything and then needing replacing

Yup - it is - but it performs brilliantly and seems to last forever. Seems like better value in the long term but I know we all have choices

spasypaddy

meanredspider wrote:

spasypaddy wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

I'm wondering if my Assos stuff will ever wear out - no sign yet

its just different level cost though... gore stuff always last well. Im happy with 3+ years out of everything and then needing replacing

Yup - it is - but it performs brilliantly and seems to last forever. Seems like better value in the long term but I know we all have choices

oh i agree. im tempted by a pair of assos to go with a few pairs of 'cheaper' tights for the daily commute.

which pair do you have and can recommend?

meanredspider

spasypaddy wrote:

oh i agree. im tempted by a pair of assos to go with a few pairs of 'cheaper' tights for the daily commute.

which pair do you have and can recommend?

I have several types. The most flexible are the bib shorts with leg warmers. Hard to recommend because there are so many options and it depends what you do - how warm you want your shorts to be. The standard ones are great though. I also have the winter bib tights which are fantastic but I only use them when it's icy (a lot of the time up here).

islwyn

Time for new gloves for me... They smell SO bad, even after a wash.... Shocking.

veronese68

spasypaddy wrote:

oh i agree. im tempted by a pair of assos to go with a few pairs of 'cheaper' tights for the daily commute.

which pair do you have and can recommend?

If you buy Assos for best and cheaper for the commute you'll wear the cheap stuff more often. The natural progression being that whilst the Assos stuff probably will last a lot better it will exaggerate the difference.
Having said that, I believe MRS's commute is so long and cold that best is used for the commute, so he will actually have a fair appraisal.

The Rookie

Don't buy tights*, pedal faster!

*Unless your a women or a bloke into 'specialist parties'!

spasypaddy

meanredspider wrote:

I have several types. The most flexible are the bib shorts with leg warmers. Hard to recommend because there are so many options and it depends what you do - how warm you want your shorts to be. The standard ones are great though. I also have the winter bib tights which are fantastic but I only use them when it's icy (a lot of the time up here).

i dont mind bibs and leg warmers but prefer full tights when it gets to 0 and below. Ive been using shorts (including assos) with leg warmers for about 6 weeks now and its time to progress to full winter kit as im starting to get ill...

Veronese68 wrote:

If you buy Assos for best and cheaper for the commute you'll wear the cheap stuff more often. The natural progression being that whilst the Assos stuff probably will last a lot better it will exaggerate the difference.
Having said that, I believe MRS's commute is so long and cold that best is used for the commute, so he will actually have a fair appraisal.

good point well made, by best i mean for days im going training after work or out on a saturday for a longer ride. They will be in the normal rotation but used when doing longer miles than the there and back for work.

Paul E

Just bought some dhb roubaix vaeon shorts and tights as they have a deal on for both together, replacing a pair of altura winter tights bought in a rush which rip me to bits everytime I have ridden in them. I have some good leg warmers which I can pair with the shorts leaving the tights for the coldest days.

Like today the shorts and the leg warmers would have been fine, they arrived today so not bad for std delivery and ordered on sunday

meanredspider

Veronese68 wrote:

I believe MRS's commute is so long and cold that best is used for the commute, so he will actually have a fair appraisal.

Yup - I only buy "best" and not because I'm a flash git but because most of my cycling miles are commuting. It would be daft, to my mind, to buy cheap (and less functional) for the majority of my miles. Equally, I honestly believe it's better value - performs better for longer. It also gets a hard life as I have no more than two of any item so, at best, it gets used on alternate days. Also, I never pay anything like full price but have lurked waiting for heavy discounts.

The only "downside" is that I have absolutely no excuse to buy anything new!

meanredspider

spasypaddy wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

I have several types. The most flexible are the bib shorts with leg warmers. Hard to recommend because there are so many options and it depends what you do - how warm you want your shorts to be. The standard ones are great though. I also have the winter bib tights which are fantastic but I only use them when it's icy (a lot of the time up here).

i dont mind bibs and leg warmers but prefer full tights when it gets to 0 and below. Ive been using shorts (including assos) with leg warmers for about 6 weeks now and its time to progress to full winter kit as im starting to get ill...
.

The winter tights are fantastic then. Ideally get the tights without pad because then they need washing less often and, my only criticism of them, they aren't the warmest around the jewels in the padded version. Shop around (Assos outlet is often the cheapest) and you can get them at a very reasonable price

daviesee

Backing up MRS's view on Assos.
It's been cold up here for a while and my hands were freezing. Anyone who suffers from cold hands will know that you simply can't put too high a price on gloves that work. Previous gloves were Alturas.
I got a pair of the Fugu (fugly name) Gloves and couldn't be happier. Nice and warm. This morning was the first soaking and bone dry after a 25 minute drenching. As a comparison, my Gore Phantom jacket was damp in the sleeves.
Last weekend was sub zero and with a pair of merino liners I was warm, toasty, comfy and zero claminess.

Need I say that I am happy.
Edit:- Particularly because I got 25% off at Ribble.

cyclingprop

Ordered some Northwave Force tights from PBK. And a couple of DHB jerseys. And some new boots. Still need new gloves.

bigmat

Not sure why you'd ever need more than 2 pairs of tights - just get the non-padded ones to wear over your shorts, when its cold you don't sweat so you can wear them sveral times, only issue is if they get wet in which case rotate with the other pair. My Planet X ones are incredibly warm and only £30 at the moment. Only really necessary below freezing, happy with shorts and knee warmers until then.

adam0bmx0

As this is my first winter as a roadie, had to get all the gear at some point so have gone for the following;

Dhb 190gsm Long arm Merino wool base layer
Endura FS260 Pro Jetstream II Jersey
Planet-X £30 Gloves and Overshoe bundle

Dhb Vaeon Roubaix Padded Bib Tight
Dhb Winter Merino socks
Dhb Windtex skull cap

Should keep me warm.

kieranb

I use 2 pairs of unpadded tights, wear over worn out summer bib shorts (lyrca fading but padding fine). My 2 winter commuting jerseys (DeMarchi) still going strong after 10-15 years. Almost wish they would wear out sooner so I'd have a good excuse to buy new ones for a change of style and maybe product improvement. I had a pair of Assos shorts once, padding came loose and the lycra wore through uber quick.

notsoblue

I'm looking pretty scruffy these days in my winter kit. The Gore Xenon jacket I wear has holes and tears all over it

I've looked for other winter jackets but can't find any that are what I want that aren't Rapha...

cyclingprop

BigMat wrote:

Not sure why you'd ever need more than 2 pairs of tights - just get the non-padded ones to wear over your shorts, when its cold you don't sweat so you can wear them sveral times, only issue is if they get wet in which case rotate with the other pair. My Planet X ones are incredibly warm and only £30 at the moment. Only really necessary below freezing, happy with shorts and knee warmers until then.

I find I sweat regardless.

meanredspider

notsoblue wrote:

I've looked for other winter jackets but can't find any that are what I want that aren't Rapha...

Without sounding like an Assos sales rep, the Airjack is the best bit of kit I own. But it's illegal to wear Rapha in the Highlands...

Paul E

cyclingprop wrote:

BigMat wrote:

Not sure why you'd ever need more than 2 pairs of tights - just get the non-padded ones to wear over your shorts, when its cold you don't sweat so you can wear them sveral times, only issue is if they get wet in which case rotate with the other pair. My Planet X ones are incredibly warm and only £30 at the moment. Only really necessary below freezing, happy with shorts and knee warmers until then.

I find I sweat regardless.

Same here, I run hot when up and running and finding a balance is a nightmare

spasypaddy

i would sweat if i was cryogenic freezing. cant wear kit more than two days in a row at most. and even then i tend to wear it once and wash it.

bigmat

Fair enough sweaty ones - I guess its about getting the balance right. I find I need to change kit less enough in winter but then sometimes I will overdress and end up a big sweaty mess myself.

daviesee

meanredspider wrote:

notsoblue wrote:

I've looked for other winter jackets but can't find any that are what I want that aren't Rapha...

Without sounding like an Assos sales rep, the Airjack is the best bit of kit I own. But it's illegal to wear Rapha in the Highlands...

I am going to pretend that I never read that.
I have never tried the Airjack but wouldn't dispute your road tests. The Rapha Winter Jacket is an outstanding piece of kit and suitable for a very wide range of temperatures due to a wind block layer at the front when it is cold and vents for when it warms up. Not been caught in the rain without an overlayer yet though.

meanredspider

I don't doubt that Rapha is very good - it's just a bit too chic and urban for up here though

I have two Airjacks which I rotate from about October to April (May this year :roll: ) which I wear either on their own or with a baselayer. They are water resistant but also warm when wet. Like the Rapha, the windproof panels are on the front. They're a good close stretchy fit too.