Its cold outside...

worb68

So what should I be wearing to stay warm?

Thanks.

cooldad

Clothes?
Tights, baselayer (merino is good), layers.

roverthehill

sealskins sox, base layers, some kinda waterproof/windproof article, woolly hat under helmet, one of those bandana-type thing round ur neck whatever they're called and some decent gloves.... and if that all fails - cycle up a steep hill....

RandG

roverthehill wrote:

. and if that all fails - cycle up a steep hill....

I laughed out loud at that line

The Rookie

It all depends on you.....I am fine to about -5 in just a base layer, thin fleece and a cycling top, baggies and knee warmers, don't need a steep hill to pedal hard....

bunji81

All depends how badly you feel the cold really. I usually tend to where winter tights (fleece lined MMmmmmm), Baggies, seal skinz (essential in the North West) Base layer and cycle jacket.

danlightbulb

bunji81 wrote:

All depends how badly you feel the cold really.

^^^This.

It's really weird IMO how much variation there is in clothing you see out on the trail. Even in Summer / Autumn when its not a particularly warm day, I see people in fleeces, windproofs, jackets. I'm there in my cycling top with the zip right down and no other layers. And I normally feel the cold any other time, but for some reason, cycling makes me really hot. For ages I thought there must be something wrong with me. I'd wear a base layer, or a fleece and end up taking it off after 10 minutes riding.

I still don't know how I'm going to get on in the cold winter days at around zero degrees.

Its trial and error. You'll soon know if you're too hot.

WindyG

As above, trial and error, I see people wearing so much gear that would make me just boil. For me I wear tights, baggies, base layer and a jersey, if it's really cold i'll wear a fleece, only part of me that gets cold is my feet.

The Rookie

danlightbulb wrote:

bunji81 wrote:

All depends how badly you feel the cold really.

^^^This.

It's really weird IMO how much variation there is in clothing you see out on the trail. Even in Summer / Autumn when its not a particularly warm day, I see people in fleeces, windproofs, jackets. I'm there in my cycling top with the zip right down and no other layers.

+1 I did a 1h 20m ride on my commuter to collect a car in a T shirt and baggies only to find out on arrival it was only +7C

Woodmonkey

Also depends where you're riding and for how long, a couple of hours loop local to here is a softshell and thicker socks, but I wouln't venture out on an actual mountain all day without being properly kitted out.

mcnultycop

I have today bought my first pair of full length bib tights today, £13 from Decathlon. I feel like I have lost some of my Northernness, but I did get a bit chilly in the snow on Thursday.

eternalstudent

My tuppence worth :-)

Wear the clothes that keep you at the right temp, for me thats an under armour top and a standard sweat top, with a wind+water-proof jacket on. That does me for temps of around +7 to -7.

However, the important thing is to think what happens when you stop. I always like to have a spare something to put on if I am stopping for a while, as inevitably I will be sweating and everything ends up soaked.

worb68

Thanks for all your great responses. MTB tights wise - should I go bike specific or can running ones be used etc. Any one got any good cheap examples?

BigJimmyB

Running ones OK if you don't want/need the padding.

Decathlon probably fave for cheap bike kit, but suggest you trawl the web for deals. You'll soon get to see what's good value.

I'd recommend merino wool for a base layer BTW