Winter clothes for a sweaty b'stard
ctc
Posts: 232
Reckon today I'm closer to finding my ideal winter clobber
Trouble is I'm a sweaty b'stard. So I can get cold - I run hot, but not that hot - but I will get pretty soggy after about 30 mins.
stuff I've tried so far...
Base Layers:
Merino is nice and warm, but it will quite often have difficulties getting the sweat off me. I find sometimes I'll get very waterlogged, and at cafe stops can get pretty cold
Polyester gets the sweat off me nicely but can be quite cold.
One's that work for me - Under Amour cold gear. Needs to be cold otherwise I find it a bit hot, and I don't like sausaging into a slugskin that much, but temperature is kept good, and I don't get too waterlogged
- Helly Hansen Lifa Ice. Tried my new one out today, and found it good. Polyester next to skin got the sweat off, and the a merino outer kept me warm.
I haven't tried any other sportwool type layers
Mid Layers:
If I'm wearing a windproof shell or gilet, I'll wear a fairly straight forward Roubaix jersey.
If I'm wearing a 3 layer jacket or softshell, no mid layer. Too hot
Jacket:
Softshell - can get a bit sweaty, mostly due to lack of ventilation. most of the heat comes out through the neck hole, but if I'm wearing just a base layer it can get too cold if I unzip. Prefer them on shorter rides where the warmth outweigh the lack of ventilation options
3-Layer - good for commuting where it's 30 min length, and then I'm not too sweaty and want the warmth and waterproofing. Longer and it's too sweaty, and again can only ventilate round the neck
Windproof - Tend not to cycle for long in torrential rain, so mostly light rain, drizzle and showers. Like the ventilation options (can have zip down on jacket to let the sweaty air out, but can have the zip up on mid layer to keep the neck warm). If it gets too warm can just take off. For me it's usually got to be 5 degrees and under for a full windproof.
Gilet - Anything over 5 and not raining I usually wear a gilet with a fold up windproof/rainproof in the back pocket just in case...
Trouble is I'm a sweaty b'stard. So I can get cold - I run hot, but not that hot - but I will get pretty soggy after about 30 mins.
stuff I've tried so far...
Base Layers:
Merino is nice and warm, but it will quite often have difficulties getting the sweat off me. I find sometimes I'll get very waterlogged, and at cafe stops can get pretty cold
Polyester gets the sweat off me nicely but can be quite cold.
One's that work for me - Under Amour cold gear. Needs to be cold otherwise I find it a bit hot, and I don't like sausaging into a slugskin that much, but temperature is kept good, and I don't get too waterlogged
- Helly Hansen Lifa Ice. Tried my new one out today, and found it good. Polyester next to skin got the sweat off, and the a merino outer kept me warm.
I haven't tried any other sportwool type layers
Mid Layers:
If I'm wearing a windproof shell or gilet, I'll wear a fairly straight forward Roubaix jersey.
If I'm wearing a 3 layer jacket or softshell, no mid layer. Too hot
Jacket:
Softshell - can get a bit sweaty, mostly due to lack of ventilation. most of the heat comes out through the neck hole, but if I'm wearing just a base layer it can get too cold if I unzip. Prefer them on shorter rides where the warmth outweigh the lack of ventilation options
3-Layer - good for commuting where it's 30 min length, and then I'm not too sweaty and want the warmth and waterproofing. Longer and it's too sweaty, and again can only ventilate round the neck
Windproof - Tend not to cycle for long in torrential rain, so mostly light rain, drizzle and showers. Like the ventilation options (can have zip down on jacket to let the sweaty air out, but can have the zip up on mid layer to keep the neck warm). If it gets too warm can just take off. For me it's usually got to be 5 degrees and under for a full windproof.
Gilet - Anything over 5 and not raining I usually wear a gilet with a fold up windproof/rainproof in the back pocket just in case...
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Comments
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If you're getting sweaty then I'd say you're too hot.
In winter I always tend to run colder than maybe I'd like to because if you do start sweating a lot you quickly get a chill when the cold air does hit it.
Multiple layers that you can take on and off may be the way forward. So maybe a giblet until you are warm and then you can stow it away in a jersey pocket or something.0 -
Helly Hansen base layer with an Endura Equipe softshell top does it for me - nothing else required.
That said, I need to keep feet warm with Overshoes. Gloves are pretty thin Enduras (seeing a pattern here ? ;-) ).All the gear, but no idea...0 -
Agreed - I do find that with the softshells and 'full' jackets I'm just too hot. However even if I'm just wearing a mid layer I'll get sweaty after about 30 mins, and then, as you say I'll get chilled.This can be better/worse depending on the baselayer I'm wearing.
Strangely enough, I don't get too cold on hands and feet. A pair of merino socks and some toe thingies are enough for my feet, and thin softshell gloves or DeFeet merino gloves plus a liner are enoughfor me.Full waterproof gloves boil my hands...0 -
It's just the way your body works and you have to find the best compromise. I am a very warm person and don't feel the cold, I just check the weather reports bad use the temperature and wind speed as a gauge for what to wear. For just above freezing I wear a long sleeve merino base layer and my altura night vision evo jacket which keeps me warm without over heating. As it gets warmer I swap to a short sleeve base layer and a thin windproof top. It is best to be a bit too hot than too cold.0
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I've been riding for a few years now and when I started I got lots of different cycling clobber as I thought I felt the cold. Fairly recently I've concluded that I've tended to wear too many layers in the past and now only wear a good base layer with either a thin windproof jersey with arm warmers, or thin windproof jacket (Mavic Cyclone or Endura FS260 Jetstream). If around 2 - 4 degrees I wear the long sleeve base layer with a Mavic Echappee softshell (has vented mesh around the sides and arm vents so helps stop me getting too hot). I do take a thin pack able waterproof in case of an uni tended stop in order to keep my core warm. I now have a couple of thermal jerseys that haven't been worn for over 18 months!
Maybe try wearing less layers on a few local rides so you can get home reasonably quickly in case you find it doesn't work for you?Titus Silk Road Ti rigid 29er - Scott Solace 10 disc - Kinesis Crosslight Pro6 disc - Scott CR1 SL - Pinnacle Arkose X 650b - Pinnacle Arkose singlespeed - Specialized Singlecross...& an Ernie Ball Musicman Stingray 4 string...0 -
I run quite hot, I've found that an Endura Baa Baa merino base layer with a Windex jacket is perfect in the current temperatures. I still sweat a bit but the base copes with it with no problem and the jacket stops any wind chill. The other option would be a jacket with plenty of zip vents as you can have them open most of the time to get air circulating and keeping you cool but zip them up for descents to stop getting cold.0
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Cheers all!
I think I'm starting to find out that good base layers are the most important thing
Sounds like I'm wearing too much. Maybe just good baselayer plus windproof rather than mid layer jersey as well. Trouble is where do I put my stuff if I don't have jersey pockets? Time for a new saddlebag...0 -
I got a short sleevecastelli gabba top at christmas and i've been impressed with it so far - with a decent baselayer and arm warmers it keeps me at a comfortable temperature when working hard. It would probably be a bit cool on a slow / easy ride but otherwise its been ideal0
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This sounds like a good idea. Baselayer to keep you warm, windproof to stop the wind giving you a chill - which is especially noticeable once you've built up a sweat.CTC wrote:Maybe just good baselayer plus windproof rather than mid layer jersey as well.0 -
CTC wrote:Cheers all!
I think I'm starting to find out that good base layers are the most important thing
Sounds like I'm wearing too much. Maybe just good baselayer plus windproof rather than mid layer jersey as well. Trouble is where do I put my stuff if I don't have jersey pockets? Time for a new saddlebag...
I think you can get Windtex jackets with rear pockets. My mates club top had this.0 -
+1 Helly Hansen base layers, picked mine up from local walking shop, most happy with it
Am also a sweat monkey, find that I start off cold but soon warm up - agree with above points about overshoes, BTW, totally essential - try running with thin layers that you can take off if you get too hot.
It's just a hill. Get over it.0 -
Despite having some merino items, the Best base layer I own came from Aldi (long sleeve, high neck compression top). Highly insulating but I find it deals with transmitting and evaporating sweat better than the merino things I have. Also, a good windproof jacket/jersey will have at least some decent pockets for all your stuff, many have a typical 3 x open pocket arrangement on the rear. My Endura FS260 long sleeve pro jetstream jersey also has decent reflectives and a zipped security pocket. Cycle Store have got them on sale at the minute as well...Titus Silk Road Ti rigid 29er - Scott Solace 10 disc - Kinesis Crosslight Pro6 disc - Scott CR1 SL - Pinnacle Arkose X 650b - Pinnacle Arkose singlespeed - Specialized Singlecross...& an Ernie Ball Musicman Stingray 4 string...0
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Ta,
I reckon I'm going to get some more Helly Hansen base layers. I've used the one I bought recently a bit more and still impressed by how it gets the sweat off me but keeps me warm.
At the moment I've just got the very thin packable windproof jackets, as usually I'll wear a gilet, and these don't have a pocket. It's only when it's down to 5 degrees and under I'll wear a full windproof.
I've got to admit I was looking at cycle store, but I've already bought too much in the sales...0 -
Helly must have got something right - fads have come & gone (merino, nu-school "string" underwear etc) but the Lifa has been popular & roughly the same since the 80's...
I've broadly come to similar conclusions - baselayers, L/S jersey and an ultralight windproof which I'll probably stash once I've warmed up. The windproof is also a winner if it turns damp or colder. That, with minor modification, pretty much does me through the winter.
Softshell comes out if its proper cold and I know I've likely need it for the whole ride; they "wear" better - stretchy, better fitted, the fabric deals better with pockets etc. But as with any do-it-all layer you need to set out with just that one, which can be eye-watering on a cold morning.0 -
It really is a personal thing. I went out on a group ride on Wednesday and many of the older guys were raising eyebrows at my 'lack' of clothing. They are, errhhmmn significantly older than me, and I'm mid forties! I had an Under Armour Coldgear base layer (they are by far the best winter base layer I have ever worn, and I now own three of them) with a very thin shortsleeve summer jersey over that. Temperature was hovering around 4-6 degrees. I carried a gilet for the cafe stop. Lower half was Assos T.607 shorts and Rapha leg warmers with BBB neoprene overshoes.
I got a sweat on even in just that and felt chilly for the first mile or two after the cafe, but that's how it should be. Many of the other guys were wearing 5 layers up top!!!
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