Clothing and Weather

Tjgoodhew

I was out this weekend on Saturday and Sunday - Saturday in Rain and Sunday dry but chilly.

I wouldnt say it was cold even in the rain but i saw quite a few cyclists that looked like they were about to cycle to the North Pole - winter jackets, Rouibax tights, snoods etc... I seemed a minority in just a SS Jersey, my normal summer bibs with arm warmers and a waterproof gillet for the rain on Saturday.

Am i the strange one here ? Surely all these people cant be cold to the point where they require this amount of clothing when its about 14 degrees ?? And what on earth do they do when its 4 degrees, blowing a gale with horizontal rain ?

Each to their own i guess and as long as they are comfortable on the bike then fine - just seemed a bit weird to me

Just interested to see what others wear at this time of year

Undertones

Tjgoodhew wrote:

And what on earth do they do when its 4 degrees, blowing a gale with horizontal rain ?

I expect they stay inside.

sniper68

I'm still in short bibs,short sleeve shirt and either a long sleeve base layer or arm warmers.I have started wearing full-fingered gloves as it's cold up North

sloppyschleckonds

Undertones wrote:

Tjgoodhew wrote:

And what on earth do they do when its 4 degrees, blowing a gale with horizontal rain ?

I expect they stay inside.

cookeeemonster

We're all different. I run hot so wear less than others for a given temperature (like you) but I assume these people wear what works for them.

Still bizarre seeing people in jackets and bib tights at 18 degrees though..

dowtcha

What is strange is that it is 16 degrees in October.

Matthewfalle

Agree - I'm generally a leg warmers/bib shorts/underlayer/arm warmers/short sleeved top kinda guy with maybe a gilet thrown on top for 10 months of the year (obviously in summer the underlayers and leg/arm warmers get taken off, so make that 6 months a year) - when it gets Baltic the Assos jacket comes out but the bottom half generally stays the same.

Last few weeks I've noticed guys and gals done up like Scott of the Antartic - surely they must be melting under all that?

Horses for courses I suppose........

chippyk

Long fingered gloves with arm warmers, gilet and bin shorts yesterday. Saw a few dressed in full winter gear, lovely once the fog burnt back, would have been way too hot with much more on. Each to their own though.

bobmcstuff

It was 3.5 degrees when I started my ride on Sunday (much colder than forecast), got up to 10 apparently (although it felt colder). I was in bib shorts, baselayer, Gabba, arm warmers and cap, and was cold all day. Spent the whole day wishing I hadn't made the decision to leave the leg warmers.

Next time I'm definitely going to use my new winter jersey (Foska toastie lite), full finger gloves and shoe covers if I don't get some slightly less vented shoes first. Current ones are about 60% vent, including vents on the bottom which just means my feet are instantly soaked the moment there's any moisture around.

Last year I was going out in ss shorts and jersey in November at 3c and felt fine. I never used to feel the cold like this - I am assuming it's because I've lost 11kg this year and simply have less insulation

fudgey

I am still trying to find out works myself. Had the road bike 5 months so this is my first winter of riding.
Last sat i went out in the rain to try out my wet weather gear.
Had short sleeved jersey and shorts on, waterproof trousers, waterproof overshoes and waterproof jacket. It stopped raining after an hour and a half but it was still mega windy. Got 37 miles and had to stop and take off the trousers and rode with the jacket unzipped as i was cooking.
Done 56 miles total and i was wiped out by end, i thnk mostly due to the wind and wearing a sail...

If i ride to work in the rain its 10 miles each way if i go the shortest route so maybe that test wasnt the best of ideas.

I rode to work friday, was 4 degrees on the way in. Had roubaix tights on, long sleeved top and the water proof as it was supposed to rain in the afternoon on the way home. I was hot in that, but on the downhills it was still cold.
Didnt rain in the afternoon so i cooked on the way home...

Sunday was cold so i wore the tights again, a long sleeved compression top and short sleeved jersey over that. Was tiny bit cold but not at all uncomfortable and actually felt quite good. My mate had his windproof on and cooked...

So i think for low temps ill be ok with the tights, base layer and short sleeve top, but still not sure about rain.
Do you guys just wear a packable waterproof in the rain and no waterproof trousers etc? Just get wet on the bottom?

Im still new to this so opinions of the more experienced riders will be appreciated

Philly8mt

Saturday morning was a bit chilly and misty.
It was around 3.5/4 degrees when I set off.

Bib tights
Short sleeve base layer (£11.00 from Planet X - great!)
Gabba Convertible
Head/neck thingy
Long finger gloves

Stopped for a coffee about two hours in and removed the arms from the Gabba and rode the last thirty minutes short sleeve.

That combo (before and after coffee) worked really well for me.

dj58

Fudgey wrote:

I am still trying to find out works myself. Had the road bike 5 months so this is my first winter of riding.

I rode to work friday, was 4 degrees on the way in. Had roubaix tights on, long sleeved top and the water proof as it was supposed to rain in the afternoon on the way home. I was hot in that, but on the downhills it was still cold.
Didnt rain in the afternoon so i cooked on the way home...

If it is not actually raining but cool you would be better off with a light weight Gillet with a windproof front and mesh back rather then your water proof. It would stop you over heating while keeping the chill of your chest, you can remove it when you have warned up and/or the temp has increased.

Alternatively a wind stopper type long sleeve jersey or base layer can also work.

awavey

well Id felt a bit cold on the bike last weekend, so I definitely dressed a touch more autumnally minded this week,even though I think it was maybe a few degrees warmer in spots. But though I noticed I was probably the most wrapped up, most people are still sporting summer kit & I even saw one person on a bike in a tri vest & shorts combo (it was warm but not that warm), I didnt cook & it was comfortable temp, so I think I got it about right.

Moonbiker

I wear SS jersey & shorts all year round. If its proper I cold use arm warmers & swap fingerless gloves for full finger gloves. Anything more & I just over heat.

I do carry a jacket in saddle bag in winter for if I have a puncture.

Philly8mt

[/quote]

If it is not actually raining but cool you would be better off with a light weight Gillet with a windproof front and mesh back rather then your water proof. It would stop you over heating while keeping the chill of your chest, you can remove it when you have warned up and/or the temp has increased.

Alternatively a wind stopper type long sleeve jersey or base layer can also work.[/quote]


Top tip on the Gilet front!

Re wind stopper type jersey ..... GABBA

w00dster

We're all different, from how we deal with the cold through to the type of ride that we may be doing. I notice the cold more than most so as soon as the temperature drops below 10 degrees out come the layers. I'd like to say its the lack of body fat to keep me warm, but that would be a lie - I'm just a wuss!

Saturday I rode a very easy 45 mile ride. It was wet and fairly cold, due to my training I was keeping my heart rate down. As such I never really warmed up for the entire ride.

Sunday I went out early, was about 6 degrees when I left the house. I took the cyclocross bike to do some XC trails. I took the road section fairly easy (prob about 28 miles). The forest area I ride always feels a bit colder and damper. By about 11am it had warmed up, maybe 12 degrees, and I have to admit I was fairly warm, I had on a long sleeve jersey and a base layer. The biggest mistake I made was not taking a spare baselayer with me as immediately after my coffee break I started to get cold again.

I ride all winter. Its about comfort. If people are comfortable wearing their winter clothes now, then thats cool - its good to see them out on their bikes.

fudgey

DJ58 wrote:

Fudgey wrote:

I am still trying to find out works myself. Had the road bike 5 months so this is my first winter of riding.

I rode to work friday, was 4 degrees on the way in. Had roubaix tights on, long sleeved top and the water proof as it was supposed to rain in the afternoon on the way home. I was hot in that, but on the downhills it was still cold.
Didnt rain in the afternoon so i cooked on the way home...

If it is not actually raining but cool you would be better off with a light weight Gillet with a windproof front and mesh back rather then your water proof. It would stop you over heating while keeping the chill of your chest, you can remove it when you have warned up and/or the temp has increased.

Alternatively a wind stopper type long sleeve jersey or base layer can also work.

I have considered a gillet actually, but thought i would be better off with a long sleeve jersey.
maybe i will get one of each.. next month as i have already bought my bike stuff for this month... (new tyres and the roubaix longs, and a rather expensive rear light...)

just dont tell the wife hahaha

edit: i know mud guards will help a lot but i have very little clearance so fitting some will be difficult

cougie

Tjgoodhew wrote:

I was out this weekend on Saturday and Sunday - Saturday in Rain and Sunday dry but chilly.

I wouldnt say it was cold even in the rain but i saw quite a few cyclists that looked like they were about to cycle to the North Pole - winter jackets, Rouibax tights, snoods etc... I seemed a minority in just a SS Jersey, my normal summer bibs with arm warmers and a waterproof gillet for the rain on Saturday.

Am i the strange one here ? Surely all these people cant be cold to the point where they require this amount of clothing when its about 14 degrees ?? And what on earth do they do when its 4 degrees, blowing a gale with horizontal rain ?

Each to their own i guess and as long as they are comfortable on the bike then fine - just seemed a bit weird to me

Just interested to see what others wear at this time of year

People are odd. I saw people in full winter kit weeks ago when it was nudging 20 degrees.
I think its probably new cyclists that dont actually know what to wear - or people who just really really feel the cold.

cougie

It was about 4 degrees on Sunday when I started out.
SS base layer
Arm Warmers
SS top
Thick gilet
Wooly gloves
3/4 bibs
Overshoes
Buff over ears

And I was OK. Just had to unzip the gilet and top when it got warmer later.

diamonddog

Saturday and Sunday - long sleeve jersey, short sleeve base layer and bib shorts, just right as temp was about 11 degrees.

whoof

You can always put on another or thicker jersey on but there is a limit to what you can remove
.I often see people riding when it's barely 10 c with shorts and short sleeved jerseys and think what do they do when it's in the mid 20s in this country or if they even go to Southern Europe where is can be easily be in the mid 30s. Do they ride naked or perhaps even flay the skin off their backs before setting out.
Personally I'm quite happen to ride in 30 -35 c in shorts, racing jersey and a base layer and find it very comfortable.I've also never found weather in this coutry when it's too cold to ride. If it's cold and the roads are dry I'll put on plenty of layers. If the roads are icy I won't go out but this in nothing to do with feeling cold rather not wanting hit the tarmac and then be run over.

Mikey23

so difficult to get it right .. most of my riding is local loops of around 60 to 90 mins so if i have made a mistake or if the weather deteriorates or improves i am only about 5 miles away and can whizz back and change.

this time of year is either short sleeved or long sleeved baselayer, short or long sleeved thin or thick jersey, bib tights and fingerless gloves. will shortly be going into bib tights, full gloves and overshoes. my roll up rain jacket is my get out of jail card. that combination will serve me for all but the most extreme in which case it will probably be a turbo day! then the is the option of either speeding up or slowing down to regulate temperature.

im a skinny, asthmatic pensioner and i feel the cold very much. if my core is warm then my hands and feet tend to be, otherwise i get white finger and freezing feet. i would rather err on the side of caution which will only be a bit uncomfortable rather than dangerous. i really dont want to be miles from anywhere and go into meltdown or have a difficult mechanical or puncture to deal with

iron-clover

I'm not a fan of the varying temperatures at this time of year- like today where it'll get up to 14C during the day, so I might wear a short sleeved baselayer, shorts, jersey and pack some arm warmers just in case, and can probably just about avoid anything on the legs. But in the morning you have to prepare for much worse- leg warmers, long sleeve jersey and have to peel it off. If it rains it's even worse.

It doesn't help we've had such great weather right up to the end of Summer so I'm not so used to the cold yet, but I'd prefer it just to stick to being cold or warm rather than the constant variation.

Schoie81

My summer cycling gear is a vest and shorts. I acknowledged that it has recently turned colder by swapping the vest for a t-shirt - that's it!! I've found that if its below 10degrees, I need gloves on as my fingers get pretty cold when going downhill but I wear just a t-shirt right through winter on dry days and the shorts stay until it drops below 5degreees. This Tuesday morning it was 9deg, raining and a 15mph northerly wind when I set off on the bike and a t-shirt and shorts were fine for me. As others have said, it all depends on the person and I'm sure the one person I passed yesterday (who was wrapped up for an Arctic expedition) looked at me and thought I was insane!!

I went out for a ride with my boss in June - it was 26degrees and he put on much more clothing than I wear in the middle of winter - I don't know how he didn't drown in sweat, but he's just different to me.

Gazzetta67

Tjgoodhew wrote:

I was out this weekend on Saturday and Sunday - Saturday in Rain and Sunday dry but chilly.

I wouldnt say it was cold even in the rain but i saw quite a few cyclists that looked like they were about to cycle to the North Pole - winter jackets, Rouibax tights, snoods etc... I seemed a minority in just a SS Jersey, my normal summer bibs with arm warmers and a waterproof gillet for the rain on Saturday.

Am i the strange one here ? Surely all these people cant be cold to the point where they require this amount of clothing when its about 14 degrees ?? And what on earth do they do when its 4 degrees, blowing a gale with horizontal rain ?

Each to their own i guess and as long as they are comfortable on the bike then fine - just seemed a bit weird to me

Just interested to see what others wear at this time of year

Well what someone wears say on the south coast of england and the north of scotland will be totally different. and if anyone has ever been on a rest day on the TDF you will see the pro's in high summer with leg/arm warmers gilets etc. each to their own i suppose. was out at the weekend 6 degrees spotted a few in short sleeves ? would you rather not be warm and cosy. if your warm you can take layers off. if your in short sleeves shorts and you get cold your stuffed.

IanRCarter

I prefer to just layer up and be warm. I ride with people who will show up in sub-10C weather with just shorts and jersey; they're usually the ones who are frozen to their bikes 5 miles down the road. Their talk about being 'tough' at the start of the ride doesn't look quite so good then. I'm not saying all you guys who ride with skin exposed in low temperatures are all like that, but I do think there are some people who try to take Rule #5 too far when really they should be putting a jacket and leg warmers on.

One thing to remember is you don't need a ton of layers on. I've been doing quite a lot of rides lately with just a long sleeve merino base layer and windproof jacket on, which doesn't weigh me down but keeps me nice and warm, and I can unzip the jacket slightly to regulate the temperature inside.

fudgey

Has anyone used a Schlamm chaos gilet?
pretty cheap in hargroves at the moment so i guess its a season or two old but might be worth a punt. looks like its packable which would be the main thing im after.

http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/clothi ... .html#Tab3