Winter Clobber

kleinstroker

It's coming I can feel it...

I did my first full Winters commute last year, wearing mostly jeans & my Rapha Winter Jacket, with various combos of layers depending on temperature or bad weather etc. Want to be more prepared this year & get rid of the jeans. Not sure if I could survive in normal bibshorts either as I've seen plenty do, so looking to buy a couple of pairs of bibtights.

Any recommendations for full length warm gear, love Rapha but think I'm getting a bit too Rapharized, so looking for alternatives!

hopkinb

Castelli sorpasso are nice tights and 3/4's. Though a good pair of legwarmers and normal bibs are actually fine for all but the actual cold days. Most of the winter the temperature hovers between 5 and 10 degrees (at least here in London - you may be elsewhere), which isn't all that cold once you get going. Obviously now I've said that it will be below freezing for the longest time on record or something.

DrLex

My winter rides were greatly improved with boots (NW Artic [sic]) , a breathable but non-waterproof insulated jacket (Polartec Alpha in a non-cycling garment) and decent gloves, but like hopkinb's comment, rarely went sub-zero.

cougie

How far is the commute ?

asprilla

I usually go with bibs and leg warmers in the winter (although I'm carrying less timber this year so we'll see). I tend to find that if my core is warm then the extremities can cope.

For bin tights I look for unpadded tights and wear padded shorts underneath so you can change shorts daily but get longer out of the tights.

murvis1er

Found overshoes to be the most valuable buy. Used to have specialised ones, which were rubbish, before moving to a set of shimano mtb ones which are excellent and incredibly cheap. Howies wool shorts (or probably any roubix shorts) with knee warmers are warm enough for most days. Found morvelo bibs the best bibs (have loads of different bibs) for cold days/luxurious bib comfort. Their sizing is a bit odd/small, but they seem to stretch after a bit of breaking in. First month didn't really like them, now love them.

kleinstroker

hopkinb wrote:

Castelli sorpasso are nice tights and 3/4's. Though a good pair of legwarmers and normal bibs are actually fine for all but the actual cold days. Most of the winter the temperature hovers between 5 and 10 degrees (at least here in London - you may be elsewhere), which isn't all that cold once you get going. Obviously now I've said that it will be below freezing for the longest time on record or something.

Yes, I might hold you to that. I'm in London, but a fair few days last year dipped below zero, and there was at least 1-2 weeks sub 5C as well IIRC. It's those days that worry me most wearing regular bibs

kleinstroker

cougie wrote:

How far is the commute ?

About 7 miles, so not very long, some days though I felt freezing all the way in as tried to not overlayer, didn't always get it right though

gabriel959

Spoke to an ex-pro winner of the Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders (a year it pissed it down to) the other day and he told me that most British amateurs were doing it wrong. You should wear knee warmers or 3/4 lengths from 17/18C degrees to about 10C and then biblongs if you don't want to damage your muscle and knees. He said it was a good idea to keep the muscle warm and that it would help to avoid injuries.

rick_chasey

gabriel959 wrote:

Spoke to an ex-pro winner of the Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders (a year it pissed it down to) the other day and he told me that most British amateurs were doing it wrong. You should wear knee warmers or 3/4 lengths from 17/18C degrees to about 10C and then biblongs if you don't want to damage your muscle and knees. He said it was a good idea to keep the muscle warm and that it would help to avoid injuries.

Sound advice, and advice I follow.

hopkinb

I suppose that's kind of how I do it. 3/4s or knee warmers from around the beginning of October. Full lengths if it's actually cold. Touch wood I've not been injured on the bike, well, not from just turning the pedals. I suppose it's more critical when it's actually your job.

anonymousblackfg

I keep to the notion of cover your knees below 15 degrees. Have had it explained that you have few veins/artery/capillaries through the cartilage so your body doesn't keep it warm and subtle, hence you fcuk it and I have enough knee niggles anyway. Below is my list which I keep on my phone of what to wear based on BBC weather app predicted temp when I leave the house (do note I normally have jersey, bibs, shoes & socks as a starting point...):

14 knee warmers
12 under T and long gloves
10 arm warmers
3 gillet
1 long bibs/ear warmers, gillet under t and thin jersey or thick jersey
0 buff

rick_chasey

anonymousblackfg wrote:

I keep to the notion of cover your knees below 15 degrees. Have had it explained that you have few veins/artery/capillaries through the cartilage so your body doesn't keep it warm and subtle, hence you fcuk it and I have enough knee niggles anyway. Below is my list which I keep on my phone of what to wear based on BBC weather app predicted temp when I leave the house (do note I normally have jersey, bibs, shoes & socks as a starting point...):

14 knee warmers
12 under T and long gloves
10 arm warmers
3 gillet
1 long bibs/ear warmers, gillet under t and thin jersey or thick jersey
0 buff

Do you have a summer sun/winter sun/no sun modifier?

I do.

The list is in my head however.

keef66

I treated myself to some Sorpassos last year. What's impressed me the most is the range of temps they seem to work in. My old roubaix DHB bibtights were fine at temps below 5c, but if it turned out a bit warmer than I'd anticipated, I'd be boiling. The Sorpassos seem to be every bit as warm close to zero, but also not too hot at 12-15c either, so I get a lot more use from them.

mrb123

keef66 wrote:

I treated myself to some Sorpassos last year. What's impressed me the most is the range of temps they seem to work in. My old roubaix DHB bibtights were fine at temps below 5c, but if it turned out a bit warmer than I'd anticipated, I'd be boiling. The Sorpassos seem to be every bit as warm close to zero, but also not too hot at 12-15c either, so I get a lot more use from them.

The Sportful R&D bib tights are very similar to the Sorpassos and can sometimes be found a bit cheaper.

secretsam

- Unpadded tights to wear over shorts
- Endura windproof is utterly wonderful, base layer or long sleeved jersey underneath and that's it
- Overshoes
- Skull cap
- Buff(s)

Am yet to find the ideal gloves, however - last time I used an old pair of ski gloves

anonymousblackfg

I don't believe really good gloves exist for a reasonable price, I might buy some extra large rubber gloves as a cheap hack for the coldest of days as outers.

warreng

- bib shorts and leg warmers
- rapha hardshell from a few years back with a long sleeve top
- decent socks and winter boots
- skull cap
- chapeau winter gloves
- it's my face and eyes that bother me - a decent snood is fine but I've never found a solution for my eyes!

fenix

anonymousblackfg wrote:

I don't believe really good gloves exist for a reasonable price, I might buy some extra large rubber gloves as a cheap hack for the coldest of days as outers.

I've been using the Aldi winter cycling gloves for the last couple of years - they've outlasted more expensive sets. About fiver.

Last few winters havent been that cold I think ? I have lobster mitts raring to go - but just no need so far....

mamil314

The other guys speak truth, protect your knees from chill. There are many options for warm 3/4 and bib tights now.

As for gloves, i spent last 4 winters using deFeet woolen gloves, they are very good. Seem to cost 20 quid instead of tenner nowadays

kleinstroker

anonymousblackfg wrote:

I don't believe really good gloves exist for a reasonable price, I might buy some extra large rubber gloves as a cheap hack for the coldest of days as outers.

I used my £15 Galibier Roubaix ones all of last year and never had cold hands even when it was windy & -2C. Commute was only 7 miles though

daniel_b

gabriel959 wrote:

Spoke to an ex-pro winner of the Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders (a year it pissed it down to) the other day and he told me that most British amateurs were doing it wrong. You should wear knee warmers or 3/4 lengths from 17/18C degrees to about 10C and then biblongs if you don't want to damage your muscle and knees. He said it was a good idea to keep the muscle warm and that it would help to avoid injuries.

Intriguing - would give me an excuse to use said knee warmers too.

I do feel the cold, but conversely not overly in my legs when cycling.

Oh and Sorpassos rock - I bagged mine for £56 a pop.
Other faves are some Etxeondo ones - underrated brand.

prawny

I'd second the use of unpadded tights over your normal shorts, unless you've got the space and cash for 3+ pairs of winter bibs.

I tend to do ok just with cheap roubaix tights, I rarely get too cold in them. I spent most of last winter just in shorts and knee warmers.

wolfsbane2k

prawny wrote:

I'd second the use of unpadded tights over your normal shorts, unless you've got the space and cash for 3+ pairs of winter bibs.

I tend to do ok just with cheap roubaix tights, I rarely get too cold in them. I spent most of last winter just in shorts and knee warmers.

That's my plan as well - I've got a set of endure multi tights that I snagged in jan just in time for the 2 weeks of sub zero temps, will be going over shorts or 3/4 shorts ( I've still not moved to bib shorts). Have Leg warmers for those days when it's only the morning that'll need them.

davesnothere

WarrenG wrote:

- - it's my face and eyes that bother me - a decent snood is fine but I've never found a solution for my eyes!

wolfsbane2k

Oh yeah - and the Aldi Winter gloves from last year were brilliant for 2 hours out on the bike at -5 degrees, as I found out.
So much so I went back and got a second black pair and yellow pair, since they were only a fiver each.

luv2ride

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

Oh yeah - and the Aldi Winter gloves from last year were brilliant for 2 hours out on the bike at -5 degrees, as I found out.
So much so I went back and got a second black pair and yellow pair, since they were only a fiver each.

They're doing them again from 28 Sept. Had some from a few years back and they've been my favourite winter gloves, even against some pricey big-label opposition. Fit was spot on, water resitant, warm and not too sweaty. Was proper gutted when the liners eventually separated from the shell. Since bought some Chapeau's in their sale - just hope they're as good as the Aldi jobs...

cougie

I've the Aldi winter gloves too. I bought spares too as they were so good. Incredibly good value.

jimbohorizontal

These: http://galibier.cc/product/barrier-black/

Almost too hot in the deep cold!

They also do reflective back versions.

gabriel959

Daniel B wrote:

gabriel959 wrote:

Spoke to an ex-pro winner of the Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders (a year it pissed it down to) the other day and he told me that most British amateurs were doing it wrong. You should wear knee warmers or 3/4 lengths from 17/18C degrees to about 10C and then biblongs if you don't want to damage your muscle and knees. He said it was a good idea to keep the muscle warm and that it would help to avoid injuries.

Intriguing - would give me an excuse to use said knee warmers too.

I do feel the cold, but conversely not overly in my legs when cycling.

Oh and Sorpassos rock - I bagged mine for £56 a pop.
Other faves are some Etxeondo ones - underrated brand.

He said it wasn't about feeling the cold, it is about muscle recovery and not knackering your knees before time. He won one of the wettest Tour de Flanders in history (in shorts) but that he would have used 3/4s or biblongs if they had been available, so I think I will follow his advice :-)

Quins

Wore full winter clobber yesterday morning on my first commute in a couple of months. Forecast predicted 6° in rural Kent, so I went for full sorpassos and castelli alpha jacket with a thin base layer, over shoes and DHB winter gloves. My garmin showed most of the ride at 2°-3°, I even pulled a buff over my lower face. Felt a bit over dressed sitting on the train from London the reverse commute, but the ride was 11-12°, cooler than I thought but sweaty by the end with a full tuck sack. Really rate the sorpassos and Alpha jacket for autimn/winter.