Winter training gear. Tights, overshoes etc. What is the best?

Hello there.

I have been browsing various websites looking for various winter items. I am training for a fairly intense Lands end to John O' Groats trip this summer and was wondering what winter equipment you guys would recommend. I am looking for some tights around the £100 pound mark and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations (are there some that are head and shoulders above the rest or is everything around there pretty similar quality wise?). Also, I thought overshoes/shoecovers might be important on the cold long rides. I am riding around 125-150 miles at a time but as you can probably tell, I am pretty new to winter training. Any help/suggestions?

Not tried these myself but they look very good. There's a matching top to go with which is apparently good for cyclists. http://www.outdoormania.co.uk/default.aspx?view=item&classid=2&categoryid=18&manufacturerid=0&itemid=761

Here's the top: http://www.outdoormania.co.uk/Item-2-0-cat-7-brand-760-Helly_Hansen_Odin_High_Neck.aspx

not very helpful but stay in doors with a bottle of your favourite tipple, thats my advice ;o))

If you did actually get these two I'd love to know how they performed. Your ride will be a proper test for those garms.

I love wool, especially merino. Ice breaker merino tights cost about £40, I'd love to buy some but am skint at mo but have bee using merino, gloves, t-shirt, jumper, and buff (and a wool chuey cap) to keep me nice and warm this winter, and it stays warm when wet. Personally i hate those booties so have been wearing two pairs of M&S lambs wool socks (£7.50 for a pack of two) even when my feet get soaked, again wool'll keep em warm.

Hi. I'm looking for some advice. I'm starting to commute to a new job next month. It's only 7 miles but the route is very hilly. The roads are fast country roads and unlit. I want to commute all weather's except when it snows. I'm after advice on good winter clothing/gear.

I'm already planning a helmet and a bar headlight both rated around 700 lumens. And a back light that is a big X across my back. But I'm now thinking about clothing and it's quite a wide range so advice would be awesome.

I'd say layers is the easiest answer - add / subtract according to the conditions

A good baselayer is the place to start, I've been using Helly Hansen forever and found them to be superb. Please think twice about the 700 lumen helmet light, if it is aimed where you are looking and you look at an oncoming driver it will blind them....

repping the above advice, baselayers are the place to start, and helly hansen are superb quality, winter ones and 3 seasons ones. there's one i've had one for about 10 years now, still wearing it for hiking, cycling, cross country skiing, etc.

The roads are fast country roads and unlit. I want to commute all weather's except when it snows.

My advice to you born out of my own experience is don't ride on wet roads if it's 4C or below and don't ride on dry roads if it's 3C or below. Sure you can risk it and get away with it most of the time but when you hit that sheet ice in the dip at speed it's potentially life changing or ending. You can modify this a bit if you can swear the roads have been salted.

the road in question is a main bus route and is regularly salted but tbh, if it looks dicey i'll get the bus.

Depends on budget for everything. Hi-vis, warm, waterproof will be most important. Good jacket, over-trousers or bib tights, good gloves and some overshoes will be fine. For wet weather clip-in pedals make a big difference as your feet won't slip. Time ATAC or Shimano SPD pedals and cleats with your choice of shoes. Oh, and a Buff. Always a Buff. Merino ones are nice. Polartec too.

Hi-vis and overshoes are the last things I'd buy.

In fact I wouldn't.

"The roads are fast country roads and unlit. I want to commute all weather"

No high-vis or overshoes? Your funeral / wet feet then...

If those are the last things you'd buy, what would be the first, apart from what they already mentioned?

High-vis is only of limited effect and in particular circumstances. If hi-vis is all that stands between you and a funeral, then you are doing something wrong.

I work on the roads, where my safety is based on fact, not perceived wisdom.

Overshoes won't keep your feet dry, they will keep them warm when wet: just like a wetsuit, which is also made of neoprene.

My priorities would be to keep my extremities warm and dry: boots and gloves.

"Oh, and a Buff. Always a Buff."

I find THESE overshoes whilst no frills bells and whistles have served me brilliantly. Initially bought MTB ones by accident, replaced with the same road equivalent after mashing the bottom through by walking too much on them.
There's probably lighter ones if you're concerned about weight, but i'd say buy and not look back.

Overshoes won't keep your feet dry,

Disagreed!

They will keep them dry for a hellll of a lot longer, in my experience anyway. Sounds like you've had some fail on you?

IIRC a commuter cyclist is likely to get caught in 12 downpours a year on average. If I wrap up in waterproof clothes then on most days I am likely to boil inside them.

Mudguards are more effective than overshoes in my experience.

pedal reflectors or reflective ankle straps are much more effective than reflective details on clothing.

Mudguards are more effective than overshoes in my experience.

If I had to choose one, then of course full length mudguards by a country mile.
But together, even better.

think of the synergies

12 downpours a year on average

As a resident of Glasgow, this makes me cry a little.

Glasgow has exactly the same number of downpours as anywhere else in this septic isle, they just last a little longer, generally 0.97 of a month each with a 0.03 pause for surprising yet chronic sunburn.

Kindly accept your new-found promotion to forum rainwear guru...

Mudguards make a massive difference. I have some northwave boots that I love. I am not convinced anything is better than normal leather gloves, though they only last one winter. Layers. Buff.

This is a London centric forum my friend, where is the gratitude for residents of the Scottish colony being allowed to participate?