Essential winter clothing?

Waterproof trousers are the hottest, most uncomfortable things ever. If it's raining that hard, I'm resigned to the fact that my legs are gonna get wet. Make sure your core is warm and dry and legs generally stay fairly warm because they're constantly working

Buy a blow heater to dry the stuff out in work . At this time of year commuters need to be ingenious in drying their stuff not cooking it and not coming out in boils by Wednesday . I used three pairs of spd shoes last week on rotation .

I used three pairs of spd shoes last week on rotation .

If you wear normal socks for the commute in and keep waterproof socks in the bike bag for the return leg home you can wear the wet shoes with none of the squishy unpleasantness. Then you can dry fully at home. Although some newspaper and a radiator had my wet shoes in a reasonable state for the ride home.

Also bought in a spare set of bibs and overtights.

Waterproof trousers are the hottest, most uncomfortable things ever.

Waterproof shorts are a good compromise. Dry bum, wet legs, dong get all hot and uncomfortable.

Alternatively, Endura onesie? Anyone ever ride in one? The £500 put me off.

Dry bum

Mudguards

I've got some berghaus waterproof overtrousers that have full zips/poppers so you can leave the whole thigh open and they're still shit for anything much over 5 miles, they're great for staying dry for less though and as I tend to need to do a few short, wet journeys a day with no drying or changing in between they're perfect paired with some waterproof overshoes. These were walking ones and I added some elastic to the ankle hems to stop them being too flappy.

Waterproof shorts

Oh yeah, whole different ball game. Well impressed with my Madison ones, off road and great for commutes. Damp socks is about as bad as it gets

Generally this but I bought some for Scotland and I love wearing longs off road. So much nicer not getting stung and wacked by every fucking thing and they're warm, oh so toasty warm. Makes for a nice change from trying to glue crisp packets to my legs or set myself on fire to stop from dying...

I've taken my waterproof Gore shorts on almost every long distance ride/race I've done. Very light and packable, keep you dry and warmer and can wear them if/when you need to wash knicks or sleep in them or whatever.

I lost my first pair during a Trans Am and bought another pair (fucking 20 quid more expensive mumble grumble)

Mudguards

preach.

Deep winter jackets, for below 0, any suggestions??

I got a Castelli Alpha Ros 2 jacket in the sale a couple of years ago. Castelli rate it from minus 5 up to 10 degrees Celsius.
To me it often feels too warm in anything above zero, it’s very toasty. I usually just have a long sleeve base layer under it. Combined with a base layer and jersey it’s kept me warm through 2 Scottish winters.
They are on sale in quite a few places at the moment too.

Anyone tried the SPATZ "BURNR" 4 season Leg Warmers? Reviews?

Deep winter jackets, for below 0, any suggestions??

When it's real cold, insead of buying another jacket, I wear an insulated gilet over the top of the cold weather one but if not an option.. guess it depends on price and style wanted?

insulated gilet over the top

Wear your insulated bits under. They don't work as well on the outside when they can't trap heat in the insulation

Wear your insulated bits under.

true true, outside works for me, easier to take off mid-commute but not the best solution

I think for Scottish winters you need two get ups. Normal cold and sub zero. I have an elderly assos jacket that is only for sub zero. Hiking gloves also for sub zero. Ghastly hippy hat for sub zero.

Poor @hippy @hats

something with Alpha pile insulation and wind stopper on the outside or Alpha with a thinner windproof fabric.

Castelli AlphaRoS or similar made by Sportful or LaPassione do an alpha plus thin windproof layer currently in outlet sale.
whatever Assos have as their deep winter jacket for ££££’s

I've got some Gore windstopper running trousers that I really rate. No good if it's properly cold but they're great for this time of year. They block the wind (obviously) and aren't waterproof but dry really quickly. You can layer under them depending on temperature.

The gore paclite gore Tex trail etc etc ones?

https://www.gorewear.com/en-uk/c5-gore-tex-paclite-trail-shorts-100574

GoreTex Paclite Trail

They were £60 when I bought the first pair (probably under a porch I slept on somewhere in Kansas) and the replacement were £80 and now they're over £100.

If I was going to buy again I'd try to find something very similar but with a pocket or two.

30% off but still a bit too expensive for me for how often I would actually use this.
Thanks though👍

Shit, that's £105 AFTER a discount? How the fuck has the price of shorts tripled in 5 years?

Remind me again what inflation % we're on?

300% in 5 years apparently 😱