Cold Riding

What do you guys wear when it gets cold? I was going to continue with jeans and a cotton long sleeved top, but the top gets moist and cold, and I am tired of the taint abuse that jeans inflicts.

jeans and cotton are the 2 worst things to wear for cycling.
merino baselayer and something windproof like a gilet or jacket on top and even if you are wearing cut downs (made from synthetic material so it dries quickly) then you can't beat some lycra underneath for warmth without getting sweaty. knee and arm warmers are handy too. i wear a buff under my lid as i'm a slaphead but not many people on here wear lids. anything made of windstopper is good too (but expensive)

gloves, get a good pair of windstopper gore tex gloves not to thick mind. Your hands will thank you come the chillier mornings and evenings.
I usually wear a windstopper base layer, lycra 3/4 bibshorts, shorts over the top of the bibs, cycling cap, and a thicker long sleeved cycling top. I generally get quite warm when cycling so don't really feel the cold that much once I get going. Just the hands, which is why I said get gloves.

silk or wool. better still, silk under wool. nice silk jersey is like nature's lycra, except less stretchy, and more breathable.

I wear an air of bravado

A determined expression

Ride faster.

Fsck, I'm usually the guy wearing not enough that's borderline hypothermic on rides but today I had armwarmers on. t-shirt was a bit cold but I warmed up when going.
I tend to go from freezing in shorts and t to sweating like a mofo in jacket and knee warmers. Toe warmers when it gets really cold.
I really need to get some intermediate layers going on for autumn/spring.. or move back to Oz. :)

hippy Ride faster.

Fsck, I'm usually the guy wearing not enough that's borderline hypothermic on rides but today I had armwarmers on. t-shirt was a bit cold but I warmed up when going.
I tend to go from freezing in shorts and t to sweating like a mofo in jacket and knee warmers. Toe warmers when it gets really cold.
I really need to get some intermediate layers going on for autumn/spring.. or move back to Oz. :)

It's not fucking intuitive, right? It took me years to learn how to fress warmly because I came from a country with good weather year round.

I had a warmup (cool down?) so to speak moving from Mildura to Melbourne but I still take a long time to realise I'm dropping frost-bitten body along the road behind me..

What's the weather like in London at this time of year? I imagine it's quite nice, certainly compared to Glasgow. Someone turned off our heating on Sunday afternoon and it's no' been on since.

I left the house this morning in an Euskaltel long-sleeved jersey; a Pearl Izumi long-sleeved jersey (it doesn't even have a waistband! What was I thinking?); a Protective jacket, Endura longs, Goretex gloves, neoprene overshoes and a Buff. It's a pretty dismal state of affairs. I mean, riding seems more enjoyable in proper kit - you don't get cold and damp - but it costs a fortune. Hygiene isn't everything it should be: you end up wearing the same stuff day after day so that you can still afford to eat. :-)

Buff's are great. Pull it right up over your nose and the bottom of it will still cover your neck. It keeps the wind away when it's freezing. Plus, I reckon glaring produces more obedience from car drivers when they can't see your whole face.

a bit hit and miss in september. last week it was quite warm, yesterday, quite cold.

tuesday mornin
t shirt.
froze my bollocks off.

this mornin
long sleeved base, then t shirt then gilet.
sweated my bollocks off.

just can't get it right this week.

tomorrow
nekkid.
(paper overalls at work)

list of warm things:
shoes that are a size to big winter to allow for a thin pair of socks and a pair of sealskin socks
lycra tights under baggy 3/4's
lycra shorts under baggy 3/4's with kneewarmers if needed
lycra bib shorts with sugoi cycling (mtb) trousers
lycra under altura drylines trousers for when it's absolutely pissing it down

an old scott-team roubaix fabric jersey
a merino baselayer (made by icebreaker)
a gore next2skin windstopper jacket with removable sleeves
a gilet made of windstopper/pertex fabric with a breathable mesh back
lycra armwarmers
goretex xcr jacket (or an e-vent fabric one)

windstopper gloves, tried the really thick ones and didn't like them, windstopper is thin but still warm.
a buff.
overshoes? (haven't got any yet as i wear goretex shoes for the mtb) may use these or sealskins?

all this stuff is really expensive but i'm done with being cold and uncomfortable on the bike, i have used cheap waterproofs but they are boil in the bag and not worth the money (imho) if your budget is tight i would go for a windstopper jacket and a pair of lycra shorts or padless lycra tights to wear under cut down combats.

same clothes all year round,endura 3/4 humeethingies, old breatheable-t-shirt, 10 year old freestyle jacket if cold (but straight in the bag if hot) with gloves if its really cold

hippy Ride faster.

Fsck, I'm usually the guy wearing not enough that's borderline hypothermic on rides but today I had armwarmers on. t-shirt was a bit cold but I warmed up when going.
I tend to go from freezing in shorts and t to sweating like a mofo in jacket and knee warmers. Toe warmers when it gets really cold.
I really need to get some intermediate layers going on for autumn/spring.. or move back to Oz. :)

Maybe if you live in the far north. It gets almost as cold as England down here. We had snow a couple of months back.

MrSmith jeans and cotton are the 2 worst things to wear for cycling.

Hahaha it's what I wear everyday :)

When it's warm:

• Cotton T shirt
  
• Shorts (knee-length or 3/4 length)
  
  

When it's cold:

• Cotton T shirt
  
• Jeans
  
• Pedal harder
  
  

When it's really cold:

• Jumper
  
• Cotton t
  
• Jeans
  
• Pedal harder-er.
  

I wear a cottong long sleeved T-shirt and 3/4 length trousers. Works for me. When it strats to rain or get really cold I don't know what I'll do.

Just get changed when you get to work or whatever destination :)

eeehhhh [quote]MrSmith jeans and cotton are the 2 worst things to wear for cycling.

Hahaha it's what I wear everyday :)

When it's warm:

• Cotton T shirt
  
• Shorts (knee-length or 3/4 length)
  
  

When it's cold:

• Cotton T shirt
  
• Jeans
  
• Pedal harder
  
  

When it's really cold:

• Jumper
  
• Cotton t
  
• Jeans
  
• Pedal harder-er.[/quote]
  
  

...don't forget your gloves and hat!

In my lab at work I have 5 washing machines and 5 dryers so getting wet isn't as much of a consideration. I just chuck the whole lot in to wash and dry every day along with my towel and any other washing I might have.

d_c [quote]eeehhhh [quote]MrSmith jeans and cotton are the 2 worst things to wear for cycling.

Hahaha it's what I wear everyday :)

When it's warm:

• Cotton T shirt
  
• Shorts (knee-length or 3/4 length)
  
  

When it's cold:

• Cotton T shirt
  
• Jeans
  
• Pedal harder
  
  

When it's really cold:

• Jumper
  
• Cotton t
  
• Jeans
  
• Pedal harder-er.[/quote]
  
  

...don't forget your gloves and hat![/quote]

Yeah I normally have my gloves :)

I tempted to order a hat (usually wear a he*met) from Mr Smeear.

Merino base layer is the magic that will solve all your problems. Last winter I mostly survived with shorts and a base layer, sometimes a coat too, but last winter it din't really get cold. It just stayed sort of tepid for three months.

Rubbish time of year, either chilly or sweating.

A good water proof jacket and good gloves will keep you warm in most conditions. Invest in some knee warmers and / or leg warmers, arm warmers as well. When it is cold out I always start off very cold but am warm afrer 5 - 10 min cycling. That first 5 - 10 min though can be horrible. I am a fan off a scarf wraped arounf the neck with the end lyed flat accross the chest to stop the wind when you start. As you get warmer you can loosen it and then wip it off all together while riding and stuff it in a pocket. I do the same with some head band thing I have. Also I roll down my arm warmers as I get hot. All of this can be done whilst rding so it saves having to stop all of the time. Thick long sock are good as well. Keep away from cotton if possible. It won't kill you as it never gets that cold in London but because it can take so long to dry it can be uncomfy when you stop riding and cool down, which maynot be at your destination if you get a puncture. Mind you if you only rides short distances it matteres less. Last winter was very mild, I want this one to be artic.