Cold Riding

uniqlo is an amazing shop, they used to do skinny fit jeans in this nice stretchy denim (like cheap mondays only real denim) which is actually really nice to ride in i find. also they have wicked tshirts (or they did... seems that designer promotion has finished now), and really cool hoodies with 2 zips so you can unzip from the bottom! Er not really any use on a bike, but still, i think uniqlo is an underrated clothing shop.

Also, i can vouch for the merino, only worn mine twice but its freaking warm and soft and i have sensitive skin!

Cotton only (no blend) anything is for hot weather only. It absorbs moisture and cools very effectively, usually too effectively.

When I used to ride seriously even in the Summer I would not wear cotton as after a hard ride the cool-down twiddling home could cause a chill even in Summer (late evening). Around London streets in Summer it is unlikely that I would work up such a sweat so I do wear cotton now ...

Wear and carry thin layers (unless it is very cold), that way you can add and subtract as necessary, and keep extras in your back pockets.

They once compared the moutaineering clothes the Sherpas use for centuries (several thin layers of cotton and silk) with that fancy gore-tech bling Outdoor stuff
and realized it performs equally as good but is 30% lighter and allows more freedom of movement. (link)

Yes - goretex is no good except for sedentary cycling (around town it may be okay - I use it when I am commuting and it is pouring down but even then I get wet inside from condensation) - but for anything else it does not allow the moisture out (sweat) fast enough. The best is something like a helly hansen undervest (synthetic and wicks moisture away), with wool over, and then maybe polyester (easy to wash dirt etc. off) with a thin wind resistant 'cape' (not terribly water-proof but that is okay) in your back pocket in case it rains. Wool is still warm when it gets wet but better not next to the skin because it can be too cooling.

In extended rain, or for longer rides in rain, you are going to get wet through anyway so do not worry about keeping dry, the aim is to keep warm which means layers of correct clothing, and something windproof on the outside which is not too thick to allow excess heat to be lost without wind chill taking it all away too fast.

Silk I do not know about - in my limited experience it is too expensive and wears out too fast (and if you ride a lot you are going to be washing it a lot).

....oh yes, also in really cold weather a thin motorcycle balaclava folded up under your helmet will keep your head warm. Gloves, obviously also important too ....

Some merino wool patagonia base layers on sale here http://www.urbanrock.com/products_detail.php?CatId=134&PId=2338
I have never used these particular ones so don't know if they are any good or not but seem a reasonable price.
The shop is very nice and friendly. (Well the one in the castle is I have never been to any others.....)

I find my silk thongs very comfy and warming but they do wear out quickly but I recyle them by soeing them togther to make scarf.

TheBrick(Tommy) I find my silk thongs very comfy and warming but they do wear out quickly but I recyle them by soeing them togther to make scarf.

shakes head, as i can believe this!

dominiclincoln layers? just get a buffalo top. pile / pertex ... nowt will bother you.

+1 buffalo

For cold weather they are the future. I've worn just but buffalo salopettes, buffalo mountain shirt and helly hansen lifa top climbing on Lochnagar in -10C (plus windchill) and been warm enough. That is after carrying a 25lb sack up a mountain for 3 hours then standing around for an hour. Buffalo's handle the best of both worlds, they let the condensation out, keep wind out, but if they get wet, it's just like wearing wool - it keeps the warmth in.

Only drawback is they can get pretty heavy when soaking wet.

Can anyone suggest gloves that are either waterproof or neoprene but that are not bulky?
I prefer slightly cold hands to super thick bulky gloves.

Alex 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.

Wool is where it is at, find a nice merino undershirt(long), wicks, keeps you warm, does not stink, and is natural. As for the abuse, try rangler cowboy jeans if you can get them over there, soft inside, tough as nails outside (bull rodeo riders where them) I am uncut, and wear them without pants and never suffer any abuse.

Mr Bungle Can anyone suggest gloves that are either waterproof or neoprene but that are not bulky?
I prefer slightly cold hands to super thick bulky gloves.

i just got some northwave ones from wiggle for £22, they are awesome ;)

A couple of places have the Assos Gator jacket much-reduced at the moment. This was superceded by the Fugu, but every review I've ever read has said the Gator is the warmest thing the reviewer has ever worn. At £80 from Parker I've got one on the way as I type....

endura strike gloves 19.99 linky

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.

Cotton is a terrible material to wear for cycling in any weather unless you're dawdling along, in which case just about anything is fine, but I don't tend to be a dawdler.

I'm currently using a helly hansen base t-shirt. then a couple of normal clothes layers on top of that. I'm really impressed with the Hansen tops' performance. Wicks the sweat away really well and I'm yet to suffer the sweaty chills during/after riding. Want to now try these leg warmers: http://tinyurl.com/ybo58tg.

I also sometimes wear my deerstalker leather/suede hat with earflaps. Always a winner. £35 and handmade from a shop on Brick Lane. Well worth every penny so far to be fair.

About to buy a pair of Sealskinz gloves tomorrow: http://tinyurl.com/yem382w
Tried a pair on today and they have a nice close fit and aren't too bulky. They're also 100% waterproof which would've been nice when I got caught out a couple of weeks ago in absolutely torrential rain.

.

sealskinz gloves have saved my hands this winter. love them.

i really haven't got on with uniqlo's heattech though. i like their long johns, very warm, but their heattech t shirts and long sleeved shirts have left me sweaty with very little wicking, and therefore cold when i'm less active.

I was advised that 3 layers is good for wind protection because the weave of the three combined prevent it getting through.

I don't wear a jumper anymore at all because I sweat really badly.

I have gloves, just keeps my hands warm but not great.

I wear a wooly hat under my helmet. I have the big long style hat to ensure my ears are covered. I can't take a lot of cold, more than almost anyone I know but cold ears are damn painful.

I have a waterproof thin red jacket. It doesn't help with the cold, but it' much better to stay dry for me. Wet clothes feel extremely cold.

I wear leggings which I bought for my motorcycle riding. However I never wore it until I started riding i the snow a 2 months back. They give me a cold sensation throughout, but it never gets any colder.

I just wear my normal clothes for cycling year round

winter
jeans, tshirt, hoodie, hat, gloves

summer
jeans, tshirt

Normally do around 10 miles each way on my commute, don't ever end up particularly sweaty or uncomfortable.

http://www.parker-international.co.uk/10884/Assos-Fugu-Jack-Titan.html

sealskinz gloves have saved my hands this winter. love them.

yes I've been using those and they were great, possibly a little cold when it was really damned brassic outside

just picked me up the assos glove system in the sale, wore the airblock part today and they're very good... the rest can sit in a draw till winter I guess

Lycra or long johns under jeans or shorts
Thin T shirts from uniqlo layered and then either a thin north face or light jumper
Gloves and wooly hat

How much?!

It warmed up quite a bit anyway. It's got colder again now, but it's still really not that cold!

I just got back from Berlin and forecasted low there today is -14.

http://www.parker-international.co.uk/10884/Assos-Fugu-Jack-Titan.html

I have discovered a radical way to keep warm - eat more and go outside less.

scince the cold weather came i have been riding roughly the same amount, but oh my the hunger has increased! i havnt put on any significant weight but im probably eating twice as much as normal. its pretty amazing how much extra energy is needed when riding in the cold.