Winter Clothing

Yes the DHB is too heavy. I have plenty of heavy winter jackets.The venture (or something similiar) makes more sense. I want something I can carry & forget about and put over whatever I am wearing when it decides to really chuck it down !!!

I just got a dhb Minima waterproof and have been riding around in it in the pissing rain for the past couple of days. it keeps the water off nicely and packs down really small. does get a bit sweaty inside though, although that is wearing a t-shirt underneath it.

there is no such thing as waterproof and breathable least not if you are putting out watts of heat so light, waterproof with LOTS of vents !!!

the North Face Venture jacket has great reviews !!!

I don't wear my endura over trouser because they dont breath. Bloody waterproof though.
Have you tried them?

Good shout, I might take them for a whirl.

Rainlegs and roll your jeans up. Add knee warmers when it gets cold.

Absolutely not. I might be tempted if they had shin guards too, but that's just half a pair of decent waterproofs! It would be good if I could have something I could wear on my motorbike too, and without shinguards these just don't cut it.

Where does the water run off? If you're wearing jeans, surely the run off will wick and you'll get soaked anyway. Also, spray from the road is going to kick up under these things. God I hate them.

Torn between the North Face Venture and the DHB sync, erríng towards the DHB simply because it doesn't shout 'rambler'

Get the DHB, tell me what it's like.

there is no such thing as waterproof and breathable least not if you are putting out watts of heat so light, waterproof with LOTS of vents !!!

The underarm vents on technical jackets are hit'n'miss for cycling IMHO.

Softshell - turns into a wet sponge after 30mins of constant rain. But you can usually keep your base layer dry.

Membrane softshell - Leaks eventually, but slowly. Needs vents for efforts over 30mins.

hardshell - keeps rain out, but membrane will get overloaded by hard efforts. Venting essiental, but likely not effective enough depending how sweaty you are.

Rubberised raincoat - Sweaty hell.

I live in the rainiest place in europe, yet cant bring myself to train hard in anything more than a softshell. I do short cycles to work etc. in my membrane softshell. Which works brilliantly for this.

Absolutely not. I might be tempted if they had shin guards too, but that's just half a pair of decent waterproofs! It would be good if I could have something I could wear on my motorbike too, and without shinguards these just don't cut it.

Where does the water run off? If you're wearing jeans, surely the run off will wick and you'll get soaked anyway. Also, spray from the road is going to kick up under these things. God I hate them.

Unless most of your commute involves standing still then you're always going to get soaked if you wear jeans. Cotton on a bike is shit.

The road spray issue is sorted with a mudguard.

Where does the water run off?

The Thames?

I have to say the new Gore-Tex Active Shell stuff is brilliant. I sweat a lot and in the past have resorted to getting wet to keep breathability.

The Gore Fusion jacket I've had since last Christmas has been my favourite item of clothing this year. Can wear it next to the skin and the cut is super nice. It's never let in water despite a very rainy 60 mile ride home in the rain a few weekends ago.

I kinda wish I had the Active Shell overtrousers but I think that may be a step too far in breathability expectations.

Unless most of your commute involves standing still then you're always going to get soaked if you wear jeans. Cotton on a bike is shit.

The road spray issue is sorted with a mudguard.

Hopefully full waterproof trousers would eliminate this issue though, especially with overshoes and decent ankle fastenings.

True, unfortunately my ludicrously impractical bro-pro can only really deal with clip ons, which arn't idea.

The Thames?

Off the top of the thigh, I meant.

Sorry, my ire was more directed at the product than your advice, which would be good for longer rides in lycra. I'm more asking for commuting purposes - whatever is a step up from waders...

Most of the time last winter when commuting I was OK in a thicker mernio baselayer and a gore jacket. Kept me nice and snug but then my worst part is keeping the hands warm.

For longer rides baselayer, jersey and jacket was enough. Always wear gloves, overshoes, hat under helmet.

Although I've got a feeling this year will be colder as last year was very mild.

Glover liners ftw for keeping your hands warm - mine extend my autumn gloves pretty much until Christmas unless it's raining.

Having said that, my circulation is so bad that I've got 20 minutes of hand uncurling agony after any length of ride when the temperature goes under 10 degrees whatever happens.

Hopefully full waterproof trousers would eliminate this issue though, especially with overshoes and decent ankle fastenings.

True, unfortunately my ludicrously impractical bro-pro can only really deal with clip ons, which arn't idea.

Off the top of the thigh, I meant.

Sorry, my ire was more directed at the product than your advice, which would be good for longer rides in lycra. I'm more asking for commuting purposes - whatever is a step up from waders...

I'm pretty sure you're looking for this:

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/323203_258432310928884_84246449_o.jpg

^ if you want rain-style, I've got a grey vinyl one-piece motorbike jump suit for when it gets REALLY bad. Although, I've only worn it once, and that was for 36 hours plus riding in torrential weather.

But basically, you're right. Dressed up like that, whilst you look like a fucking novice, you arrive at your destination dry. They're nothing worse than a soggy day in work.

Saw these in my local TK Maxx for £150ish (rrp £260).
Only had large, only had orange. So I'm out.

http://www.haglofs.com/en-us/products/clothing/layers/soft-shell/men/eryx_hood_en-us.aspx

a question about waterproofing shoes - is there any way of stopping water coming in from the bottom of cleated shoes? bit of plastic/inner tube etc to cover the holes on mtb cleats? My feet get soaked even with booties on and im sick of it!

...a mudguard and a flap if needed.

Winter in Dalston

Hi, I just moved to Switzerland, so it's going to be getting pretty cold. Does anyone have any advice? Student Status = Meager funds, so stuff I can find second hand/cheap would be helpful, but anything would be helpful.
Main thing is a proper jacket, and overshoes. I have most other things, I think. Gloves too, I mean I have gloves, but my fingers tend to get very cold.
Cheers.

Snow stuff, gets sweaty but keeps you warm n dry

Hi, I just moved to Switzerland, so it's going to be getting pretty cold. Does anyone have any advice? Student Status = Meager funds, so stuff I can find second hand/cheap would be helpful, but anything would be helpful.
Main thing is a proper jacket, and overshoes. I have most other things, I think. Gloves too, I mean I have gloves, but my fingers tend to get very cold.
Cheers.

Not a original suggestion. But try to go for lots of thn layers. An uber expensive jacket, will work in a variety of conditions. But if you cant afford uber expensive stuff. You need to employ several thin layers that you can adjust for the changing weather. These days you can get cheap baselayers, thin fleeces, and cheap hard/softshells. Try Planet-x for base layers.

To keep your hands warm. This is a great idea. Moose mitts. They attach to your bars (need flat bars though). So you only need thin gloves.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HANDLEBAR-HAND-WARMER-SNOWMOBILE-ATV-MOTORCYCLE-MITTS-/140488294567?pt=Motors_ATV_Parts_Accessories&hash=item20b5c140a7&vxp=mtr

For you feet get some woolen socks, abnd some planet-x over shoes.

Thanks Smallfurry, will look into the layers. Any advice regarding gloves other than mits? I'm not a fan of flat bars, and I need to get a proper pair of gloves for winter anyway, so am willing to spend something.

You could get some snow gloves with an inner glove if too hot dry out etc use the inner as a glove or a mid weight seal skinz also with an under glove to extend temp use, both options waterproof, I've used snowboarding kit for years n just thin layers under it, unzip when too hot adjust as needed, carry normal mtb gloves in a pocket or my bag

You want wind proof gloves. Once the winter air has blown even slightly through your gloves youre fecked.

I'm pretty new on here but have been a long time lurker and riding fixed to work and back for the last 6 years or so. However, I have never really got the hang of rainy winter riding. My usual method is to wear shorts, t shirt, light waterproof jacket and trainers, accept i'm gonna get wet and just bring a change of clothes and towel with me. However, 'normal' trainers/ t shirts/ shorts take a while to dry which has led me to consider more cycling specific clothing.
Do you all wear head to toe lycra and clip in shoes or just deal with being soggy?