Winter Clothing

down is not good for high intensity activity in damp environments.

polypropylene / Wool base layer + wind proof soft shell

Yeah, personally I prefer my Gore Softshell and a Merino baselayer (and midlayer if it's icy). Love merino.

the built in balaclava sounds quite cool ... is that the only jacket that has that?

it would be so great if this one had extra long sleeves with thumb holes... does someone know a jacket with that?

Nope... The Gore Oxy jacket has a neckwarmer though. It's a softshell with taped seems.

swerve milwaukee, with merino gilet or cardigan. more than toasty.

^ Cardigan... A signature Dale garment... I will miss you very much, my strange antipodean friend...

Yeah, personally I prefer my Gore Softshell and a Merino baselayer (and midlayer if it's icy). Love merino.

Snap!

Gore Phantom jacket, Craft baselayer with an extra thin layer if it's sub-zero.

My new winter gear is most likely still in customs. Thoughtless b**tards, letting me freeze. If my nuts fall off, I'm going to inject them with anthrax, and post to myself from outside the country, labelled with a duty liable value. Lets see them drag their feet with that parcel. The lazy shitebags.

Grrrrrrrr etc.

[/end_rant]

I tend to get up to maximum temperature very quickly whenever i set out for a ride. Jackets are just a no for me. That said, I have yet to find a decent jacket that is functionally breathable.
I've just arrived at work (its a beautiful morning by the way) and i wear, and recommend:
Canterbury COLD compression base layer.
Helly Hansen Frost Hoodie (Merino Wool - with a thin hood that fits really well under a helmet)
Gilet.

Take a look at the Helly Hansen Frost hoodie. Its -3 here in Brum. Rode well, without over heating.

it was -8 up here this morning. Giordana bodyclone activia jacket with thin base layer, and I was fine. The impressive bit being that I also use this jacket on windy spring/autumm days, just over my bibs, without over heating.

Snap!

Gore Phantom jacket, Craft baselayer with an extra thin layer if it's sub-zero.

Yeah I have the Phantom. The fact that you can wear it next to your skin with the sleeves zipped off are what sold it to me. It's pretty much an all year round garment.

Breaking out the Assos today. It's freezing out!

Socks so thick, I canny get my jeans over them.
Chocolate fish ftw.

+1 on the Milwaukee hoodie. That and anything pretty much underneath = toasty.

I <3 swrv

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/product-review-mavic-propane-jacket

Sounds toasty!

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/product-review-mavic-propane-jacket

Sounds toasty!

If you could get it down over a normal sized midrift it probably would be.
Are the french that narrow, or are they just trying to make us feel fat?

Agreed.

I know most cycling brands like sizing things for an 'Italian fit', but Mavic's sizing is beyond ridiculous! I tried on a large jersey once and spent a good 5 minutes wrestling to get myself out of it.

^aero.

I consider myself to be in athletic shape. But that Giordana jacket I posted above is 'embaressingly aero' in XXL.

I wonder if it's cycle brands following the old tactic that womens fashion labels do of capping at a certain size so no fatties/bigfeet wear their stuff.

It helps to maintain their exclusivity.

I don't think they do, I've seen many different shaped people in my brand ofAldi' andLidl' cycling clothing.

Exclusivity is ding for the common man.

I wonder if it's cycle brands following the old tactic that womens fashion labels do of capping at a certain size so no fatties/bigfeet wear their stuff.

It helps to maintain their exclusivity.

I'm inclined to think its a sport thing. Like they're trying to second guess your size from the sport you do.

I have some nicely fitting medium rugby tops, and some equally well fitting XXl cycling stuff.

Fecking annoying.

is it not because most companies don't do WSD.

is it not because most companies don't do WSD.

WSD???

I feel this may be a dig at my hairy moobs.

I'd be digging myself also.

I want to know what everyone thinks the best winter cycling gear is. I personally need a warm waterproof jacket, trousers/tights and and shoes.

Theres a couple of other winter cycling threads but nothing that seems conclusive as to what's the best.

this thread is likely to be as pointless as this one

http://www.lfgss.com/thread5750.html

"best" will depend on too many factors, too warm and you sweat too much, too waterproof the same

depends on the conditions you are riding in, how cold, how wet?

etc etc

that is before you get onto matters such as fit, and form of the garments, and then you need to consider cost and quality