What I love most about cycling in England through the winter is...

oi, NO, balaclavas aren't allowed

stepped up a level on the clothing front this morning it must be said
i am at 3/5 on the warmth scale, was nice and toasty arriving at work
2 more levels to go

come at me -5C

Yeah how many layers you on now. It was four for me this morning, long bibs combat shorts and two pairs of socks
Five is the most I normally use and a scarf/bandana when things get really cold

This morning was thermal merio wool top, bib tights and gore bike jacket, nice and toasty. Could have added long sleeve jersey if I was cold but I wasn't. Gloves and merino wool hat kept me nice and warm too.

Felt the cold on my legs this morning which was odd. Perhaps the bib tights are showing their age or I am.

Love getting to work to half empty bike stands, and also, much as I'm proper chuffed that so many people use bikes to get around london / uk now, it is nice when there are less boris bikes trundling up to / through junctions on the way in. And air feels less polluted. Generally winter is pretty awesome.

shorts, socks,gloves and two warm polyester layers up top oh yeah and and a bobble hat as i gave myself a number 4 over the weekend and my ears would have been out in protest

next layering up will be a windproof rain jacket then wind proof trousers to get me to level 5

Bib Shorts, jeans, two pairs of socks. Might upgrade to full length bib tights depending.
Long sleeve base layer, long sleeve merino jersey, Swrve jacket.

If it wasn't for the fact that my gloves have ripped leaving one finger exposed to the elements I would be a smug peddler come -5.

Oyster card, central line, book. Ahhh... toasty...

oi, NO, balaclavas aren't allowed
It gets worse. I have a 'tache and beard and with the balaclava on you can only see the 'tache - I look like Biggles.

^^ winter training going well i see hippy

i love biggles
i don't love balalclavas

such conflict

^^ winter training going well i see hippy

Well, I did do 100 miles on the TT bike yesterday..

Recovery is as important as the train(ing).

Yesterday's 'overshoes'

new 2012 sealskins

Can I buy a pair Hippy?

Used once.

One size fits all

ha

Sandwich bags are a good idea though, hadn't thought of that one.

I've noticed recently moving from MTB cleats (SPDS) to speed play I've had to wear overshoes more due to thinner shoes/ more air vents.

Pace is as important as layers as I found to my cost yesterday. My ride was split into 3 segments. The first was from home to club meeting point at which I arrived very warm with a hint of sweat. After 15 minutes of cooling down the second part of my ride at an average of 10 mph left me cold as feck. 10 miles solo to home at full tilt eventually thoroughly reheated me.

Sandwich bags are a good idea though, hadn't thought of that one.

Mal bought the sandwich bags to hold my drugs drink powder for long rides. These ones have some stupid sticky closure rather than ziplock so didnt' work well when covered in drugs powder. Given the temp and my lack of overshoes suitable for midfoot this seemed like a good way to use up some useless sandwich bags. My feet were still cold but I wonder what they'd have been like without the extra layer?

Can I buy a pair Hippy?

£5 for each foot. £100 if you want me to draw Rapha logo on them too.

Fleece top underneath Milwaukee- spot on this morning.

I had my concerns that a layer of insulation would lead to an inevitable China syndrome mid-commute, but it was cold enough to avoid that.

Mal bought the sandwich bags to hold my drugs drink powder for long rides. These ones have some stupid sticky closure rather than ziplock so didnt' work well when covered in drugs powder. Given the temp and my lack of overshoes suitable for midfoot this seemed like a good way to use up some useless sandwich bags. My feet were still cold but I wonder what they'd have been like without the extra layer?

Also do your feet sweat more wearing sandwich bags, they must do surely?

It wasn't that cold this morning.

Also do your feet sweat more wearing sandwich bags, they must do surely?

Nope. Oddly enough, my feet weren't sweaty at all. They were still numb though. YMMV

constantly being lapped by my devilishly quick silhouette