Clothing for winter bicycling??

[catwoman]

Looking for sources/suggestions for winter clothing to wear while bicycling. Biker shorts won't cut it, I've found.
I'm on Coumadin & feel the cold more intensely (summer heat is wonderful for me now).

TIA for any suggestions.

 

[BillCobit]

clothing

clothing

Looking for sources/suggestions for winter clothing to wear while bicycling. Biker shorts won't cut it, I've found.
I'm on Coumadin & feel the cold more intensely (summer heat is wonderful for me now).

TIA for any suggestions.

Hi Marsha -

Not sure how cold is "cold" where you live, but I'd recommend:

Layers:

I wear polypropylene long underwear (top & bottom) - doesn't absob water, but wicks sweat away from skin so you don't get chilled from being damp - you can get this stuff at K-Mart, WalMart, hunting and camping stores, ski shops. Price is all over the map. I wear the K Mart stuff.

Next layer is a fleece top - it does absorb moisture, but still keeps you warm. Wool works even better for keeping you warm, IMO, but fleece washes and dries easier after you get it all sweaty. If you're riding at a leisurely pace, wool may be the better option.

Final layer is a breathable shell - insulated w/ synthetic fill or not - depending on how cold it is.

I wear mittens for my hands, neoprene socks on my feet under my shoes (got mine at Target in the outdoor sports section - hunting/fishing stores, KMart, WalMart also have them). If it's really cold, I shove some of those "hot hands" packets in my socks and gloves.

You have to keep your head warm, but still wear your helmet ... ESPECIALLY if there is any chance of encountering ice. You can get a very thin but warm head cover at the bike shop that will fit under your helmet.

Covering your face as shown in the pic is optional - these things are very stretchy so you can pull it under your chin and still be comfortable.

Riding in winter can be pure misery if you don't dress properly, a pleasure if you do.

Hope that helps.

 

[catwoman]

Bill:

Thanks! Just had lunch w/ my biking friend, Debra, and we discussed some options.
I've had the polypropylene undies before (also silks) when we did a lot of camping. Probably need to go that route, at least a top for sure.

I rode last night, not too cold, probably 45-55 or so, wearing biker shorts, cotton turtleneck, sweatshirt and a fleece vest. That was doable, but will need to get something warmer soon. Going to St. Louis this weekend for a cat show in Collinsville IL. Am sure I can find warmer clothing up there than in TX, so I'll check out the stores Saturday night.

 

[tobagotwo]

I also don't know how cold Fort Worth, TX gets normally. Presumably, you won't cycle much in ice and snow, so this is one more take on fall-to-late-fall cycling attire.

Currently, you're running 10 - 20 degrees warmer than we are. I suspect you might generally stay that way.

My suggestions:

Silk undergarments from Cabela's or Bass Pro Shops. Get the 3-thread "imperial" silk ones, as they are machine wash/dry. They wick even better than the new materials, are lighter weight and more stretchable for movement. These are definitely not the sexy type silk garments.

If wind is a problem (no, Gemma, not that wind), GoreTex is still the most breathable waterproof fabric, and is usually backed with nylon for a shell.

For insulation, I like Thinsulate best, but it can lack flexibility, which you would want for cycling. Bill's fleece is likely a better option, inside a GoreTex shell if you need wind protection with real warmth.

I use neoprene gloves. They will absolutely keep you warm, have little bulk, and have an excellent grip.

However, neoprene will make your hands and feet sweat over time, so I don't use the neoprene socks. Unbelievebly, those "astronaut socks" with the aluminized threads that you see in the cheap advertisements really do work, and they stretch well and won't make your feet sweat.

These (and other gear for even colder weather that wouldn't be good for cycling) have all been field-tested by yers truly and friends in upstate New York on the Salmon River for fall salmon and winter steelhead fishing.

Where in winter you get up at 4:30 ayem in absolute, astounding, star-studded dark, with the temperature in the minus double-digits, and head through the thigh-high snow to the almost frozen-over river to wait for dawn and the first cast.

Now that's fun...


Best wishes,

 

[doberman]

I do as the others do, layer-up, it will take a few rides to figure out the right amount of clothing to wear, when I wear to many layers or too many warm layers I start to sweat which is the worst thing to happen in the cold.
Enjoy the ride!

 

[tommy]

Marsha,

Looks like you have gotten quite a response. It's been cold (40) running the last two mornings, but I'll take that over 70 every day. Good luck with the cycling.

 

[MarkU]

In spite of our weekly hurricanes, I'm still glad I live in FL. Got down to the low 60's here last night and everyone was acting like it was the coming of another ice age...

 

[BillCobit]

Marsha, you missed this year's event...

Marsha, you missed this year's event...

...but mark that calendar for the first Saturday in November 2005!!

 

[Gemma]

If wind is a problem (no, Gemma, not that wind)

Oh boy, am I getting a reputation? I promise I'll never mention the "w" word again .

Marsha, I've also found layering works best although I haven't got around to buying any of the insulated/wicking clothing mentioned above. I generally just wear a T-shirt, thin fleece and a thicker fleece on top. I have a fleece-lined waterproof top for when it's raining. Of course I do get a cold head so maybe the balaclava thingy's not a bad idea. And some trousers (e.g. jogging pants in a thick fabric) with a tapered leg so as not to get caught up in the chain. Of course, Jim tends to drag me down forest tracks rather than roads, so the thicker clothing is better at warding off brambles, nettles, rocks, trees etc . You'd probably need less protection on road.
Gemma.

 

[kasparj]

During the 1980's I raced bikes in Italy and the US. I'm not sure what all there is for exotic materials for riding today, but I will give you my vast years of experience.

If the temperature is below 70 degress we were always taught to wear some type of long riding pants. When temps got into the 60s we would wear long sleeve tops and would bring along a sheet a newspaper. The newspaper was for putting it under your shirt in the chest area.

When it got really cold we would have wool jackets and heavy lycra pants. Both pants and jacket would have a heavy waterproof material of the front where the wind would hit.

Cycling in cool/cold weather, unprotected correctly can be dangerous to the body. I can remember climbing a moutain pass in the Italian Alps in a blinding snowstorm. Hey when your in your 20's who cares. I got real sick because of that race.

I would love to start rding again, but being on Warfarin, I afraid of falling. What a gusher that would be.

 

[Sir Reel]

I rode a lot when living in the Southlake - Keller area and found the following to be sufficient: wicking biking shirt, long sleeve wicking shirt, and nylon jacket (preferably with zip off sleeves); long biking tights (wicking), medium weight; Gore Windstopper gloves; wicking or fleece headband; windproof socks or booties that fit over your shoes.

The key is to avoid cotton, use only wicking clothing to transfer moisture away, and keep your fingers and toes warm. Your body will create enough heat, so you just need to keep the wind away and stay dry.

Some people just put baggies over their socks to protect their feet.

If you ride a lot when the temperatures drop into the high 40s or below, you should make the additional investment for a Gore jacket and tights.

Check out a good bike shop (Bicycles Inc. in Keller) or try online at performancebike.com, bikenashbar.com, or coloradocyclist.com. A lot of people are very happy with the Performance Bike apparel.