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What do you wear in the wet and cold? (Cycling)
mini__C
Posts: 44
in General Chat
Hi
I'm still quite new to cycling, only started in Jan, and since Fall and winter is comming very soon, I've been looking at cycling clothes, but bit confused on what I should get. I'll be going to Heriot watt Uni (Scotland) next year and not sure how BAD the weather up there is like, but sure is damn cold. Was wondering what kind of waterproof tight fit jackets you would reccomend, or is there such thing as a water proof long sleeve base layer or jersey? What about tights etc....
Thanks
Chris
I'm still quite new to cycling, only started in Jan, and since Fall and winter is comming very soon, I've been looking at cycling clothes, but bit confused on what I should get. I'll be going to Heriot watt Uni (Scotland) next year and not sure how BAD the weather up there is like, but sure is damn cold. Was wondering what kind of waterproof tight fit jackets you would reccomend, or is there such thing as a water proof long sleeve base layer or jersey? What about tights etc....
Thanks
Chris
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I usually make sure my extremeties are protected and work back from that. A thin hat or headband that covers the ears is essential in cold weather. I really like the headbands because they let out some heat through the topb of your head. Both can be worn under a helmet easily. Ski-type gloves (not leather and not too cumbersome) work well; there's loads of choice here. I don't need to wear cycle mitts under these, but you might need to check for fit in case. Overboots are brilliant - again, make sure they fit over your cycle shoes and that they're not too bulky. If they are they tend to rub on the cranks which is annoying. I've just got a pair of neoprene and they keep your feet like toast.
If all these bits are warm, I find I don't need to wear quite so much on my torso. In any case I hate getting too warm on the bike so work it so that I'm chilly at the start of the ride but know that I will soon warm up. The most I have is three layers; a thin thermal top (that wicks moisture away from the body), a cycle jersy (long back) with zip collar (I have a ski top with a very high collar - a real luxry when it's very cold), and a jacket. This could be thin or thick, depending on how cold it is, and/or how much you feel the cold. As for waterproof, I don't bother with this aspect. I have water-resistant jackets but unless I spend a huge amount of money (£100+) nothing is going to keep the rain out completely. If it's really cold I'll wear longs (thin) but will avoid it if possible.
It's a tricky one trying to judge the right clothing before a ride, especially if it's unsettled. The last thing you want on are clothes that don't dry out quickly. Experiment and you'll find a balance soon enough.
Oh, and clear glasses are great in the cold. As is vaseline smeared on the face on long, cold rides!! I learnt that trick a long time ago.
Hope this helps
My 'life saver' has been over shoes. I train in the north east of scotland and during our 11 month winters, I have occassionally forgotten to put the over shoes on - one one occasion my toes were black and took nearly a week to recover!
They are an absolute must have.
Luckily we have had such a long and warm summer to let us get our warm weather gear on........
or any tight fit waterpoof jacket that you guys recommend??
Thanks
I spent £120 on a simple Gill water-proof jacket (no pockets, no lining), hoping that would keep me warm and dry all through the Winter (and let's face it, Spring, Summer and Autumn) cold/wet training days and it didn't keep me dry. I wore it through the torrential rains this past Spring, and it really didn't keep me dry after the first 5 minutes out in a downpour. But, it did keep me warm (then again, so did my £60 Altura jacket with all the extra pockets and lining), and that made a difference.
I also find that it is sometimes more cost-effective to look in shops for Mountain climbing, skiing and general outdoor gear, as they will often have a better range of winter clothing at better prices (although you may not get the cycling-specific features, like a pocket on the back of the jacket, or an extra long tail to cover your butt, or what-not).
I suggested earlier about the vaseline on exposed skin - sounds wierd but it does help if you use plenty of it. Otherwise it's something you have to get used to. You can get masks to deal with the cold but their more for mountaineers and with the kind of heavy breathing that you do on a bike, they'd probably just get wet. Clear glasses at least keep the cold wind out of the eyes.
Anyone else got any cold face remedies?