Winter wear

[sone]

Looking forward to my first winter ( well not really) and starting to wonder what attire I should wearing to keep warm. On the odd occasion I did ride last winter I found my biggest discomfort was cold feet so is there such a thing as winter clip in shoes or do I buy those daft looking covers. Also the bib shorts will have to go I assume for some full length trousers. Strange thing is my local bike shops don't seem to stock an awful lot more than short sleeve zip up and lycra shorts.

Cheers

Steve

[z4RRSchris]

zwift

[Scabutz]

Double socks, thinner inner socks, decent outersocks. Same goes for gloves. Neoprene overshoes are a good start, but shoes still have holes in so winter boots are the way to go for really gnarly weather.

Mud guards make a huge difference, getting wet really makes you cold.

For your core you need layers, merino base layer, then top, then coat. Waterproof stuff often doesn't breathe very well, so might keep the rain out but will keep the sweat in. Focus on keeping warm, rather than trying to stay completely dry.

Under helmet cap good on really cold days. Neck buff a good shout as well. Whens its really chilly you can pull it over your mouth and nose.

Long bibs. I bought some thick ones from Wiggle, dhb, and they are super warm.

[Unexpected Item In The Bagging Area]

Also buy a pair of fleece-backed leg warmers as a halfway house between shorts and longs, and some liner gloves to wear under normal winter ones for really cold days.

[Johnny]

As already mentioned:

Layers - merino base, jersey, jacket etc. Winter 3/4 bibs, fleece lined.

Neck warmer. Winter hats. Double socks and gloves.

This year i'll be doing a lot more commuting, in Budapest, so am looking at winter shoes/boots. I checked out the Specialized Defroster Road shoes at the local decent shop recently and they look decent. But not sure if I just want SPD version for the CX bike and use that to commute.

[Gren]

Layers is the way to go but be careful of double socks. Too tight and they'll make things worse not better.

Best option for feet is winter boots if you want to spend. Overshoes are the next best thing. Both will stop much of the cold/wet getting in and any decent pair of winter socks will do then. Woolie Boolies have always been my go to.

[GOATever]

The trick is layering. Wear a couple of pairs of thin socks, the key is to have layers of air trapped between the socks and the boots / shoes. I have a pair of Specialized Defroster road boots ( which I think are discontinued now ) and they are superb at keeping my feet warm and dry. I’ve got a pair of Northwave Celsius road boots, which are nearly as good.

[MarkJS]

Merino base layer, Merino socks, a Buff & Sealskinz gloves.

You will generally get wet at some point but Merino keeps you warm even when soaking.

[anonymous-user]

Boots.

Northwave Flash or similar

That's feet dealt with

[snobetter]

Winter boots are a great investment if you're going to stick at it.

One of the most useful items I got was the waterproof leg warmers from Aldi,

[louiebaby]

From the top down:

Thin windproof hat under your helmet.

On my top I tend not to wear much under a wind-proof jacket to be honest, as my commute is lumpy.

3/4 length bibs are warm enough for all but about 2 weeks a year when I have some "Roubaix" longs.

Woolly socks and Northwave boots.

Have a look at the Planet X clearance section for some winter jackets and such like, unless you're planning on doing mega-miles, I've found it spot on. Save the nice stuff for the summer.

[TwistingMyMelon]

Layer up where you get cold, I hate my chest getting cold, yet never feel it in my hands or feet

If you ride in the wet, stay warm , dont worry about being fully waterproof

[bakerstreet]

Overshoes, thick socks and carrier bag round your feet also works well. I use BBB Waterflex overshoes in high viz yellow. They tend to only last around 18 months before you wear holes in them.

Some cycling shoes also have vent holes. Worth taping those up too.

I don't have any 3/4 bibs. In around mid/late October, I switch to bib tights for my commute, but they are the thick winter style ones.

I always have an ear warmer in my commuting shorts. Do have a kneck warmer (buff), but don't really use it that often.

I have tried a Merino base layer and really didn't like it. However I do have a couple of HH base layers and they really are brilliant. Well worth the money IME.

I have various Long sleeve jerseys from Gore and DHB. Both do the job, but I think the Gore stuff is slightly better.

I also have liner gloves combimned with some thick DHB winter gloves. Also do the job very well.

I'm on the bike every working day, so I always have stuff to cover all weathers.

I do have some Northwave Artic boots and they are very good, but I bought mine second hand and they were a touch too small. That combined with the fact that they are difficult to put on means they don't get used much any more. Overall they are much dryer and warmer than any overshoe/sock combination I have tried.

[oddball1313]

I find a good quality full sleeve marino base layer and good waterproof shell jacket is all I need to stay comfortable (I was really impressed by this Ale one I bought)

https://www.alecycling.com/en/giubbino-invernale-s...

These tights proved to be warm and comfortable
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-flashlight-bib-tights/


A third layer makes me start to cook, I always wear a light fabric snood around my neck though. Even if I find myself a little too cold at the beginning of a ride, after 10 minutes and once the muscles have warmed up i'm fine.

Edited by oddball1313 on Tuesday 11th September 20:44

Edited by oddball1313 on Tuesday 11th September 20:47

[Gruffy]

Nothing will make a ride miserable quicker than cold feet or hands. Proper winter boots, decent gloves (that fit properly - not too tight), merino base layer and full mudguards are all a solid investment.

As mentioned above, focus on staying warm instead of dry. That means insulation and keeping the wind off. You will get wet no matter what you try but if you're warm it doesn't matter.