snow_echo_NY

i've had lots of days riding in 65 degree weather. lots of days riding in 40 degree weather. but somehow i can't get it right, dressing for 55. i keep overdressing.

i live in NY. today i wore:
thin microfiber pants (too hot after 5-10 min of riding)
thin wool baselayer top (also too hot after 5-10 min of riding)
thin gloves
ankle socks
cycling shoes

my hands start out cold and then quickly overheat within 10-15 min of riding. i suppose i should shed those. i'm thinking i go back to short sleeves and arm warmers. for bottoms, switch back to shorts.

i should just be riding cold, right? or are there any other suggestions?

gregf83 

I just use arm warmers. Commuting to work lately the mornings are more in the 45 to 50 range and I'll wear my normal fingerless gloves, a wool baselayer (SS With arm warmers or LS) and a wind proof vest. I leave the vest off coming home and half the time forget it at work so some mornings I don't have it. I'm also wearing thicker wool socks these days.

Generally I target being cold for the first 15 min or so. On chilly mornings it sometimes takes me 30 min to get warm. There isn't a big downside to wearing an extra layer, you just sweat a little more.

Phil_gretz

@snow_echo_NY,

You've discovered the enigma temperature for riding. I try to think about my extremities when things cool off. So, warmer socks in my normal shoes. A kerchief tied over my head. Thin gloves.

Yesterday was that range, and I overdressed on the top, with a long sleeve wicking tech layer, and my convertible wind vest/sleeves over top. It was too warm, and I could've left the sleeves off.

So, greg's suggestion ^ about shorts and arm warmers would also have worked with a normal short sleeve jersey and wind vest. In fact, I'm going to try that tomorrow. PG

YogaKat

I'm not commuting, but I do my daily ride in the morning and it's been around those temps here when I head out.

I started with long leggings and a light jacket, but found that after I warmed up it was just too much.

What I've found to work for me is my bike shorts, knee socks, and a tank top covered up by a long sleeve light micro-fiber shirt.

(I'm cold natured by the way)

snow_echo_NY

ok i'm going to switch back to shorts and a short sleeve top with arm warmers. or super thin long sleeve top, no wool baselayer until below 50.

i found this, but they're in the south. they're 60 degree weather outfit sounds like what i should be using for 50 degree.
What to Wear in Various Weather | Road Bike Rider

thanks all for the suggestions so far~

YogaKat

Thanks for the helpful link. This will be my first winter after starting cycling.

kickstart

Thats the typical morning temperature in the Seattle area for a good part of the year.
Shorts, active wear short sleeve shirt, and my J&G jacket with all the vents open, and not zipped up all the way.

Tundra_Man 

I don't switch out of shorts until the temps hit the low 30s. I find I lose very little heat through my legs.

For low 50s I'll switch to a long sleeve shirt, full fingered cycle gloves and a headband to cover my ears. The headband is a little much and usually gets soaked in sweat.

Remember, dress so you're chilly when you start the ride. If you start out warm you'll be too hot a couple miles down the road. If you start out chilly you'll be about right.

BobbyG

50-55F is my favorite commuting temperature. I wear a light t-shirt and shorts. If it is wet or damp, I may wear a long-sleeve t-shirt. I use the "10-minute rule". I dress for how I will feel once I warm up. This works out well, even in the winter. Although I carry an extra layer in case I have to stop due to a flats or mechanical problems. Even in the summer on the morning ride in to the office it may be 10-degrees warmer when I arrive. Worst case scenario, I pull over, take off my jacket and stuff it in my bag and maybe switch to lighter gloves (which I carry). Takes less than a minute and I can often do it at a traffic light. (a kick-stand helps, although I don't have one on my road bike). Of course YMMV so experiment with what works for you. Personally, I find down to 32F it's more about covering skin rather than holding in heat. A few years ago I began putting thermometers on my bikes...the cheap $2 keychain type from the camping store which were hard to read. Then I switched to a $10 digital kitchen-window type for one bike and a $5 round mechanical thermometer for the other. With my new bike, I bought a speedometer/bike computer that had a built-in thermometer ~$18. I find the difference in temperature throughout my commute routes interesting.

wphamilton

I start out cold in that range (wearing the same as any summer day) and warm up after a few miles. But it takes me 2 or 3 miles to warm up, so if I was only going that distance total I'd have on arm warmers or long sleeve jersey, and light gloves. Or, that's a pretty good temperature to just wear street clothes at an easy pace.

SpikedLemon

For commuting at those temps: I'll wear jeans & underarmour long-sleeve. Depends on how I feel whether I wear an underarmour cold gear or the Walmart branded stuff (which is thicker than the heat-gear underarmour and has a mock turtleneck). My commute is about 45 minutes at a light pace (I don't want to show up sweaty) and I change my shirt when I get into the office.

When cycling around on the weekend: fleece lined bike kit (long sleeves & pants), gloves and, depending on my feet temp that morning, wool socks or low-cut socks. I'll sometimes put on an undershirt under the long sleeve jersey for added wind breaking.


I normally start our rather cool feeling but warm up within 5-10 minutes.

TenSpeedV2

Jersey
Arm warmers
Shorts
Regular riding gloves
Regular socks
Cycling shoes

That is what I wore home last night and it was 53° for my ride home. I was as close to being comfortable as possible.

fietsbob

A parka/anorak & the same Poly blend sweatpants as the rest of the year..

Fifty F is often the summer low and winter high temperature here.

double up sweatshirt under the hoodie under the parka and sweatpants as long johns..

cloudy means less heat loss in the night ,, today H 51, L 45... light rain..







.....

ItsJustMe

55 is still shorts and t shirt weather. 50 is where I toss on a compression top and some running shorts underneath. That takes me down to about 40, where I'll toss on a windbreaker layer.

no motor?

I wear a pair of REI Sahara pants that have zip off legs and a short sleeved shirt at 55, long sleeved at 50. I take both shirts with because I usually end up wearing something a little different on the way home.

GovernorSilver

Today was the first time I rode in under 60F weather - it was 52-54 F. Wore shorts, polyester t-shirt, socks, and (finally!) dry shoes, with Pearl Izumi Elite jacket on top. Turned out to be just right for me. The jacket was sufficient protection from the slightly chilly wind/breeze, yet vented enough so I only worked up a slight amount of sweat by the time I completed by 12-13 mile commute.

Took my backpack instead of a pannier. I don't think i would have sweated that much less without the backpack.

Steely Dan

for temps in that range, i just wear shorts and a t-shirt.

below 50 i throw on a long sleeve t-shirt and gloves.

below 40 i throw on a light jacket and heavier socks.

below 30 i throw on tights, ear protection, switch to boots, and double up on the gloves.

50 - 60 is what i consider ideal riding temps, no special clothes needed and very little sweating, unless i'm pushing unusually hard.

wu_osiris

Had this experience just this morning. I wear my biking shorts, nike dri-fit shorts over that. Under Armour long-sleeve and half-finger gloves. I'm warmed up by mile 2 or 3 and right near sweating before I arrive at work.

Leebo

Very thin running tights with mt bike shorts over. Thin wool long sleeve top ( Pantagonia rules) with a short sleeve shirt over it. Headband under helmet and gloves( always)

Andy_K 

From 50-60 degrees I wear shorts and a jersey or polyester T-shirt with a thin long sleeve jersey over top. The long sleeves have basically the same effect as arm warmers, but the extra torso layer provides a nice buffer against cold air without holding in too much heat.

1nterceptor

Depends on humidity/sun is out?/etc. But probably short sleeve jersey or tshirt and shorts.
Maybe arm and leg warmers + lite gloves that I can take off when I get warm from hills.
Sometimes the day may start in the 50's; and rise to the 60's towards the evening.

RidingMatthew

I wore bib tights over my bibshorts, jersey, and wool armwarmers. full finger gloves and wind vest. I was comfortable and did not stop to take the vest off. I did unzip some. 50F this morning. But I tend to be cold more often than a lot of the other riders in the commuting forum. I have the stuff so I am going with what makes me comfortable. I can always take off the vest or arm warmers if I want

I also take into account the humidity level and what the weather is supposed to be like at the end of the day.

chefisaac

You should be slightly cold when leaving your place. And what to wear is highly personal. For that weather, I can still go out in a jersey, shorts, bibs, gloves, Buff, socks, shoes, helmet. I might wear a thin winds breaker if needed.

RPK79

I wear the same thing as I do in the 90's for the 50's. If it dips below 50 I throw on arm warmers.

snow_echo_NY

ok you guys are the best. after reading everyone's responses, i'm gonna switch back to shorts (i've been bringing shorts with me to commute home, b/c the temps rise 10 degrees here for the afternoon ride, usually 65 when i go home - so i'll just wear them the entire time) and just use arm warmers. maybe switch out to thinner mesh gloves.

hoping i get this right tomorrow!