Shamrock

Opened my delivered package today.Bought winter riding gear from nashbar.I found 1 hour to ride today to try them out.
The shoe covers kept my feet warm as toast.The gloves performed well keeping hands warm but they were slippery on the bars and hoods.They need some type of grip feature,not sure what to do.The baklava did its job on the head ears turkey neck and face.Im going to take awhile to get used to this piece.Covering my mouth seems awkward.Cool weather jacket blocked wind in the core.All I wore was a long sleeve tee shirt underneath at 44 degrees.I broke a small amount of sweat so I wouldn't want anything warmer.
Overall the winter cycling specific gear worked well.Working outside I have all kinds of winter clothes and usually come up with a mesh mosh of something.No need to anymore.Now if I can find a way to stop the laughs from the family members.

Myosmith

I've had my mouth covered in baklava before If you can find some ice fishing gloves (neoprene, very similar to wetsuit diving gloves) in one size too large, they make good outer gloves over liners in the winter and have great grip and decent dexterity. If you don't like your balaclava covering your mouth, you can pull most of them down under your chin leaving your face exposed. At 44 degrees, as long as your ears, neck and top of your head are warm, your face should be OK exposed. You can always pull it back up if you get cold. As an alternative, you can get neoprene face masks that leave the area under the nose open and have a vented area in front of the mouth. Less of your warm, moist breath gets trapped so they stay drier. You can even wear one under your balaclava by pulling the balaclava under your chin leaving the face mask to do its thing while providing lots of insulation for the rest of your head.

JanMM

If you're wearing a cotton long sleeve T then go look for some wicking polyester long sleeve T's. Much better at regulating temp.

qcpmsame 

Those are some good choices for winter kit, hope you enjoy them. I use a UA Cold Gear balaclava when its cold out, only pulling the face guard up to my lower lip. It work well there and I don't feel like I am having to draw to breath in and out. Pulled down as an open face when it is not cold enough for the jaw to be covered. Post some pics when you can.

Bill

Dave Cutter

I like the Underarmor skin tight shirts as a base layer... then the poly cycling jersey.
As a warm layer I use ether my foam-on-fabric cycling jersey-jacket with breathable panels, or a full length zippered polar fleece warm shirt.
Then (if it cold enough) my windbreaker rain jacket as an outer layer. I zip and unzip as my effort and prevailing winds and temperatures dictate.

I have tights... and also thermal tights. Sometimes I wear Arm and/or leg warmers if the weather isn't real cold..... or if it very cold I wear the warmers in addition to tights and the other clothing.

I have gloves... but that is my weak-link as far as keeping warm. I am not happy with the different gloves I've tried. When really cold I ride my mountain bike which is equipped with toe cages.... so I have great shoe options available and keeping my feet warm and dry isn't a problem.

In warm weather.... cycling is nearly a daily activity. But in the cold parts of my Midwestern winters... cycling is more of a treasured event. Not something I can do as often as I'd like to.

NVanHiker

You beat me to it.

Bikey Mikey

Mmmm, Baklava.

Hope the gear suits you well.

TiHabanero

Other than wicking polypro, look at merino wool long sleeve under the wind breaker. Doesn't stink beyond chicken s**t after using it. I use mine all winter without washing, never stinks.

Bikey Mikey

Wash it!--even if it doesn't stink.

Shamrock

Thanks for the tips.The baklava thing is funny.I have this new I pad from my wife as a Christmas present.Im still getting used to it.No matter what I did the spell check kept changing baklava to baklava.See what I mean.I can't spell the proper word for the black winter head piece for cycling.

TiHabanero

I have had the same wool sweater since 1986 and it has been washed once. One would think it would stink, but it does not. Even my clean freak wife doesn't complain, and believe me you, she would complain if it stunk! Magical for sure, but it works!

WC89

You owe it to yourself!
Worry not about the laughs. They'll get used to it.
Winter cycling gear is some great stuff!

Timtruro

I think its a balaclava. Just sayin'.
They work well and if you have the option of peeling the face mask down, all the better, bought one at Sports Authority a few yrs ago and it works well.