Mark Stone

That sounds like a good idea. Do you have a particular brand of sandals you use? Are you on platform pedals?

truman

I'm about in line with this but a few degrees warmer, because I'm a cold-sissy Texican. Today in the mid 30's I'm sporting a midweight Smartwool longsleeve baselayer under a Pearl Izumi Vagabond II windbreaker, Novara Headwinds pants, midweight wool socks, my midweight Adidas gloves (a little too warm today) & smartwool beanie. Subtract 10 degrees F and I'll add silk or polypro long johns, silk sock liners and sub a smartwool Buff with the beanie for nose neck, ears and head. Go low 20's and I put on the softshell jacket and some kind of windbreak in my shoes.

Any colder and I still dress the same, but knock a couple miles off with a shorter route.

I have a pair of Sealskinz neoprene socks, size large. I tried them for one cold season and a tour, both in shoes and sandals, that didn't give me the foot comfort I wanted. If somebody here wants them, I'll sell them for half of retail.

scroca

I've got Teva sandals. I didn't know you could get sandals for clipless pedals or I would have looked into that I suppose.

My pedals are platform pedals with the type of strapless toe cages like they have on police bikes -- pretty sturdy but you can't really pull up on them much. Since I ride a fixed gear I wanted to feel assured that my feet won't slip off the pedals on steep descents when you get to spinning crazy.

During the recent snowy/icy/slushy days I've been riding with my feet on the platforms so as to get a foot out quicker when necessary. Too slow to worry about foot retention anyway.

longhaulblue

I've been curious about neoprene socks. Think I will give it try. I find that my hands start off really cold but by mile 6 or 7, I am starting to sweat and my hands start to warm up. I think the slight elevation in humidity in my gloves plus the body heat is what causes my hands to warm up. At least that's my theory. My feet are dry and they don't start to freeze until about the same time my hands warm up. I'm hoping the neoprene socks will help here.

It was 31F this morning with 20mph wind gusts. Windchill was 19F. I wore 2 lightweight poly base layers, a raincoat and a el cheapo Performance cycling jacket on top of it. Mostly for the visibility. It's neither wind or water proof. The raincoat is my wind proof layer. I wear poly long bottoms and a rain pants over it. Again for the wind protection. You can get inexpensive rain gear and they work well against the wind. Seems to me that if you can keep the wind out, your body will generate all the heat you need.

I have a pair of Novarra cycling gloves, the lobster variety. I got them on sale after last year's winter riding. Last winter I bought a cheap pair of mitts from Walmart. They are really warm but they are short and a bit too tight to work the brakes. My Novarras are long and have an elegant cinch around mid-forearm. I usually supplement them with liners. I have thin ones and thicker army issue wool ones for colder temps.

It wasnt cold enough to wear winter shoes so I wore 2 pairs of sock liners and my Keen's hiking boots. I have thick wool socks but my Keens are too tight with them on. I wear a fleece beanie. But today I think I should have done the balaclava. The wind chill was quite brutal.

This is pretty much my 30-40F outfit. Above 40F I wear shorts and just a single base layer plus my 2 jackets, of course. When it's in teens to low 20s, then I switch to one base layer with a 200 weight fleece. I'm looking for a 100-weight fleece but they are hard to find.

Feet are my only unsolved problem for cold weather commutes.

agent pombero

In order of layers. Top:

1) Icebreaker, 150g/m^2 bodyfit long sleeve crew, 100% merino wool, as my very first layer.
2) A lightweight and thin long sleeve cotton t-shirt.
3) Icebreaker, 260g/m^2 bodyfit long sleeve hoodie, 100% merino wool
4) Endura photon jacket. This jacket has lasted me 3 seasons and is just now beginning to wear out. There are certain spots on the arms that water is able to get through, getting layer #3 slightly damp, but never soggy wet. I think I want to replace this jacket with a Shower Pass, but I'm not sure which model.
5) Cycling cap if temps are above 40F/beanie under 40F, under the helmet.
6) Endura waterproof and windproof gloves

Bottom layers:

1) Icebreaker 260g^m^2 leggings, 100% merino wool
2) The pants of whatever I'm wearing that day over that, usually jeans.
3) Rain pants
4) Merino wool socks


For any cold weather I highly recommend quality merino wool !!!!!! It is absolutely amazing!!

devianb

Below 40 heavy jacket, hat, and thick gloves. Single digits or lower I will add fleece jacket, extra socks, scarf or balaclava if it is windy.

scoatw

FYI, Keen has a clipless model and I think Shimano may have one too. I wear non-clipless Keen sandals w/socks down to about 25f then I switch over to the boots. Nothing like riding in summer barefoot and sandals.

armsofandes

27f is about -2 c, so thats pretty cold. When I did the inca trail, i remember it being around that temperature at night. I layered in thin cotton tank tops with alpaca base layer, then mid layer, jacket and scarf. My bottoms 3 layers of leggings (i wasn't prepared for that part) and two thick socks. My feet were freezing but I managed to stay warm

PaulH

Normal office clothing. Throw on my hooded Gor-tex coat and ski gloves. Hop on bike and go. Takes maybe 30 seconds. Below 20 or in snow, I'll put on my overpants and Neos overshoes. You guys make winter cycling too complicated.

parkbrav

I've been winter biking for three winters now. I wear two different sets of gloves depending on the temps. Heavy gloves below 32, light gloves above 32. I wear goggles if the temps are 15F or below because my eyelids start freezing shut.

rumrunn6

looking forward to summer ride prep w/o all the winter stuff

grahamtillotson

Answering this question from lovely Chicago!

• Under Armor base shirt
• Merino wool (medium) after that
• Water/wind *resistant* jacket (that still breathes)
• Cycling shorts
• Running pants (with tight cuffs on the ankles)
• Wool hiking socks
• Light/stretchy balaclava
• Wool glove-mittens (the ones on Amazon for $12 that can expose the fingers)
• Light hiking shoes (don't clip in -- tons of stoplights on the route)
• Optional -- rain shell in case the heavens open (keep this in my pannier)

The trick for me has always been finding a setup that breathes. Can't stand stuff like my hands getting swampy in mittens that hold too much heat.

Graham

grahamtillotson

Envious of the pannier. Mine is in the "just slightly too small for winter" category.

Graham

ThermionicScott 

I miss some of the folks who posted earlier in this thread. Wonder if they still ride, or just got tired of discussing bike stuff.

On topic: I'm in the "pull up the blanket and get back to sleep" camp at 5am.

mstateglfr 

I rode into work this morning and it was 28-30 during my ride.
I pack clothes for work because i dont want to feel salty at best and smel run by at worst. Quick shower and change- I'm refreshed and ready for work.

i cant imagine riding 16mi in work clothes and think that's better than simply bringing them along to change into.

clearly everyone is different.

Tundra_Man 

Less than 5 miles and no moisture I'll wear my work clothes under my jacket and (if cold enough) cycling pants. More than 5 miles and I get too sweaty, even during sub-zero temps. My work location varies so some days I'll have work clothes on under my gear and other days I'll wear more exercise appropriate clothing.

Gresp15C

This week has been typical of the season -- just below freezing in the morning, up into the 40s in the afternoon. I'm wearing a fleece with a thin windproof shell over it, cross country ski pants over my regular work pants, a thin beanie under my helmet, lightweight fleece gloves. In the afternoon, I tie the pants and shell to my rack. My ride is 4 miles each way. Below 20 F, I begin to wear progressively warmer gear.

Next week, probably less stuff.

Archwhorides 

+1, these comments are spot-on for me. A good windproof jacket and wind-resistant pants make a huge difference. I prefer lightweight merino as my base layer in all conditions, so IMO the OP is on the right track on that score.

RidingMatthew

on my head i wear my planet wind paneled hat under my 661 dirt lid helmet aka my winter helmet.
i wear an under layer maybe my short sleeve wool jersey under my endure windchill jacket. I put on my criss crossed reflective vest for added visibility.
I wear bib shorts under my sugoi wind paneled bib tights.
I sometimes double up socks or sometimes put a piece of Walmart bag over my toes and one pair of socks. I then put my neoprene over shoes over what ever i decide.
on my hands i wear my planet x lobster gloves. (they are worth every penny of the $12 i paid for them years ago)