shed

I live in the Bay Area, and my preferred cycling temperature is about 75F, but I want to do a bit more this winter.

Looking for a long sleeve shirt that provides some level of warmth and wind protection, but not too hot. It seems that long sleeve shirts seem to come in two options - too thin if temp drops to like 50-55, and too warm (designed more for freezing conditions).

Ideally don't want to spend much more than 50 bucks, but will spend more if it's good quality.

DiabloScott

There are some good breathable jackets that might fit the bill.

Otherwise, a performance T-shirt under a regular ss jersey plus good arm warmers gives lots of options to adjust.

crn3371

You might consider pairing the too thin shirt with a wind vest.

August West

+1 for Diablo.

I use a thermal compression shirt under my normal short sleeve jerseys. For this season I purchased some off of Amazon and only had a couple of rides in the 50°s so far but they do the job for me and aren't expensive. I like them better than the very cheap long sleeve workout shirts I've worn in the past. I run hot anyway and do a bunch of climbing so they are more than enough. On the really cool days I carry a light, compressible wind jacket for the discents since I'm usually soaked from climbing. And if you get too warm with thermal base layer you can always stop, take it off and stow in in your jersey pocket.

Men's Thermal Long Sleeve Compression Shirts

Steve B.

I like Diablo's idea of the tee under a jersey. I have arm warmers, hardly use them as I'm still too chilled with just one layer on under short sleeved jersey.

BobbyG

I wear a short sleeve jersey with a long sleeve wind-breaker. If I warm up and I'm on my rackless old roadbike I roll up the jacket and bungee it under the seat.

Mojo31

I have a light jacket with zip off sleeves. Great over a long or short sleeve jersey depending on the temp. Sleeves roll up tight and fit easily in a back pocket.

bruce19

In my experience there are a lot of good jerseys. I happen to love Assos and Castellin.

2cam16

On cold days like these, I usually wear Under Armor turtlenecks with a jersey over it and if I'm really cold (which I usually am) a jacket over both. The UA I have for cold weather is good enough for me but like I said, I hate the cold so it might be too warm an undershirt for you.

Iride01 

Arm warmers. That way you can pull them down when you feel too hot. Then if you get too cool you can yank them back up. All without stopping. Sometimes I'll wear a short sleeve undershirt beneath my jersey. I was given an inexpensive pair of wool arm warmers from Giro that I really like.

But as temps go from the mid 40's and lower, I'll have a cycling jacket and even a balaclava on. Substitute leg for arm in my first couple sentences and you'll get the idea for legs too.

John E

I like my windbreaker, which is a vest with a clever magnet-attached sleeve-overshoulder assembly.

caloso

For those temperatures, I typically wear armwarmers and a windvest.

philbob57

Depends on your sensitivity to cold. A 76, I like warm weather. At 60, I wear a baselayer, Performance or Pearl Izumi LS cycling jersey, a Co-op thermal jersey. At 55 I add a windbreaker, which carried me down to 50 last year.

TakingMyTime

I really can't take the cold at all. If it get's below 50 I start layering up bigtime. I've tried to efficiently layer my clothing buy whatever combination I try never seems to work. I always have to go with multi-layering with a Columbia windbreaker. I've just resigned my cold weather cycling to my fitness bike which has a rear rack and extra large trunk bag. I'm able to either shed or add to what I have on and store the rest in the trunk bag. If I'm out and it's anywhere near the 40's I can feel the cold air blow through the seams on my long fingered gloves. This year I'm going to get some kind of glove liners to enhance their warmth.

Wilbur Bud

I use the lightest version of longsleeve smartwool with zip neck. The wool doesn't feel as hot when it's a bit too warm and it feels good and warm when things are cold, no matter you've sweated through it or not, plus the wool doesn't skunk up like the synthetics, even if you only wash it every tenth time out.

Lemond1985

What they wore BIDT (circa 1900?) near Sacramento, California. These guys were either not big fans of the sun, or dressed modestly. Can't figure out which, but whatever the reason, it evidently worked for them.

KJ43

My Castelli thermal jerseys are great for temps 60 and down. I wear a wicking base layer (that I wear when its really hot too), and carry a Gore vest that I usually slap on for descents or windy portions of the ride and I'm good to a bit below 50 degrees F. I know Castelli is past the OPs $50 mark by quite a bit.

I've did pick up a Peal Izumi Quest Thermal jersey for about 70 bucks the other day and it's definitely a good option. I highly recommend getting a good Gilet (vest) that you can carry in your back pockets for more versatility.

I'm in the Bay Area too and most of my rides are in the hills between Cupertino to Redwood City.

Steve B.

I tried Diablos idea of short sleeve performance tee under a bike jersey, it works great. I now have a use for my arm warmers.

Classtime 

Go with arm warmers and a vest. I remember this stuff being expensive when I started riding more in more varied weather and only buying things that were very very versatile. Over the years, through gifts and hand-me-downs, I have some long sleeve jerseys and such and on a long ride where either my effort or the temperature rises, I wish I only had armwarmers to slide down to cool off a bit instead of being stuck with the long sleeve jersey. After the armwarmers and vest, get a good cycling windbreaker. Then knee warmers.

Ogsarg

I've found that layering is the only way to go in Norcal in the winter. Baselayer, Jersey, jacket, and wind vest (as needed) to start and remove as needed when/if it warms up. All items should be the type that can roll up and fit easily in a jersey pocket.

bruce19

I also use a short sleeve base layer under jerseys. One is a perfed Summer and the other a Fall/Winter. Both Assos. Works well.

Steelman54 

45 to 65 F is a big temperature range. I also seem to feel the cold more

65 F - short sleeve jersey with maybe arm warmers and shorts
55 F - base layer and good thermal long sleeve jersey, Castelli has some that work well for me.
45 F - depending on dampness, could be short sleeve jersey or just base layer and cycling jacket (bought a nice Giordana last year, money well spent) or long sleeve jersey, base layer and jacket. Again depends on dampness.

Tights for low 60's and below. You will have to spend some $$ for the right stuff.

DiabloScott

Yesterday at 11C it was just barely enough.

zacster

In the Bay area you have to contend with changing weather during your ride more than anywhere else. You can start in the sun by the wharf, hit the cold fog in Golden Gate park, ride through it over the bridge and then hit the warm sun again in Marin. And then back. I only had a 3/4 sleeve jersey and shorts with me when I rented a bike there, a good road bike. I was somewhat cold half the day but persevered, and used it as a lesson on how to dress here in NYC. Temps ranged from about 72 in the sun, down into the low 60s in the cold fog but bearable. Now I will ride in short sleeves down to around 65, especially if it is still early and will warm up, whereas I always used to put the extra layer on but then never take it off because I had no easy way to carry it. Colder than 55 I put the jacket on.

jleeg

My short answer is to study the sites of cycle clothing purveyors and buy what covers your likely temperature and weather conditions. Most outfits cover a wide range. Don’t fear layering as modern stuff is ultra thin and can likely fit in a jersey pocket. My longer rambling answer follows if you care...

Having returned to cycling after a long hiatus, I’ve studied and purchased new clothing. I’m impressed with how tight, thin and functional modern cycling clothing is. I followed a tip from this site to Pactimo, a purveyor of good cycle wear with what I found to have helpful descriptions and loads of reviews. At first I couldn’t believe these micro thin garments could possibly shed cool, cold, wet... My first purchases were illuminating and I’m a convert to modern cycle specific wear.

Mind you, I’m an old climber who’s been on rock walls in 90 degrees and icey night-time perches in minus 35 in days when wicking wear was wool, angora if you had some bucks, and I still have the first iterations of goretex and fleece (looks and smells like a yak). So, I could cobble an ensemble of functional gear on the cheap that will work well...but being fortunate enough and willing to spend for stuff designed specifically for riding in various weather/temperatures isn’t a bad thing. With layering, it won’t take much to cover a huge range.