Maelochs

I was noo able to afford really high-end gear back then .... and haven't researched enough now. I just did numerous layers and peeled/added frequently .... I am not even sure z"wicking" was a concept back then. For slow work, people recommended snow-machine suits .... but for anything requiring effort I just multiplied lo-tech layers. I never saw anything close to -40, though .... and I am glad.
There are some really hi-tech gloves, socks, and boot out here but I haven't found much that met all my needs ..... I was always sweating or freezing, and toes and fingers don't tolerate much .... I don't know of any specific syndrome I might have, unless "wimpy cold tolerance" is a disease .... but I can think of a few times when i seriously worried about frostbite, and it is not fun.

I guess that is why some people live up north, and some fled forever.

I have to say though ... the idea of crunching across snow on a fatbike---if properly equipped--is sort of tempting. I used to love cross-country skiing ....

Sorg67

Nothing is a waste of money if it makes you happy.

b88

Biggest waste is cycling specific clothing esp bib short, road jerseys, etc. U gain a few extra pounds and nothing fits anymore. I spent enough to purchase another expensive bike.

Now I just wear relaxed clothing, trail/commuting biking shorts/pants.

Koyote

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WhyFi

So maybe it's fair to say that, for you, the biggest waste is a bigger waist?

b88

You could say that too cos it also cost quite a bit of money to get that bigger waist. lol

seypat

Have money belts been mentioned yet?

Kapusta

I nominate pretty much anything from these folks, but the “Gravel” collection really stands out.

https://www.cafeducycliste.com/en_us/

Steel Charlie

The biggest waste of money is money not spent. If you don't use it then why bother getting it? And when you croak, someone else will spend what you didn't on really stupid stuff.

prj71

Or watch where you spend your money so you can invest it and retire earlier than most folks. I'm on track to retire at 55.

Eric F 

If you're doing relaxed riding, relaxed clothing makes sense. If you're riding at speeds where aerodynamics don't matter, relaxed clothing makes sense. If you don't mind clothing flapping about when you're riding at higher speeds, relaxed clothing makes sense. If what you're wearing is what you prefer, keep on keeping on.

However, be aware that not everyone has the same preferences, or wants the same results.

Over the last couple of years, my weight has fluctuated within a range of about 12 lbs. All of my cycling clothing has continued to fit me. Maybe you gained more than a "few extra pounds"?

Koyote

I wear Assos and Rapha jerseys and retired at 54.

So there.

prj71

Damn you!!! You must be a government worker!!!

Eric F 

Interesting that their "gravel" collection is a baggy t-shirt pattern. Meanwhile, the pointy end of the gravel racing flock is growing increasingly concerned with aerodynamics, including racers competing in skinsuits and running areo bars.

Branko D

The styling is... not my cup of tea. That said, the pricing... for the price of their baggy gravel shorts, I can get a race fit Castelli trisuit which is really top notch quality and, you know, aero and everything, and add a pair of socks on top 🤷
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Plus, it's Italian, with sizing which shamefully displays every excess kilo you've picked up on race photos.


Complementary belly rolls gratis 🤣

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WhyFi

More so than any other cycling apparel company (that I'm aware of), CdC is unabashedly fashion forward and selling an image/lifestyle, so value is going to be *highly* subjective. The last I looked, their gravel stuff tended towards lumberjack and gravel bro more so than those with a competitive bent. I'll cop to really liking their riding hoodie and those plaid lumberjack jersey/jacket things - if they were 1/3 of their asking price, I'd get either.

Eric F 

Valid. Likewise, a lot of "MTB" labeled clothing tends towards a free-ride/relaxed style, which fits with a segment of MTB riders. XC racers, however, tend to dress like roadies.

Charles Lathe

I have a bicycle that I’ve owned for thirteen years. I am very happy with it, but I keep switching parts around trying to make it perfect. I am probably wasting money seeking perfection, but the perfect bicycle would be pretty cool.

tomato coupe

Oh, it is. But, sometimes I feel bad being the only person with the perfect bicycle.

Koyote

Yeah. Oof. For almost exactly the same price as that fleecy flannel thing, you can get one of these, which is made of Pendleton wool.

WhyFi

My LBS carries Kitsbow and had a few of those on hand when I stopped by the other day. Nice, but wouldn't consider it unless it were on deep discount. Real deep.

Koyote

I swallowed hard before buying my first one (at your LBS - Angry Catfish), and ended up buying a second one about six months later. They're that good. But you really need only one, since they're built like brick you-know-what houses. I just wanted a different color, since I was wearing my first one about six days per week.

Koyote

My last new bike purchase was custom -- I even had the wheels built for it, and specified everything right down to the bar tape and spoke nipples. I wouldn't call it the "perfect bicycle," but it was fun.

Germany_chris

That website makes me gag a little

elcruxio

I was studying up north so really not much money for high end technical gear. However I managed to find some base and mid layers on sale that I use even today (you really want a decent chunk of nylon with your merino wool. Makes the garment last so much longer). Also my shell jacket is from time period and still looks unused (after probably thousands of hours outdoors).

I'd go as far as to say the gear back in the day was as "good" as it is today (polyester or nylon isn't new and wool's been around forever) but with the caveats of less availability, less knowledge of how synthetics work and with wool less comfort. Merino doesn't itch. That wasn't widespread however. Regular wool works just as well but it's not something you wanted directly against your skin.

I believe the significant advancements have been in outer shells. Especially knit nylon shells are a far cry of the old smooth unbreathable polyester shells of yore. On top of that rain shells are massively improved from what was available a few decades ago.

Staying warm and dry in the cold outdoors has never been easier.