Colder weather riding clothing
#51
Full Member
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Albuquerque NM USA
Posts: 492
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 222 Post(s)
Liked 304 Times
in
194 Posts
Trying to figure out what to wear in cold weather is such a PITA. But the real problem for me is sweating. My skin can be truly ice cold, but I'm still sweating. I'm pretty sure how much I sweat is a function of my core temp only. Makes no difference if my skin is damn near frozen. I'll sweat.
So, really there's no way I can end a ride without being pretty wet. All the fancy Goretex breathable BS, helps a small bit. but doesn't really solve the issue. To stay dry, you need airflow, but it's this same airflow that exposes you to cold air. I need some amount of wind blocking to stay warm enough, but this also means the sweat doesn't get dried off all that well.
Of course, something that is non-breathable like a typical nylon windbreaker is like being in a sauna. So, while not perfect, the fancy breathable stuff is much better than the alternative.
In general what works best for me is a merino wool base layer, a good thermal jersey, and a wind blocking, but breathable vest. The wool layer holds a lot of moisture before getting wet. Very much better than any synthetics, and I tried a lot of those.
I use a Castelli Perfetto Ros vest. Love the thing.
If it's colder, say below 40 F, or cloudy, then I wear a Castelli Alpha Ros light jacket. This wind blocks on the front surfaces, including sleeves, but is much more open on the backs of the sleeves and the back of the jacket. Works well, if not perfect.
While I see some guys out riding in summer kit when it's in the 40's, my thing is below 60 F, I'm wearing fleece lined bib tights. Below 50 F, I'm wearing double tights. This means bibs tights with chamois, with another pair of tights (not bib no chamois) over those.
Below 50 F, I also wear winter riding boots (I use SPD MTB cleats). I've used shoe covers, but these are such PITA to get on and off, the boots keep it simple. They block wind, are water proof, though where I live and when I ride, that's not needed. A single pair of thick wool socks and I'm good.
For gloves I love, love my Gorewear M-Gore gloves. These are wind blocking on the front, yet pretty breathable everywhere else. For whatever reason my hands sweat a lot, and these are still only damp when I finish a ride. I've had others where I literally can wring sweat out of them. And my hands are cold. The M-Gore have worked well in all the temps I ride in. Which is down into the 30's F range.
As needed I wear thick or thin skull caps, use neck gaiters. I always carry a lightweight, packable wind jacket just in case I get colder than expected.
So, really there's no way I can end a ride without being pretty wet. All the fancy Goretex breathable BS, helps a small bit. but doesn't really solve the issue. To stay dry, you need airflow, but it's this same airflow that exposes you to cold air. I need some amount of wind blocking to stay warm enough, but this also means the sweat doesn't get dried off all that well.
Of course, something that is non-breathable like a typical nylon windbreaker is like being in a sauna. So, while not perfect, the fancy breathable stuff is much better than the alternative.
In general what works best for me is a merino wool base layer, a good thermal jersey, and a wind blocking, but breathable vest. The wool layer holds a lot of moisture before getting wet. Very much better than any synthetics, and I tried a lot of those.
I use a Castelli Perfetto Ros vest. Love the thing.
If it's colder, say below 40 F, or cloudy, then I wear a Castelli Alpha Ros light jacket. This wind blocks on the front surfaces, including sleeves, but is much more open on the backs of the sleeves and the back of the jacket. Works well, if not perfect.
While I see some guys out riding in summer kit when it's in the 40's, my thing is below 60 F, I'm wearing fleece lined bib tights. Below 50 F, I'm wearing double tights. This means bibs tights with chamois, with another pair of tights (not bib no chamois) over those.
Below 50 F, I also wear winter riding boots (I use SPD MTB cleats). I've used shoe covers, but these are such PITA to get on and off, the boots keep it simple. They block wind, are water proof, though where I live and when I ride, that's not needed. A single pair of thick wool socks and I'm good.
For gloves I love, love my Gorewear M-Gore gloves. These are wind blocking on the front, yet pretty breathable everywhere else. For whatever reason my hands sweat a lot, and these are still only damp when I finish a ride. I've had others where I literally can wring sweat out of them. And my hands are cold. The M-Gore have worked well in all the temps I ride in. Which is down into the 30's F range.
As needed I wear thick or thin skull caps, use neck gaiters. I always carry a lightweight, packable wind jacket just in case I get colder than expected.
Likes For Mtracer:
#52
Newbie
Below 60*F I wear: (link removed because I'm still a noob and can't post links)
1. Available in 5 sizes so hopefully everyone can find a pair that fits.
2. Ultrafit 4 way stretch fleece keeps hands cozy.
3. Silicone dots on fingers and palms provide decent grip, better than bare hands, especially when damp.
4. Sensatec fingertips for index fingers and thumbs to fiddle with Strava and other apps on iPhone.
5. Can be machine washed in cold water with rest of cycling apparel.
But these gloves may not be grippy enough if you only brake with the tips of your index fingers; I use both my index and my middle fingers.
1. Available in 5 sizes so hopefully everyone can find a pair that fits.
2. Ultrafit 4 way stretch fleece keeps hands cozy.
3. Silicone dots on fingers and palms provide decent grip, better than bare hands, especially when damp.
4. Sensatec fingertips for index fingers and thumbs to fiddle with Strava and other apps on iPhone.
5. Can be machine washed in cold water with rest of cycling apparel.
But these gloves may not be grippy enough if you only brake with the tips of your index fingers; I use both my index and my middle fingers.
This is exactly right. Also, keep in mind that it is unrealistic to be 100% at all times in chilly/cold weather. About the best you hope for is being a a bit warmer than you'd like on climbs, a bit colder than you'd like on descents, and about right on flat terrain. And the newspaper tip is a good one. It has gooten me down several long cold descents.
Likes For 2Mins2Midnight:
#53
Just Pedaling
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: US West Coast
Posts: 1,014
Bikes: YEP!
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 334 Post(s)
Liked 522 Times
in
348 Posts
I have a question just slightly off-topic. When riding in the rain and wearing glasses or goggles, how do you deal with the constant blurring or fogging?
#54
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 2,352
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 680 Post(s)
Liked 949 Times
in
556 Posts
this is how I deal with it invested in these puppies.
#55
Just Pedaling
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: US West Coast
Posts: 1,014
Bikes: YEP!
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 334 Post(s)
Liked 522 Times
in
348 Posts
a bill on your helmet does wonders. it will keep most of the rain from going behind your glasses. since using a bill it get a lot less of it. the anti fog spays may help but you have to apply them before a ride. but you need ot keep the rain fro, getting on the other side of your glasses.
this is how I deal with it invested in these puppies.
this is how I deal with it invested in these puppies.
#56
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 2,352
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 680 Post(s)
Liked 949 Times
in
556 Posts
But then do you find you need to wipe them occasionally? The rain doesn't get behind my glasses, but when it runs down the front I have a hard time seeing and find I'm constantly swiping them with a finger or the back of my glove which only helps marginally. I've used defogging sprays and liquids such as Cat Crap with very limited success and then they wipe off if I stop and use a paper towel on them. Because I use a strap to secure my glasses which is under my head gear it becomes a real pain to remove everything just to clean my glasses and have them distort again in a few minutes of riding. I know, I should just suck it up like a buttercup and quit my whining, but it not only gets frustrating, at night it gets downright dangerous.0
Last edited by fooferdoggie; 01-20-24 at 08:02 PM.
Likes For fooferdoggie:
#57
Just Pedaling
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: US West Coast
Posts: 1,014
Bikes: YEP!
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 334 Post(s)
Liked 522 Times
in
348 Posts
The roads I am familiar with. It's the people in the cars that I don't know that have me concerned haha. Sitting here thinking about it, I'm beginning to believe that my main concern is with my situational awareness and how it's being impacted. My hearing is already impaired and I use a helmet mounted mirror to compensate. I need to figure out how to compensate for the blurred vision. Heads on swivels maybe.
#58
old newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Posts: 864
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 541 Post(s)
Liked 359 Times
in
182 Posts
But then do you find you need to wipe them occasionally? The rain doesn't get behind my glasses, but when it runs down the front I have a hard time seeing and find I'm constantly swiping them with a finger or the back of my glove which only helps marginally. I've used defogging sprays and liquids such as Cat Crap with very limited success and then they wipe off if I stop and use a paper towel on them. Because I use a strap to secure my glasses which is under my head gear it becomes a real pain to remove everything just to clean my glasses and have them distort again in a few minutes of riding. I know, I should just suck it up like a buttercup and quit my whining, but it not only gets frustrating, at night it gets downright dangerous.0
#59
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 2,352
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 680 Post(s)
Liked 949 Times
in
556 Posts
The roads I am familiar with. It's the people in the cars that I don't know that have me concerned haha. Sitting here thinking about it, I'm beginning to believe that my main concern is with my situational awareness and how it's being impacted. My hearing is already impaired and I use a helmet mounted mirror to compensate. I need to figure out how to compensate for the blurred vision. Heads on swivels maybe.
Likes For fooferdoggie:
#61
Full Member
Likes For John Valuk:
#62
old newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Posts: 864
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 541 Post(s)
Liked 359 Times
in
182 Posts
At least under some conditions, Sven Can See helps me with fogging.
When I scuba dive I have to defog my mask. There are commercial products for this but wiping the inside with a small amount of baby shampoo works very well. I have never tried it on glasses but it should work on goggles.
Likes For pepperbelly:
Likes For SpedFast:
Likes For fooferdoggie:
#68
Just Pedaling
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: US West Coast
Posts: 1,014
Bikes: YEP!
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 334 Post(s)
Liked 522 Times
in
348 Posts
I had a couple of dry days so didn't get the opportunity until tonight when I decided a night ride after the games was in order. It wasn't raining, just super thick Londonistic fog that floated in off the ocean. At 50°F it not only fogged up my glasses, but the condensation on them was bad and the Rainex was no help. I had to resort to a piece of tissue paper to keep swiping over them and occasionally stopping to swipe both sides of the glass just to see. Still a great ride.
Likes For SpedFast:
#69
old newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Posts: 864
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 541 Post(s)
Liked 359 Times
in
182 Posts
I had a couple of dry days so didn't get the opportunity until tonight when I decided a night ride after the games was in order. It wasn't raining, just super thick Londonistic fog that floated in off the ocean. At 50°F it not only fogged up my glasses, but the condensation on them was bad and the Rainex was no help. I had to resort to a piece of tissue paper to keep swiping over them and occasionally stopping to swipe both sides of the glass just to see. Still a great ride.
Likes For SpedFast:
#72
Method to My Madness
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 3,664
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata GRX
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1949 Post(s)
Liked 1,473 Times
in
1,020 Posts
#73
Just Pedaling
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: US West Coast
Posts: 1,014
Bikes: YEP!
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 334 Post(s)
Liked 522 Times
in
348 Posts
I should add, it's microfiber and soft so it doesn't scratch and really soaks up moisture,
Likes For SpedFast: