I live in the Midwest and was wondering if anyone could give me a complete list of what I would need to dress in for colder weather riding? I have a trainer but would like to get out 1 x a week. If you have suggestions for brands or places with better value it would be helpful. Thanks
Try www.icebike.com for all your answers
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I’ll ride until it’s almost time for the snow to arrive, but usually switch over to my beater hybrid by then. Go to a x-country ski place. You’ll need to buy 1) thermal underwear 2) warm tights 3) thermal gloves 4)thermal socks 5) ear/head band that fits under your helmet 6) lightweight shell type jacket. You can also get winter “booties” that fit over your bike shoes from the LBS.
I ride all winter - down to about 10 degrees (F).
Trick one…get a scull cap (Pearl Izumi makes a nice one) you can use this to cover your whole face/head/ears. I wear that UNDER my thermal (Wool) cap.
Trick two…take an old helmet and remove all of the pads, Rock Lock and what ever from it. Leave just the shell and the straps. This will fit very well over a winter cap and not ride really high as the thickness of a wool cap will be about that of the pads you removed.
Trick three - Pearl Izumi Lobster gloves (or gloves like them). I like to wear Silk glove liners inside of them.
Four - get some wind proof tights…just wind proof on the front. Many brands are out.
Five - get a GOOD jacket. I have a few from Giordana that are awesome. It is shocking how warm they are with as light and thin as they are. If you get a deal that rocks but if not you can easily spend $200.00 on your jacket.
Six - DO NOT OVER DRESS!!! Nothing worse than overdressing, this will cause to much sweat and in the winter sweat means cold.
Seven - dont stop. Once you stop, you get cold - once you get cold you stay cold.
Also, I cant remember what brand they are but if you go to the hunting dept. of most redneck stores they sell these things that heat up when you open them - and they attach inside your shoes and will keep your feet warm for about 4 hours…I swear they are a life saver.
Every year on Jan 1 - I try to ride a century, rain, snow what ever…in Northern Illinois that is sometimes a challange but I like to start the year off so no matter what I can always claim that I had already ridden a century on any give day in the year. (you know how proud some people get with that dman century mark)