I am thinking of braving the weather soon and start doing my long rides (>2hrs) outdoors when the temp around 35+F and dry.
I got myself a cold weather jersey which I plan on wearing along with long cold weather bibs, shoe covers and gloves. Not sure what to expect and what things I need to take with me and watch out for. Hopefully I don’t have to worry much about ice since I am planning on doing these rides when it is above freezing and dry.
Do you usually ride in the cold and what do you do to stay warm?
The following is OK down to 25 degrees. Craft underwear, top and bottom, bib tights, winter cycling jacket, wool socks, toe covers, neoprene booties, Speacialized sub zero gloves, hat, and balaclava. Riding outside in the cold is way better than riding the trainer inside. Just know you will ride slower as you are all bundled up.
focus on the areas that get really cold…
feet- full shoe covers with a good pair of socks.
hands- two pairs of gloves ( change them out after 1:30 as the sweat builds up and then the winds hits it and that is why your hands can get really cold.
Head- nice beani
face-get a face cover-it may look dumb but is great when the temps drops below 30 or it is really windy out.
Standards- winter tights, wind proof jacket.
dont use too many layers on your upper body as it can actualy cause you to overheat after 2 hours.
The following is OK down to 25 degrees. Craft underwear, top and bottom, bib tights, winter cycling jacket, wool socks, toe covers, neoprene booties, Speacialized sub zero gloves, hat, and balaclava. Riding outside in the cold is way better than riding the trainer inside. Just know you will ride slower as you are all bundled up.
Wow…that is a whole lot of overkill, IMO.
@ 35*, I will wear a craft baselayer, LS Windstopper jersey, winter bib shorts, leg warmers. Also have winter riding shoes w/ Defeet Wool-e-ator socks. Good call on the Sub-Zero gloves…bought them this year and have been happy with them.
My experience is that most people WAY overdress and as a result, feel cold after about an hour 'cuz they are sweating too much. Good rule of thumb - if you are warm in the first 15 min of your ride, you are over-dressed. You should feel like it is chilly when you first get out. Once you warm up, you’ll be good to go.
Ahhh I wish I were that brave. As I’m riding my trainer from the warm comfort of my living room and looking out at the lake, I see quite a few people biking outside during the morning “rush hour”. Either on their way to work or maybe just out for a workout, but it is definitely inspiring to see! It’d be one thing if it was just cold, but we have a snowfall total of 73", potholes big enough to swallow a medium sized child, and ice EVERYWHERE.
Granted, you said you’re thinking 35° and dry, but still. I obviously don’t have any advice to give (other than ski goggles?) but kuddos to you for tackling winter riding!
I am thinking of braving the weather soon and start doing my long rides (>2hrs) outdoors when the temp around 35+F and dry.
I got myself a cold weather jersey which I plan on wearing along with long cold weather bibs, shoe covers and gloves. Not sure what to expect and what things I need to take with me and watch out for. Hopefully I don’t have to worry much about ice since I am planning on doing these rides when it is above freezing and dry.
Do you usually ride in the cold and what do you do to stay warm?
Thanks.
F-that. Riding outdoors isn’t serious enough to want to brave anything in temperatures that low. Good luck if you go through with it.
I agree with Power13 :). That is WAY overkill for 35oF. I ride all winter here and we hover around 0oC to +5oC as daytime highs.
Either bib tights or bib knickers.
Old road shoes with full booties (Castelli Pioggia 2 or something like that)… non-white socks you don’t care about.
Base layer (I wear Merino wool Icebreaker long sleeve stuff - usually a 260 weight, 320 weight at 0oC)
Some form of Microtex jacket (more concerned with windproof than waterproof).
Full finger gloves… if it is going to be pouring I’ll just wear snowboarding waterproof mitts.
Do not overdress… and if you are going to get wet, choose stuff that stays warm when soaked.
The key out here is your bike. Winter is wet, so don’t even try to ride without fenders… the fuller the fender the better.
Rode 2 hours today. +3oC… bizarre weather - had rain, sleet, snow, small pebbly hail and then sun…
Be prepared… and avoid flats… that’s when you get really cold.
My experience is that most people WAY overdress and as a result, feel cold after about an hour 'cuz they are sweating too much. Good rule of thumb - if you are warm in the first 15 min of your ride, you are over-dressed. You should feel like it is chilly when you first get out. Once you warm up, you’ll be good to go.
This rule applies to running in cold weather, but not cycling. You don’t warm up as much in cycling as you do running, so you don’t want to start cold. Unless you’re doing above LT intervals, you really won’t overhead much. Maybe it was just this way for me and all my friends, because we have lower body fat, but I almost never overheat on a ride, unless it is really sunny, or I’m doing some serious climbing.
Climbing/descending is one thing you really want to think about. You will be really warm going up and probably have to open things up, but you definitely want extra clothing (dry clothing) for the way down. I’m talking about long, CO-style descents, where you can really get chilled in lower temperatures.
Everyone has different levels of circulation and temperature thresholds. If more clothes works for someone, who are you to judge?
I’ve definitely had rides (even at 35 degrees) where my hands are just aching, in supposedly winter-style gloves. Banging them on the handlebars, shaking them, slowing down on the descent so the wind doesn’t make it negative degrees. Screaming in the shower because your feet are numb and the luke warm water hurts. Oh yeah, winter riding is the best!!!
This rule applies to running in cold weather, but not cycling. You don’t warm up as much in cycling as you do running, so you don’t want to start cold.
Really? Huh…and here I have been doing that for 20+ years, riding in the winter and it has always served me well.
Everyone has different levels of circulation and temperature thresholds. If more clothes works for someone, who are you to judge?
Who’s judging? I gave my opinion, one based on a lot of experience. I mean, the OP asked for opinions, right? IMO, that amount of clothes for 35* is overkill. But you are right…everyone has different thresholds. So given that, wouldn’t more opinions and input be better? The OP can then decide for himself what may or may not work for them.
I’ll also note that your 'dress code" will vary by your locale. People farther south tend to wear way more clothes than people here in Chicago for the same temperature. Hell, seems sarpin damn near rides nekkid when it gets above 0*C!!
I am thinking of braving the weather soon and start doing my long rides (>2hrs) outdoors when the temp around 35+F and dry.
I got myself a cold weather jersey which I plan on wearing along with long cold weather bibs, shoe covers and gloves. Not sure what to expect and what things I need to take with me and watch out for. Hopefully I don’t have to worry much about ice since I am planning on doing these rides when it is above freezing and dry.
Do you usually ride in the cold and what do you do to stay warm?
Thanks.
F-that. Riding outdoors isn’t serious enough to want to brave anything in temperatures that low. Good luck if you go through with it.
“That low” LOL 35F is +2C… I rode in 19F (-7C) today and didn’t need ski goggles…
People have provided some good ideas above, i will toss a couple ideas on top. I prefer the non bid tights without a pad, as they seem a bit warmer and if the crotch wears out i can still use them. I have some real thick craft windstoppers for the real bitter days in the teens. Wool is great next to your skin up top, i use a wool jersey, a plus is they dont get stinky. When its real cold i wear a big touring shell over top of my winter jacket. I have some leather chopper mitts that work better than any glove. Carhardt makes a fleece cap with ear flaps and built in baklava, its awesome.
For. Winter i use a single speed touring bikes with full fenders and added mudflaps a side spray protector i made for the front using a milk jug. I added flat bars to make riding with big mitts easier. I train all winterin 39 x 17 outside and use the rollers for harder riding. I use a blinkey light, mirror and huge saddlebag with extra tools and clothes. Im not very fashionable, but we ride 4 hrs on wet roads in the high teens, i could not do it without all my clothes and such. I really like the mirror in winter so i can see plows coming up behind, seems like a lot more people use rhe wide folding plows these days that take up the whole lane.
Ride with what you think works for a given temperature.
Assess and alter if needed.
3.Repeat 1 and 2 for several hundred rides.
Point taken.
I’m sure if I was from Arizona (dry and hot) I’d find what I wear too cold for riding in (rainy and wet) BC.
I have no problem with cold. I used to ride in -30oC with a few buddies in U.
I can’t however, handle heat (above +30oC) very well.
What would you wear cross country skiing? Take that outfit, and add a little extra to the upper body.
Seriously…you just gotta know when and where to ride. A lot will depend on how much snow has been or is on the ground, has it been melting, etc. You make your decision to ride based on a wjole lot of criteria.
Personally, 32F is my limit. Past that, I don;t feel like I get much from a ride outside vs. being inside. But around this time of year, I’ll bust out at 25 if it has been really cold and I have a severe case of cabin fever.
As sarpin noted, you gotta test and try a bunch of options and find out what works…'cuz it is a lot about trial and error.
35+F and dry is pretty much my limit, although I don’t
think I’ve ever done significantly longer than 2hrs in that
cold. My key setup is:
-) tights
-) cold weather jersey
-) good wind proof/water proof shell
-) toe covers+booties
-) good gloves (I like the ones with optional mitten pull-over)
-) balaclava
I also try to keep a much more constant effort than on
warm rides to avoid the pain of getting too hot, sweating
like crazy and then freezing on a decent. Perhaps that is a
sign that my gear setup isn’t good enough
Good luck. IMHO its a heck of a lot better than the trainer
if you can find a comfortable setup that works for you.
