cold weather clothing

[Johnno260]

Brill.. everything else is much of a muchness. Just depends on your budget for jackets etc. Enjoy!!

OK Cheers matey, jacket I am leaning towards the Endura, as I have some of their other gear and it hasn't let me down yet. also the LBS is an Endura stockist and I have vouchers, I just want to be very visible I see to many people wearing drab dark colours while cycling this time of year.

Also soooo many people with no lid on, wtf is that all about I would never go out lidless.

 

[JD42]

OK Cheers matey, jacket I am leaning towards the Endura, as I have some of their other gear and it hasn't let me down yet. also the LBS is an Endura stockist and I have vouchers, I just want to be very visible I see to many people wearing drab dark colours while cycling this time of year.

Also soooo many people with no lid on, wtf is that all about I would never go out lidless.

I like endura kit... as for lids. Each to their own I suppose... I personally would never go out without one.

 

[cyberknight]

I use unpadded bib tights over my normal summer shorts.

 

[lutonloony]

OK Cheers matey, jacket I am leaning towards the Endura, as I have some of their other gear and it hasn't let me down yet. also the LBS is an Endura stockist and I have vouchers, I just want to be very visible I see to many people wearing drab dark colours while cycling this time of year.

Also soooo many people with no lid on, wtf is that all about I would never go out lidless.

I guess if you see the drab colours they must work!!

 

[Johnno260]

I guess if you see the drab colours they must work!!

Hmmmm their choice, but this time of year I think it's a mistake, usually it's the same people wearing these clothes that don't have a lid so I am left to believe they just don't care.

I know making yourself as visible as possible is a waste if you come across a numpty, but to me you need to make the effort to try and make yourself seen.

May be I go over the top, I have a decent front light, my rear light is ok and I have a light on my bag, I also have light cuffs on my wrists and another on my upper arm, once I have a better hi vis jacket sorted there is little else I can do, may be it's a waste, but it makes me feel more secure.

 

[Apollonius]

Sadly, people get run down because drivers aren't looking, and I say this in the knowledge that a friend of mine was run down yesterday by a green sports car which didn't stop. (He is shaken but OK, but the bike is smashed.) Fully lit and visible. It makes no difference.

 

[Johnno260]

Sadly, people get run down because drivers aren't looking, and I say this in the knowledge that a friend of mine was run down yesterday by a green sports car which didn't stop. (He is shaken but OK, but the bike is smashed.) Fully lit and visible. It makes no difference.

oh crap least they're ok, is the bike covered under any insurance?

 

[Elybazza61]

Sadly, people get run down because drivers aren't looking, and I say this in the knowledge that a friend of mine was run down yesterday by a green sports car which didn't stop. (He is shaken but OK, but the bike is smashed.) Fully lit and visible. It makes no difference.

This I'm afraid.

I run an Exposure Strada and Cat-Eye Volt 300 with two auxillary lights on the fork legs and I still get peeps pulling out in front.

The back lights work though;as well as two on the seatpost(one flashing) i have two lights on the seat stays and I seem to get fewer close passes in the dark.

 

[steve292]

Don't get hung up about hi viz or a hat. If the twat who's driving isn't looking you could have a luminous iron man suit ,and it wont save you.

I find something with a bit of reflective material in it works, along with some half decent lights.
Layering is the key. Bibs for me, sportful or castelli,look in the sales. Merino long sleeve base layer, with a long sleeved jersey over. Windproof gilet over that
packable rain jacket in back pocket, cycling cap under helmet. i sometime use a buff if it's very cold, tremendously versatile piece of kit.. I wear a pair of winter boots(north wave Fahrenheit) with merino socks. Winter gloves. a good tip with the gloves is to buy some liner gloves to go under them, mountain warehouse do some nice one for about a fiver IIRC.
This might be a bit controversial, but most of my winter kit is black, or predominantly so, with reflective accent on the bits that move, arms, legs etc.
I've been a wildfowler all my life, and its movement that gets you seen generally, and solid blocks of colour( and black is a colour)
Thats just my opinion, and others may vary.

 

[Apollonius]

Lots to agree with in @steve292 's post above. If you look too much like a road mender, that is how you get treated too. the bits that move need to be most visible. I think research showed that pedal reflectors were the most effective, but those don't happen with modern bikes of a lightish sort. I use yellow shoe covers. Another vote for top quality kit. I just completed 40 miles or so in heavy rain. Altura Vapour jacket, Castelli jesrsey and Sportful rain-resist tights meant I had a great ride.

Movement gets you seen is so important.

 

[fatjel]

I wear Gore Bike Wear unpadded bib tights over summer bib shorts,
Gore Bike Wear windstopper jacket
Altura merino long sleeve base layer
Muddy fox jersey
Sealskinz gloves and socks
Trainers from tofs
Buff and a waterproof baseball cap under my helmet
Works for me even on long winter rides

 

[Lochen]

Nothing will stop the Dick who's concentrating on his/her phone. Be as bright as you like .......they're not looking.

Having said that. The highest visibility possible has a strong mitigating affect and stops the abuse offered to the darkly clad .

I wore black today. Two lights on the bike. Dusk as I arrived home. No issues, but I didn't feel confident or safe.

Shopping day tomorrow

Should I buy a helmet?

 

[Johnno260]

I went for the Endura Thermolite pro biblong padded and it's really nice, comfortable and warm, the thicker padding around the knees is really nice as well.

I went for the Endura Luminite II jacket as well, it makes me feel more secure, and the other half felt better with me being more illuminated.

Cheers for all the advise everyone.

 

[Globalti]

Don't get hung up about hi viz or a hat. If the twat who's driving isn't looking you could have a luminous iron man suit ,and it wont save you.
its movement that gets you seen generally, and solid blocks of colour( and black is a colour)
Thats just my opinion, and others may vary.

After 12 years of motorcycling and 28 years as a reborn cyclist I would agree with this, big solid blocks of colour are better than lots of colours and textures that break up your shape, no matter how bright. Look at dazzle pattern paint on WW11 warships. In good light conditions I don't believe black is any worse than flouro; the only time flouro has an advantage may be in poor light and then I'll have my lights on anyway.

Movement is crucial in atttracting the attention of dozy drivers; on seeing a driver waiting to emerge from a side road I shoulder check, cover the brakes and move steadily out towards to crown of the road so as to provide sideways movement that attracts their eye, the human eye being better at spotting a moving target than a slowly growing but apparently stationary target. Watch their wheels for movement because that's easier to spot from a changing perspective. Watch for misted-up windows, distracted drivers or drivers who aren't looking directly at you. Be ready to shout very loudly. Ride like you own the road, in the same way you would if driving a car but be courteous and don't hinder drivers unnecessarily. I always thank drivers who have hung back before overtaking.

 

[Johnno260]

After 12 years of motorcycling and 28 years as a reborn cyclist I would agree with this, big solid blocks of colour are better than lots of colours and textures that break up your shape, no matter how bright. Look at dazzle pattern paint on WW11 warships. In good light conditions I don't believe black is any worse than flouro; the only time flouro has an advantage may be in poor light and then I'll have my lights on anyway.

Movement is crucial in atttracting the attention of dozy drivers; on seeing a driver waiting to emerge from a side road I shoulder check, cover the brakes and move steadily out towards to crown of the road so as to provide sideways movement that attracts their eye, the human eye being better at spotting a moving target than a slowly growing but apparently stationary target. Watch their wheels for movement because that's easier to spot from a changing perspective. Watch for misted-up windows, distracted drivers or drivers who aren't looking directly at you. Be ready to shout very loudly. Ride like you own the road, in the same way you would if driving a car but be courteous and don't hinder drivers unnecessarily. I always thank drivers who have hung back before overtaking.

I made sure the biblongs I got had reflective chevrons on the backs of my calves to highlight movement.

Same with the jacket there is reflective material on the wrists and up the arms.

I tend to ride very defensively and assume the worst, if I don't think someone exiting a junctions looking I will pretty much slow down or stop, 9/10 people tend to just pull out, I even do this in my car now after a tool in a Porche didn't slow for a junction and almost broadsided my car, 911 vs a Fiesta I wonder who would've been more pissed! lol