Cold Weather Riding (outside)

[Vantage]

Well believe it or not we don't all cycle alone, some of us even call in at cafe's and I am just stating a fact about Merino you are free to ignore it

I know. My group consists of anywhere between 10-20 riders. And we go to cafes!
No one's complained about any of us being stinky.

 

[slowmotion]

Merino is fine until you start sweating...….then it itches like crazy. I'd rather be comfortable in polyester and stink a bit.

 

[rogerzilla]

Cold hands and feet are usually a bigger problem than your core. Two pairs of gloves (e.g. silk liners) will stave the cold off a bit longer. Neoprene overshoes work really well.

Don't leave your water bottle on the bike if you stop and go into a cafe...the movement during riding keeps it liquid, but it gets supercooled and may quickly freeze when still. This happened to half the Beacon RCC club run on one cold ride years ago. Not that you'll need to replace much sweat when it's below freezing.

 

[simongt]

There’s no such thing as the wrong weather, just the wrong kit

A variation I believe, of an old Russian saying - 'There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes.'

 

[Heltor Chasca]

These look comfy.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

These look comfy.
View attachment 447067

They look like a pair of y fronts

 

[mangid]

Merino is fine until you start sweating...….then it itches like crazy. I'd rather be comfortable in polyester and stink a bit.

Never experienced that, and I sweat lots and wear Merino all year round (even on summer days).

 

[Heltor Chasca]

They look like a pair of y fronts

The devil is in the detail.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Never experienced that, and I sweat lots and wear Merino all year round (even on summer days).

Indeed I find merino ensures I don't get that cold wet feel against the skin that synthetics often end up doing.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

The devil is in the detail.

Is that a blue vein on the back of the hand?

 

[mjr]

Never experienced that, and I sweat lots and wear Merino all year round (even on summer days).

I've had that happen but it's still better than polyester which itches before you sweat. Cotton and bamboo are better and less sweat-making IMO. Just take care if cotton does get wet, as mentioned pages ago.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I really don't think exposed knees in really cold weather is a good idea since tendons do not receive direct blood supply like muscle tissue, the body cannot regulate their temperature as well. Like most elastic tissue, when it is colder, it loses elasticity, becoming more vulnerable to tearing at higher force

The question is of course how cold would it have to be for tendons to lose elasticity? Certainly bare knees are fine at anything above zero, and probably ok below. Since there are no studies on this we will just have to go by our own experiences I.e. Anecdote.

 

[rogerzilla]

My knees are clicky if they're not covered and it's below about 13 degrees C, at least for the first mile or so until they warm up a bit*. Given that knees are delicate things, I cover them if in doubt.

*technically I think the synovial fluid is getting where it should be

 

[andrew_s]

Cold hands and feet are usually a bigger problem than your core.

The core may not feel the cold, but it not being warm enough is a prime cause of cold hands and feet.
Insulate the core, and use the arms and legs to dump excess heat