Dealing with the cold .

[Cuchilo]

I never said a skullcap was the answer to cold hands and feet! He perhaps needs better gloves and tootsie protection. However, if generally feeling the cold, it seems sensible to keep the head warm, especially as the op has gone from beanie to helmet, especially if follically challenged

Lets just say ive given up on having a hair style as the next one will be a comb over
Ive worked outside most of my working life and now in the workshop so its not like im used to warm office type conditions . The last time I was out was more than enough to keep my hands and feet warm but it didn't so I think the head not being covered is the answer .
If its not piddling down tomorrow I will take the van up to Richmond park with a wardrobe and change every lap

 

[mattobrien]

Much has already been said.

Personally I find keeping my body warm allows the rest of me to stay warm. I do find that finders do warm up after a while if I am not struggling to keep the rest of me warm.

Down to about 5 degrees I would wear a couple of base layers, one SS, one LS and then a Castelli Transparente Due Windproof LS jersey. If it is colder I would wear a base layer and Castelli Espresso Jacket.

Base layers, I wear a LS Icebreaker Merino wool LS and sometimes a Icebreaker SS too. Or a Castelli Iride LS or SS.

I have found that a single pair of socks is fine and I have not tight fitting shoes and a neoprene overshoe does me fine. I haven't had cold feet in a long time.

Gloves below 5 degrees I have some very warm Gore gloves, too warm for anything over 5 degrees. 5-10 degrees I wear a woollen liner glove and a Castelli lightness glove. 10-15 degrees, just the Castelli gloves.

I also have a headband to keep my ears warm.

The other thing that you can always push harder, I find that can help warm you up too

 

[jowwy]

Splash out on some winter boots for the feet and get some gore windshell thermal gloves for the hands and off you go.

Now before im slated, by the time you buy shoes, socks (thermal) overshoes and then numerous pairs of gloves, that comes to the same cost as what i've suggested to buy above.

 

[Cuchilo]

I cant push any harder or I would

 

[Cuchilo]

Having just bought some fancy pants overshoes that " just slip on " I think that's the warm up exercise sorted Getting them off is even harder

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

Take the wind chill off with breeze blockers. Makes the world of difference

http://www.breezeblockers.com

 

[jazzkat]

Lots of good advice already given, so I'll chuck my 2p worth in too.

My advice comes from years riding motorbikes, where there is no 'heat source' as such, and riding through many winters usually at stupid o'clock in the morning before the sun comes up on my pedal-bike.

As I understand it your bodies heat is concentrated 'in' the main organs of the body - presumably where the blood is! Your extremities, arms, legs and head act as radiators due to the relative lack of density and good blood supply. When the body is hot it allows a greater blood flow to the extremities cooling the whole body down as a consequence. Conversely when the body is too cold it brings the blood supply back into the body to maintain the core temperature in those previously mentioned organs. This has the effect of causing the hands and feet to get cold before the rest of the body.

I've found that the key to warm hands and feet (assuming good gloves/shoe covers/cap to keep the wind chill at bay) is to keep your body warm thus pushing the warm blood to the extremities. On my motorbike that would be lots of layers to trap the air in combined with a good wind-proof layer (leathers or waterproof). Cycling wise, the best things I bought for staying warm are a gillet and/or a good wind-proof. Combined with a base layer, jersey, shorts and longs I'm toasty even on the coldest of days.

Edit - just to add, a buff or other scarf also helps retain the heat as the blood passes through the vessels of the neck.

 

[Cuchilo]

Thanks for the replies and tips
Ive invested in some better gloves ( Chiba express ) and some Equipe over shoes . Those along with a windproof jacket and a buff under my helmet have kept the frozen digits at bay . Im doing all this and some where going around Richmond park today in shorts

 

[clockman]

Everybody is different and is effected by temperature/wind chill in different ways.
Personally, as long as I start with warm fingers and feet, I generally manage to keep them warm through a ride. Neoprene wind proof gloves, thermal socks with BBB overshoes.
I find that my abdomen gets cold. Obviously, this is my weak spot. I don't feel it when riding though, only once I've stopped. I find it takes a long time to warm up. This is even with merino base layer, jersey (either SS or LS), micro fleece and jacket.
I do know several people, that are not effected by the cold at all. They will cycle wearing not much more than they'd do in the summer. One of these friends would also ride a motorbike with only a T shirt under his jacket!
So, all I would advise is to find a clothing regime that works for you.