First commute in bad weather

[kaillum]

Just wondering what everyone does in bad weather?

Always been a fine weather commuter up to now but after putting £80 worth of diesel in the car last month decided that enough is enough and I'm planning on keeping out of the car as much as possible.

I've got a high viz gillet that keeps the chill off when it's not too cold but how does everyone go on in the colder periods?

What's cheap and good?

 

[fossyant]

No such thing as bad weather. Bad clothing !

Winter then I use tops with better thermal/windproof properties. Have summer tops, then intermediate/winter, then a really brass monkey top.

I have tandard cycling waterproofs when chucking it down, overshoes and various gloves depending upon how cold it is.

 

[calibanzwei]

Cold: Dutch army half wool thermal under a t-shirt (fleece jacket if really cold/I'm going slow) and gloves.
Cold & Wet: As above, minus fleece with the addition of a pack-away rain jacket.
Always with shorts - I tend to run 'hot'!

 

[gavroche]

No such thing as bad weather. Bad clothing !

what country do you live in? The UK is well known for its bad / uncertain weather.
I always follow the same principle:
if the weather is clement, I ride my bike .
if rain,snow,ice or any other bad weather, I stick to the car. It is much safer, warmer, drier, more comfortable.
I am a 100% fair weather rider which minimises the risk of personal injuries.
To be fair, my car is my living so really , I have no choice.

 

[BSRU]

what country do you live in? The UK is well known for its bad / uncertain weather.
I always follow the same principle:
if the weather is clement, I ride my bike .
if rain,snow,ice or any other bad weather, I stick to the car. It is much safer, warmer, drier, more comfortable.
I am a 100% fair weather rider which minimises the risk of personal injuries.
To be fair, my car is my living so really , I have no choice.

I'm a fair weather cyclist, just my version of fair is very different to yours .
I cycled through the winter this year for the first time and it made me realise how mild it is in the U.K..
We do not have bad weather in the U.K. we do not have hurricanes, typhoons, monsoons, 6 months of a snowy winter with temperatures below -20 during the day and other real bad weather.

 

[skudupnorth]

Good clothing = no problem in any weather ! The rain today did not put me off for one second.....the morons in the tin box's who could not cope with the bad weather did cause me some issues

 

[gb155]

Getting soaked in shorts and a soft-shell today was actually quite liberating TBH

 

[fossyant]

Rain is only water. OK I've thought of trading in for a canoe the last day or two.

 

[Cubist]

Just wondering what everyone does in bad weather?

Always been a fine weather commuter up to now but after putting £80 worth of diesel in the car last month decided that enough is enough and I'm planning on keeping out of the car as much as possible.

I've got a high viz gillet that keeps the chill off when it's not too cold but how does everyone go on in the colder periods?

What's cheap and good?

Look out on this forum for the Aldi winter clothing event. They do some winter bibtights which are seriously good value, and last year they did a winter softshell that was really, really toasty, for 15 quid or so. The longsleeve winter shirt was the best shirt I have owned and still wear it on morning commutes now!

You're going to need a waterproof jacket. Decathlon do some good cheap waterproof tops.

 

[kaillum]

Cheers

Looks like I'll be in the market for a underwear rather than overwear. Makes more sense now I think about it.

Wasn't too bad on the way home. Bit wetter than this morning but didn't bother me much.

 

[straas]

I find the only really essential item is a good pair of windproof gloves, beyond that I've been fine through winter and rain.

If I had to think about which mode of transport to take in the morning I'd probably decide to get back to bed. The less decisions the better!

 

[Tynan]

it depends on your commute but on the coldest days I'll wear a warmer sock, overshoes, bib longs and a nightvision jacket over a base and LS top, that's invaribly too hot unles it's really cold and raining

that does of course rely on putting in some effort, but a few layers and a wind proof top surely is warm enough, wet is wet as long as you're still warm, if you get cold hands then money on gloves is worthwhile

and a buff is excellent value, perhaps a skull cap

 

[Evil Rabbit]

Personally, in this weather, I don't mind the rain except on my head (I use a cap under my helmet), my hands (some gloves) and my feet (waterproof socks).

Its OK, in some ways fun.

 

[cyberknight]

Look out on this forum for the Aldi winter clothing event. They do some winter bibtights which are seriously good value, and last year they did a winter softshell that was really, really toasty, for 15 quid or so. The longsleeve winter shirt was the best shirt I have owned and still wear it on morning commutes now!

You're going to need a waterproof jacket. Decathlon do some good cheap waterproof tops.

+1 on aldi , their compression long sleeve tops make great base layers, in mid winter i generally only need one of their base layers , ss jersey+ windproof on the top

On the legs i use ron hill bikesters with normal padded shorts underneath.

I have some neoprene overshoes + winter cycling gloves and free buffs from C+ giveaways.

That is normally enough for most of the winter, when it got really cold i added thermal socks, leg warmers under the bikesters and sometimes 2 base layers or a vest +armwarmers.

When it gets to spring/ autumn i use some running leggings over shorts , ss jersey+armwarmers + windproof so i can vary the layers i have .

This time of year it is SS jersey + shorts , i only carry a windproof inthe pannier just in case , glad i do as it was 7 degrees the other morning !

I have tried waterproofs but i boil in the bag so much that i just get wet inside so i would rather be a bit damp with a windproof than just wet with sweat.

For my legs i carry a pair of rainlegs that i can stick on if it is really bad , but this time of year i do not bother with them .

 

[kaillum]

Thanks all for suggestions. Lots to think about.

My 'commute' is only 4 miles each way, so not massive by any means but still far enough away to get wet!

Will be looking into a pair of gloves. Had a bloody stone fly up off the back wheels of a car this morning and hit my knuckle! That hurt!