What to wear? (fair weather cyclist turning hardcore!)

[Saluki]

Which is strange when so many helmets are marketed on their ventilation


That should only happen if you suffer a head injury that a helmet would be expected to prevent... if you'll repost your claims in the helmet debate, I'll explain why the rest of them are disputed, but I felt the old compensation myth was worth correcting here.

OK, that's fair enough. I have not been brave enough to go into the helmet debate thread

Oh, meant to say to @gillian about gloves. On really cold days, I have thin silk gloves, from my motorbike days, that I wear under my sealskinz gloves. They really help. On not freezing days, just cool ones, I wear my running gloves under my fingerless cycling mitts and find that that does an adequate job of keeping my hands warm.
Sealskinz have had mixed reviews. Personally I have found them to be really good but once they let go, they are never as good. I have 2 pairs. One for cold and 'it's not going to rain' weather and another pair for cold and 'probably going to rain' weather.

 

[Dogtrousers]

My view is that for warmth you just need some warm clothes and common sense. These don't really need to be cycling specific. Just get them from an outdoor store, or indeed your wardrobe (that awful jumper your Aunty Mabel gave you for Christmas, it will keep you warm).

On your legs - a pair of light trousers. Maybe walking trousers or trackie bottoms. They may not be the most cycling-performance enhancing but they'll keep the chill off. Don't wear waterproof trousers unless it's really chucking it down with very cold rain. Even then, you will boil-in-the-bag (or at least I would, others differ)

Save your bike budget for good winter boots. Maybe cycling gloves with reflectives on and gel padding if you're used to gel-padded gloves.

 

[mjr]

Oh, meant to say to @gillian about gloves. On really cold days, I have thin silk gloves, from my motorbike days, that I wear under my sealskinz gloves.

Good tip. I wear my summer mitts in my sealskinz mittens when it's really cold. Mittens let your fingers warm each other up and also allow you to drop a reusable handwarmer in when you've had to take your mittens off for too long (fixing the bike or even just unlocking it sometimes). Handwarmers vary in heat produced - I've some lovely discontinued Trespass ones but the ones in the last Aldi ski sale were a bit rubbish.

EDIT: I should probably mention that mittens are a swine for getting caught in Rapidfires and I understand they also get stuck in brifters. I'm slowly converting my bikes to levers so it's not much of a concern but most people seem to like clicky-clickies.

 

[Dave7]

Just to throw a spanner in the works................unless I'm missing it you dont say what date in May. But May can be really warm. In which case padded shorts plus (possibly) lightwieght legging/runing type tights. etc.

 

[montroseloon]

Tesco has packs of hand warmers on special at the moment, I use them at sea if we are left outside too long in the winter

 

[gillian]

Just to throw a spanner in the works................unless I'm missing it you dont say what date in May. But May can be really warm. In which case padded shorts plus (possibly) lightwieght legging/runing type tights. etc.

I'm hoping May is warm and dry! It's the 'training' months before hand that are worrying me! If only you could buy motivation!

 

[gillian]

Thanks for the tips! I already do a lot of hillwalking so sounds like I could utilise some of that kit. Think mudguards are my first stop ... Then I won't have an excuse!

 

[T4tomo]

Mudguards definitely help. Neoprene shoe cover state a must to keep your feet warm and dry, or at least warm.
On legs I find it hard to recommend waterproof trousers, roubaix tights overs your normal padded shorts would be my choice.

 

[annedonnelly]

Gillian if the weather continues like today you'll not need winter stuff! I was too hot in my warm leggings today and I had to stop and take my buff off. The joys of UK weather - it was icy on Thursday.

 

[gillian]

Gillian if the weather continues like today you'll not need winter stuff! I was too hot in my warm leggings today and I had to stop and take my buff off. The joys of UK weather - it was icy on Thursday.

True! Really need kit for all possibilities! Oh dear, spending spree!

 

[vickster]

Plenty of deals out there on good kit. Look at Wiggle, CRC and Sigma sport, all have a decent range of women's kit and free returns via collect+

 

[Nibor]

+1 for Ron Hill Bikesters over padded shorts excellent.

 

[Widge]

I have had a lot of joy (ooer!) from non-cycling-specific base layers from 'OutDoor' type shops. I've picked up a couple of bargains at discount prices and the 'technical' properties have been just the ticket. a decent undershirt is money well spent. You can then layer yourself up with all sorts of dollar-dodging layers (I'm a big fan of Tenn, Aldi, Decathlon etc and you're good to go.

Good gloves are worth a guinea a box. Aldi do it for me....but SD or decathlon make some good ones. Ski gloves often work well. I eschew overly padded shorts/tights but this is purely personal. I get more uncomfortable from cheap padding than I do from none,,,and the saddle I am riding at the moment (A Selle SMP anatomic 'Extra' race saddle which has MORE than enough padding built in) means I can get away with wearing some classic RonHill tracksters which tick all the boxes for me.

I have a big laundry basket full of all sorts of budget-type cycling kit and can honestly say that I can pretty much put together a credible ensemble for any conditions and for less than the price of a single 'Rapha' jersey! But...there IS something to be said for having your trolleys hand-made by Paul Smith at £200 a pair? But i'm not of that ilk!!

YMMV

w

 

[Yorkyred]

Well I've just started in January so I recon the only way is up. I purchase a second hand Gore Bike wear thermal top and a soft shell jacket, 3/4 length cycle shorts, pair of fancy £80 gloves and I must say I feel great. The gloves are amazing.

 

[gillian]

Well I've just started in January so I recon the only way is up. I purchase a second hand Gore Bike wear thermal top and a soft shell jacket, 3/4 length cycle shorts, pair of fancy £80 gloves and I must say I feel great. The gloves are amazing.

Any decent second hand sites specific to bike gear that you know of?