scouserinlondon
Senior Member
- Location
- streatham, London
It's that time of year again when a day or two of rain makes us realise that the nights will soon draw in and we'll be in full on winter mode. This is my third year of winter commuting and I made quite a few kit mistakes before I got to the kit list I now have. Last year I commuted all winter other than the really snowy days.
Here's my budget kitlist - feel free to add to it as most people here have many more winters under their belts than I do.
Head & Face - I have a baseball cap to keep rain water off my specs and a couple of buffs I picked up in TK Maxx. The buffs are great, you can wear them as a beany or cover your face like a rioter. They can go under your helmet straps and you can even wear two.
Body - I have a montaine featherlite velo for light showers and wind, and an Altura night vision softshell for really cold days. I've given up finding a waterproof that doesn't make me sweat so I just get wet and wear quick drying fabrics. Under that I either wear a lidl longsleeve top, or if it's really cold a longsleeve top with a shortsleeve summer jersey over the top. Even in freezing temperatures I was always warm enough in this combo. The winter cycling kit is in lidl this week, go buy some.
legs. I bought some Sports Direct padded longs which I wear under baggy shorts.
Feet - lidl cycling socks over Trek SPD shoes. This year I'm going to give shoe covers a go, any tips?
Rucksack - a friend bought me a dayglo flashing pack cover last week so I'm rather looking forward to giving that a go.
Gloves - I have some specialised thin mountain biking gloves, I tried on some thicker Altura winter gloves but I worry about grip on the bars.
The bike - I keep my 25mm Bonty all weathers one, I'm thinking about Marathon plus this year but will see how I go. I've also fitted my SKS clip on guards which have just enough clearence on my trek pilot....
Lights - I've got a Hope 1 and blackburn flea on the bars with a fenix ld20 on my helmet. On the back I've got a cateye ld600 and a 1watt smart. Plus the flashy rucksack cover. Powerwise the whole lot is powered by hybrid batteries which I try to keep half charged over the summer.
That kit list got me throgh the last two winters and other than a altura jacket (the other one is falling apart after two winters), I'm ready for anything. I may try some bib longs this winter but only if i find a bargain.
Here's my budget kitlist - feel free to add to it as most people here have many more winters under their belts than I do.
Head & Face - I have a baseball cap to keep rain water off my specs and a couple of buffs I picked up in TK Maxx. The buffs are great, you can wear them as a beany or cover your face like a rioter. They can go under your helmet straps and you can even wear two.
Body - I have a montaine featherlite velo for light showers and wind, and an Altura night vision softshell for really cold days. I've given up finding a waterproof that doesn't make me sweat so I just get wet and wear quick drying fabrics. Under that I either wear a lidl longsleeve top, or if it's really cold a longsleeve top with a shortsleeve summer jersey over the top. Even in freezing temperatures I was always warm enough in this combo. The winter cycling kit is in lidl this week, go buy some.
legs. I bought some Sports Direct padded longs which I wear under baggy shorts.
Feet - lidl cycling socks over Trek SPD shoes. This year I'm going to give shoe covers a go, any tips?
Rucksack - a friend bought me a dayglo flashing pack cover last week so I'm rather looking forward to giving that a go.
Gloves - I have some specialised thin mountain biking gloves, I tried on some thicker Altura winter gloves but I worry about grip on the bars.
The bike - I keep my 25mm Bonty all weathers one, I'm thinking about Marathon plus this year but will see how I go. I've also fitted my SKS clip on guards which have just enough clearence on my trek pilot....
Lights - I've got a Hope 1 and blackburn flea on the bars with a fenix ld20 on my helmet. On the back I've got a cateye ld600 and a 1watt smart. Plus the flashy rucksack cover. Powerwise the whole lot is powered by hybrid batteries which I try to keep half charged over the summer.
That kit list got me throgh the last two winters and other than a altura jacket (the other one is falling apart after two winters), I'm ready for anything. I may try some bib longs this winter but only if i find a bargain.
