Winter Riding Clothes

[Chris Helwig]

A few clients have asked about what type of clothing to buy for riding in cold weather. Here is a list from bottom to top, feel free to add your comments.

Booties - Thick full neoprene winter booties. Keeps the wet off your feet and keeps them fairly warm

Hand Warmers - Shake these up and tape them to the outside of your shoes, under your booties. Just booties are good up to about -3, the hand warmers taped to the toes keeps your feet warm to much colder

Winter Riding Tights - A good pair of winter riding tights is important. You want them fairly thick and well lined with windproof on the front. If you are cheap like me two pairs of thinner tights also works. I wear shorts/leg warmers with another pair of spring tights over top.

Riding Jacket - With an unlimited budget a good cycling specific riding jacket is nice. Buy one that is fairly warm, but that you can adjust by wearing extra layers underneath. In a pinch a running jacket or old gortex jacket will do.

Winter Gloves - Warm riding gloves are important. The warmer the better. In a pinch ski gloves will work.

Neck Cover - You need to keep your neck warm. Get a neck cover or wear a turtle neck underneath.

Winter Hat - You need a thin winter toque that will fit under your helmet. Most shops sell them and also most running stores.

There is a list to get started. Feel free to add your comments.

[Graydon]

For me, ventilation and breathability are paramount. Any significant accumulation of sweat on cold winter days can be very uncomfortable at best and downright dangerous at worst.

Unfortunately, you have to balance ventilation (air getting out) with wind protection (air getting in). I find the products that work best are ones such as pants and jackets with a windblocking front and a soft, breathable rear. The test I use in the store, is that I put my mouth up to the material and blow through it. If there is any significant amount of resistance, it's not going to breath well enough for my liking. There are some new fleece materials out there now that are fantastic. They have a lycra component so they fit well, they are incredibly breathable, and have a waterproof coating that works great.

A good "gauge" I use of whether I am well dressed, is that when I step outside the door and for the first 10-15 minutes of the ride, I like to be a bit cold. That means as I start to warm-up, and as the pace picks up, I will get to the perfect temperature and not overheat.

I like to wear old MTB shoes in the winter, that have lots of room and allow me to wear thick socks. If its really cold, I have two pairs of neoprene booties, one larger than the other, that I can wear over top of each other. For gloves, the "lobster" style gloves work great... keep you warm like mittens, but still let you work the brakes and shifters.

[Brownie]

The best thing I've ever used and pronlonged my training rides in extreme cold temperatures by at least a couple hours are garbage bags as your first layer of clothing. It acts exactly like a wetsuit. When you sweat,it creates a warm condensation in the bags, which keeps you warm. Also, wear latex gloves under your riding gloves so that the sweat gathers in your gloves and keeps your fingers warm, just like a wet suit. the same can be done with your feet, except put grocery bags on your feet first and then put socks on over top.

[2nd2fignon]

The general idea of retarding heat transfer is to create a barrier with:
- a low rate of radiation
- low heat conductivity
- low heat capacitance.

Home insulation and clothing generally accomplish this by immobilizing a layer of air (that's what the fibreglass does in your house and what layers of clothing do). To this end, you would probably do better to put the grocery bags over your shoes and under your booties. This eliminates the mass transfer of heat (cold wet stuff touching your skin) and immmobilizes air. In fact, this is exactly what I do. Sure you look like a total 'ace' with 'Valuemart' labeled plastic sticking out around your pedals but hey, it beats freezing your feet off.

Regarding this topic I received the best piece of advice 25 yrs ago: 'once your feet and hands get cold, they're not ever going to warm up until you get inside a warm place'. You want to work toward making sure this doesn't happen.

On a funny note, do you remember how shoulder pads used to be snazzy in the 80s for women's clothing? My mother hated them in her suit jackets so I snagged them and stuffed them in my shorts as an 'athletic support' against the cold. Very functional, and also cheap.

Here's a better approach to dealing with the elements in the winter ... go ride in: Arizona, San Diego, or Mallorca. The extent of your clothing dillema will be whether to take arm warmers (unless you're going up Mt. Palomar, it gets cold up there! If you do go up Palomar, you can commiserate the fact that you'll probably be going at half the speed of Andy Hampsten's record climb time, LOL!).

[Brownie]

Basically, layering of clothes or wearing clothes that breathe are fine for riding in temperatures not exceeding -13 degrees. However, when riding in temperatures upwards from -13 to -24 degrees, my method works better than anything. At those temperatures anything that breathes just lets all your heat out and allows the cold in quicker than you can mount your bike. The gathering of sweat in your latex gloves, in your bags on your feet, and the condensation that gathers on the inside of the bags over chest area, arms and legs is the difference from being frostbitten or actually being very warm (The sweat is your saviour). Of course you still ride with a couple layers on, but it sure cuts down on expenses and the thickness of all the clothing you would normally have to put on.
Trust me on this one, I've tried them all and nothing works better than the garbage bags, as my pre-season training consists of riding outside in the winter in North Bay. I know cold and I know how to ride upwards to three hours in -24 degree temperatures.

[2nd2fignon]

Here's an even better training tip: 1:18AM dude! Get some sleep.

The natural: EPO, renin, angiotensin I, angiotensin II cycle requires sleep. Compredes?

[Brownie]

meh, what do you expect, I'm a university student who can stay up late and sleep in.

[Chris Helwig]

Wanted to bring this thread back up as an FYI for those wanting to ride outdoors this winter. Post any tips or questions here.

[Bermuda]

I agree with with the breathability approach. It's the reason why materials like GoreTex were invented. Smart layering with some technical base layers and a good coat will keep you dry and warm. They are expensive, but they will last eons. Ever watch Survivor Man? Try telling him to wear trash bags in the Yukon! He panics at the sheer thought of sweat and mositure in the cold.

I am sure the Brown Dawg trash bag method works, and it does have the benefit of being available at Wallmart and such places, but if the funds are there, plastic can't replace materials like Wool and Gore. You can also walk into place like Starbucks and enjoy a Mocha without being treated like a homeless man.

As for the footwear. Ask the bossman for a FAT bonus to get your self Heated Insoles by Sidi. 5-6 hours are continous comfortable (no annoying pouch right under your foot) heat. MSRP $299, but Chris has a good influence on our prices...

[Chris Helwig]

As much as some fancy heating insoles would be cool, the handwarmers on top of the shoes works pretty well. You shake up the handwarme and electrical tape it to the ouside of the shoe over the toes. Then put the booties on over top. No annoying foot warmers under the feet. They work for at least 4 hours.

[Bermuda]

Hurry and Win the lotto! Heated Soles are just that much 'cooler'. Or hotter... Either way they keep your feet warm!

[Brownie]

as one who has slept out in the woods in the middle of winter here in north bay on a pile spruce branches wearing a typical snowsuit several times I am well aware that perspiration equals expiration.
However, The difference between sweating while surviving outside in the bush and sweating on the bike is sleep. When you work up a sweat surviving and then stop sweating from not doing any work or trying to sleep your sweat will freeze and you will die.
I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I never sleep while im riding nor do I ever stop moving, thus the constant moving always ensures you are sweating and therefore a build up sweat in your garbage bags will never freeze and will always stay a comfortable temperature from your body heat.
It works on the exact same principle as a cold suit or a wet suit.

[Graydon]

Folks, HDPE is the new black.

http://www.uneasysilence.com/wp-content/walmartgreeterbig.jpg http://www.style.com/slideshows/fashionshows/S2007RTW/PUGH/RUNWAY/00070m.jpg

[Brownie]

ahha that's what I'm talking about.

So that's how you professor's you use you're Nip email. ahha just kiddin

[SIBO]

Hey Brownie..... Went out today for a couple of hours -5 ish and sunny. Tried the grocery bags inside the shoes over 1 pair of socks and one pair over the bags. booties over top of that. No warmers. after 1.5 the toes started to get cold but not bad. Wore windproof underwear ( 10.00 MEC ) over cycling shorts with full tights and windproof front tights over them. One longsleeve underarmour , CC cycling Jacket and clear rain coat over that. All was great . The breathing layers wicked all the moisture to the rainjacket and it looked like a greenhouse. body was warm and dry though.
Cant wait to try -15 around Fanshawe Pk.
Whats the coldest its been up there so far???
Sibo

[Brownie]

few nights ago around 2 am it was -27, windchill factor made it -32. not bad but we are just getting started

[SIBO]

Well Brownie if you keep going outside in the Walmart bag and baseball hat that you are wearing in that pic of you Graydon took , who knows what kind of shape you will be in by spring......... I dont think the OCA lets wheelchairs in the races......
Ride Hard and Stay Sweaty..... Nice motto you now have Brownie....

[Brownie]

haahahha oh man, I just burst out laughing quite loudly in the middle of the library because of that comment, luckily I'm a bit of a stud here and the ladies love the sound of my laugh. They call me "The Pillar of Manhood"

[Suprvedov]

Brownie-you make me laugh. "Pilar of Manhood"? That's funny. Good thing I'm at home and not the library.

[the Superstar]

Have you ever been in a library?

[Chris Helwig]

In addition to the hot packs on the feet another new winter riding and running trick I have been trying is Vaseline on the face. Keeps the face warm, but not as constrictive as a belaclava. A little messy to clean up, but a minor inconvenience.

[Chris Helwig]

Bringing this thread back to the main page for some good winter tips on how to dress and stay warm.

[Leo]

A word of advice - if you buy a pair of winter riding boots with new cleats, pedals, and then put in an insulating footbed be sure to check your seat height as you will surely have to raise it as I discovered yesterday on the donut ride. While my feet were nice and toasty, my quads cramped badly as I didn't bother to adjust my seat height. The combination of a different shoe, sole, cleat, and pedal will make quite a difference which I found out the hard way!

[wheel]

Here's how I stay warm cycling in the winter:
http://www.lemondfitness.com/images/products/150-large.jpg

I'm a bit of a chicken. Haven't biked outside since about the end of September :).

[Jackattack]

A word of advice - if you buy a pair of winter riding boots with new cleats, pedals, and then put in an insulating footbed be sure to check your seat height as you will surely have to raise it as I discovered yesterday on the donut ride. While my feet were nice and toasty, my quads cramped badly as I didn't bother to adjust my seat height. The combination of a different shoe, sole, cleat, and pedal will make quite a difference which I found out the hard way!

I noticed that my seat was too low before I left for my ride yesteday and I had severe cramps in my thighs same as what Leo had. I just thought that it was because I hadn't riden much lately & my fitness wasn't good. I might be in great shape, all I need to do is raise my seat.

[Chris Helwig]

I noticed that my seat was too low before I left for my ride yesteday and I had severe cramps in my thighs same as what Leo had. I just thought that it was because I hadn't riden much lately & my fitness wasn't good. I might be in great shape, all I need to do is raise my seat.

I was pretty knackered on Sunday, so I was more than happy to slow down on Oxbow on the way home :D

[Bermuda]

The cold can definatly affect your legs. Seat height is important to adjust but the cold will also have an effect on your legs twitch.

I went to Australia relatively unprepared for colder weather. Who would have thought it got cold there?!

Anyways! The best prep I found for my legs to react as close as possible to normal temperatures was to use warming oils (combined with my knee warners). Especially important around your joints ie. your knees and hips. Keep those babies as warm as possible.

My use for the oils was more for racing applications but they ensured I didn't cause any injuries.

Different levels of warming are available, and your LBS can take care of any requests I am sure.

[SIBO]

Which brand of warming oil are you using Bermuda???????

[Chris Helwig]

I have some Freddy's Choice that I am using up, but I don't know if they make that anymore, I haven't seen it at the LBS.

[londonrider]

I have some Freddy's Choice that I am using up, but I don't know if they make that anymore, I haven't seen it at the LBS.

Pretty sure that "freddy's choice" has just changed names. It was/is made by Sports Balm (http://www.sportsbalmusa.com/)
You can but it from Village Cycle.

[Chris Helwig]

Pretty sure that "freddy's choice" has just changed names. It was/is made by Sports Balm (http://www.sportsbalmusa.com/)
You can but it from Village Cycle.

Cool, thanks Mark. Do you stock the Sports Balm line or is it special order?

[londonrider]

usually try to stock it.

[Tremblay]

http://www.roadbikerider.com/warmfeet.htm

[Bermuda]

Which brand of warming oil are you using Bermuda???????

Some German stuff that my Ozzie trainer/coach had. Worked awesome! Your bedside warming KY would prob do the stuff too!