Cold Weather Riding

[Winger]

For Orange County...
In all of last year I never wore my leg warmers. Knee warmers were enough....and we were out there 2X a week for the entire winter.

C9 Clothing, sold @ Target is your friend. They sell long sleeved workout shirts/sweatshirts/base layers that won't break the bank. I also picked up a windbreaker off the sale rack for $12.

My suggestion for winter riding(mix & match depending on ride)...
Arm Warmers
Knee Warmers
Thicker socks (DeFeet Wool Blaze is what I use)
Booties
Base Layer undershirt
Long sleeved shirts
Wind Breaker
standard long fingered gloves
Thick long fingered gloves, windproof
Face Mask (or Beard)

[sdyeti]

Those are some expensive clothes!

Originally Posted by Evil Chocula

www.swobo.com

for sure.

[Evil Chocula]

Originally Posted by sdyeti

Those are some expensive clothes!

They last forever though. Merino wool keeps you warm when its cold, cool when it hot, still works when its wet, and repels bacteria so you only have to wash it once a month a so (it doesn't stink).

[sdyeti]

Oh, no doubt!

But I can buy two Patagonia capilene long sleeve, zip up underlayers for the price of one of the short sleeve swobo's

Originally Posted by Evil Chocula

They last forever though. Merino wool keeps you warm when its cold, cool when it hot, still works when its wet, and repels bacteria so you only have to wash it once a month a so (it doesn't stink).

[Evil Chocula]

Originally Posted by sdyeti

Oh, no doubt!

But I can buy two Patagonia capilene long sleeve, zip up underlayers for the price of one of the short sleeve swobo's

But you won't be anywhere near as cool. Whats more important to ya?

[MTBMaven]

Originally Posted by Von-Skipp

What do most roadies (mtn bikers too I guess) wear as a base layer under their jerseys?

I have recently learned the joy of windproof toe covers when road riding. No more numb toes. In CA you don't really need anything insulated just something to block the wind.

Get yourself the following:
Leg warmers (full or 3/4)
Arm warmers
Wind vest (hi viz color with mesh back, think very thin)
Full finger gloves
Wind shoe covers

You should be fine with that. It may be cold for the first 30 minutes or so but after that you will be glad your rear pockets aren't full of stuff.

Regarding synthetics versus wool. I have a closet full of synthetic base layers from REI and Patagucci. If I could to it again I would get all wool. I now have wool from Smart Wool, Icebreaker, and REI. Wool does cost more but you can find it on sale so that it doesn't cost that much more. Trust me it is the $hit. No static cling, no oder, better wicking. It does take longer to dry when washing but that is a fair trade off to me.

Regarding Under Armor, I hate the stuff. I own none of it so you have to take my comments with a grain of salt. I hate how they came onto the scene by use of marketing. The idea of wicking, non-cotton, synthetic base layers had been around for a decade or more when they started. Then all of a sudden Under Armor starts putting their stuff on football players and selling their products at Sportsmart and everything wakes up to the idea of synthetic clothing. I'm sure they make great stuff but I will never buy it for my own stupid reasons.

[Pain Freak]

[kanga]

I just found the link to the new merino wool riding gear from Bionicon. I'm not sure when it will be available in the U.S. but I'd expect early in the new year.

http://www.bionicon.com/standard.xml...000000000468eb

[Kritter]

What are the must haves? Heading up to bigbear next weekend for a couple days of riding and want to be warm.

[BrewMaster]

Thick gloves and a headband that covers your ears if you are not wearing a FF helmet. Some people like shoe covers too.

A good windbreaker will keep you from freezing in the downhill wind.

[lukewiens]

i am super curious about this too after freezin' my arse off at the hurkey 24.

i know hands and feet need a lot of attention as they are the furthest from the core. maybe something like these...

[genusmtbkr5]

Lots of info here: Cold Weather Riding

It can be found under the general section of under "sticky's" here:
Links to Stickys: Search here for General Info Stickys

Thread merged.

[Kritter]

thanks for the merge genus...my "cold weather gear" search turned up nada, hence the new thread