Winter gear

fremont9

Well winter's coming, or hasn't really gone away, and I was wondering what sort of gear I should get to keep me freezing to death atop the dublin mountains. Do I need to splash out for bib tights or will a pair of leg warmers do the trick? Do I need to get a long sleeve jersey or will my thermal skins do the trick under my SS jersey?

goldencleric

fremont9 wrote: »

Well winter's coming, or hasn't really gone away, and I was wondering what sort of gear I should get to keep me freezing to death atop the dublin mountains. Do I need to splash out for bib tights or will a pair of leg warmers do the trick? Do I need to get a long sleeve jersey or will my thermal skins do the trick under my SS jersey?

All of the above unfortunately. Leg warmers will do for days like today and Autumn. Bib tights are a must for winter, I recommend fleece lined - you will be glad of them in December/ January. Heavy shoe covers, gloves, thermal base layer. The list goes on.

In the depths of winter thermals under a ss jersey won't suffice I would say. Better off getting a soft shell jacket or some other windbreaker to go over a long sleeve jersey.

Jawgap

Previous thread...

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056030803&page=23

Some discussion and even some useful bits of advice.

seamus

Bib tights are an absolute must for winter. Ideally with roubaix or superroubaix lining. They're not cheap but they allow you to ride in subzero conditions with sleet falling and you won't have to turn around and go home.

You need a winter jersey for proper cold winter days where the temps just about crawl up to 5C. These are thicker jerseys obviously with thermal lining. Wear these with a winter base layer and you're covered. You then only need to bring a light rain shell in wet conditions and you'll stay toasty warm.

You will find that normal long-sleeve jerseys are a little heavier than short-sleeve jerseys, so these can be worn with a base layer underneath well into November and you'll still be warm.

Glove-wise I have heavy winter gloves and I'll even use liners with them on really cold days. Shoe-wise I stick with the same shoes all year round and then wear more/heavier socks and overshoes when the temperatures start dropping.

As most people will tell you, layering is key. So multiple tops depending on the conditions rather than one really heavy jersey, etc. I also find this easier on the pocket too because you only have a single set of clothing which works for most conditions all year round. You just wear more or less layers for the day that's in it, rather than having your summer stuff, your autumn stuff, your winter stuff, your not-quite-winter-but-its-bloody-freezing stuff, etc.

That said, I consider tights to be the exception to this rule because I hate leg warmers so I can't do layering on the legs. I tend to just stick with bib tights a little bit longer than necessary, then change to shorts.

Beasty

seamus wrote: »

That said, I consider tights to be the exception to this rule because I hate leg warmers so I can't do layering on the legs. I tend to just stick with bib tights a little bit longer than necessary, then change to shorts.

You could just wear knickers ;)

Gavin

This thread makes me sad

insinkerator

I'd definitely go with bib tights. I have a pair of polaris ones that I picked up for ~€100 that didn't see me cold over the winter. I also have a Helly Hanson base layer, can't remember the line exactly, but they come in colour coded boxes and I have the thickest warmest one, and again, that has never seen me cold, and I wore a plain SS jersey over it.

Not mentioned yet, but I find them a lifesaver on cold mornings - a buff. http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-buff/

CillianL

I trained all winter with my club the Dublin Wheelers, so I would say

1.Bib tights aren't essential, (I didn't use them over the winter and I didn't die, shops want your money first and foremost), though legwarmers are.

2.Get a decent cycling jacket (different to a jersey) and wear one or two base layers underneath at most depending on the intensity of the training

3. Wear gloves

4.If you're training in the mountains beware of black ice. I had three crashes last winter going towards Bohernabreena, so if its cold enough for bad frost stick to the flats in the mornings and if you do hit the hills midday is the safest time to do so.

5. As regards winter tires, a lot of people use Gatorskins. They have outstanding puncture protection, but their grip is poor in frost and wet conditions.

6. If the grip conditions are very bad, lowering your tire pressure by around 30-45 PSI/2-3 Bar (assuming the pressure is 100-120 PSI) will improve road holding though obviously its best for short journeys and emergencys

Lashed

My birthday is coming up and I was intending to put in an order for bib tights. Can anybody give me a recommendation. Budget in the region of €100 with a small amount of leeway.

seamus

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-pace-superroubaix-windproof-padded-bib-tight/

Last year's winter stock, hence the great price. I had a pair of the normal roubaix bibs for the last two years and loved them, so bought these myself a couple of weeks back.

I've never had an issue with dhb clothing, most of my cothing is dhb and I love it.

Sizing can sometimes be quite tight, so you need to pay fairly close attention to it. For bibs, generally try to match your height, because that's where you'll notice poor sizing the most. It's only if you're way out of proportion (e.g. 5'11" and a 44" waist) that you'll experience problems.

awec

seamus wrote: »

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-pace-superroubaix-windproof-padded-bib-tight/

Last year's winter stock, hence the great price. I had a pair of the normal roubaix bibs for the last two years and loved them, so bought these myself a couple of weeks back.

I've never had an issue with dhb clothing, most of my cothing is dhb and I love it.

Sizing can sometimes be quite tight, so you need to pay fairly close attention to it. For bibs, generally try to match your height, because that's where you'll notice poor sizing the most. It's only if you're way out of proportion (e.g. 5'11" and a 44" waist) that you'll experience problems.

Or in my case, 6'3" and a 30" waist and 36" chest.

For those bibs by my height I'm an XXL, by all my other measurements I'm a small.

seamus

Even then, for bibs if you go too small, the problem is that the straps will dig into your shoulders. In your case the XXL may be a little loose around the waist but if you go for a small, they'll dig intolerably into your shoulders.

For upper body stuff like jerseys, you're more likely to get away with going by your chest or waist size - though arm length may be an issue. I'm sure it's something you've spent your whole life battling with.

awec

seamus wrote: »

Even then, for bibs if you go too small, the problem is that the straps will dig into your shoulders. In your case the XXL may be a little loose around the waist but if you go for a small, they'll dig intolerably into your shoulders.

For upper body stuff like jerseys, you're more likely to get away with going by your chest or waist size - though arm length may be an issue. I'm sure it's something you've spent your whole life battling with.

Yup!

For jersey's small does me but I only have short sleeve ones. Short sleeves on cycling jerseys seem to be pretty long though, which suits me well.

My bib shorts are a size medium and they fit ok. Different kettle of fish though for full leg tights that actually wrap under your feet.

Really wish there was a way to order bib tights / shorts by inputting your measurements.