Preventing wind chill on top

Surveyor11

If this winter is anything like the past few, windchill is going to be a big factor. I get miserable on the bike when I've been chilled down for several hours. My shoulders get sore (not positioning, as it's a winter thing only) and I generally get grumpy and fed up!

I have a Gore Bike Wear Thermo jersey (non-windstopper) that has served me well these past few winters. I use with either a merino base layer (cold spins), or a lowe alpine dryflo for the milder winter / autumn days. This combination has served me well over the past few winters, but the wind still becomes a factor on the coldest days. I picked up a gore windstopper baselayer for under the jersey to try an alleviate this.

Anyone any feedback on this combo? Other forums (fora?) seem to be mixed on the approach - either keeping the wind at bay from source i.e. outer layer windstopper and warmer baselayers, or using a winter jersey and a windstopper baselayer. Only time will tell I suppose, bring on the first frostly Sunday!

petethedrummer

Gilet

jimbo28

Newspaper. I have always found it to be excellent if you want to keep the wind off your chest and allow other areas to breathe.however as other poster says, a gillet is a good job too.

thebouldwhacker

what they said

Base layers etc work by trapping warm air by your skin. If you allow this air to be moved you will lose heat. For the trunk you can't beat a gitet

sy

+1 on newspaper. Absorbs the sweat too and can be easily removed if too warm.

Sauve

Don't forget to keep your head warm with a decent cap. Mightn't be an obvious one, but a lot of heat is lost through the noggin

Surveyor11

Thanks for the tips folks, have an endura beanie which keeps the grey matter nice and toasty. Have a gilet on order from wiggle - a DHB windproof, so should do the job

Sikpupi

Any good recommendations on a Skull Cap???

Also .. as an aside....!! Why do cyclists wear 'bandana's/headscarf' under their helmet. Are they 'cycling 'specific' i.e. a certain style and quality???

Sikky

Surveyor11

I wear a beanie in cold weather - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=18464. Keeps you nice and snug on top. Is cycle specific.

I use a neck gaiter (aka buff / choob) on the really cold mornings - has a number of functions, but handy for putting down neck and keeping chin / ears warm as well. http://buff.eu/en/ROM/products/-/c/H/s/A/f/105. In the summer it can be used as a bandana to keep the sweat off your forehead. No cycle specific, but handy. Also have a neck gaiter (fleece) that's for hiking, but is handy on the bike for those sub-zero mornings

Darkglasses

You even see plenty of professionals pulling out a newspaper to stick inside their jerseys on the descents, so it should be a good solution for what you want too.

In addition, I would suggest a snood. They get a bad rep as a fashion accessory, but I (and plenty of professional footballers) see their value for sporting use.

awec

I'm torn between a hat and snood or a balaclava. I wonder would a balaclava just make my face too warm seeing as I'd be breathing onto myself.

thebouldwhacker

Beanie, bala, buff and cap imho are all essential gear in the Irish spring/autum/summer/winter/ and the other seasons too.

Lumen

petethedrummer wrote: »

Gilet

It was about 7C this morning according to my Garmin.

On the way to work I passed (and was passed by) a dude wearing GAA shorts, a "wifebeater" muscle top and a sleeveless hi-vis "gilet".

That man wishes you would all HTFU.

Surveyor11

I completely wimped out this morning - took one look at the grass out the curtains and thought FROST:eek:. Roubaix longs, over shorts, jersey and my cheapo lidl gilet for good meaure. Was sweating like a preganant nun when I got to the office.....

smacl

That's the horrible balancing act. Too little gear you freeze. Too much gear, you sweat, the sweat cools down, and you freeze anyway. FWIW, I use the DHB long sleeved jacket for evenings and colder or wetter days, and the DHB gilet at other times. I find both great.

Surveyor11

Good stuff smacl, looking forward to getting my DHB gilet. The reviews sound very promising and good to hear some real life feedback.