Staying warm on winter rides…

Apart from an ebike?

All the ebikers I see seem to be wrapped up really, really warm. I guess that's because they're not working so hard so don't build up any heat of their own. If that's the case then they're probably not sweating and it'll be the cooling sweat that's making you feel cold.

The actual answer is either to pedal slower, thereby not sweating, or wear less while riding and then make sure you've something warm and dry to put on when stopped.

I think that's completely normal to be honest.

You generate a lot of heat while riding, which means you can get away with a lot less clothing than you would otherwise. The second you stop you get very cold, very quickly.

Sweat will exacerbate it, so try and keep dry.

Other than that, I would suggested packing an insulated jacket.

Perhaps a flask of soup or coffee.Eat plenty of food also.I would just walk around the station or do some stretching (if not to embarrassing).
Or perhaps entertain one of the local ladies behind the station!😉

You mentioned that you wear as many layers as you can handle; does that mean you end up sweaty / damp when you arrive at the stations?

If so, the situation you describe is very similar to what I find on winter climbs, periods of activity where I'm producing lots of heat, followed by periods of being quite sedentary. If your layers are damp when you stop, you'll get cold quickly.

I'd recommend a very breathable set of base layers / cycling jerseys that are a comfortable temperature for riding in (ie you'll probably start cold), then a packable but very warm jacket such as a down jacket for the stops.

It's what I struggle with. No useful advice to offer I'm afraid. I have a ten mile commute. As soon as I sweat at all, I'm in for a whole day feeling damp and cold (no showers etc at my work). It is a real barrier to cycle commuting. I'm planning on the electric solution, just to reduce the sweat. I'll miss the exercise though.

I was experiencing similar recently and I swapped my base layer for an Endura BaaBaa blend one. Only tried it once but it was a marked improvement. I had base layer, jersey and GoreTex Infinum jacket on. Worked well at the coffee stop/puncture stop we had in the cold/sleety ride I did.

For extreme cold, sub-zero conditions avoiding the sweating-out of base layers is critical to staying warm. Wet base layers can chill and so it’s either a case of reducing your exercise intensity or reducing the number of layers whilst exercising and then layering up when not moving to stay warm. Swapping a damp base layer for a dry one can also make a big difference. Even at below -20C I’ve found myself wearing just a base layer and a soft shell jacket when cycling or pushing. I’ve also found that merino isn’t a good fabric for active wear in extreme conditions and that stuff like Polartec Alpha in a mid layer is superb for both keeping you dry and warm. Lycra is also rubbish in cold weather - shorts under leggings is clammier and colder that a good pair of padded winter tights.

Back to the OP’s situation, consider carrying a lightweight synthetic insulated gilet to wear whilst stopped and carrying stuff on your bike rather than a backpack stops a sweaty back, which chills and cools when you stop.

Back to the OP’s situation, consider carrying a lightweight synthetic insulated gilet to wear whilst stopped

Was going to be my suggestion.

For a 10-15min wait at stations, I'd suggest an insulated gilet and a bit of MTFU / burpees if you can bear to, Decathlon do one that packs small and is not much £  If it was longer and you had somewhere, stripping off the wet inner layer and replacing with dry for the stop, don't have to be expensive (decathlon technical tees would work here, or Sondico from Sports Direct), just so you don't have the wet next to your skin. But with 2 stops, unless you have somewhere to dry them a bit that's maybe 3 or 4 per run (still only a £20-odd investment)

3-4 mile cycling to work through London so plenty of stop, start at lights

Stopping at lights in London? All the car drivers I know have told me that doesn't happen ever.

Riklegge has it. Wear less cycling and put on a warm jacket for the stationary bits. If you're not going to be in the rain then a down one is ideal.

Like them this is a solution I arrived at winter climbing. I used to wear a heavy fleece or Buffalo type smock climbing but then when I stopped to belay I was a sweaty mess and even if I did put an insulated jacket on I got cold. Now I wear lighter layers climbing so I'm less sweaty and put on a warm belay jacket while standing around.

Yep, as said this is very much like a mountain situation. Add an extra layer for the pauses that can be quickly taken off and packed away for the periods of activity is the win here. Also.....as this does not feel like proper exercise you might have been tempted to put a normal cotton t shirt as your base layer. If that's the case, a switch to something more technical will make a big difference. Opinions are split but I find a merino base layer is perfect for both keeping warm and not stinking. Unfortunately this is just about the worst time of year for buying one at a sane price - buying when the ski boys have stopped stocking up for their 4 days of skiing a year and their stuff is in the sale is often the best time of year to buy good quality merino cheap...or you might strike lucky at TKmax.

Finally - maybe slow down just a touch on the bike. Knocking 20-30% off your effort will hugely reduce the peaks and troughs in your body temp but makes much less difference to your commute times than you'd think. Be more dutch.

10 miles each way all weathers here (except recovering from covid now).

I have bib longs, base layer then alternate the top - so zero or below it's a thermal softshell (front is windproof and it's layered). Slightly warmer it's a normal thinner softshell. Glove thickness changes by temperature, as does a buff around my neck.

What you want to do is pop on a waterproof / lightweight jacket when stopped/getting cool. then take off again when moving. My 10 miles isn't stop start enough (other than traffic lights).

Whilst I may not look 'cool', I have found my Pearl Izumi Amphib bib tights to be very good! Don't both with modesty shorts over the top and they're very comfy. Fleece lined, waterproof and boot gaitors - love them

Back to the OP’s situation, consider carrying a lightweight synthetic insulated gilet to wear whilst stopped

The Galibier Izoard is great for this.

On the sweating thing, I often seem to be alone in this thinking, but I find any windproof layers problematic in exactly this scenario. Generally I'll opt for thicker layers that allow the wind through and keep me dry. Doesn't necessarily help while you're riding but it does when you stop. Waterproof jacket is a definite no-no unless it's raining.

, I tend to cycle with as many layers as I can handle (I run quite hot when pedalling)

You've answered your own question

consider carrying a lightweight synthetic insulated gilet to wear whilst stopped

Similar but different, I'd say to OP to think about getting a hybrid insulated jacket and wearing fewer layers beneath it.

I've found my Madison DTE jacket surprisingly un-sweaty when the temps drop to zero-ish.

I usually just have one baselayer underneath.

And it's definitely warmer for the "standing around up a hill" bits.

All I'm going to add is... fair play to you for giving it a go. I could not be bothered with the faff of getting on/off trains and waiting around... even when it's warm!

I suppose you could try a battery operated heated vest / bodywarmer?
That would be lovely when hanging around on a cold platform.

I used to do a shorter version of this commute and found my elderly Buffalo Special 6 shirt worked very well, over my usual work clothes - I'd just open all the vents before I got hot and then zip them all closed as soon as I stopped moving to keep me warm.

good quality layers rather than all the cycling gear you own.

for biting cold rides i like a decent winter weight soft-shell but for 2-7º i’m impressed with alpha insulation with a further windproof layer over the top plus the obligatory base layer
(rapha brevet insulated jacket and a very old rapha wind shirt)
I also have a gore C5 thermo jersey which is very thin but surprisingly warm, when worn with the above plus winter bibs i don’t feel constricted by the layers and the small air gaps created by the alpha insulation seem to make a difference, i get cold shoulders and arms but can overheat my core and this type of insulation has been a godsend for winter riding.

I’d say to OP to think about getting a hybrid insulated jacket and wearing fewer layers beneath it.

Yip, you might need a bigger bag, but it just means you've got the right things on for the right activity. I always tended to wear as little as possible to be comfortable riding, and aim to be stood at the station for as little time as possible. So cold to start, shivering if the train was much later than a couple of minutes, and potentially in a spot of bother if thigs got really delayed/cancelled.

Now I take a belay-type jacket I bought for exactly the same purpose for ski touring - an emergency top, a waiting around top, something to start off in if it's really too chilly to "start cold". It stuffs in loose in the top of my bag, expands to fill space so you don't have to stress about synching down your bag straps. No point using a stuff sack, makes your bag pack in a funny shape and the whole idea is that it's quick on/off.

Mountain Equipment Fitzroy jacket. Hydrophobic down/synth mix.. £150 when I bought it, not the cheapest, but I tried loads on and it's been bloody marvellous for me in loads of situations for 5-6 years.

Sounds normal, I find fewer layers but chosen more carefully works.

Baselayer needs to tread the line between wicking and not getting wet (because it's that th'll make you shiver). So avoid tight fitting lycra based layers that absorb sweat,s tick with polypropylene/polyester based materials or merino if not sweating too much.

Mid layer, choose according to how much insulation you need, but it needs to be completely breathable, so fleeces etc.

Outer layer - wind/waterproof to keep the wind from whistling through your mid layer.

Should be fine then just shedding the outer layer once on the train and out of the wind.

Just picking up on merino base layers, Planet X are doing two for £39.99 atm.

just been out for a 4 hour ride. blinking freezing it was.
i was warm.
bamboo t shirt, alpkit gryphon hood, thin softshell jacket and windproof gilet.
knee length socks and long trousers.

i stopped for a picnic by the river in tadcaster.
i carry a decathlon puffa type gilet for stops. cost me a tenner in the sale.
perfect for cold stops.

Try not to sweat.Hard I know. I sweat whilst shivering. Wool next to the skin or better fibre pile. Carry a duvet jacket or gilet for stops.

Merino, merino, merino.

I've got merino long johns from howies, a long sleeved base layer and second merino T for when it's very cold. Then a normal fleece midlayer and a hardshell top.

You can sweat your balls off if you like, but you'll stay warm. Even sub zero.

Did a big Sarn Helen ride last year in the snow at -5. Stopped for 45 minutes to drink an awful horlicks concoction from a flask and eat a sarnie. Sat in the snow. Was warm.

Thanks for all the replies so far folks, still trawling through them, still plenty of good advice and lots to chew over

Starting to think better quality gear would be a good step forward

Currently wearing tights with shorts on top, ordinarily top half consists of sports direct Campri baselayer, short sleeved cycling jersey and either soft shell or hard shell jacket depending on the rain (or not) both with armpit vents both dare 2b offerings, both fairly old but still in good nick

Normally don’t feel the cold from the waist down and am normally toasty warm when moving, so suspect it’s the whole sweat thing and need of a better base layer and jacket combo, have started wearing a neck tube on my baldy head under my helmet which helps a little so thinking about investing in a skull cap type thing for a start

Sooooo…new jacket / baselayer time methinks…