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I was wondering what people tend to wear when its cold outside to ride their bike. I have just bought a fluorescent waterproof so my top half is sorted. What do people wear on the lower half of the body ?
On or off road? Off is just a heavier base-layer, plus a jacket if it's raining normal shorts and probably thicker socks. On road - no exposed flesh!
Bib longs are where it's at.
Wear some baggies over if your young enough for fashion to matter.
Aldi winter gloves are a bargain.
And cheap
Also, a cheap thin skull cap keeps the head warm.
Those buff things are good too.
More than I was wearing this morning. Met Office says it felt like -6. 60 PRs in 2 hours as a result though, no hanging about.
Bottom half: Ronhill bikesters with some bamboo base layers when it's around zero or less. Big thick heat saver socks on feet.
Top half: endura base layer, cycling vest, crag hopper thin fleece jumper. Wife crocheted buff with a scarf when it's really cold and a thin balaclava or thin wooly hat under helmet.
Just swap your t-shirt for a long sleeve top.
From the bottom up ,
Shimano winter boots , woolie boolie socks,with a thin pair of lambs wool socks underneath when ~zero degrees,thermal bib longs , merino base layer , gore phantom jacket.Windproof gloves plus a liner glove when baltic as above.Some kind of ear warmer/buff.
Maybe an exra base layer if I'm only pottering.
Basics are long sleeve base layer, windproof (non insulating) jacket, 3/4 length shorts, buff under helmet. In the Midlands that pretty much does me most of the time, assuming I'm riding and not standing about.
Then add as necessary bib longs under the shorts, overshoes, maybe an extra tech T-shirt under the base layer, or swap jacket for one with a bit more insulation.
I try and keep waterproof in my Camelbak rather than wearing it as much as possible to make sure base layers stay as dry as possible.
Goes without saying that everyone is different though. Friend of mine often uses just a couple of base layers with nothing to keep the wind off- I'd be frozen doing that. Going the other way a lot of people on here swear by things like Stealths, and I think it would have to be about -30 before I could wear something like that for anything remotely energetic.
Long sleeve HH Lifa Prowool base layer under Altura fleece or Endura Gridlock jacket dependant on weather.
Endura Singletrack trousers or NATO camo Goretex, Sealskinz or Baa-Baa socks.
I'm yet to venture out on the road in the cold (only had the bike since July) but I also have an MT500 jersey and Tech Pants not yet worn.
Gloves are Endura Deluge this year and I have about 3 of 4 free gift buff-alikes from old MBUKs.
For me it's bib shorts with long sleeve base layer and long sleeve jersey and if windy or wet then thin waterproof, sometime a buff too. On bottom half - baggies with waterproof overshorts, kneepads and if it's really cold then leggings too. I like to be warm!
On the bottom half in winter bib Knicks from Funkier and if it's wet full length Altura Attack trousers or if it's dry Altura Longs ( can't remember the name but lightweight material with zippered vents on thighs etc) and Lake 303 boots with woollen socks. Always lovely and warm and dry never a miserable wet arsed ride or boots full of water.
Base layer under top and warmer gloves if its really cold. Otherwise all the same as any other time of year
Roubaix* bib tights, made with a fleecy sort of fabric. Girly leg warmers, thermal insoles to shoes, and short gaiters to cover tops of boots are in backpack. Beta-blockers make my hands & feet cold.
*Nothing to do with Spesh.
-2C yesterday, bottom half: bib shorts, Aldi base layer longs (from their skiing special buy on Thursday), Aldi windproof cycling trousers, Aldi trekking socks, Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX boots
If it's really cold, upper base layer, normal cycling shirt, aldi warm coat.
Downstairs normal cycling shorts, aldi baggies. If I'm in the arctic then I'll maybe use longs instead, very rarely though.
Hands, Endura windproof gloves are very good. I have some thin woollen gloves for under them when it's proper cold.
Two pairs thin socks, good winter boots, planet x shoe covers.
For me a buff under the helmet and around the neck, an Endura merino base layer and a softshell jacket on top (don't see the point of waterproof jackets as you just get wet from the inside), a pair of bib tights with windstopper at the front and a pair of shorts with chamois under that, socks (my snowboarding ones if it's below -10) and winter boots from Shimano. Oh yes and I have an assortment of gloves for different conditions. If it gets proper cold (below -10) I'll wear midlayer and put some booties over the winter boots.
Head - Buff over head and mouth with winter helmet on top
Middle - T shirt and fleece gilet, armwarmers. Sometimes light waterproof jacket
Lower - 3/4 Humvees and sometimes lycra tights underneath.
Feets - Sombrio Shazam, merino socks.
My wife bought me a pair of pearlizumi amfib tights as a present one year and my initial reaction was one of how can these justify the price. You can't get then of me all winter now though, they are toast-tastic