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Winter Style Guide 2k10

during the winter, i eat a pound of lard every day for breakfast. because of this i have to wear a t-shirt and shorts to keep myself from overheating when i'm biking around.


jakeliefer
2010-01-05 21:05:22

In honor of all the 'What are you wearing today' (waywt) threads on the internet (See: http://www.superfuture.com/supertalk/showthread.php?t=2233&page=6439), I thought we could have a Bike-Pgh winter rider photo thread. Take a photo of yourself before or after your commute with all your gear on. I know most of my stuff is cobbled together from a variety of bike clothing and snowboard stuff, so feel free to say what you've got. It doesn't have to be fancy, match, or expensive. Post the temperature too, and any other information you might feel relevant and helpful to others.


jakeliefer
2010-01-05 21:05:22

IWinter Riding Gear


Weather.com listing: 23F ('Feels like 11'). 10 mile ride from Beaver Falls to Rochester, PA and back.


I'm still using my trusty Cannondale, aluminum frame and aluminum(!) fork circa 1993. It's taken me everywhere, from 80 mile day trips to 400+ miles to DC through the mountains of WV. I've abused it in ways no road bike should be treated and it keeps on going. Riding through the rain, strapping a rack and carrying 30 pounds of gear on it, or riding in the winter with 23c tires.


For riding gear, I've got a Pearl Izumi balaclava & skull cap. The two layers help keep the ears and head extra toasty.

Single lens Oakley goggles (haven't fogged on me yet).

For baselayers I tend to use the stretchy fabric (got mine at REI for cheap).

H&M Jacket

Special Blend Snowboarding Pants w/ fleece underneath

Vans Mittens with fleece liner

2 wool socks & wind guards on the shoes (clipless pedals)


jakeliefer
2010-01-05 21:08:48

I will have to try and take a photo tomorrow. Glad I am not the only one wearing ski goggles.


rsprake
2010-01-05 21:39:45

No photo, but anyone who rode Icycle Bicycle saw me in a bright orange jumpsuit and vest. Orange from neck to ankles. After about 10 minutes on Monday that was covered with about five pounds of salt and grit. (Really gotta get those mudflaps put on.)


stuinmccandless
2010-01-05 22:05:59

Stu's jumpsuit was pretty epic.


ieverhart
2010-01-05 22:21:17

Hope you guys didn't take the jail trail, some guards might tackle you!


jakeliefer
2010-01-05 23:30:30

I have a short commute so I mainly just wear my normal clothes (jeans and a shirt). The key is the cool "Showers Pass" windbreaker I got for xmas, it cinches up around the neck and wrists. Other than that, just some windproof gloves and a thing I got at REI that covers my ears (although I could have used a full mask this morning with whatever icy stuff was falling). Haven't missed a day yet.




salty
2010-01-06 15:41:44

I don't have a cameraphone, but my usual commuting gear for the winter is (like Salty, I have a short commute, and prefer the regular clothes thing):


* Silkweight bottoms under my pants (usually jeans)

* Lightweight wool short sleeve shirt with a wool long sleeve over it

* Soft shell jacket (if it's below 25 degrees I'll throw on a heavy fleece jersey with a windblocker front under it)

* Fleece windblocker gloves with wool gloves over them.

* My trusty wool Swobo Belgian cap, unless it's really cold, in which case I'll add a fleece headband.

* Keen shoes with a pair or two of wool socks.


I tend to be pretty dumb about my face. Under 20 degrees I wear a scarf that covers my mouth and nose. I hate wearing anything on my eyes, which is dumb.


bjanaszek
2010-01-06 16:05:23

From the top down:

-Helmet cover

-Light balaclava if it's in the 20s or below

-long-sleeved light wool baselayer if near freezing, Icebreaker wool jersey if well below

-Showers Pass jacket. The shiznit in lightweight wind/water jackets, IME.

-Smartwool glove liners under Planet Bike's Borealis hybrid glove-mitts

-Wool knickers

-El cheapo tights from REI

-wool socks

-(just got for Christmas, and like)Lake winter cycling boots


Of course, today I'm working from home, so I suppose PJs and bunny slippers would be my commuting garb.


reddan
2010-01-06 16:28:27

-Thin Novara helmet liner that covers my ears


-clear safety glasses from Home Despot. $4.


-Buff or a wool neck gator, depending on weather. easy to pull up over my mouth or nose as needed.


-Wool long sleeve base layer

-long sleeve jersey. usually wool, sometimes synthetic.

-Endura Air defense softshell: going into year number three. I love this jacket. http://www.endurasport.com/Product.aspx?dept_id=123&prod_id=140

-Lycra shorts

-windproof tights

-Showers Pass Hybrid pants/knickers. These have zip off legs, and last year I rode with the legs on all the time with no other insulating layers. One of the zippers broke so now they are knickers until I get them fixed.

-various wool socks

-Lake winter boots. No super impressed with these. Not really waterproof, feet still get cold from the cleat interface, stiching along the back blew out, velcro is going, and the Boa closure randomly releases. Better than summer shoes and duct tape.

-HotPaws gloves. $10 at Dunham's. Waterproof and windproof, do not breathe at all. Do not care. Keeps my hands warmer than anthing else I've tried, and I've tried A LOT OF GLOVES.


eric
2010-01-06 17:12:36

This morning I wore one of these: http://www.rei.com/product/725711


About 5 minutes into my ride I could no longer feel my nose, and my glasses were pretty fogged up. Ick.


joeframbach
2010-01-06 17:40:05

Yeah, I don't like balaclaves/face gaiters. The never seem to work for me.


I need to check out those gloves, Eric. I could use something a bit more windproof.


bjanaszek
2010-01-06 19:27:15

- Giro Transfer helmet, no cover, I haven't been able to find one for less than $20.

- seirus neofleece combo clava if below 20 degrees F - I almost always pull the lower face part under my chin so that my breath doesn't condense inside the mask.

- a scarf...more form than function.

- 2-3 torso layers plus whatever jacket matches the weather best. doesn't really have to be waterproof unless it's raining.

- kinco 901 gloves. can't recommend these enough. http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/003984.php

- long johns and jeans are almost always enough to keep my legs warm. I also have a pair of waterproof pants that I sometimes wear on top, but fenders have made those unnecessary unless it's really pouring. a good set of full fenders is probably the most useful thing you can buy for a bike around here.

- a pair of wool hiking socks and goretex vasque boots.


asobi
2010-01-06 20:13:41

After my commute home


Balaclava, goggles and Giro helmet

North Face soft shell jacket inside, Novara wind breaker outside

Novara rain pants and jeans inside

Merrell hiking boots

Pearl Izumi gloves which I am not crazy about


I am still sweating though, I think I need to try a lighter soft shell.


rsprake
2010-01-07 15:38:05

I'm a little surprised how often I'm seeing "jeans". Cotton is absolutely the wrong thing for this weather, especially against your skin, it will hold your own sweat against you and chill you. Cotton thermal "waffle" long underwear like you wore when you were a kid is a disaster. You need synthetic as a base layer, usually billed as "performance" thermal underwear, or wool if you can manage it.

rsprake, if you are sweating, you could try polypropylene thermals under the jeans, leave the rain pants in the panniers, as well as the windbreaker, add a poly undershirt with a poly fleece top and your soft shell jacket on top. That combo should breathe a lot better.


edmonds59
2010-01-07 16:24:35

RE: cotton on the legs. If I did any significant riding in this weather, or it was really wet, I would wear something else on my legs. But most days, I'm too lazy to be bothered to wear different kit for my commute (I don't change when I get to work, except for my top).


I do agree, however, with not wearing jeans under the rain pants. I would wear something synthetic under them.


bjanaszek
2010-01-07 17:17:03

Sweating is a perpetual problem for me; I find that I sweat even when I'm cold to the point of shivering.


That's one of the big reasons I love the wool; it deals with dampness and "eau de Dan" aroma nicely, so all I really need to worry about is enough adjustable ventilation to prevent overheating and reduce the perspiration.


reddan
2010-01-07 17:19:58

Well, wearing jeans allows me to just take the rain pants off and sit down at my desk. Even with the fenders my bike is still throwing around a lot of slop so the rain pants keeps my jeans clean.


I suppose a solution is to not just be so lazy and bring a change of clothes. We have a shower/ changing room that I use in the summer so why am I not using it now?


rsprake
2010-01-07 17:42:25

I agree that synthetic or wool is far superior than cotton in this type of weather, many, many people make cotton work, on way or the other.


Really, regardless of how fancy you get with your clothing, some days are going to be miserable on the bike.


eric
2010-01-07 17:55:32

Really, regardless of how fancy you get with your clothing, some days are going to be miserable on the bike.


^^^Wot 'e said.


Of course, it should also be said that, no matter how crappy your gear, you can still be happy on your bike. :-)


reddan
2010-01-07 18:08:55

I have to say that it's a lot better this winter than the previous as far as my comfort level goes. I bought the gloves and the jacket after it was warm enough to not need them any more on sale.


rsprake
2010-01-07 18:16:33

Jeans work fine as long as you're not going too far, there's nothing too ridiculous precipitation-wise, and you have a fendered bike or dry roads. They also look normal when you get where you're going.


alankhg
2010-01-07 20:49:54

My commute is a fairly rigorous 8 miles from the edge of Edgewood. Luckily my ride home is the harder (more uphill) of the directions.


rsprake
2010-01-07 21:34:37

Thanks to Surly Jason, here's a snapshot from this morning:


I skipped the 'clava and the knickers today, due to miscellaneous wardrobe malfunctions.


reddan
2010-01-08 13:16:31


here's me looking ninja or zapatista or something.


note: i have a huge White backpack with a bright reflective stripe when i ride.


erok
2010-01-08 15:55:33

Just the head prior to departure. I look more like a G20 officer than a cyclist. Snowboarding helmets are amazing in the winter.




xjahx
2010-01-08 20:08:50

I think I saw a couple of you crazies on the jail trail...


Socks - smartwool over thinner running socks

gloves - midweight pearl isumis from trek of East Liberty

bottoms - shell rain pants over midweight cotton thermals.

tops - rain shell over smartwool sweater over REI base thermal (poly-lycra blend)

head - lightweight thermax 'clava with fox helmet


I wear this down to single digits and the only extra is duct tape on the shoes for added moisture/wind protection.


Bike is a trek portland (trek of east liberty) all stock except for the planet bike fenders and innova 700/35 studded tires - and teflon tape within the bottom bracket threads.


commewt'n


sloaps
2010-01-08 23:21:00

Are those ski-oriented goggles I'm seeing people wearing or more general outdoors goggles?


ieverhart
2010-01-09 06:09:21

From the bottom up:

Old running shoes with wool socks and small neoprene toe covers over the socks- these make a huge difference. I also have some goretex toeclip (oldstyle!) covers that help a little.

Next a pair of Patagonia pants that are waterproof, windproof and lined- legs never feel cold, even at 0 degrees F. I have used them for over 15 years every winter, and dread the day they wear out.

On top, generally 2 cotton long sleeve shirts down to 20, then also a sweater under a goretex jacket.

Reflective helmet cover and an REI under helmet

hat. If it is 15 or colder, I go with one of those Elmer Fudd style lined under goretex caps with earflaps that velcro under my chin, and a scarf to cover my nose on long downhills or strong winds. I did freeze the tip of my nose running into a headwind at 3 degrees last year.

Gloves are the weak point- I have a nice pair of lined goretex gloves with separate liners, but they just don't get it done this year- I suspect the insulation is mashed down a bit, but it might be lower circulation also.

When I get to work, I change into shorts and a tshirt. On the rare days I have to drive, I feel colder when I arrive so will keep my long pants on.


helen-s
2010-01-09 17:21:41

ieverhart, I use my snowboard goggles which aren't the best for city streets because of their tint. Every light looks like a yellow light to me, but it beats the alternative of squinting.


rsprake
2010-01-09 17:37:01

I just bought a paddling jacket from Dick's for $30- waterproof pullover with neoprene new high tech velcro seals for wrists and neck and elastic drawpull waist. High visibility yellow with black trim (what self respecitng Pittsburgher would hit someone wearing those colors?) but no reflective elements.


helen-s
2010-01-09 20:55:01


Self-crocheted beard-hat, Sims snowboarding jacket, Seirus gloves, thermals under jeans, hiking socks. 18* at Frick Park.


dropshadow
2010-01-14 02:36:21

whoa, that rules


erok
2010-01-14 15:37:22

wow


i was asked to post this image, which was actually from last year.




caitlin
2010-01-14 19:14:24

this is what we call winter, ninja style.


caitlin
2010-01-14 19:14:58

Great photos!


"Every light looks like a yellow light to me..."

tinted goggles = permanent Idaho law


edmonds59
2010-01-14 19:29:49

Those are terrible ninjas. You can see them plain as day...


reddan
2010-01-14 19:35:29

^^^^^^^^

best post


spakbros
2010-01-14 22:55:05

This is how a group of idiots stays warm:


24 Minutes of Slagheap group photo


(note the flask)


ndanger
2010-01-14 23:46:41

True dat' that ride was goddamn cold (im in the red jacket on the leftish).


from the other morning.



-Joe


xjoex
2010-01-14 23:55:48

Felt good to wear just the soft shell, jeans and a hate this morning.


rsprake
2010-01-15 15:21:16

ah, wearing a hate always keeps me warm ;)


caitlin
2010-01-15 15:27:33

I usually keep my hate at home, it makes the ride much more enjoyable.


joeframbach
2010-01-15 15:44:16

Caitlin, beat me to it! Ha, ha!


edmonds59
2010-01-15 15:45:09

The hate of cold weather replaces my hat this time of year.


rsprake
2010-01-15 15:46:15