In article <MrvTb.163424$5V2.842967@attbi_s53>, cpetersky@mouse- potato.com says...
> "Robert" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
>
news:[email protected]...
> > I may be casual bicycling (not racing or anything) in high temperatures of 30-40F for 5 hours
> > daily (one or two stops for lunch and hot coco). It may be raining or snowing at times.
>
> I know what this is like very well.
>
> > 1. Long sleeve cotton t-shirt (I know about cotton)
>
> skip it.
Maybe not. Might want to put it _over_ a wicking layer.
>
> > 2. 200 wt fleece
> > 3. Breathable rain jacket
>
> These are fine.
>
> > 4. Light tights covered by rain pants
>
> I'd skip the rain pants, and have a winter-weight pair of tights. Your legs might get wet from
> time to time, but you'll be working them, and it won't be troublesome.
Maybe windfront tights, though they tend to get expensive.
> > 5. Windproof gloves
>
> I have learned the hard way that most windproof gloves do not have sufficient gel for me for a 5
> hour ride. I'd have to wear my fingerless summer gloves under those to have enough padding. My
> fingers get cold very easily -- I might have a chemical packet to break and warm them up, just
> in case.
For me, in temps down to the upper 20's (F), I put a pair of size extra-large summer cycling gloves
_over_ my thin Pearl Izumi full- finger gloves, and once my vascular system kicks in, about 5 - 10
minutes into the ride, my fingers are toasty. This also gives me good dexterity for operating the
STI shifters. I've never tried this combination in the rain, though, so I don't know how they'd do
if they got wet.
When I was out riding below zero a couple of weeks ago, I put big fleece-lined leather mittens
over the PI gloves, and was also toasty. Amazingly, I was still able to shift ok, as long as I
wasn't in a hurry.
>
> > 6. Waterproofed sneakers with Smart Wool socks
>
> I'd put booties over cycling shoes. Smart Wool trail runner (not their cycling socks) I think are
> the best for cycling.
>
> I'd add a bandana to wear around the neck and use as a hankie -- if it's cold and wet, my nose
> would be running nearly continuously.
For me, it just takes cold to make my nose run, but I just send a snot rocket onto the shoulder of
the road every few minutes.
> Visibility is an issue in the wintertime in dismal weather -- if the jacket isn't a high-
> visibility color, I'd add a reflective vest.
Good point.
> For me, it would have to be below 28 F to put on a balaclava. However, I've got a thick head of
> bushy hair, and I can pull it down over my ears (and do!) when it's cold and wet. If you just tell
> the barber, "set it to 3" or you're bald, YMMV.
Yeah; for me, below about 20 is where I start needing full face protection.
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