Bean Long wrote:
>
> Aeek wrote:
> > On Thu, 1 May 2008 20:15:41 +1000, "Joseph"
> > <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >> Hello there
> >> I live in sunny Port Macquarie but I intend to do a little bit of riding in
> >> cold Gordon/ACT (hello BT Humble). I have never ridden a bike in
> >> temperatures below 10 degrees C.
> >> I think that I have the layers for the top half of my body (singlet, warm
> >> long sleeved bike shirt and perhaps arm warmers) but I would like to know
> >> what you wear on the bottom half. Is it leg warmers or long trousers?
> >> Joseph/Neil
> >
> > I wear knicks and legwarmers, BTH would probably say jeans.
> > Gloves are important too. Depends a lot on how fast/hard you go.
>
> Likewise... knicks and legwarmers. Also shoe covers of some kind,
> especially if you have breathable road shoes... otherwise you could be
> wishing you amputated your toes! As for the arm warmers... yes wear
> them. This much depends on the time you are riding though as it can warm
> up during the day. If you're heading out at 5 in the morning for, say, a
> 6 am bunch ride, then you'll need the lot (including a good pair of
> gloves and perhaps a beanie or ear warmers). As the sun begins to rise
> it can drop another 2 degrees or so, so be prepared. Layers are the trick.
>
> Bean
Its rare that I would venture out here in the ACT when its below 10C.
Therefore I only go out when its over 10C, say after 9:30 am and I try
to get home before 4pm.
Last winter all I did was rub some olive oil on the legs before setting
out.
This tends to slow down perspiration, and slow evaporation, which cools
the legs.
20 years ago when i road raced each week during winters in all weathers,
even when it was snowing, hailing or raining freezing rains,
I would sometimes use long lycra over trousers over the normal summer
shorts.
I also used woolen longuns for real bad days when T didn't make it above
7C
In long training rides in the hills behind Canberra when I'd be out most
of the day
doing maybe 150km, I could take off the leotards and store them in a
pocket if I got too hot.
If anyone isn't aclimatised to cool Canberra winter conditions, use some
lyrca long-uns.
I found Goanna Oil mixed with olive oil also pretty good.
Many blokes ride to work in the ACT all winter which means all their
travel is done
in under 10C conditions, bleedin cold mate, and enough to freeze the
balls
off a brass monkey.
Once I went out last year just with olive oil on the legs, but
woolen top, and cotton skivi underneath with a folded newspaper
in front of my chest and with arm warmers. It was 6C at 11am when I set
off,
and only 10C when I returned home 3 hrs later.
I thought if I stopped pedling i'd freeze solid.
All this extra specialist tight fitting comfortable cycling clobber
costs money.
Probably the olive oil plus grin and bear it policy
is OK for me; once you get moving, the legs get warm after 15 minutes;
if not,
you ain't riding fast enough.
On some steep long hills in winter here I get stinking hot, then when I
descend
I get cold because I'm wet with sweat, especially if I stop at the top
of the mountain
to have a couple of jam sandwiches and admire the view.
Ya can't win in winter.
Patrick Turner.