Need help getting the right winter gear



KSUJace

New Member
Jun 19, 2004
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Hey guys... gals..

I'm looking to get the right winter gear for riding in Chicago... I've been looking for pants / jacket stuff... i've been browsing at probikekit.com they seem to have some good prices.

just looking for some advice on what is the best gear to have for winter / early spring riding.
 
couldn''t agree more.

I have some full length mountain bike roubaix bibs that i wear in winter, i swear they're the best.

and i layer up with the team kit. base layer, short summer sleeve top, long sleeve lined winter top.

It's also worth your while getting a skull cap to protect your ears, overshoes for the toes and of course some good winter gloves

pro-bike kit usually sell off their winter kit in spring/summer, so if you don't mind wearing last year's fashions you could get a bargin or two.
 
KSUJace said:
Hey guys... gals..

I'm looking to get the right winter gear for riding in Chicago... I've been looking for pants / jacket stuff... i've been browsing at probikekit.com they seem to have some good prices.

just looking for some advice on what is the best gear to have for winter / early spring riding.

What works for me is a skull cap that fits under my helmet that covers my head and ears. Gloves that keep my hands warm. I have a Thinsulate undershirt under my long-sleeve cycling shirt and I wear a windbreaker that has removeable sleeves. I wear insulated long bike pants. I wear wool insulated socks with my bike shoes. This arangement is good down to around 32f. As I get warmed up while riding I'll open the zipper on my windbreaker. If it is sunny and I get warmer I'll take off the windbreaker.

I found it's most important to keep my head and hands warm. While riding my body could be sweating but my ears hurt from the cold. The same thing with my hands.

I have different gloves depending on how cold it is. The skull cap is a Thinsulate cap and is very effective in keeping my head warm. Sometimes, though, I think I'd rather have a full face shield to keep the wind off my face. It's weird to feel warm overall except for the oval of my exposed face being frigid-cold.

I'ts important follow this one rule: do not wear cotton against your body. My clothing is polypropylene. Cotton, when you sweat, will absorb water and when that water cools, you start to freeze up. The poly stuff wicks water and allows the vapor to escape, much like the vapor barriers on houses. Same reason I wear the wool-blend socks. I normally dislike wool stuff and prefer cotton. Every layer you wear has to be able to pass vapor.
 
thanks for the awesome reply... looking forward to summer here in Chicago now!
 
Here's a link to an excellent site that should tell you just about everything you need to know about cycling in cold weather--and I mean in really cold weather--including clothing, equipment, maintenance procedures, techniques, and more.

CLICK ME!
 
neil0502 said:
Here's a link to an excellent site that should tell you just about everything you need to know about cycling in cold weather--and I mean in really cold weather--including clothing, equipment, maintenance procedures, techniques, and more.

CLICK ME!

Thanks Neil, for the excellent link. I've now gone and checked out a bunch of sites. Ironically it's starting to get hot again here in Sacramento.