Winter Cycling Advice?

sdavies13

Ok, so the weather is currently warm and mainly dry but as I plan to carry on commuting through the Autumn/Winter any advice and clothing recommendations you might care to make?

So far I have got absolutely soaked just once! Thankfully was on my way home and it wasn't cold so easy enough to dry off when I arrived. But apart from the cycling jacket nothing else in my kit is waterproof. The cycling shoes took an age to dry out.

I do have fascilities where I work so can get showered, dried off and change clothes, but drying the cycling clobber depends on the heat in the office.

Never really cycled in the winter so all advice gratefully received.

Moto2

Generally, waterproof cycling gear is a waste of money as you'll get wet from sweating anyway.
You're much better off wearing Lycra and the like
Unlined winter bib longs, padded cycling shorts, base layer, winter jersey, buff, and a good wind proof jacket will be good in the lowest temps.
A pair of good gloves and boots and you're sorted.
You'll also have the ability to ventilate as required and the kit will dry itself very quickly.

Marco_Panettone

OVERSHOES!!! Neoprene ones are toasty and pretty much waterproof (nothing's 100%).

Otherwise, guard against the cold/wind rather than wet. A good jacket will help too, but I agree about the sweat issue.

I discovered last week that paper-based cat litter is great for drying wet bike shoes.

Moto2

Marco_Panettone wrote: »

I discovered last week that paper-based cat litter is great for drying wet bike shoes.

I discovered that having many pairs of shoes is the easiest way to have dry ones available
Nothing worse than have to put wet shoes on, not too bad after a mile or two though.

Wester

Aldi have a sale on the 26th of this month with a big reduction in price on winter cycling clothes and other cycling stuff i guess you would want to be there early as the saying goes the early bird catches the worm

Marco_Panettone

Oooh - just remembered - MUDGUARDS!

sdavies13

Thanks all.

So to summarise, layer on layers. Already bought some padded undershorts so guess I can get some unpadded winter weight tights (don't know why but bib longs don't appeal to me).

I'll have a look at some suitable winter jerseys as well.

Suppose I could do with another pair of shoes, just they aren't cheap plus suitable cleats...

I built the bike with mudguards so that side is sorted.

Cheers all, helpful as ever!

vikingaero

The most important piece of cycling equipment in the winter is a headband that covers your ears! When the windchill freezes you the pain from the ear region is incredible.

redcard

Keep your ears, toes and fingers warm, forget about the rain, it is not the enemy!

Yorkie1

I don't commute far or fast, and only on town roads, but one thing I'm thinking of getting this year is high-vis (reflective) gloves. Usually my thinsulate gloves are dark in colour, but I'm not convinced that drivers see me stick my arm out when I'm indicating a turn, and hope that these will help.

Or I could just put cycle grips round my wrists, I suppose.

Moto2

sdavies13 wrote: »

Thanks all.

So to summarise, layer on layers. Already bought some padded undershorts so guess I can get some unpadded winter weight tights (don't know why but bib longs don't appeal to me).

I'll have a look at some suitable winter jerseys as well.

Suppose I could do with another pair of shoes, just they aren't cheap plus suitable cleats...

I built the bike with mudguards so that side is sorted.

Cheers all, helpful as ever!

Aldi have cycling gear on sale on Thursday, by all accounts it can be a bit of a bun fight though.

https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuys/thursday-26th-september/