Doug Hall said:... but I'd
rather solicit advice based on practical experience before I make any
costly mistakes.
Does anyone have any tips for suitable winter nighttime clothing?
I did this last year, for fun:
<URL:http://www.colyer.plus.com/danny/cycling/dressforwinter.html>
If I don't pre-empt it, someone will pipe up saying that all that lot
will be far too hot for cycling. I'll only wear the whole lot on the
coldest mornings and evenings in the depths of winter.
Anyway, you will need:
a base layer (a clean one for every day of the week, I favour Parrot).
a warm, breathable, windproof, preferably waterproof outer shell
(ideally with zips to allow you to vent the armpits, my dream garment
would also have removable sleeves, but I doubt you'll find that). I
like GoreTex, others prefer pertex.
Warm leggings. Ronhill Bikesters are great. If you wear tights then I
recommend buying something without padding. That way you can wear a
clean pair of cycling shorts underneath every day, so you can get away
with washing the tights once a week rather than having to own 5 pairs of
tights.
Warm cycling boots, or overshoes. Your choice.
A warm hat.
Warm gloves. Silk inner gloves give extra warmth and stop your winter
gloves getting too stinky (winter gloves are a PITA to wash, whereas
inner gloves can easily go in the weekly cycling load). I get my inner
gloves here, and expect to replace them annually:
<URL:http://www.patra.com/>
(the 5% elastane ones are better than pure silk).
Other than that, experience will probably teach better than I can advise
you what you need.
Expect to spend quite a bit of money, but it's worth it.
--
Danny Colyer (my reply address is valid but checked infrequently)
<URL:http://www.colyer.plus.com/danny/>
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"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine
