warmest stuff?

ckel101 said:

What is the best winter cycling jacket on the market? I live in central illinois, and I want to ride in anything 32 F or so and up let me know what you guys think

You want to dress in layers rather than a single jacket ... dress as you would to go cross country skiing ...

A polypro undershirt ... long sleeve cycling shirt & possibly arm warmers (depending on your cold tolerance) ... fleece lined vest (the type you can get at Target with a woven nylon shell) ... wind shell (60/40, 65/35, Supplex, Goretex, etc. ... whatever your budget allows).

I strongly recommend that you wear a balaclava to keep your ears & neck warm ...

At ~32ºF, your cycling gloves underneath knit gloves should work ... below that, you need warmer gloves.

Windproof pants (front panels) are a good thing ...

Neoprene cycling booties ...

Goggles are optional ... any kind ... BUT, strongly recommended (by me).

FENDERS FOR YOUR BIKE UNLESS YOU KNOW THE ROADS WILL BE DRY!

I just bought the Sugoi Invertor jacket, which I was somewhat skeptical about. Yet the LBS guys were raving about the thing. Anyways, I have done two rides in single digit (CELSIUS) weather, along the ocean and have been too warm if anything. Expensive (200 CDN), but like most Sugoi stuff it is excellent. Of course it should be, its from Canada !!!!

Thom_y said:

I just bought the Sugoi Invertor jacket, which I was somewhat skeptical about. Yet the LBS guys were raving about the thing. Anyways, I have done two rides in single digit (CELSIUS) weather, along the ocean and have been too warm if anything. Expensive (200 CDN), but like most Sugoi stuff it is excellent. Of course it should be, its from Canada !!!!

THat is around 130 € right ?
I am also thinking of buying one for myself... But luckly winter here in EU is super warm (instead of usual -5°c we have 10°c).

i have an 07 pearl izumi jacket and i live in the mountains and ride till it's about 25 degrees (F) if it's sunny, with a Pearl izumi polypropelyne shirt, gloves, and ear covers, with polypropelyne under standard biking shorts and a nice pair of warm (preferably wool (dont saturate with sweat like cotton)) socks and shoes. I'm warm enough with that stuff and i may consider getting a bachlava in about a month. I will ride in snow unless it's crazy icey, then it becomes not a problem with temp but danger of crashing! I stand by that Pearl Izumi Jackett it's light weight and it also has a windproof front. wind is what chills me down the most and with that jackett i keep my chest and torsoe wharm and for me with gloves and nice socks on i'm ready to ride.

Our team just got outfitted with Hincapie's Windtex Polar. Great jacket. Also have used the Bergamo one which is very warm. Agreed, layers is the way to go especially for longer rides where the temps will change over the course of several hours.

I wear "Gore Wear". Great stuff. Lots of the fellas I know got the GoreWear.
I have the "balance" jacket. It's a shell. Velcro on sleeves. Total wind block. I wear a poly undershirt and a sweatshirit then the jacket.
Ride in temps to low teens. Always warm
The also have lined jackets, tights, shrots...etc.
Good luck with the winter riding...maybe I'll see ya.
http://www.gorebikewear.com/

I rode three days last week in ~25 deg F temperatures. The "windchill" according to weather.com was down to 18 deg F on one of those days.

I wore:

Thicker poly pro base layer (Cannondale) and a Champion Systems winter jacket up top. A Nalini winter jacket would have been similar (prob a bit warmer).

Nalini wind stop type padded tights. No shorts.

Specialized insulated gloves - thin looking but they worked.

Headsock (poly pro tube) for neck.

Castelli knit hat

unmodified helmet (vents fully active). if too cold I tape over the front vents. or if a bit warmer I tape over front vents and wear just a cap under.

SideTrak booties over regular shoes/socks.

I was fine in the aforementioned conditions.

cdr

capwater said:

Our team just got outfitted with Hincapie's Windtex Polar. Great jacket. Also have used the Bergamo one which is very warm. Agreed, layers is the way to go especially for longer rides where the temps will change over the course of several hours.

I love my REI softshell jacket - very warm, amazingly waterproof! best jacket I ever used, but I'll likely be getting a Hindcapie Windtex polar through my team as well - how does it perform in the rain?.....

I just rode in that temperature on Tuesday evening and was cozy. I wore:

Pearl Izumi Microsensor balaclava
DeFeet UnDShirt
Turtelenck
DeFeet Duragloves(most people need more but my hands never get cold)

Louis Garneau Gloucester jacket (I looked at a lot of jackets before I bought this-it would be a little heavy for some people's taste but I just unzip to regulate temperature and keep moisture out if I get too hot-can easily be zipped up again when needed-also temperatures fluctuate dramatically during the day and when the sun goes in so I am glad I have this heavy a jacket.)

Summer cycling shorts
Blackbottoms tights

Polypro sock liner
SmartWool socks
Shimano summer cycling shoes with ToastyFeet insoles
Louis Garneau Protect Shoe covers

If it gets colder I would wear heavier gloves and use chemical warmers for the feet. I also have DeFeet Kneekers for my legs. I don't think I will need more for the upper body unless it gets much colder, but I would either substitute for the turtleneck or add a wool sweater underneath the jacket.

I use DeFeet Kneekers and DeFeet Armskins in the Fall. Give you a lot of flexibility and a lot of people wear the Kneekers under their tights if it gets really cold.

I find at 40 degree temperatures I can use the DeFeet UnDShirt and the Gloucester jacket and I have to open the jacket if the sun is out.
Hope this helps. I am in Central Indiana so conditions shoud be similar.