Winter Cycling

I wear a Giordana Silverline jacket when it gets really cold. Depending on how cold it is, I'll either wear a short sleeved or long sleeved jersey underneath. It's kept me comfy down to 20°F, and will likely do so below that temp.

If I wear a jacket, it is usually not insulated, instead more of a windbreaker. I prefer to wear several layers, 2 or 3 long sleeved shirts is usually sufficient. I sweat quite a bit on winter rides of any appreciable duration or intensity. Having many layers helps to mitigate that by stripping layers to fine tune temperature regulation. Shirts are also easier to dry and launder than a thick jacket.

Fortunately, the vast majority of cycling jackets are either hard shells with no insulation or soft shells with whatever insulation the soft shell material provides.

For 30-40 and below my thermal windproof jacket is: champ-sys.comcustom thermoshield winter jacket.htmlOpen ↗

I'm fine at 30F as long as I have a longsleeve baselayer, some heavy tights, gloves, headgear, and booties.

Previously I had tried a similar garment by Capo. Aside from keeping out zero wind (it was toted as having windproof panels), the neck was sized for a runway model or a pencil. Never again...

I have been out in 30's recently and have used the Gore Windstopper jacket/pants - very nice... not cheap, but good protection - here's a link: goreapparel.comgbw men geartype jackets,default,sc.htmlOpen ↗

Like Maddog, I tend to wear three shirts before breaking out a jacket.

Goretex is very good at blocking wind but a plain nylon jacket is almost as good for a fraction of the price. As far as I know, Windstopper garments use the same membrane as Goretex rainwear. I wear my old rain jacket on cold windy days.

I have a very lightweight Brooks LSD jacket. It's lighter than a blueberry scone. Packs into it's own pocket and fits easily in a jersey pocket. The sleeves are a little short.

I'm in N.E. Ohio and do 3 layers or even 4 layers before breaking out a jacket for the 25°-30° stuff.

Below 30° I use Descente, Giordana, Nashbar or Performance jackets...picked by wind speed, air temperature and workout level. Clothing preferences and cold weather comfort are a highly personal thing and both will vary widely between people in the same conditions.

Hi, I'm from suburban Detroit. Been doing multiple layers, up to 6 on top, including UA winter line and still freezing. I took an expensive gamble on a Columbia battery powered heated coat. $300. Rode with the inner layer plus a base layer, compression shirt over that, and safety yellow sweatshirt over all. Fell in love with the Columbia. Like riding with an electric blanket. Battery life is only about 2 hours, so I am doing to order a spare set.

I got an Assos Airjack 851 for a holiday gift several years ago, and it has been a godsend. One longsleeve baselayer + this jacket and I'm good down to the mid-20s (F). If I wear an especially warm baselayer or go to a baselayer + jersey + Airjack I'm good well down into the teens.

Bob Ross said:

I got an Assos Airjack 851 for a holiday gift several years ago, and it has been a godsend. One longsleeve baselayer + this jacket and I'm good down to the mid-20s (F). If I wear an especially warm baselayer or go to a baselayer + jersey + Airjack I'm good well down into the teens.

Ooooeeerrrrr. Nice.

I'm not a fan of hardshell jackets of any sort I've tried unless it is

[quote="gudujarlson"]I'm not a fan of hardshell jackets of any sort I've tried unless it is

alienator said:

Yup. If the hard shell isn't breathable, it'll just be a sweat chamber and only really useful in downpours. Above 40°F waterproof breathable fabrics don't have a very big temperature gradient to push water vapor out of the shell.

I've had trouble with even standard ultralight nylon cycling jackets. I still sometimes bring one with because they are so light and easily stowable in my rear jersey pocket.

gudujarlson said:

I've had trouble with even standard ultralight nylon cycling jackets. I still sometimes bring one with because they are so light and easily stowable in my rear jersey pocket.

We all know that we generate a lot of sweat and water vapor when we cycle. There's unfortunately no way of getting around the soaked feeling inside a windbreaker or coated nylon shell, though, not at least without some very good venting. When I'm riding I play my zippers like an instrument. They go up and down as I need them to maintain a constant-ish temp. This isn't really the case in summer, but in fall, early spring, or on mountain rides during which the temp drops as I climb, I work the zippers. As we all know, layering is key, but what is often not stated is that you also need to quite often make adjustments on a given layer. Conditions may not be such that you can comfortably remove a layer. Instead you just may have to open that layer or close that layer a bit more. There are also times when the exertion can overwhelm your clothing, no matter what you've got on or how actively you adjust the venting. In those cases all you can do is try to dry out via venting without getting overly cold.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned that is (IMHO) really helpful is embrocations, you know, creams or salves you rub on your legs to help them warm up, things like Tiger Balm (local drug store) or more intense stuff like Mad Alchemy's concoctions. One personal comfort notes:

• wear latex gloves when applying or wash hands after applying so that embrocation isn't transferred to face if you rub an itch or to your junk if you take a [censored] after application
• if you apply embrocation before putting on bibs, shorts, bib tights, knickers, et al, be careful to not drag the chamois against embrocation covered skin
• don't apply embrocation to soles of feet, armpits, face, taint.....

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by alienator [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned that is (IMHO) really helpful is embrocations, you know, creams or salves you rub on your legs to help them warm up, things like Tiger Balm (local drug store) or more intense stuff like Mad Alchemy's concoctions. One personal comfort notes:

• wear latex gloves when applying or wash hands after applying so that embrocation isn't transferred to face if you rub an itch or to your junk if you take a [censored] after application
  
• if you apply embrocation before putting on bibs, shorts, bib tights, knickers, et al, be careful to not drag the chamois against embrocation covered skin
  
• don't apply embrocation to soles of feet, armpits, face, taint.....
  

Do those actually generate heat? I know they feel like they do, but I had always thought they just stimulate the nerves in the same manner heat would without actually raising the skin temperature.

jpwkeeper said:

Do those actually generate heat?  I know they feel like they do, but I had always thought they just stimulate the nerves in the same manner heat would without actually raising the skin temperature.

Chili pepper does and has been used by mountaineers to keep feet warm. I suspect these also provide some actual warming, too. If a chemical stimulates temperature sensing nerves, then it has to cause arteries to dilate since it is those same temperature sensing nerves that cause the arteries to constrict when cold. I'm not sure what kind of mechanism would do otherwise.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by jpwkeeper [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

Do those actually generate heat? I know they feel like they do, but I had always thought they just stimulate the nerves in the same manner heat would without actually raising the skin temperature.

It was a little chilly in the office today. Had a spicy soup for lunch. Afterwards was not feeling the chill, only the mild sweat on my forehead. Not suer of the actual physiological process but I'll take it.

danfoz said:

It was a little chilly in the office today. Had a spicy soup for lunch. Afterwards was not feeling the chill, only the mild sweat on my forehead. Not suer of the actual physiological process but I'll take it.

Not only is sweating common outdoors in Tucson, it's very common in just about every Mexican restaurant where it's the result of a very good, tasty heat.