Freezing Fashion Question — What to wear in the cold?

[arlcxrider]

Answer is, it depends. On a lot of things. Quite a few runners on the CCT this morning…in shorts.

I’ll just say what I was wearing this morning. Officially 22 degrees at DCA at 6 am, but colder on my route.

As an aside, route selection helps. When it’s very cold I avoid routes with traffic and a lot of stop and go. If I can keep a steady pace, I find it helps. Keep the internal furnace going. Going up the CCT to Bethesda is like riding the trainer, a steady effort. When it’s too too nasty, I plan a ride closer to home with public transportation bail out points. No pointless prize or mileage competition is worth getting frostbite.

Head: not a full-on balaclava, but close. “Cut out” eyes and mouth. Buff on top of that. Helmet, of course, but it doesn’t do much for the cold!

Torso: merino wool base, another base layer (silk), heavy long-sleeve jersey, wind- and rain-proof jacket.

Legs: bib shorts, heavy thermal tights.

Feet: heavy socks, MTB shoes with heavy neoprene covers.

Hands: thin glove liners, HotHands in my palms, and Pearl Izumi lobster claws.

If it gets any worse I will run up the white flag of surrender and get the Bat Mitts.  😀 And put on the silk long johns underneath the tights.

 

[Janusz]

Huge thumbs up for the bar mitts – when I ride I find myself using my thin gloves and not my thick “go outside in the cold” gloves.  I also use toe covers for my shoes.  For my head I use a buff for neck and head and a Hikenture brand helmet liner.  In previous seasons I have used ear covers – the kind that attach to helmet straps – but for 25 degrees the buff and liner are perfectly fine.

As far as the rest of my body, two layers on the legs – the usual cycling leggings with termal underwear over them, as the outside layer.  Up top, however many layers I think I need, starting with merino will long sleeves as the base layer, and my windbreaker as the outer layer.

[jrenaut]

Wool socks and an overheated core. If my core is warmer than I’d ideally want it, my hands and feet stay warm longer.

[bikingjenn]

In the subfreezing, I wear a wicking base layer that has some wind protection, a windstopper turtle neck synthetic fleece lined thing, freezing saddles vest, and a reflective windbreaker as last layer. Bar Mitts (Rock Bros makes a cheaper knock off) are essential for me with any gloves. Buff is essential too up to 45 degrees. Above 30 (unless high winds), I ditch the vest and use a lighter thin t-shirt material buff. Agree with above that if the core is warm, hands and feet aren’t cold. I have winter boots and wear a thin Uniqlo Heat Tech sock if it is cold. Every year I seem to have to rethink it, so I am putting notes in Strava this year. Hope this helps and isn’t too late. Have fun!

[Cindy T]

i am always cold, so i’ve been layering a lot. this is probably an excessive list for most people, but maybe helps with ideas for layering! this is what i’ve been doing when it’s around 25 or below.

for extremities, i have: wind/water resistant gloves, wool blend helmet liner, foldable ear muffs, a gaiter/buff, and have worn up to 2 pairs of socks in my timberland boots.

the most i’ve worn on top is: thermal fleece lined layer, crewneck sweatshirt, vest, puffer jacket, high vis jacket (a bit of a wind layer)

and for pants: thermal lined winter biking leggings, wool blend sweatpants, and rain paints over it all as a windbreaker layer.

from my former running days, i find that it is helpful to tuck shirts into your pants (goes with what other people are saying about keeping your core warm) and as you start to get a little warmer, you can just untuck layers to cool off a little!

[cvcalhoun]

I go for the full sauna effect. I start with a base layer, then a sweatshirt, then a heavy sweater over that. The next layer is all electric: vest, pants, socks, insoles, hat, and mittens. Then I hold in the heat with a jacket on top and waterproof pants on the bottom. The other day, it felt like 10°, but I only noticed the cold when I took off my mittens to take photos for the various Pointless Prizes.

I have also learned to duck into banks’ ATM lobbies to upload my photos to the forum when I’m out at night and trying to make the midnight deadline for uploading photos. Dedicated as I am to Freezing Saddles, it’s not worth losing fingers to frostbite!

[Judd]

When it’s this cold bar mitts and ski goggles get added.

In general, cold weather riding got way easier when I abandoned the notion that I needed bike specific cold weather gear. Blue jeans and thick wool hiking socks get me through most of the winter. I use Nike leggings under the jeans below 20 degrees. For tops, layering is key. Most of the winter a polyester base, thick flannel and a rain jacket work fine and when it gets colder I sub in wool base layers and a Carhartt jacket. I use buffs for my ears and neck/face since they’re adjustable.

[Nadine]

I just wanna add that gore base layers have been a game changer for me. I use the jersey as a first layer when it’s  > 40°,  so every day lately. In this weather I’ve been wearing the gore windstopper base  layer, a heavy base layer, a thermal jersey, a jacket, & a vest.

On the bottom I use a heavy fleece layer and windproof pants on the outside. I’m sure I look like the Michelin woman 😆

Heaviest winter gloves I own, in this weather – I’ll go down a grade or 2 tomorrow when I ride the road bike with bar mitts. On feet I eat heavy wool socks, Gore base windstopper socks, & boots.

You know that thing they say about how you should be cold when you leave the house on yr bike? I noticed that on the cold windy days ever had lately that doesn’t work. I never really warmed up.

[Boomer Cycles]

Extremities are the most vulnerable parts of the body when exercising in extreme cold: head (especially ears and nose), fingers and toes.

Head: cover everything with a Buff, Ski goggles and a cycling cap. Leave no skin exposed.

Feet: wool socks and neoprene shoe covers ensure that my toes never get frozen even in the wet

Hands: Bar Mitts work wonders against wind chill even with lite weight gloves on

Polar Vortex game changer: heated shoe soles and glove liners (w/ integrated rechargeable batteries)

[Author]

Posts