Layers 101

[Dirt]

@tuba_transport 66516 wrote:

BTW, I wrote down what works for me at different temps and edit it year after year to adjust to new insights and my evolving needs for winter clothing. Here is my personal FAQ I refer to for myself each Autumn so I don’t have to reinvent the wheel every year when I try to remember what worked 6 months ago.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ynG_e-u1JNPF8pudUURLVRF0PPXxkBghoICRsfva2CI/edit?usp=sharing

You rock, sir! Thank you!

[pfunkallstar]

@tuba_transport 66516 wrote:

The Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX. The Arctic version is supposed to be warmer than the non-Arctic. I don’t know, never tried the non-Arctic.

I have Lake boots from a few years ago. They are still useful in deep snow or if the temps go below 20 degrees. Both of those have been rare the past couple years though.

I bought the Northwave boots because I tried their summer shoes and they were a great fit for my wide feet. I wanted a lighter boot. The boots also have a spacious toebox, which is essential for thick socks. If your winter boots are not loose then they are not warm no matter what you are wearing. Circulation is key. I wear the same sized Northwave boot as Northwave summer shoe because the toe box is so big.

I RARELY wear my Lake boots anymore. The Northwave’s are way way way waaaaaay lighter. Nearly summer shoe light, especially compared to the Lakes. They claim to have a water resistant lining, but when it rains your feet will get wet due mostly to the short tops on them. If it is rain an in the 30s I will pull out the Lakes.

With all that said, the Northwaves rock. I can wear my Arctics comfortably up to 45F. Too hot above that temp. But then again 40F is about the transition temp for me to wear wool socks and toe covers on summer shoes anyway. The weight of the Northwave shoes cannot be understated. They are so much more efficient than the heavier Lake boots.

I have worn mine very comfortably from about 25-45 degrees. I did race Snotcycle this year in them when the temp was 19F. For that I added a toe chem warmer and my feet were very happy.

For anyone entertaining the idea of purchasing the 3-bolt road cleat version of any boot, DON’T. Road cleats are USELESS in snow and ice. Step off the bike one time and the cleat fills with ice and you don’t get clipped back in. Invest in MTB pedals for winter if you have not already. Road soles are also USELESS to walk on in perfect summer conditions. Now try walking on them on ice and snow. Get the MTB pedals for winter.

This winter will be my third season on my Northwave boots. I will wear them every day the temp stays below 45F just like the past 2 seasons. The boot is essentially as good as new, unlike Lakes which fall apart every season.

One of the best pieces of kit I own.

BTW, I wrote down what works for me at different temps and edit it year after year to adjust to new insights and my evolving needs for winter clothing. Here is my personal FAQ I refer to for myself each Autumn so I don’t have to reinvent the wheel every year when I try to remember what worked 6 months ago.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ynG_e-u1JNPF8pudUURLVRF0PPXxkBghoICRsfva2CI/edit?usp=sharing

Just stumbled across this, COMPREHENSIVE! Also, bike clothing need not be expensive. Seasonal comfort buying is always inversely proportional to price, so wait for the first 90 degree day then go web bargain hunting for those neoprene booties.

[OneEighth]

@tuba_transport 66516 wrote:

For anyone entertaining the idea of purchasing the 3-bolt road cleat version of any boot, DON’T. Road cleats are USELESS in snow and ice. Step off the bike one time and the cleat fills with ice and you don’t get clipped back in. Invest in MTB pedals for winter if you have not already. Road soles are also USELESS to walk on in perfect summer conditions. Now try walking on them on ice and snow. Get the MTB pedals for winter.

True. I made this mistake when buying winter boots and am too stubborn (or cheap/afraid of my wife) to buy MTB boots. I usually end up having to carry some sort of pig-sticker on my pack to dig out any ice that jams up my cleats as a result. Not ideal.

[Dirt]

@OneEighth 67129 wrote:

True. I made this mistake when buying winter boots and am too stubborn (or cheap/afraid of my wife) to buy MTB boots. I usually end up having to carry some sort of pig-sticker on my pack to dig out any ice that jams up my cleats as a result. Not ideal.

Never click out. Problem solved.

[TwoWheelsDC]

Just in time for the cold snap! Sidi Diablos… A bit more expensive than the Northwaves, but I feel like Sidis are a long-term investment that are worth the extra up front cost…Looking forward to testing them tomorrow!

[bluerider]

I have recently discovered the ibex Woolies 150 sleeveless. I have started using it as a baselayer under short and long sleeved jerseys. Super comfort, well temp regulated, massive temperature range. As long as you can deal with knowing you wearing sleeveless clothing while not in Alabama, I highly recommend them as a first line of defense against the cold.

And some of them are on sale right now.

http://shop.ibex.com/Apparel/Mens-Short-Sleeve/M-Woolies-Sleeveless#outlet

[americancyclo]

@TwoWheelsDC 67371 wrote:

…Looking forward to testing them tomorrow!

Well!??!?!

[consularrider]

Come on, it was only 42°f this morning. Friday (or Saturday) morning at close to freezing will be a much better test. I think I’m gonna be cold for the first couple of hours of the Great Pumpkin Ride out in Warrenton on Saturday.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@americancyclo 67427 wrote:

Well!??!?!

37 degrees (according to wunderground.com) when I rode in at 7am…decided to do a real test, so I just wore thin summer cycling socks. My feet were cold the moment I got out of bed and they didn’t really get “warm”, but they didn’t get truly cold either…. Basically, my feet stayed normal, with a slight bent toward cold due to my wood floors. Also, I strapped them up a bit too tight, which I think helped keep my feet from warming up, but I was too lazy to stop and fix it. Tomorrow I’ll repeat the experiment, but loosening the straps. I tried the shoes with my thickest wool socks last night and it was like slipping my foot into a bath of warm chocolate, but I think that’d be too warm for the current temps.

Side note…to go along with the new boots, I bought a set of cheap SPD pedals (Shimano M520L) to put on my Cannondale, so I could commute on a road bike without having to either buy a set of winter road shoes or use booties. Although I’ve been riding clipless for a few years now, this new set is my first ever that’s double-sided and it’s kinda nice not having to take that half-beat to make sure your foot is in the right position to get the cleat connected.

[Bilsko]

The Giro New Road High Neck Zip up is absolutely superb. I just got mine in the mail a couple days ago and pretty much haven’t stopped wearing it since. On Friday’s commute with a light SaS wind shell, the Giro zip up was just the right temperature.
The cloth-feel is soft with just the right amount of roughness – I’m not really fond of super soft merino.

I’m 5’10/5’11 and about 145lbs and the small fits me very well.

If I had one gripe its about the rear zipper – Giro has designed the New Road line so that you’re supposed to use the pieces together. To that effect, the zipper on the back of this shirt doesn’t open to a pocket, rather it gives you access to the rear pocket on the base layer jersey you’re supposed to be wearing below. I don’t think I’ll be wearing this with anything underneath very often, so it won’t be very useful.

I like this one enough that I just went ahead and ordered a second.

[TwoWheelsDC]

REI is having a big sale, which includes Smartwool, so last night I picked up a medium-weight base layer. In the store, I thought it felt about the same as my Endura BaaBaas, but comparing them at home the difference was readily apparent. The Smartwool is a decent bit heavier and I was amazed at how noticeable the difference was between a lightweight layer and a medium-weight layer while riding. Also, it may have been my imagination, but even though I was warmer than I would’ve liked thanks to the thicker base layer, I didn’t start cooking and get all sweaty, which would’ve been the case had I just been wearing one of my heavier jerseys. Wool is magic!

[Greenbelt]

FYI on Winter layering — Laurie’s doing a workshop tomorrow night at Proteus.

[Dirt]

@Bilsko 68824 wrote:

The Giro New Road High Neck Zip up is absolutely superb. .

Freshbikes Mosaic has them in stock if you want to try them on too.

[guga31bb]

@Dirt 69718 wrote:

Freshbikes Mosaic has them in stock if you want to try them on too.

Is it bad form to try on stuff for sizing in a store with the intention of ordering online? I go to Freshbikes in Arlington to try things on a lot because they have decent selection but eventually feel guilty and start buying things there…

[Greenbelt]

@guga31bb 69719 wrote:

Is it bad form to try on stuff for sizing in a store with the intention of ordering online? I go to Freshbikes in Arlington to try things on a lot because they have decent selection but eventually feel guilty and start buying things there…

Sensitive topic. At Interbike this year, it was the biggest issue among retailers. They call it theft of service. I’m not so bothered, though, because sometimes people can only afford so much, and sometimes it is more convenient to order online. And some shops can be a little intimidating to newbies, which is a real problem, because the best place for newbies to learn is hanging out at a local bike shop! It was for me.

I think it’s always good form to visit your community bike shops and check stuff out first hand, even if you can’t afford. That’s why we’re there! But it’s even better form to support them by buying what you want on the spot if you can! If you think their stuff is overpriced, let them know. However, most shops, at least out where we live, are pretty reasonable on prices — people couldn’t afford it if they weren’t. And chances are, their service will help you chose wisely, not need to make returns, get the right fit etc. Not always, but usually.

Remember, folks at most independent LBSs and even the big REIs and chains of the world are helping local bike advocacy and teaching your neighbors, supporting local rides and infra, helping others upgrade or fix up their beaters to get back on the roads and trails. Internet bulk sellers, not so much. Nashbar won’t be there to help you when you break a spoke on the commute and need to be back on the road in the morning! And buying online to avoid sales taxes is just lame. At the very least, if you buy something online that you can’t get conveniently locally, donate to charity the 5 percent sales tax you should have paid.

And for heaven’s sake, don’t buy a bike on the Internet unless you really, really, really know what you’re doing! So many people come into my wife’s shop lamenting that they bought the wrong bike or got the wrong fit, just because they followed a bargain hunt instead of test riding.

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