Help! It's cold!

by paul ▫ Oct 31, 03:12 PM ▫

If you have been at all coherent over the past two weeks, you are familiar with the fact that it is getting chilly. Actually, more than chilly. I left my house this morning and looked like a chain-smoker walking through the parking lot as steam billowed out of my mouth upon every breath. Recently we have been getting more and more questions pertaining to how one should dress for a bicycle ride in the colder winter weather to come. Therefore I would like to take some time to address this issue.

First things first:

-Keep your head, neck, hands, and feet warm and covered! These are the extremities that are most likely to become cold first.

-Layer, layer, layer! There is no one single piece of winter clothing that will satisfy all your needs. In layering you also ensure that you can strip off clothes during a ride if you get too warm.

-It is ok to begin a ride slightly cold. This will minimize sweat build up. You will always warm up as you ride.

-Wool is your friend. Wool socks and jerseys will keep you super warm in the cold weather.

Here are some temperature guidelines to keep your riding as comfortable and enjoyable as possible:

Cool (60-70 degrees)
-Upper Body: Base layer, short sleeve jersey, arm warmers
-Lower Body: Cycling shorts or knickers, knee warmers
-Hands: Short fingered gloves

Cooler (50-60 degrees)
-Upper Body: Long sleeve base layer, long sleeve jersey, arm warmers, chest warmer, wind jacket/windshell
-Lower Body: Cycling shorts with leg warmers or cycling tights
-Hands: Long fingered gloves

Really Cold (40-50 degrees)
-Upper Body: Long sleeve base layer, long sleeve jersey, water proof jacket
-Lower Body: Cycling tights
-Hands: Long fingered gloves
-Head: Skull cap or ear warmers

Frigid (30-40 degrees)
-Upper Body: Long sleeve base layer, short sleeve jersey, long sleeve jersey, water proof jacket
-Lower Body: Cycling tights with knee warmers
-Hands: Water/Wind proof long fingered gloves
-Head: Balaclava to cover head and neck
-Feet: Neoprene shoe covers

So cold that getting me on the bike requires the promise of either money or a hot dinner afterward (under 30 degrees)
-Upper Body: Long sleeve base layer, short sleeve jersey, long sleeve jersey, water proof insulating jacket, windshell
-Lower Body: Lycra shorts, cycling tights, leg warmers (Basically you shouldn’t be able to bend your legs)
-Hands: Water/Wind proof long fingered gloves
-Head: Skull cap, balaclava to cover head and neck
-Feet: Neoprene shoe covers, foot warmers

The best part of this whole thing is…you can find all of this at C’ville Bike & Tri!