Conference noted::bicycle

    I rode all last winter when the roads did not have to much snow. One
    Saturday I did the Cape Cod railtrail and my water bottle froze.
    
    I found the biggest problem was wind rather than temperature. (Note I
    ride for fittness rather than speed so am not concerned with wind
    resistance). I used sweat pants and a polar plus pullover above my
    waist. Turtle neck etc also. 
    
    I bought a training suit from Landsend which is wind and water
    resistant. It made a big difference in how comfortable I felt. Another
    addition is a polarplus helmet liner which helps to keep your head
    warm.
    
    An addition for this year will be foam covers which will cover my feet
    and ankles. Ankles and feet were my achilles heel last year.
    
    IMHO, my clothing was rather bulky compared to racing clothes
    but I was quite comfortable.

>> I won't do rain/snow and temps below 45 degrees probably.

    Scotsmen melt at those sort of tempratures!
    
> o for the biking I'll be doing, is it worth paying $40.00 - $50.00 respectively
> on cool weather jerseys and tights?

    Yes.
    
> o Or should I just buy sweatpants and shirts at a local department store?
    
    No.
    
> What do you usually wear in the cool weather?

	I'm already riding in temps close to your no-go temprature. One
    thing that I will emphasise is that I don't believe that you should
    stick to your criteria. Over here, I will regularly ride in tempratures
    well below freezing. The cold often isn't the problem. Usually it's the
    wind which makes you colder, and especially the rain. Cold water
    soaking the feet at 2 below zero is no fun.
    
    	I wouldn't advise a cyclist to buy non-cycling clothes especially
    in the winter. If you can, buy clothes that are designed for your
    sport. Going by what you say, I would advise a pair of lycra tights
    over your shorts (that way you still get the short's chamois next to
    your skin), a pair of thermal socks (unlike running, you don't have a
    pounding on your feet to keep them warm. This will always be the first
    part of the body to get cold) and if it's raining or very cold then a
    pair of overshoes. Go for the rainproof ones, not the fleecy ones that
    last about 3 clubby winter runs before exploding. Anyway, it's wet feet
    that kill you, not cold, dry feet.
    
    	As for the top half of the body, a couple of tops. I would wear a
    lycra short-sleeved under a woolen long-sleeved, possibly with a
    chamois wind cheater if necessary. If it was very windy, then I don't
    think that you could beat a nylon fronted jacket. Beware, these are
    very warm and only need a short-sleeved top at most. Always wear a hat,
    30% of your body heat escapes through your bonce, and if you are as
    follically challenged as I am, even more... :*). Ski hats are good as
    they offer the most protection to the ears. Gloves seem to be a
    personal thing. I'll always wear them, some seem to hate gloves on
    their hands and will ride all weathers with bare hands. If you do buy
    gloves, you may want to buy nylon rainproof covers. Once washed, the
    chamois palm of a glove is never the same.
    
    Graham.
           

    Somebody had a 1-page write up on what to wear at what temperature. 
    I've lost my copy and I know that whoever made it up is no longer here. 
    Was it the guy with the recumbent?  Did he leave an online copy
    somewhere?
    
    Bob

Here's what I wear, for temperatures down to a little below freezing. By the
way, I'm definitely not into spending money if I can avoid it.

Under the helmet, I wear an earband/headband thing. It's about three inches
wide, and is made of warm synthetic fleece/very soft pile.

I wear a heavyweight long sleeve jersey, under a wind-proof zip-front jacket
(a Pearl Izumi Silmond, I think, about $45 from a local shop). These two keep
my torso warm.

Over a regular pair of cycling shorts, I wear a pair of heavy tights made of
pile, with a wind-proof front. These are very warm; almost too warm.

For my hands, I have two pairs of full-fingered gloves, one with almost no
insulation, and one with lots of insulation. The lighter ones are OK down into
temperatures in the 40s (F). The heavier ones are fine into the 20s.

I have a pair of thick neoprene toe covers for my feet. These are not really
satisfactory. They constrict my toes inside the shoes, probably negating the
insulation/wind-proofing effect they have. When the temperature is near or
below freezing, my feet are painful after 45 minutes or so. I've been thinking
about getting full shoe covers to solve this problem.

One winter technique I've learned is to keep the water bottle spout closed if
the temp is below freezing, because that's the first thing to clog up.
						-- Tom

    To Basenoter;   
    
         Probaly the biggest problem in winter riding is remaining dry.
    If you are going to ride long enough to build up a high moisture
    level in the clothing that you are wearing then you could have
    problems if you are wearing non-wicking clothing.  Most department
    store clothing probaly has a significant cotton content, cotton can
    become very uncomfortable when it gets wet in wintry conditions.
         As far as your feet are concerned, you may want to invest in a
    couple of pairs of Thinsulate socks.  The shoe covering which you
    described is probaly Neoprene, I have found that it does not keep my
    feet warm enough alone, the Thinsulate socks provided a huge boost.
         As a final observation, it seems that you are only planning to
    ride for the next couple of months or so.  It is going to be hard to
    get many 40 degree plus days in New England after mid-November.
    
       Abe;

    To Tom;
    
         On Neoprene.  I have found the full Neoprene bootie to be
    constricting.  I have had my circulation in my feet reduced by
    the booties.  I no longer use Neoprene booties, I use a synthetic
    cloth pair that I purchased from Brandford Bike.  The cloth pair
    proved to be measurably superior to Neoprene right away then I
    added Thinsulate socks last winter, my feet were finally in Hog
    heaven.
         The only problems that I have now are cold lips and hands which
    get cold on the first part of a ride.  I am looking into a face shield
    for the lips and think that I can solve the residual hand problem by
    buying a pair of long silk women's formal gloves ( if I can find a
    pair large enough ).
    
         Abe;
    

    
    Re. footwear
    
    About 5 years ago I got a pair of Duegi Gore Tex shoes that were more
    boot shaped (they covered the ankle), for �60. I wouldn't mind getting
    another pair of these, has anyone seen them anywhere recently?
    
    Graham.

     The question(s), basically, are tough ones. You will get many
    opinions on brands, materials, layering, etc... 
    
     The inputs are all valuable, but DO NOT take them as gospel. You'll
    need to experiment. Casual riding, like serious riding, is hardly
    quantitative. Your personal effort and your body's reaction to that
    effort is what you need to listen to, take note, and adjust where
    necessary.
    
     Case in point... I have two pairs of neoprene booties (Performance
    and LOOK). I like them and don't find them restricting. If anything,
    my feet get too warm unless it's in the "teens." 
    
     Any windbreaker will take care of wind penetration. It's what's under-
    neath that counts. 
    
     The biggest risk is over dressing. Don't ever dress so that you're 
    comfortable when you step out od the house. You'll get uncomfortable
    very quickly.
    
     Chip

RE: <<< Note 2680.6 by STRATA::ASMITH >>>
    
>         On Neoprene.  I have found the full Neoprene bootie to be
>    constricting.  I have had my circulation in my feet reduced by
>    the booties.

Did the constricting booties fit over/outside of the shoe? If so, do you think
a larger size (if available) might have helped?
						-- Tom

    To .9 ( Tom ),
    
         The booties fit over the shoes, they were slightly over-sized in
    an attempt to avoid the problems that I had.  I think the problem is
    that Neoprene is basically a rubbery type substance, ever tried banding
    a rubber band around your feet (even with shoes on )?
    
       Abe;
    

    I wear Neoprene socks, tight but toasty.
    
    ed

    and all of the other stuff too, of course.
    
    :-)
    
    ed

    The base note mentioned mail order.

    I'd advise trying things on at a bike shop.  For example
    be sure any jacket you buy has long enough sleeves by holding
    your arms out they way they will be on the bars, etc.

    I'll mail order stuff if I'm certain it would fit, like socks,
    short liners, or a brand of shorts that I know already fits, but
    always go to a store to buy clothing, shoes, helmet...

    Special clothing is expensive, but worth it for the comfort and
    extended riding season, and you will get years use out of it.

    - Jim

For comparison's sake:

I'm a commuter, not a racer or fitness rider.
I ride a short distance to work everyday that the 
temperature is > -15�C and there is less than 10cm 
of snow on the roads. (I walk the other 2-3 days/winter)

In cold weather over my work clothes I wear:

	> +5�C a hooded sweatshirt
	< +5�C an ordinary thinsulate parka, water-resistant shell

On my head, under my helmet, I wear:

	> -5�C a wool knit stocking cap or sweatshirt hood
	< -5�C the hood of my parka

On my hands:

	> +5�C cheap cotton work gloves
	> -10�C thinsulate/goretex gloves
	< -10�C double insulated mittens with waterproof shell

On my feet:

	dry days - ordinary shoes
	wet days - rubber work boots, the kind that come
	           up to your knees. Fenders never kept my
	           feet & pants dry, nor the road grime out
	           of my shoes.

On rainy days I also put on a pair of rain pants.

I look kind of funny, and I don't win any races, but
I'm always warm and cozy when I get to work.

				John

Re. -1

If you can walk to work the other days, I would imagine that your rides are
shorter than the base noters. If that is the case, then yes, you will be able
to get away with non-specialist clothes. But rubber work boots would be hard on
run of any serious length...

Graham.

    A word of warning on footwear for cold temperatures.  Aside from the
    obvious disadvantages of a ventilated shoe, be aware that a lot of the
    popular cycling footwear has a metal plate under the ball of your foot. 
    Such a metal plate serves to remove heat from your feet VERY rapidly. 
    As a case in point, I can't wear my SPD shoes once the temperature
    approaches freezing.
    
    If you're stuck for cold temperature footwear, you could press into
    service an old pair of cross-country ski boots - they have reasonbly
    stiff soles and usually a fleece lining, but are not designed to freeze
    the bottoms of your feet.  You could even use a pair of cross-country
    gaiters as a cheap substitute for neoprene booties.
    
    That's the advice from  a country that makes even Scotland seem warm
    ;>)
    
    Rick