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FAO of DiS Bike Dork Gang: winter / wet weather gear
Hi Dorks
So this spring I bought a bike for the first time and it's been fantastic; my commute has been halved, I can get shit done stupidly quick, got less fat etc. etc.
Now autumn's pretty much come around and I'd like to keep commuting by bike, but obviously I'm going to get fucking soaked/frozen if I just keep doing it in regular clothes. So I have two questions:
1) what sort of waterproof / coldproof / whateverproof gear do you use?
2)what are the cheapest possible versions of said gear I can get away with?
TA
I dont really bother with waterproof gear
Ive got some full length winter tights, some baggy shorts to go over the top, and a long sleeve tight top, wear a shirt over that and some gloves.
If i wasnt so tall/awkward shaped I would probably get some bib tights so it covers the small of my back more.
im lucky that I can change at work and dry my stuff there, and most of the stuff I wear dries pretty quickly (just extra socks I need)
cheapest possible versions would be muddy fox stuff from sports direct or sometimes aldi have stuff in their specials.
Dunno
My solution: waterproof saddlebag with a change of clothes and a towel. Has meant having grundy cycling kit hanging up to dry in the office, which is popular with colleagues.
As for the cold, get some decent gloves, but other than that all you need is LAYERS. And an insulating sense of self-satisfied worthiness.
Basically, don't bother trying to stay dry because you won't
I use fairly cheap non-cycling waterproofs.
just over-trousers and a pac-a-mac from a camping shop, but my commute is fairly short, might get a bit sweaty if you're doing any distance. Did treat myself to a nice pair of Sealskinz gloves though, which keep my hands dry and warm.
Yeah, one piece of advice is to avoid anything that's specifically for cycling.
Seems to bump the price up by an obscene amount.
Thin black running gloves = £10 please sir.
Thin black cycling gloves = 'ooh, wedding gloves? you'll definitely be needing the wedding gloves sir. We have just the wedding gloves for you, that'll be £25 please'
Don't really bother either.
Just wear shorts, trainers, long-sleeved thinsulate top and a waterproof mac. I stop wearing socks if it looks too wet outside too.
I will be wearing gloves for AW 13/14, but my ex-TV lost one of them at the weekend so will need to purchase a new one. Where can one buy a single glove? (that matches my current one)
My commute is only 2.5 miles each way though. And I get changed in the office (phwoar!).
Overshoes work quite well for keeping your feet both dry and warm
They are made of neoprene, but you will get a bit of seepage down through the cuff.
I recommend arm warmers if you don't like wearing long sleeves. You can just pull them down to wrist level if you get hot and pull them back up if you get colder.
I personally wear bib tights if the wet and cold, but they aren't for everybody. If you don't like the sound of these, leg or knee warmers work the same as tights, but they just fit under your shorts.
Long fingered gloves are a must in winter.
A Buff is also a very versatile piece of kit. You can wear it as a neck scarf/collar, a balaclava or a skull cap.
You can get cheap stuff on here www.cycle-clothing.co.uk
Just a tip, if you see anything with Roubaix in it, it's a fleece lined garment, which will keep you warm, but will hold on to water more than lycra.
I bought a Buff the other week actually, they were on sale at Wiggle
it's really great!
I've got a dhb waterproof jacket from wiggle that's great.
It's got zippy vents so you don't get super hot when it's rainy but mild, and it's just black so I'm happy wearing it whilst not cycling. It's withstood some absolutely belting rain.
If you're tall, you run the risk of non-cycling jackets being too short in the arm or the back.
I used to be able to get changed at work but that's not the case any more, so I mostly cycle to work in jeans, with dorky looking overtrousers when it's really wet or cold.
also if you have a rucksack
remember to cover your things with a plastic bag (y)
Get some umbrellas:
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Admin/BkFill/Default_image_group/2012/12/12/1355307059851/Mrs-Armitage-008.jpg
summer/spring - shorts + tshirt
autumn - socks, shorts, long sleeve top with thing gloves
winter - 2 socks, leggings, shorts, tshirt, luminous cycling jacket, ear warmers, snood
always carry the water proof jacket if i think it's gonna rain, but in London, it hardly ever does.
in one of these threads
someone said something about just setting up an ebay alert for a certain type of frame. cos they're cheap and good. what was that? need bike.
http://drownedinsound.com/community/boards/social/4437214
cheers babe
x
really want an all merino wool cycling outfit
they make merino boxers too
The Vulpine stuff looks pretty nice.
Fucking expensive though.
vulpine and rapha are the way forward
But you'll be shelling loads out on it. So comfy though.