Requesting Advice for Winter Commuting Apparel

Hi,

I'm a new(ish) Chicago bike commuter.  I am looking for advice on winter apparel.  I have the good fortune of being able to change and shower at the office, so I don't need gear that will double as work clothes or go over biz casual.  Just looking for advice from fellow Chicagoans, mostly with regard to pants/bibs/etc, shoe (covers) and gloves.  Also I tend to be on the frugal end of the spend spectrum!  Thanks in advance.

Matt

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Permalink Reply by igz on August 15, 2013 at 2:36am

there are several threads on this on Chainlink, just do a history search.  but the short of it - windproof, water proof everything, goretex boots if ya got the money, rubber if ya dont. armpit vents are non negotiables, several hats on hand and always packed with, balaclavas, goggles. wicking thermals are your best friend.  wool! dont forget the wool! you will need gloves for different temperatures.  some will be too hot, some will be too cold. have three different options and you will find one that is right on any given day.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on August 15, 2013 at 2:55am
Permalink Reply by Josh L. on August 15, 2013 at 3:06am

Underarmour cold weather winter running tights are awesome and can be used Oct - April.  Incredibly light weight, flexible and warm.  

Underarmour cold weather running shirt is perfect for up top. I wear it under a light weight jacket which i then switch to a heavy jacket once it drops under 40.  

No I do not work for Under Armor..just like their stuff and it is much less expensive than Nike.  

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on August 15, 2013 at 3:16am

A wool long sleeve undershirt and two wool sweaters will be good down to 10 degrees when you're moving.  Any long pants will do, just be sure to have a band on the right cuff so it doesn't get tangled with your chain.

I've got regular gloves and mitten covers to keep the wind off.  Any kind of wraparound ear warmer will work, and maybe a thin cap or bandanna under your helmet if your head leaks.

And fenders.  Your feet will frees a lot faster if they get wet.

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on August 15, 2013 at 4:43am

Get a good pair of boots (I've got Keens) and thermal bike tights. Dress in layers. Bottom layer: moisture-wicking material (e.g. long-sleeve bike jersey), middle layer: warmth (I've got a Mission Workshop wool zip-up, and top layer: wind and waterproof (I've got the Mission Workshop Orion jacket). Get some lobster gloves and a thinner wool glove for a liner when it's really cold. Balaclava is a must. Sunglasses help for the really sunny days where the sun reflects off the snow. A cycling cap will keep precipitation out of your eyes.

I've got a rain jacket that I'd be willing to sell if you need one. PM me if you're interested.

Permalink Reply by Mike Weez on August 15, 2013 at 4:46am

I gave up my car last fall and rode all winter.  I would say that no matter what you wear, as long as you keep your ears and fingers warm you will be good.  There are a lot of options to keep your ears warm like 180's, to helmet liners, to bike helmets specifically suited for the cold.  I didn't have fancy bike gloves, and finding warm gloves is easy.  Most bike shops carry gloves for riding if you don't want bulky Walgreens gloves like I wear.  Also important is that you'll want to have the mentality of any winter outdoor activity; you know it will be cold so no biggie and have fun.  

Permalink Reply by Duppie on August 15, 2013 at 5:03am

First off: you have to learn by trial and error. While all of the above guidelines are good starting points, not all may apply to you. How far do you commute? How fast do you commute? How much do you sweat? Will you ride in any weather, or do you stop riding when it gets really bad? Examples: 1. I never use a balaclava, even in the low teens. I overheat when I use one. Other people start wearing them once it starts wearing. 2. I don't start wearing 180s ear covers until it is around freezing. Other people may stop wearing them once it hits mid-thirties.

Second: Don't spend a lot of money until you figured out what works for you. Mission Workshops makes very nice stuff. So does my personal favorite Swrve. But they sure are expensive. May be better to go to some thrift stores, find some cheap layers and try out. And besides, most people already have a lot of stuff that could be used. When I started riding in the winter, I used some 10 year old ski pants, that were wasting away in the back of my closet. Worked fine for the first couple of years. Then after a year or two, if you still ride in the winter, go out and buy the fanciest stuff you can afford.

But, if you feel you have to spend some money now, focus on hands and feet. Most threads on the CL about getting cold during the winter are either about hands or feet. That seems to be most common issue encountered.

Happy winter riding!

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on August 15, 2013 at 5:10am

Your second point is certainly good advice, but I have definitely wasted money on trying to get a cheaper good, then ended up buying the expensive one because the cheaper one sucked. I started off with a $50 Pearl Izumi rain jacket, then upgraded to a $250 Showers Pass jacket when I realized that the PI jacket was shite. Then, about six months later, I bought the $400 Mission Workshop jacket and it has been great.  The Showers Pass jacket still leaked, despite its high price.

So while you shouldn't just go out and drop $1,000 on winter gear, there is definitely something to be said about buying quality stuff right off the bat.


Duppie 13.5185km said:

Second: Don't spend a lot of money until you figured out what works for you. Mission workshops makes nice stuff. So does my personal favorite Swrve. But they sure are expensive. May be better to go to some thrift stores, find some cheap layers and try out. And besides, most people already have a lot of stuff that could be used. When I started riding in the winter, I used some 10 year old ski pants, that were wasting away in the back of my closet. Worked fine for the first couple of years. Then after a year or two, if you still ride in the winter, go out and buy the fanciest stuff you can afford.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on August 15, 2013 at 5:35am

On the other hand, I had a who knows how old Lands End goretex rain jacket gathering dust in my closet that was windproof and waterproof, was big enough to get a couple of layers under, and which I wore almost every day riding last winter.

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth M. on August 15, 2013 at 6:32am

It's still August! Why is there so much talk about winter riding already??? 

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on August 15, 2013 at 6:39am

I've got an ancient Gore-tex jacket that I used to use for sailing. It's no longer waterproof, but it makes a great wind-proof breathable layer for cool/cold weather riding.

For anyone with asthma or sensitive sinuses who is considering winter riding, wearing a fleece balaclava is a great way to keep your face and sinuses more comfortable in colder weather.  As Duppie notes above, the temperature at which you need to cover your nose and/or mouth may vary, depending on your sensitivity.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on August 15, 2013 at 6:43am

It's Chicago.  Winter could arrive next week! :-)  These cool mornings have some people thinking it is here already.
 
Elizabeth M. said:

It's still August! Why is there so much talk about winter riding already??? 

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