Clifton CC

Abit of a silly question really.

But I need some gear to warm me up, I went for a short ride today but its so cold in shorts I think I need to keep my legs abit warmer, what sort of cycling trousers do I want? I mean I cant see how they possibly keep anyone warm because they are so thin?? Do people wear the shorts under them still for extra protection against the cold? I only want to spend about 30 quid really, unsure on what I should have for upper body too?

Also I'm not going to ruin my main bike using it in winter right? I do plan on going out whatever the weather even if it is chucking it down and wonder if the salt in the water or something is going to damage it more in winter? I don't really want to use my old bike apart from the 3mile commute anymore.


Thanks
Will.

edited by Arthur on 16 Nov to change the title

Will.
If you are looking to keep your spending down on winter clothing or any cycle gear, its worth having a look at Cycle-Clothing.co.uk
I have purchased a few items this year and the quality seems ok for the price.

John

In winter you really want to keep your knees warm or you'll have problems with them. Bare minimum is knee warmers or leg warmers - get proper "Roubaix" or similar warm ones. Next step up is winter tights; again something a bit warmer than just lycra. Some have double layer of fabric (or a layer of windproof material) over the knees. Some have inserts, some don't. If you get them with, you don't need shorts under whereas if you get them without, then you clearly do. For upper body something long-sleeved, again with some sort of "Roubaix" or micro-fleece material, or lots of jerseys and some arm-warmers. Look out for jackets with windproof fronts too. Oh, and get a winter under-helmet hat that keeps your ears warm too. (I did three hours out in cold wind today with club training jacket / thermal baselayer top / bibshorts / winter tights and was warm as anything).

With all of the above you don't need anything thick - which will restrict movement - but you want an extra layer or two, with a little extra warmth. Also you want to cover up - bare skin will very quickly chill you.

There's another thread already about the winter bike / no winter bike issue - as ever there are plenty of opposing views!

Will

You will want long tights for the winter. In the short term you could try to pick up a pair of leg warmers but as it gets colder they won't be enough.

Winter tights come in a huge variety of materials and styles. Some are to be worn over shorts,others have inserts,some are designed for chilly days others for freezing days,some claim to be really waterproof and some have zips and end at your ankle whilst others have foot loops.
On a tight budget I would get a pair of bib longs(have shoulder straps) with toe straps.Bib longs will give you extra warmth around your chest and won't start sliding down when wet. I have an Endura pair which I use for a large chunk of the year. I have a thicker pair with a water resistant section from the shin to ankle but I use them only when it's really cold and wet.
For your top half,remember layering, I use old light weight long sleeve tops as base layers and then a thick cycling top with a gilet. If it's really cold wear your waterproof to help keep you warm. You need to get yourself some gloves.
If you know your size you will find internet cheaper than shops. Having said that do check out Tesco and Halfords as they do have some decent stuff and Aldi for special offers.

Helen

You think Cycle Heaven and Haxby cycles will have all the stuff I need? Don't fancy buying online really. I'm not sure on my size.

Does the cold also case problems for lower leg muscles (calf muscles)? As mine kind of ache when I tense them at the moment, was my left one then when I cycled home on saturday my right one started playing up, I noticed the week before too come to think about it my right knee started messing up too.

Is it normal for the Clifton CC bib shorts to wear out after like 4-5 months, mine seem a little worn now on the actual pads and just the lycra seems abit slack.

It seems very complicated all this stuff needed, I would have thought you just have stuff for warm days and cold days, not in between days too

You should be able to get all you need at CH and Haxby.

If you exercise when joints are cold, they don't like it. However I wouldn't get too paranoid about every twitch or ache - we all get them now and then. But keep the knees warm!

The Clifton bibshorts should last ages - I've had mine a couple of years now and I rotate between three pairs, so they get a lot of use. All are still fine except the oldest where the leg gripper elastic is getting a bit dangly. They go in a 40c machine wash along with the rest of the household's coloureds.

Cycle clothing's not that complex, it's just that you're completely subject to the weather when out on a bike, and there's a big difference between 2 degrees and 10 degrees, between crisp day and foggy day, etc. You don't need a shedload of kit, just enough stuff to combine in layers to suit what it's doing outside!

On a tight budget I would get a pair of bib longs(have shoulder straps) with toe straps.

Definitely second that. Roubaix (fuzzy inside) bib tights are my main defence in winter; with the bib over your warm base layer and the ankle strap over your socks, they really stop cold air creeping in around the edges. But I think you will need to spend more than 30quid - even Wiggle's budget dhb Merston Bib Tights are GBP39.

I made the mistake on Friday of sneaking out early for some late autumn sunshine on the Wolds with legwarmers and summer shorts. Despite my warm baselayer, thick winter jersey AND windproof gilet over the top, as the sun set and I turned home, the headwind just cut into me around the middle and I was shivering by the time I got back. (Still a beautiful evening though - sunset through Millington pasture looked fantastic.)

Only other thing I would add to the hat-under-helmet and warm gloves would be a turtleneck neckwarmer thingy. Particularly handy for pre-dawn commuting on winter mornings.

cheers,
tom

I went and got some Aultra (or whatever they are called) tights from CH yesterday, 30 quid, they seem nice and warm although the only problem is it is like being Simon Cowell as they are so high but I guess it'll keep me warm!

Sounds like what you want. No-one will know they so high as long as you don't tuck your jersey in and we won't tell

hehe.

Well I think these worked great today, I had them over my cycling shorts and I was kept warm on the legs most of the time, I'm pretty sure though if I was any fitter and was able to keep say 30mph constant, that at those speeds my toes would form ice on nearly!!, I just did 30 miles today and kept 20mph for most of it, problem was, anything over 15mph and the air blowing through that hole in the shoes was making my feet feel very painful and numb, felt like my feet where in cold water!!, so I was thinking, whats it going to be like when it is even colder AND chucking it down??????????? I guess I need like 4 pairs of socks on and overshoes?

Windproof overshoes are a very good idea; you shouldn't need extra socks as they just squish your feet and restrict the blood supply. When buying overshoes try before you buy, so you can make sure they don't get in the way of your cleats - some overshoes are clearly designed for small cleats (like SPD's) and are useless with big cleats (like SPD-SL's).

What on earth are you doing tearing around at 20mph in winter for, Will? It's cold out there - long steady miles, man! Long steady miles! Read Joe Friel! Read anything!

PhilBixby wrote:Windproof overshoes are a very good idea; you shouldn't need extra socks as they just squish your feet and restrict the blood supply. When buying overshoes try before you buy, so you can make sure they don't get in the way of your cleats - some overshoes are clearly designed for small cleats (like SPD's) and are useless with big cleats (like SPD-SL's).

What on earth are you doing tearing around at 20mph in winter for, Will? It's cold out there - long steady miles, man! Long steady miles! Read Joe Friel! Read anything!

Is it bad cycling fast in Winter? I just cant resist, with a tailwind as it was all way to york I can help but maintain a constant 25mph, it just is soooo fun!!

I do steady parts but my Garmin is constantly telling me to speed up

Regarding the Clifton bib-shorts, I had to buy a second pair recently. My first pair lasted just over a year but essentially the panel that runs across the lower back/upper buttocks was worn through to the point of becoming almost transparent. I can only assume that this is the part most prone to being stretched as the other areas of them are fine. I will use that pair under my bib-tights over the winter and use my new ones after this.

My shorts just feel worm when I put them on, the Lycra at first felt grippy to the legs, but now it sorts of just moves over and has no grip much and the inside pad is breaking abit.

Phil - ah, the Joe Friel only slow miles in winter thing. I'm not a fan myself.