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14 comments
Merino long sleeve base layers - Endura BaaBaa and Howies NBL are excellent. It has to be near freezing for me to need a midlayer. If it's really cold I wear a windproof fleece instead. Hands and feet are more of an issue for me in those conditions. Headband or Buff for the ears/under the hlmet and I have been known to put masking tape over the main front vent.
Get an Icebreaker merino baselayer. Really, really good.
endura fs260 tops are awesome.
I've also got a Gore Phantom; it's very good, but not perfect. The black bits on the sleeve curl in too much (don't know if that's a manufacturing defect, a design flaw, or something about how I put it on!), and, more importantly, I find it can get quite clammy unless it's really cold. I also wouldn't wear the sleeves with bare arms underneath for the same reason. It's reasonably water resistant (for a while), and the detachable arms give it good flexibility. For me, though, it's more a cold-weather garment than a cool-weather garment.
Sorry, that seems to have turned into a review of one specific piece of kit. I find I can get pretty far into the autumn wearing a short-sleeved windproof jersey (Gore Ozon - I think it's great; road.cc has issues with the pockets, but you can put one line of stitching in to tighten them up) with a base layer and arm warmers. Great flexibility that way. For proper rain protection, I've recently picked up a Montane Photon jacket that packs down well enough to jam into a pocket and is the most breathable rain jacket I've owned (although I've never tried anything in the >£120 bracket). I can second the vote for the Craft windstopper skullcap, and I also have a Gore Signature cap that keeps my head and glasses dry when it rains. I also think knee/legwarmers are a good solution; then you can wear nice expensive shorts all year round, and not have to buy separate ones that only get used at certain times of the year.
Thank you for all your replies!! It's much appreciated! I'll let you know what I go for!
Last winter I rode in all conditions, when it got down to -10 I wore the following:
long sleeved base layer (anything will do)
altura night vision jacket
tog24 ski gloves or my 5mm wetsuit gloves
leggings(river island nicked off my gf)
fleecy pants (old cycling trousers)
dhb roubaix leggings
3 pairs of socks
fleecy head band
When above 0 remove layers to your liking.
I've got a Gore Oxygen Windstopper, had it for ovet 2 years and it's been excellent. Only needed a base layer underneath, even in the coldest of weather. A polar buff from Shutt and a Craft windstopper skull cap keep me warm all winter.
Thanks for the reply! What's the jacket like in the rain?? Or do you carry a lightweight waterproof one??
Thanks!
Seen this in the classifieds that might be ok for you.
Cant comment if they are any good though.
http://road.cc/content/forum/69109-hiviz-pearl-izumi-select-barrier-wxb-...
HTH
The dhb range is good.
EQ2.5 is really really good.
Otherwise, just stuff like arm and knee/leg warmers, perhaps even 3/4 length shorts.
A headband is also highly recommended, keeps your ears warm.
And a cap, either on top or standalone for when you want the tips of your ears to be pink for a coffee stop.
I bought a DHB longsleeve Windslam jacket a few years ago.
Is not waterproof but it keeps a fair amount of the rain out and is lovely and warm.
When the temperature is down to about 5C I manage to get by just wearing the jacket and a base layer, any lower and I need to wear a jersey too.
RE base layers I just wear cheap mirino wool base layers bought off Ebay for about £15.
Hi Firenick
ive got a gore phantom convertible soft shell jacket and its the best investment ive made,its good for those cold days and those warmer days when the suns to stop you getting too hot, (removable sleeves) this is a gore tex jacket http://www.wiggle.co.uk/gore-bike-wear-phantom-soft-shell-convertible-ja... newer version of mine
i would swear by this jacket, i usually wear just a jersey underneath and it keeps you really warm, as for base layers i dont really use them as the reason above, i hope this helps
Thanks for the reply! @Bigchrismm and @paulfg42 Could you tell me what it's like in the rain or do you have another jacket for that??
Thanks!
Jacket is water resistant and, despite quite a few downpours, rain has never seeped through. I could do with trousers of similar quality now I think about it!