Clothes for biking in colder weather?

long sleeve under aromour get the kind that keeps you warm when its cold and cold when its hot it works like magic seriously
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by Joe Thomas
December 1999
I’m always amazed at folks’ reluctance to venture out into the cold. Why hesitate? Our mountains have such a unique beauty in the winter; put on another layer and go! "Chattanooga is a four season bike town," states Chris Gilligan, former Chairman of Chattanooga’s Bike Task Force. "I’ve been winter biking for fifteen years. It’s as good as skiing and a lot cheaper too. Our region rarely is too cold for a ride." Not enough daylight you say? Ha! They make headlights for bikes, too. Given the beauty and fun of winter mountain biking and all the new clothing to support it, there are no excuses to stay inside this winter. Gear-up and get off the couch and go ride that bike.

Ever snow ski or ice skate? Were you cold? Of course not IF you simply dressed appropriately. Clothes for cold weather meant itchy wool and sweat catching cotton. Now active clothing is incredibly lightweight and will keep you warmer in a broader range of temperatures than ever before. When biking, your body temperature will rise and fall as the trail does. You’ll warm up on the uphill and cool off on the downhill. We often overdress for cold weather activities.

"Nothing ticks me off more than someone showing up for a ride lookin’ like the Michelin man, then bitchin’ the rest of the ride on how hot they are," spouts Hugh Worthy, outdoor guru. Hugh advises, "Always begin a ride feeling a little bit cold; you’ll warm up fast." He suggests wearing a pack with enough room to hold excess clothing if you get too hot. Most outdoor active wear has exceptional sweat wicking capabilities. Most of the time the new technical clothing is made from the same old polyester we used to cringe at, but with new technical knitting patterns. The experts have been able to develop some exceptional sweat wicking fabrics, fleece being a perfect example of this.

A great inexpensive alternative to buying bike specific jackets and tights is a unique product known as arm and leg warmers. They simply peel onto your arms and legs like stockings and just as simply peel off as you heat up.

With biking, keeping the toes and fingers warm is the only challenge. Wearing a pair of winter specific biking gloves or ski gloves and a pair of neoprene overshoes will do the trick. Keep in mind that it is not uncommon for us to have several sixty-degree days even in January or February. Hugh finishes his winter riding advice with, "It’s rare to need to wear a whole lot of extra clothes. Just layer them and avoid cotton fabrics. They trap sweat, which will get heavy and cold when you stop." Go Hugh!!

Once you get the right clothes, you have to find the time. My days are so full with job and family that my biking is often sequestered to evenings after work. Problem being it’s winter. It’s dark! Two years ago my wife bought me a helmet light, which straps on top of my bike helmet. That gift has opened a whole New World to me. The world of Night Riding!! My first night ride was up at Edward’s Point. I felt like my heart was going to pound through my shirt, I was so excited. Riding is so different at night. The trails appear thinner. The bike feels faster. My senses seem more alert. Light systems cost around $150, a cheap ticket to a whole lot of rechargeable fun. This is not some extreme hobby practiced by a few zealots in California. The popularity has grown to the point that the Chattanooga Bike Club offers organized Night Rides every week. Check out the Chattanooga Bike Club’s web site, http://www.chattbike.com, for night ride dates and locations. It is always advisable to ride with others for safety reasons. This certainly holds true with night riding. Remember to pack your mini-mag flashlight for an additional light source for fixin’ flats etc.

Keep in mind that when it’s winter rock formations are easier to see. Icicle galleries hang off every cliff, and waterfalls become ice sculptures. To see one of these winter works of art, drive to the top of Chilhowee Mountain (above Lake Ocoee), park at the picnic area, take the Benton Falls trail (beginner trail) to the falls. For the more avid cyclist, the Piney River trail above Dayton is the ticket. Finally, after a great day of winter biking, nothing feels better than to SOAK in a nice hot steamy bath.

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References :
http://www.chattbike.com/stories/Misc/jack.htm
http://www.pulsetc.com/article.php?sid=2235
http://www.pulsetc.com/article.php?sid=2235

I like to wear a wind resistant vest that has breathable material in the back to remove the heat. Partnered with a long sleeved jersey, I’d be comfy down to the low-mid 40s. Armwarmers and leg warmers are nice thin material but usually have a fleece-like inner surface to keep warm. A thin beanie cap under the helmet keeps the noggin from freezing. If the weather there is not freezing, keep your fingers comfy by using thin full-fingered gloves.
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what i do is just wear jeans and a tight long-sleeve shirt with an A-shirt underneath. youll be cold when you first start out but after a few minutes your body will warm up, then you can roll up the sleeves and its very comfortable. use a rubber band or some kind of shin guard on your right leg if you dont have a chainring guard, so you dint rip your pants.
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