Cycling Clothes for the Winter
by Philip Watson, President

Yeah sure, Dallas summers are hot, but you don't have to shovel sunshine.
      Someone from Wisconsin once said.

When frost first forms and the north wind howls down from the Rockies and barrels into North Texas, a lot of cyclists hang their bikes on storage hooks, or re-position the trainer someplace close to the hearth. But a bunch of GDBers start digging way back in their closets and begin pulling out storage boxes ("found it! . . . there's that other bootie") as they gear up for those approaching nippy, and sometimes flat-out-cold, rides.

Because GDB rides, even in the cold.

Winter brings out different shouts from the group of riders. As well as hearing, "car back!" and "slowing!" you start to hear "clothing adjustment!" as cyclists pull over, unzip and peel off a layer, wad it up and stick in a pocket somewhere.

When it comes to cold weather attire, the rule of thumb for most is:
      layers . . . layers . . . and more layers.
When cycling, the body generates a lot of heat and clothes that keep the heat in can make for a miserable ride. For many winter rides, the problem is not keeping warm enough but staying cool.

I think most will agree that starting off a little chilly and warming up is better than starting comfortable and getting hot. But layers of high-tech clothes designed for cycling have zippers and strategic vents that give impressive body temperature control throughout a ride.

If layers are a must then those layers also need to be "wicking". Otherwise the clothes get wet and soggy against your body. You've heard "icicle on a bicycle", well that's pedaling when wet, soggy, and cold. And the right clothes are the key to a comfortable winter ride.

Every GDBer is different, but many agree that the critical areas of the body are toes, fingers and ears. If you're head-tuft-deficient, like some of us guys, then a head sweat is essential.

Fact is, different temperatures require juggling of different clothes, and the mix and match that works for each, like anything else, comes with experience.

So, what clothes at what temperatures?

When the mercury is at 50 to 60, arm warmers, ear warmers and a light sleeveless (wicking of course) undershirt with maybe (or maybe not) tights or leg warmers, will work fine for most. Then when the mercury slides on down to 40 and 50, maybe add a breathable windbreaker, skull cap, long gloves and toe warmers.

Let that temperature fall into the 30s and it's time to break out the really serious stuff like booties, glove liners or lobster gloves, face masks, or chemical pads for inside the shoes. If you run a cost benefit analysis and decide to part with the funds, special cycling shoes can be purchased that shrug off cold feet and let you smugly remind others how cozy your tootsies feel, and, of course, the three hundred bucks was worth every penny.

Cold weather cycling can be tons of fun, because the air is crisp and clean. Modern day clothing manufacturers have done a great job of providing good quality cycling attire to let us get in those cold rides that we need to stay in shape through the wintry days. Low temperatures don't mean a miserable long ride, but rather a fun work out that keeps the aerobic base solid until the Robins sing in Spring. 

Clothing Guidelines:

Tights - or leg warmers (also called "knee" warmers and some prefer since they are easier to take off and pack during a ride). Two pair are usually needed for the winter, one lighter and one heavier for when the mercury starts to plunge. On really cold rides, leg warmers can be pulled over the tights to get double layers on the knees. Because frigid air blasting across naked knees is not a good thing. 

Foot wear - thick socks, toe warmers, zip-up booties and maybe chemical pads. If you feel the investment worth it, again, special cold weather cycling shoes can be purchased.

Gloves - long fingered to start, then thicker and heavier as the thermometer drops. I have 4-5 different pairs, plus glove liners, and use all of them depending on the temps. Not all gloves work well, even though they may be thick and heavy. I?ve had good luck with Pearl Izumi and the lobster style glove. One part of me that can really hurt if not well protected is the pinky.

Head - this varies quite a bit between cyclists. But most need ear protection and the elastic head bands usually suffice as a minimum. But others need skull caps, face masks and maybe a helmet cover. Head gear can mean a helmet may get tight. I have an oversized helmet just for the winter, and I cover the vents with clear packaging tape. But I'm absent hair up there y'all, and twenty mph polar winds can give a headache like the morning of January 1st.

Body - arm warmers (note how some are really getting exotic in color), a cycling vest with zipper and vents and good visible color, wicking under shirts (long and short sleeve), a long sleeve jersey, windbreaker (breathable). Vary the mix as necessary for the range of varying temps. 

Lips - better not forget, or your pucker will suffer the next day.

If you are new to cold weather cycling, GDB is as good a source of information as anywhere. Talk to GDBers about the cycling clothes they wear. Again, what one needs to stay comfortable may be different from some one else. One caveat: if you ask Dave Morgan what's good to wear in the cold, I suggest you get a second opinion. The big guy from Wales might breakdown and pull on a long sleeve tee shirt when it gets into the 30s.

Just one more richness of cycling is the experience of changing seasons. In the middle of those hot summer days, when we may stumble across somewhere in our stuff a piece of cold weather cycling gear, it often seems like a lifetime ago when our breath was visible as we took that hill. Then when Spring finally rolls around, it's so liberating to just grab a jersey and shorts and head out on the bike. But for now, very soon and once again, as darkness shoves away much of the daylight and dull gray skies cloak the skyline, with the comforting sweet scent of wood smoke roiling from chimneys, cyclists must take the little extra time to read the thermometer and rub their chin and decide what winter clothes to wear as they get ready to ride through Greater Dallas.

Don't lose your summer fitness, ride in the winter with GDB.