How to Dress for Cold Weather Bicycle Riding: Christine Tejada Leppanen

Christine Tejada Leppanen
Daily Commute: 10 Miles Round Trip
Commuted Through Chicago Winters: 2 Times (plus another 8 in New York City)
Strategy: Lobsters and Shells

I’ll start with my upper body. I’ve owned many, many baselayers - wool, synthetic, coconut husk, etc. - and my good ole Craft Active Longsleeve Crewneck is still the tried and true best. Soft, durable (I won’t tell you how old my original one is), it keeps you dry and warm without being too much. This is the one piece or gear I insist that everyone I know should own. It costs $60.

Over this, I usually put on a good ‘ol cotton t-shirt, Yes, I know cotton is the devil, but it will also absorb the extra moisture off of your base layer, allowing it to keep you dry. This is a COMMUTING ONLY tip, because it requires removal of said cotton shirt very quickly once the trip is over. And you will need a place to hang it or a plastic bag to cart it home in, because it really won’t want to dry out.

As a midlayer, I will wear a synthetic insulated jacket. I’ve got a $200 Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket, because PrimaLoft is awesome and will keep you warm when wet (with sweat or precipitation), is windproof, and is super lightweight. It is warm considering it’s weight, but in sub-20 degree temps, I would recommend it as a layer.

Lastly, a shell. There are a lot of choices, but this winter my go-to has been my $150 Marmot Gravity Jacket. It’s a thick softshell made out of a waterproof and windproof material that has only let me down when I’ve tried to wear it in driving rainstorms...and even then it only leaked at the seams! You can also go with a wind and waterproof rainshell or ski shell, just keep in mind that the thicker and more burly the material, the more protection it offers.

Moving on to my lower body. You don’t feel the cold in your legs as much, so there is less need to layer as heavily. Still, a little insulation and a shell will make things a lot more pleasant than just some skinny jeans and a prayer.

Granted, they aren’t a baselayer, but fleecy running tights like the $70 Sugoi MidZero Tight will move with you and provide warmth. And they can easily go over cycling shorts for training in just regular cold weather.

I often use corduroys because I already look weird enough while shimmying out of ski pants at work, and they are warmer than jeans.

Over the top I wear shell pants. You’ve got options here. Ski pants are great for cold weather commutes - waterproof windproof and made to be moved around in. Again, I used to go with rain pants, and finally got fed up and invested in a pair of $225 Marmot Palisades Pants.  They are Gore-Tex Performance - average weight, snow-proof, and pretty durable. They also make an insulated version, but I figure I’m already wearing 1-2 pairs of pants underneath. I’m good.

Moving on to my feet. It’s important to note that I have very bony, fat-less feet, which are always cold. I have never found a perfect shoe solution, so I just kinda deal with what I got.

I’ve been riding in a pair of $160 Adidas Outdoor Mid GTX boots. Make sure your shoes are waterproof, because wet road spray comes from everywhere and sucks. I combine them with a pair of gaiters, because these boots aren’t very high and allow a decent level of ankle flexibility, which means snow and road spray are coming in. If it’s ridiculous cold, I uses toe warmers, stuck to the TOP of the inside (as to warm your foot from the top, because that’s where all the blood vessels pass).

The reasons I like gaiters is that in addition to sealing the gap between your pants and shoes, they keep your pants out of your chain. Rolling things up in freezing temps is not an option. I like the Outdoor Research Rocky Mountain High for $52.

As far as wool ski socks are concerned, everyone has a brand they like, I’ve had good luck with Smartwool PhD Medium cushion. I like the higher sock because it promotes blood flow in my lower leg which in turn helps keep my feet warm(ish). They cost $25.

I also use a layering system with my hands. First, I start with a liner. They are the weirdest liner I’ve ever owned, but the $30 Marmot DriClime Glove is also the best. The combination of DriClime (like super lightweight fleece) and a wind resistant shell that is made to slide into another glove with ease. I layer lobster gloves over the liners. Right now, I’m on my 3rd pair of Pearl Izumi P.R.O. Softshell Lobster Gloves, because they’re warm, you can ride a road bike and still use the brakes, and almost tie your shoes without taking them off, and for $75, they aren’t heinously expensive.

Over the lobster gloves I layer shell mittens. Say what? Yeah. I believe in shells. My coworkers laughed at me when I bought a pair of $80 Outdoor Research Revel Shell Mitts, but they have been key over the last 4 years, because when the weather starts to really suck, they are the extra layer tucked in my bag to ensure than my hands stay dry.

I also have a pretty successful gear combination for my head and neck. Many years ago I got my first piece from BuffSports, a neck gaiter, as a giveaway at a race. I now own lots of their classic neck gaiters, but have a special love for the Polar Buff because the fleece makes it amazing. And you can breathe through it, which many heavyweight neck gaiters make impossible. It costs $30. I won a Sheila Moon Brushed Supplex Euro Cycling Cap last fall, and it’s probably the warmest cycling cap I’ve had. It also stays over my ears even when my braid(s) try to dislodge the earflaps (something other hats don’t do). The brim minimizes snow and wind in my eyes, and still allows me to wear protective eyewear.  If you don’t win it, it costs $30.

Finally, let’s move on to protective eyewear. I’ve seen some people wear ski googles. My bike helmet wasn’t having that. So I bought a pair of hipster glasses from Urban Outfitters. Really though, it’s important to cover your eyes somehow, because snow stings.

GOOD LUCK

Next Cold Weather Commuter: Brett Ratner>>