The Chainlink

Friday Frivolity: when the mercury drops, what first for you? Longer pants, long sleeve shirt...jacket?

So happy to hear I am not alone singing out loud while riding my bike. Yesterday morning and again today, something funny happened on the commute. I was colder than I like, but MTFU or whatnot and did my ride. I am a year round commuter but tend to fare better with acclimating to temp changes then this sudden drop. Whine whine. BUT here's the question: I am a shorts, t shirt commuter right now. So I am faced with the quandary of what layer first, which seems to beg the question which layer pyramid schematic do you follow. I am sticking with shorts and adding a vest. My legs usually generate plenty of BTUs perhaps from the cycling while my top half seems to shiver. Of course this assumes some sort of teleological nature of shorts then pants then long sleeve shirt then jacket...etc

TL/dr when the weather gets colder, which layer do you add on first? And do you follow any order of "building up" the layers.

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I was fine with the usual long pants, not usual long sleeve shirt, no jacket today.

1 Long Sleeve shirt

2 Thermals + shorts (very comfortable)

3 Mittens

4 Sweatshirt

5 Turtle Fur neck muff

6 Hat

7 Jacket

8 Crying into my pillow, But I would rather not think about this at all.

Underwear

Shorts

Shirt

Pants

Long-sleeve shirt

Jacket

Gloves

Scarf

Extra shirt

Balaclava

Well this "summer" had me carrying a light hoodie or long sleeve shirt just in case.

I wore shorts until the past couple days.

My core (abdomen) and head are my top prioriities. I keep a chart which makes adjustments to sudden weather changes a snap. The phrases here may mean little to others, but you get the idea; keep track of what you wear:

Bicycle Clothing Chart

Temp.

Balaclava

T

Jacket

Pants

Sox

Shoes

Mittens

65+

 

(T)

 

Shorts

 

Sandals

 

60 to 65

Green

(T)

 

Shorts

Ankle

Sandals

 

55 to 59

Green

1

 Wndbrker

Quick-Dry

Light

Brown

(Garden gloves)

50 to 54

Green

1

Lt. Grn

Quick-Dry

Light

Brown

(Garden gloves)

45 to 49

Black

1

Lt. Grn

QD+ Wick

H/G-tex

Brown

eGloves 0

40 to 44

Cap/Black

1

Drk. Grn

QD+ Wick

H/G-tex

Brown

eGloves 0

35 to 39

Cap/Black

L/L

Drk. Grn

QD+ Wick

H/G-tex/eSoles

Black

eGloves 1

30 to 34

Cap/Black

L/L

Drk. Grn

QD+ Wick

H/G-tex/eSoles

Black

eGloves 1

25 to 29

Lt.+ Heavy

L/L

Drk. Grn

QD/H-Wick

H/G-tex/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves 2

20 to 24

Lt.+ Heavy

L/M

Drk. Grn

QD/H-Wick

2/G-tex/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves 2

15 to 19

Lt.+ Heavy

L/M

Blue

Ski/Wick

1/Gtx/Felt/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves1/Gtx Shell

10 to 14

Lt.+ Heavy

L/M

Blue

Ski/Wick

1/Gtx/Felt/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves1/Gtx Shell

5 to 9

Grn/Lt/Hvy

L/M/M

Blue/Liner

Ski+H-Wick

1/Gtx/Felt/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves2/Gtx Shell

0 to 4

Grn/Lt/Hvy

L/M/M

Blue/Liner

Ski+H-Wick

1/Gtx/Felt/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves2/Gtx Shell

m1 to m5

Gr/Cp/Hvy

L/M/M

Blue/Liner

Ski/L/H-Wick

2/Gtx/Felt/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves3/Gtx Shell

m6 to m10

Gr/Cp/Hvy

L/M/M

Blue/Liner

Ski/L/H-Wick

2/Gtx/Felt/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves3/Gtx Shell

m11 - m15

Gr/Cp/Hvy

L/M/H

Blue/Liner

Ski/L/H-Wick

3/Gtx/Felt/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves4/Gtx Shell

m16 to m20

Gr/Cp/Hvy

L/M/H

Blue/Liner

Ski/L/H-Wick

3/Gtx/Felt/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves4/Gtx Shell

i was always advised that under ~65deg to keep the knees warm to protect the joints, so i use the heck out of my leg warmers. they can easily be rolled up and stashed in my seat bag when it warms up. When my legs get chilled, my already slow pace drops even slower.

Yesterday AM it was a light long sleeve jersey under a long sleeve wool jersey, full tights, wool socks, and lightweight long-finger gloves. On the PM it was the just the wool jersey, rain jacket, and tights for outer wear.

The sudden change was a bit of a shock, but remember that in a just few weeks, 50deg will feel balmy. i will adjust accordingly. YMMV

Gene! Your photos are always a joy, but this chart just made my day. My wife is doing the Olympic distance triathlon in litchfield tomorrow. The lakes temp is 76, but the air temp when she hits the bike is probably going to be around 45 F. She said I don't know what to wear. Usually this question completely stumps me, but this time I said quite boldly this is what gene would wear!


Gene Tenner said:

My core (abdomen) and head are my top prioriities. I keep a chart which makes adjustments to sudden weather changes a snap. The phrases here may mean little to others, but you get the idea; keep track of what you wear:

Bicycle Clothing Chart

Temp.

Balaclava

T

Jacket

Pants

Sox

Shoes

Mittens

65+

 

(T)

 

Shorts

 

Sandals

 

60 to 65

Green

(T)

 

Shorts

Ankle

Sandals

 

55 to 59

Green

1

 Wndbrker

Quick-Dry

Light

Brown

(Garden gloves)

50 to 54

Green

1

Lt. Grn

Quick-Dry

Light

Brown

(Garden gloves)

45 to 49

Black

1

Lt. Grn

QD+ Wick

H/G-tex

Brown

eGloves 0

40 to 44

Cap/Black

1

Drk. Grn

QD+ Wick

H/G-tex

Brown

eGloves 0

35 to 39

Cap/Black

L/L

Drk. Grn

QD+ Wick

H/G-tex/eSoles

Black

eGloves 1

30 to 34

Cap/Black

L/L

Drk. Grn

QD+ Wick

H/G-tex/eSoles

Black

eGloves 1

25 to 29

Lt.+ Heavy

L/L

Drk. Grn

QD/H-Wick

H/G-tex/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves 2

20 to 24

Lt.+ Heavy

L/M

Drk. Grn

QD/H-Wick

2/G-tex/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves 2

15 to 19

Lt.+ Heavy

L/M

Blue

Ski/Wick

1/Gtx/Felt/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves1/Gtx Shell

10 to 14

Lt.+ Heavy

L/M

Blue

Ski/Wick

1/Gtx/Felt/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves1/Gtx Shell

5 to 9

Grn/Lt/Hvy

L/M/M

Blue/Liner

Ski+H-Wick

1/Gtx/Felt/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves2/Gtx Shell

0 to 4

Grn/Lt/Hvy

L/M/M

Blue/Liner

Ski+H-Wick

1/Gtx/Felt/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves2/Gtx Shell

m1 to m5

Gr/Cp/Hvy

L/M/M

Blue/Liner

Ski/L/H-Wick

2/Gtx/Felt/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves3/Gtx Shell

m6 to m10

Gr/Cp/Hvy

L/M/M

Blue/Liner

Ski/L/H-Wick

2/Gtx/Felt/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves3/Gtx Shell

m11 - m15

Gr/Cp/Hvy

L/M/H

Blue/Liner

Ski/L/H-Wick

3/Gtx/Felt/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves4/Gtx Shell

m16 to m20

Gr/Cp/Hvy

L/M/H

Blue/Liner

Ski/L/H-Wick

3/Gtx/Felt/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves4/Gtx Shell

Gee whiz. Happy to help.

At 45 degrees I woud wear a light balaclava over a light knit cap, a goretex jacket over a long-sleeve wicking undershirt, lose-fitting quick-dry pants over light tights, heavy smartwool socks or goretex socks over medium socks, smartwool mittens that do not allow a lot of air onto the skin and any kind of comfortable shoes that work with your pedals .... and a helmet.

Thank you for the kind words on the photos.


grayn8 (5.3 - 36) said:

Gene! Your photos are always a joy, but this chart just made my day. My wife is doing the Olympic distance triathlon in litchfield tomorrow. The lakes temp is 76, but the air temp when she hits the bike is probably going to be around 45 F. She said I don't know what to wear. Usually this question completely stumps me, but this time I said quite boldly this is what gene would wear!

 The biggest comfort would be to make sure she gets pretty dry and to have a windblocking layer over her tri-suit.  Wet tri-suit plus lots of airflow is going chill her pretty quickly if it's exposed. 

grayn8 (5.3 - 36) said:

Gene! Your photos are always a joy, but this chart just made my day. My wife is doing the Olympic distance triathlon in litchfield tomorrow. The lakes temp is 76, but the air temp when she hits the bike is probably going to be around 45 F. She said I don't know what to wear. Usually this question completely stumps me, but this time I said quite boldly this is what gene would wear!


Gene Tenner said:

My core (abdomen) and head are my top prioriities. I keep a chart which makes adjustments to sudden weather changes a snap. The phrases here may mean little to others, but you get the idea; keep track of what you wear:

Bicycle Clothing Chart

Temp.

Balaclava

T

Jacket

Pants

Sox

Shoes

Mittens

65+

 

(T)

 

Shorts

 

Sandals

 

60 to 65

Green

(T)

 

Shorts

Ankle

Sandals

 

55 to 59

Green

1

 Wndbrker

Quick-Dry

Light

Brown

(Garden gloves)

50 to 54

Green

1

Lt. Grn

Quick-Dry

Light

Brown

(Garden gloves)

45 to 49

Black

1

Lt. Grn

QD+ Wick

H/G-tex

Brown

eGloves 0

40 to 44

Cap/Black

1

Drk. Grn

QD+ Wick

H/G-tex

Brown

eGloves 0

35 to 39

Cap/Black

L/L

Drk. Grn

QD+ Wick

H/G-tex/eSoles

Black

eGloves 1

30 to 34

Cap/Black

L/L

Drk. Grn

QD+ Wick

H/G-tex/eSoles

Black

eGloves 1

25 to 29

Lt.+ Heavy

L/L

Drk. Grn

QD/H-Wick

H/G-tex/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves 2

20 to 24

Lt.+ Heavy

L/M

Drk. Grn

QD/H-Wick

2/G-tex/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves 2

15 to 19

Lt.+ Heavy

L/M

Blue

Ski/Wick

1/Gtx/Felt/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves1/Gtx Shell

10 to 14

Lt.+ Heavy

L/M

Blue

Ski/Wick

1/Gtx/Felt/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves1/Gtx Shell

5 to 9

Grn/Lt/Hvy

L/M/M

Blue/Liner

Ski+H-Wick

1/Gtx/Felt/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves2/Gtx Shell

0 to 4

Grn/Lt/Hvy

L/M/M

Blue/Liner

Ski+H-Wick

1/Gtx/Felt/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves2/Gtx Shell

m1 to m5

Gr/Cp/Hvy

L/M/M

Blue/Liner

Ski/L/H-Wick

2/Gtx/Felt/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves3/Gtx Shell

m6 to m10

Gr/Cp/Hvy

L/M/M

Blue/Liner

Ski/L/H-Wick

2/Gtx/Felt/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves3/Gtx Shell

m11 - m15

Gr/Cp/Hvy

L/M/H

Blue/Liner

Ski/L/H-Wick

3/Gtx/Felt/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves4/Gtx Shell

m16 to m20

Gr/Cp/Hvy

L/M/H

Blue/Liner

Ski/L/H-Wick

3/Gtx/Felt/eSoles

Slippers

eGloves4/Gtx Shell

Was out for a quick 50 on Thursday and it was a bit of a shock to my system how cold it was.  I left at 8:30AM and figured it was just a morning chill and it would warm up after an hour or so.  3-1/2 hours later I was home and it felt like it was even colder than when I left. 

I put on my Pearl-Izumi barrier jacket before I even left the back porch, and within 5 miles I was pulling my thermasilk glove liners out to put on under my Spenco fingerless gloves.  I wished I had brought some ear warmers as they were pretty chilled, and my knees were killing me with arthritis when I got home and off the bike. I hadn't noticed it while spinning but as soon as I got off the bike to walk into the house and down the stairs to my garden unit I felt like I was 92 years old.  From now on the knee-warmers are getting packed in my handlebar bag or maybe just worn from the start.   I had thought about stopping a few times along the route to put my foot-warmers on over my shoes, but my feet were only mildly cold so I didn't. 

A few more weeks like this and it'll be back to the trainer inside for me.  I'll go back outside when it gets above 50 again.  This cold crap is for the birds. 

I can't believe Friday night I wore my winter biking shirt and jacket home along the lakefront. In mid September!  This is ominous for this winter.

Shirt, windbreaker, wicking underwear, pants, gloves, balaclava, parked. I'm a wuss, when it gets cold enough that a heated vest is in order, I usually go for Plan B.

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