Staying warm without getting bulky?

[St_Gabriel]

Another good tip if you have a few spare beanies, cut the top out of one and voila, instant neck warmer.

[Paul in NZ]

May a well add my 2cents..

Don't stress about being bulky. I'm happy to look like a sack of lumpy shit as long as I'm warm. But I'm old and value warmth above the admiration of others.

As long as your outer layer is wind proof and your inner layer is warm a bit of an air gap is no problem, too tight and you get cold.

Ditto the kathmanu cycle tights. Lycra and merino - they are awesome beyond awesome and worth every penny. I look like a over stuffed sausage on my mtb but even without an outer layer I have NEVER been cold with these. FUCKIN amazing things. Also my Japanese friend sent me these weird skivvy things for Vicki and me... Holy crp - wish they were not made of recycled whales...

Heated grips.... Fuck me.... how did I live without these things...

[neels]

My winter get up is a silk balaclava, thermal base layer, light polar fleece under wind proof jacket and leather jacket, textile pants and if its really cold wind proof over pants. Haven't found really good glove liners yet, and toes still get cold :-(

Sent from my electric telephone

[Maha]

Get a new set of textile pants. Wind gets through denim/kevlar, it won't get through decent textiles.

Textile pants coupled with an wool lined Oilskin vest (which I have for sale) over your jacket, you can go for a ride anywhere in the south island (or in Auckland for that matter) today, and not feel the cold.

[Juniper]

All really good ideas...but as far as doing it on a budget head to the op shop and hunt out some really good merino shit...got some good branded awesome shite for next to nothing...junichick thingo is right stockings work well but look shit unless you shave your legs and beyond...wife wont let me wear hers coz i leave narly hairs in hers....

200 Denier stockings are more like legings/skins just cheaper lol!!!!

FUCKIN amazing things. Also my Japanese friend sent me these weird skivvy things for Vicki and me... Holy crp - wish they were not made of recycled whales...

Heated grips.... Fuck me.... how did I live without these things...

That reminds me!!! My old flatmate gets this stuff from Taiwan that he swears by, for the life of me I cannot remember what they are!!


Wish I had heated grips on today. Even with the winter gloves on they were ouchy cold.

[Mike.Gayner]

Had my first properly chilly ride to work this morning (on the A7) using my new gettup. Legs held up fine, torso and head were toasty and holy hell my hands were solid blocks of painful ice. Yup, time for winter gloves.

That was in frosty Tauranga. Estimated temperature range 4-8 degrees I guess.

[george formby]

Not sure if it's been mentioned and I'm not going to read the whole thread but on a nut shrivelling morning like today a huge steaming bowl of porridge will keep you warm from the inside for ages. True story.

[Big Dog]

A guy I used to go to poly tech with used to swear by a hot water bottle. Too much effort if you ask me. Being in leather, bib and brace, Brando jacket and Johnny Reb boots with warehouse rain covers where appropriate and a silk scarf, jumping jacks once I was suited up to get the blood flowing and store some body heat in the leather. Riding through some of the valleys was sub zero. Often my gloves would freeze onto the grips.

I used to get to poly tech, pry my gloves off, by the time I made it up the stairs I was all set to sit in class in a sleeveless t.
The first year not so fortunate as I was only in jeans. Sometimes wondered if I would ever see my balls again. And if so would they work? 5 kids later I guess so.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[HenryDorsetCase]

if it's just a "bit" cold you're still feelin', a smart tip could be using the rainproof suit (even if it's not raining...)
it seals you from the freezing air.

normally, in winter i'll go for cotton tshirt, technical underwear (yes, OVER the tshirt...), long sleeve/high neck thick cotton shirt (the ones used under ski-suit), wind-proof polartech jacket, bike jacket.
then i'll keep up the shirt neck, put balaclava over it and close the pile over again.
it's not so bulky 'cause every layer is pretty thin.

for the lower part i use tech underwear and tech pants with alu thermal layer.

with this configuration i'm fine with outside temperatures as low as 0°.

using more layers permits you to add or take away stuff to center your needs.

cotton is the worst fabric you can have next to your skin. If you are allergic to wool (some ar) then a better option is some of the technical man made fibres

[tippersv]

Wish I had heated grips on today.

I will not own a bike without them again............