Tired already of dressing up like Michelin Man !!!

I ride in T-Shirt + decent quality textile jacket & trousers, plus waterproof gloves. Not bulky, not cold or wet, and not a hassle. The only extra is a neckwarmer for very cold days.

My commute is 30 miles, so it should work for you. And if it doesn't you probably need to toughen up a bit

Maybe my jeans and thermal lined overtrousers are overkill ..... maybe I'll ditch the jeans for something lighter ....

Maybe .... I'll just start sleeping in PJ's .... biker wear over PJ's on way to work .... and home .... saves getting changed so often !!!

[fizzwheel]

Go into Millets or somewhere and get some base layers, they are thin, and fit nicely under textiles. They'll keep you warm with out being bulky, you can get thermal and non thermal ones.

Several thin layers will insulate you against the cold better than one or two thick layers and also if you get the base layers that are "wicking" they'll channel sweat away from you, so you'll stay warm and dry on the inside.

I used to commute 60 miles in sub zero temps with just some Peter Storm thermal base layers under my textile trousers ( with the liner in ) and then on my top half I had another thermal base layer, a t-shirt, a fleece and then my textile bike jacket ( with liner in ) on top.

On the really cold days I had a thermal Wind Stopper on as well. If you wear the right stuff its not bulky and you wont feel like the michellin man anymore.

The beauty of the base layers / fleece is that if you do get wet / sweaty, they dont stink to badly and they also dry quickly to...

Take your shirt with you, if you roll it up rather than folding it it wont look to bad when you get to work. Or alternatively take a few days worth of shirts in on a Monday in the car and then ride the rest of the week.

Thanks Fizz .. good advice there ....

I bought some very good microfibre boxers from the bike show on Saturday, I wore them last night whilst playing football from 6.30 till 8.30, I can confirm, my nuts did not sweat once, but they were kept nice and warm! Therefore, these are a recommendation.

I also got a Nike thermal top from Sports World, £10, very good!

Might stop here on the way home now I think about it ......

http://www.uniqlo.co.uk/catalogue/men/heattech/all_22

Originally Posted by plowsie

I can confirm, my nuts did not sweat once, but they were kept nice and warm!

Oh thank god for that! I will sleep better tonight now knowing that they are being well cared for!

On a serious note, yes some very good advice on here, Im definately going to get some proper thermals, I must admit Im a bit of a baby when it comes to the cold, but then I did live in South Africa for most of my life so I guess I will never adjust.

I get 10% discount from Millets, Blacks etc so I might take Fizz's advice and go and have a look at what they have to offer.

[Spiderman]

Originally Posted by PsychoCannon

Step 1: Get yourself some leathers that could pass for a super hero outfit.
Step 2: Kit up in front of a mirror to some appropriate music like when Bat man gets tooled up.

Makes the whole process a lot more satisfying =p
...or so I've been told

he's right you know. Tho i have no idea who or what this batman person might be

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Go into Millets or somewhere and get some base layers, they are thin, and fit nicely under textiles. They'll keep you warm with out being bulky, you can get thermal and non thermal ones.

Several thin layers will insulate you against the cold better than one or two thick layers and also if you get the base layers that are "wicking" they'll channel sweat away from you, so you'll stay warm and dry on the inside.

And this is all great advice.
I wear thermal leggings and on very cold days thermal socks (dont wear them unless its really cold or you get to work with very sweaty feet)

On top i have a thermal runners top which has thumb holes in to make it easier to pull the jacket on when it has its winter liner in it, and then on top of that sometimes a heavy t-shirt of just that days clean work shirt.

Then get into work and you have your shirt on you. Yes you have to take it all off and put it back on but its the best way i found after 5yrs of trying various ways. I got into the habit of leaving a shirt at work too as there were some days i was in a rush and forgot to put the shirt on, d'oh!

I also found i kept a couple pairs of work socks in my drawers at work, just in case.

I wear goretex textiles, have goretex boots and goretex gloes. Even so if its really, really chucking it down before i go out i still pull my waterproofs on over the top and bottom halves. Not cos the goretex leaks but cos it wont dry properly during the work day and then you have to put on stuff that feels cold and damp. But with waterproofs a quick shake of them and they are pretty much dry.

i also keep a mircofibre towel at work to dry off the lid and gloves and give the waterproofs a quick rub dry if they need it.

hth

I've got HG gear that is quite bulky with the thermal linings- but pretty warm.

On a really cold ride, I'll have Peter Storm base layers (cheapish hiking gear from Milletts- currently buy 1 get 1 half price!) and a micro-fleece from the same. The fleece has a polo neck and I have a neck-sock too, but it's not too bad.

Normally, on average cold, it'll be just the HG trousers (textile- Tricky) and me socks and pants, a t-shirt and the micro fleece.

The only thing that it wears on is the (already not perfect) zips that HG put on their gear.

I don't really mind the bulkiness in winter- it's not like you're looking for lean on corners with the cold/wet/salty floors- so dexterity is not the biggest worry. As long as I'm toasty, I'm happy!

simple heated waist coat, (also helps stop shirt creasing)
heated gloves (keep on for an hour if wet to help dry recharge during work)
waterproof textile jacket (minus inner layer to save bulk heated waist coat does job)
oversize textile trousers (just 1 size bigger with opional brasses)
two pairs of socks (one removed on arrival)
army issue boots (decent protection easy to polish so still look smart)
neck warmer or balaclava
all equals 1 happy teddy bear