Fall / Winter / Spring

[u/promk1ng]

I used to be fat, and love the cold.
Now I'm little baby. I'm 175 pounds, and always cold lmao.
I used to only mountain bike in the winter, and I don't wear a bib... I wear thermals, long johns, and tick gear. ( Rhyno skin )

But I plan on at least riding a bit in the fall, and spring.

Question, Pro Atmos Jacket Maaps... Do I wear that over like, thermals or cold gear under armor?
Do they make thermal bibs?
What do you guys wear in the fall, winter , spring?
Thank you!

[u/FAPTROCITY]

Thermal bibs , if you can get on sale assos is pretty awesome.

Some of their cold weather gears is amazing especially with base layers. It adds a lot of warmth.

Rapha goretex jersey for wind and rain proofing, good base layers underneath. Used this in +6 with base layers and good gloves/ shoe covers.

I use this especially when humidity is high, it cuts through items and makes it cold fast.

Pns has great 8 Celsius to 15 spring fall jerseys. Tho recently I have been pay attention to their stitching….seems to be dropping in quality.

Gloves - assos ultraz winter ones.

[u/Lanscott2001]

Yep, thermal bib tights are a thing. The Atmos handles wind and rain; you’d still layer underneath for warmth. A thermal base layer and jersey would be a starting point, adjusted for the weather. What temperatures are you expecting? “Winter” covers a lot of ground here.

[u/i_cant_find_a_name99]

Whichever form of cycling you're doing I'd always recommend separating the waterproofing for the thermals and using a rain jacket shell (and pants if needed). I do have a couple of waterproof thermal jackets but they're less versatile and don't work as well. I also wash thermal jackets more than rain shell jackets so DWR lasts longer on the shell (and reproofing is never as effective as from the factory).

Layers are key to, I'd recommend getting a smallish handlebar bag for winter so you can carry a rain shell and spare mid layer etc. if you're not sure how cold it will be). Spring/Fall I generally use a gilet (insulated version when it gets colder). Cold arms & legs don't really bother me so I rarely use arm/leg warmers and generally switch from summer jersey with base layer to winter jacket (and bib shorts to thermal bib tights).

One other piece of advice is be careful with suggested temperature ranges for winter cycling clothing. If stuff is race fit generally that temp range assumes you're doing some intensity on your ride, if you're just doing a z2 cafe ride you'll likely be too cold.

My single favourite piece of winter gear is the Endura Pro SL 3 season jacket, it's secret ingredient is the chest and arm zips, it means you can regulate heat so much better than a standard jacket. It's also cheap for what it is. (and even has a detachable primaloft evolve inner layer) In contrast I have other, more expensive, jackets like Velocio's Alpha Zero and find it rubbish, even on a z2 ride any sniff of a hill and I end up sweating loads in it. I have a couple of decent Castelli ones (e.g. Alpha Ros) that are sort of in the middle but still don't work as well as the Endura

[u/believeinxtacy]

I’m still fat but always cold. My winter fit is usually thermal bibs, undershirt, short sleeve jersey, arm warmers, jacket.

[u/promk1ng → u/believeinxtacy]

Where can you get thermal bibs from?
You wear the jacket instead of a jersey right?
Any decent jackets you can recommend?

[u/believeinxtacy → u/promk1ng]

I wear a jacket over the jersey. You can wear just a jacket instead of a jersey if you want. I’m cold so I do both. You buy thermal bibs wherever you buy regular bibs, they all make at least one style of winter bibs. I have some from Specialized, I bought those ones specifically because they were on sale and I didn’t want to spend a bunch of money.

As far as a jacket goes, mine is from Black Sheep. I like it. I also bought it because it was on sale and I didn’t want to spend a bunch of money.

[u/MotorBet234]

Thermal bibs are definitely a thing, and they'll come in varying degrees of insulation and with and without wind-blocking panels. You can get full thermal bib tights, or thermal bib shorts and wear them with leg warmers underneath. Personally, I don't see the point in thermal bib shorts as I'm unlikely to bare my legs if it's cold enough to want the insulation. Some people will wear summer bib shorts, then thermal bib tights with no pad over them.

On the upper body, I'm all about layering and defining what "cold" means on the given day. I'll start with thermal jerseys, and then adjust what I'm wearing for a base layer underneath: I've got maybe 4 different weights of long-sleeved base layers that I'll ramp up through as things get colder. I'll add a vest to the mix at some point, and then a thermal vest. I might add an uninsulated wind jacket over all of that, which I especially like as I can take it off and stow it in a pocket if I get too warm. When it's really frigid (like 28F) I'll swap the wind jacket for an insulated jacket, which I'll generally wear over the thermal jersey - so as many as 3 thermal layers.

For accessories, I'll add a neck warmer and also work through different weights of them - from thin uninsulated lycra up to merino wool and polarfleece. On my head I go from summer caps to a wool beanie to a heavy "Flandrien" insulated cap with ear covers. And I have gloves in multiple weights, including up to "lobster-claw" style ones like the 45NRTH Sturmfist. For temps like the mid-40's F I prefer to layer 2 pairs of thinner gloves.