For the bike: fenders are a must to keep a lot of the slop off you. Maybe an extra light or two - don't wanna be without that when it gets dark at like, 4pm. Reflecting things. Yadda yadda.
For the bottom layer, my secret in nice weather is good-ole polypro long underwear. You can then wear whatever you'd like over that, like a pair of jeans, or whatever. For my feet, I get a pair of knee-high ski or snowboard socks. I've been meaning to grab a pair of waterproof socks for the feet, but for now, I may just bring an additional pair of socks if the road be wet. If it's truly, truly cold out there, I have a pair of nordic ski knickers from the army/navy story that are pretty rad. Keep the jeans or whatever in your bag to change out of.
Top layer is boringly similar: Polypro underwear, a wool of some sort thrifted sweater and some sort of shell with some pit zips or something similar for ventilation options. I don't find bulky sweaters to be of any sort of win over lighter... perhaps higher quality sweaters. If you have some coin to toss look for a new down sweaters - they're nothing but fancy and not-at-all bulky and can pack down into like, a ziplock bag. <3 my down vest. Lots of mobility in the arms, etc.
For my hands, I go with a pair of snowboard gloves, with liners. Mostly, only need to wear the liners, but I hate cold hands, so I usually bring the gloves as well.
Hat for my head.
For less than ideal weather - lots of slop, chance of snow, what have you - time to get out the rain pants and rain jacket and forgo any sort of fashion statement, sadly. I have some pretty cheap pants that I'll be keeping in my pack for the foreseeable future, and a nicer but simpler jacket, with the fancy breathable material. This one happens to be a Patagonia one. Nice pit zips, no other fancy features. Surprisingly affordable for Patagonia stuff. Remember that you'll make a ton of heat riding, so don't layer up to heavy. I usually scavenge someone's lost goggles on the trail, come spring, so even those get a turn on the bike ride!
A change of clothes is especially nice in the wintertime. Keep it simple and light - slip ons or trail runners keep the pack weight and volume down. Wet wipes are the shit.
I have down things that I tend to avoid wearing on a bike, just because they get too darn hot. Maybe sleeveless would be good, though, I'll have to check that out. Thanks for the tips.
For the bottom layer, my secret in nice weather is good-ole polypro long underwear. You can then wear whatever you'd like over that, like a pair of jeans, or whatever. For my feet, I get a pair of knee-high ski or snowboard socks. I've been meaning to grab a pair of waterproof socks for the feet, but for now, I may just bring an additional pair of socks if the road be wet. If it's truly, truly cold out there, I have a pair of nordic ski knickers from the army/navy story that are pretty rad. Keep the jeans or whatever in your bag to change out of.
Top layer is boringly similar: Polypro underwear, a wool of some sort thrifted sweater and some sort of shell with some pit zips or something similar for ventilation options. I don't find bulky sweaters to be of any sort of win over lighter... perhaps higher quality sweaters. If you have some coin to toss look for a new down sweaters - they're nothing but fancy and not-at-all bulky and can pack down into like, a ziplock bag. <3 my down vest. Lots of mobility in the arms, etc.
For my hands, I go with a pair of snowboard gloves, with liners. Mostly, only need to wear the liners, but I hate cold hands, so I usually bring the gloves as well.
Hat for my head.
For less than ideal weather - lots of slop, chance of snow, what have you - time to get out the rain pants and rain jacket and forgo any sort of fashion statement, sadly. I have some pretty cheap pants that I'll be keeping in my pack for the foreseeable future, and a nicer but simpler jacket, with the fancy breathable material. This one happens to be a Patagonia one. Nice pit zips, no other fancy features. Surprisingly affordable for Patagonia stuff. Remember that you'll make a ton of heat riding, so don't layer up to heavy. I usually scavenge someone's lost goggles on the trail, come spring, so even those get a turn on the bike ride!
A change of clothes is especially nice in the wintertime. Keep it simple and light - slip ons or trail runners keep the pack weight and volume down. Wet wipes are the shit.
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