Road Cycling Essentials

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Winter's approaching. I have two pairs of gloves, some thin water/wind proof ones and some fairly thick lined woolly ones. Last year the thin one were not warm enough and the woolly ones not water/wind proof enough (and as a result not warm enough!).

Can anyone recommend a really good pair of cycling gloves, that's keep my hand warm on a half hour ~ 0C ride, occasionally in damp conditions? I'd like to be well prepared this winter!
 
Cycled to work today :cool:. Ankle hurt clipping back in, but clipping out was absolutely fine. It'll get better.

This photo doesn't really show the difference, but the muscle on my right leg has completely wasted away, the calf especially :(:
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Don't worry, I've got boxers on.


Can anyone recommend a really good pair of cycling gloves, that's keep my hand warm on a half hour ~ 0C ride, occasionally in damp conditions? I'd like to be well prepared this winter!
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I have a pair of sealskin waterproofs that I wear underneath my padded cycling gloves for really cold temperatures.
 
Pox, I dropped my Gore gloves on the train, no sign of them in lost property and they are £35 to replace. Grrrr.
 
I don't really know much about bikes but was thinking of getting myself a road bike to start commuting to work. I currently only travel about 4-5 miles each way but am thinking of moving in the near future which would make my commute more in the 15mile each way region.

Set myself a budget of about £700 (started a lot lower :D) and have currently found these which are my favourites.

Trek 1.2 2012

Boardman Road Race 2011-2012

As I'm not too clued up on specs would anyone be able to tell me why one of these bikes would be better than the other.
I've heard bad things about dealing with Halfords and their set up of their bikes but I can get the Boardman for about £570 as opposed to £650 which would pay for a safety/set-up check at a decent bike store.

Thanks for any help. :)
 
Faded said:
Boardman Road Race 2011-2012

As I'm not too clued up on specs would anyone be able to tell me why one of these bikes would be better than the other.
I've heard bad things about dealing with Halfords and their set up of their bikes but I can get the Boardman for about £570 as opposed to £650 which would pay for a safety/set-up check at a decent bike store.

Thanks for any help. :)
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My Boardman's been great since I got it last year (Team Pro Carbon). They're great value for money and so long as you get measured up elsewhere then you shouldn't have to ever deal with Halfords other than actually buying the bike.

Check if your work have a cycle scheme as well.
 
Russinating said:
Bought some stuff to complete my winter cycling/sportive collection:

Leg warmers: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-pace-lycra-leg-warmers/
Overshoes: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/altura-night-vision-city-overshoe-2010/
Jacket: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/altura-transformer-windproof-cycling-jacket/

Already got a base layer and gloves. Anything else I'm missing?
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Well, I would have got the Roubaix Pace leg warmers over the lycra ones. I've just ordered the DHB Pace Roubaix Knee Warmers to use instead of my ShuttVR lycra ones. The lycra is ok at the moment but once it gets a little colder the Roubaix will be needed to stop the knees from creaking. Course, once we get into Dec I'll have the super roubaix bib tights on until the end of Jan.
 
platypus said:
I'm already wearing two layers (first day back commuting!).
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This morning was helmet, cap, roubaix arm warmers, buff, ss jersey, windstopper gillet, bibs, lycra knee warmers, socks and shoes.

Feet were a little chilly and I had to open the gillet a bit for the second half of the journey but it was pretty much bang on. Feet were a little cold, but I've got some merino socks to try tomorrow.

Will be wearing less on the way home I don't doubt.
 
Oh yeah. 3 layers on top actually.

(Only) 1 Pair of socks, roubaix leg warmers, full length bib tights, base layer, ls cycling top, wind proof cycling jacket, windproof gloves, buff, cap, helmet.

How do your arms not get cold? I can barely wear a gillet in Spring, let alone at this time of year. And gillet + arm warmers leaves a gap, doesn't it?
 
platypus said:
How do your arms not get cold? I can barely wear a gillet in Spring, let alone at this time of year. And gillet + arm warmers leaves a gap, doesn't it?
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Short sleeved jersey covers the gaps. arm warmers come all the way up to my pits and obviously the sleeves on the jersey come to mid bicep. Gillet is Gore Windstopper (great stuff) but with a mesh back that's covered by my rucksack.

Although I'm feeling colder than last year, which I'm putting down to lost body fat I guess I've still got a way to go until I reach your level!


George Hincapie said:
Perhaps he's a roughty toughty Northerner like me :)
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They breed us hardy in Northumberland.
 
[DOD]Asprilla;20337037 said:
Short sleeved jersey covers the gaps. arm warmers come all the way up to my pits and obviously the sleeves on the jersey come to mid bicep. Gillet is Gore Windstopper (great stuff) but with a mesh back that's covered by my rucksack.
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I prefer a long sleeve Winter training jersey with a gilet over the top. That's usually enough.

Although I'm feeling colder than last year, which I'm putting down to lost body fat I guess I've still got a way to go until I reach your level!
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I'm not fat. I do have a degree of 'cake retention' though ;)

They breed us hardy in Northumberland.
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God's country. Going back there to visit my family at Christmas :)
 
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