After 25 years of my own learning, I agree with all of this. The one extra I find essential is an under-the-helmet warm hat that covers all of my ears, especially the lobes.
Thoughts from a MN rider: 1. Wool, wool, wool. If you think your wool is wearing out too fast, its either cheaper wool or you aren't washing it right. (Turn it inside out, hand wash it 3 out of 4 times with wool safe soap, and every 1 out of 4 times, when machine washing it, put it in a pillowcase and wash on gentle with wool safe soap. Flat rack dry.) The 70% Smartwool base layers aren't bad, though I prefer the 100% Varusteleka stuff. 2. Endura makes spray trousers and jackets - thin shells with vent zippers made for English weather - wet and (relatively) warm. But over base/insulation layers they are great to stay dry with. And if you get hot, zip down the vents and get that hot air out. 3. Keeping hands warm - this is so person specific there is not a "magic" answer. For me, my fingers are cold till my core get up to temperature, about 20 min. Thin silk or wool under gloves are a must, with a waterproof glove over that. 4. I really recommend some kind of bag with you in the winter with spares. Backpack, bike mounted, whatever. Makes it easy to take spares.
Bar mitts! I'm dealing with Winnipeg winters of -20/-35C and for some reason avoided getting bar mitts for a few years.. Once I got them I felt foolish for not having them sooner. The wind never gets to your fingers and that makes so much difference.
ride year round in Coastal Maine , down to 0F, here are my super-finds: Walz ear/neck flap merino wool cap, Rapha merino wool neck/face snood (wool lets you breathe regularly), Baselayer-Smartwool IntraKnit cycling base layer tank top (gotta let the pits breath or sweat-waterfall occurs), Rapha Brevet Goretex infinium jersey, Rapha Classic winter shell with chest vents,, Rapha cargo fleece winter bibs, Gore winter lobster-gloves (lobster really helps fingers from going numb), Smartwool cycling socks, Fiziks winter booties & Assos toe-warmers, tinfoil inside my shoes.. I can easily ride 3 hrs, still relatively aero.
Bar mitts. I bought some for my hybrid bike and liked them so much I put a set on my road bike. It's nice being able to just wear a light pair of gloves and still have waterproof and wind proof hands.
@@PaulJulienVAUTHIER my only concern when I first got them was that I wouldn't be able to get into the drop bars but I've found I can still grab them a couple ways and the bar mitts actually seem to divert the wind away from my hands despite them not being in the mitts. Gives my hands a chance to dry off a little without getting cold. They're just a win all around imo.
An often very unknown base layer is mesh. The last couple years I've been wearing mesh base shirts from Brynje. Both wool and synthetic. Wonderfully warm and feels even drier than a merino shirt when you're sweating. and they work great in the spring or fall. I'll wear one up to 50-60F, works great at temperature moderation. And again with the staying dry, after a hard climb, don't have the cold clammy shirt feeling at all.
11 year MN winter vet rider here (did -37 b4 windchill) and here are my inputs: 1. Talc/baby powder. Use mainly on your hands and feet but wherever to help delay the onset of moisture. 2. Perfect pacing. There is no such thing but it is worth considering and working on your pacing to stay under the sweat threshold. If youre out for HI then prep for that but if you're out for something more casual, keep the technique but dont sweat it. 3. Big ass seat bag....the kind that can fit a big piece of top gear so you can start warm, peel and, if it's a group ride with stops you can throw it back on. 4. Layers: single, double, triple and even quadruple (-37...had a hard time breathing! 😂). Generally speaking single or double pant layer and double to triple top layer. Single to double layer sock.
Bar mitts and thinner gloves are a great solution. I bought 2 merino turtleneck sweaters on clearance at Target about 15 years ago. Full, double zipper. $11 each. Still in good shape. Wish I would’ve bought more.
A lot of good points. I like a light rag wool glove with an over mitt. To warm take off the over mitt and your ready to go. Going to buy a pair of long bib shorts this winter. Never had any and also going to try an squeeze in a pair of winter boots too. I but a pannier on my bike and carry extra stuff . Feel better being ready for this Vermont weather. Thanks for the video and take care, Al
I just wear a bunch of trail running and nordic skiing gear, but I also run hot enough I almost never need anything warmer than just shorts. Waterproof socks have been a game changer too.
Shorts with tights. +1 Thats my go to cold/dry combo. Im 6'. My hack is shopping the big girl section at Ross. You can score tights for 15 bucks or less. I ride flat pedals so shoes that stay dry ate tricky. OG sambas with scotch guard will do the trick for most Portland riding.
fave piece of winter kit i love and i didn't know i needed is a really nice, insulated columbia gaiter with a drawstring -- the drawstring really helps with fogged glasses!!!
A piece of gear I didn’t think I needed, but use a lot, is a pair of Gore rain shorts. Yes, SHORTS! I stay warm, but don’t overheat like in rain pants. I also wear Lake 304 boots with Vaude long gaiters (to keep the boots cleaner).
Gillet or vest was my gear I just added. That shell over my specialized winter jersey/ winter long sleeve you talked about solved my issues. Whether in 20s or 40s works.
Most solid. I'm taking these winter gear tips from Fargo's first citizen to the bank or, at least, the grain elevator. Buy nice or buy twice; and try not to lose fingers and toes in the winds and snows.
Yes Dustin, good blog,only thing I can add is for hands, petroleum jelly, rub a small amount the hands,then the"Not A Mechanic "" latex or tpu gloves on beneath your chosen winter gloves,,,then you're golden, good to go,can get sweaty,but believe me😂 Man of colour,!! Winter is not the norm for my heritage,but strange as it seems,I ride more on the winter, must be less distractions maybe Good job again Dustin
My go to is ShowersPass rain shell - I live in SF so fog can be rain in slo-mo and drizzle is common - my other go to's are merino wool base layers and socks... LOVE the socks
Went out on a 3hr ride in 17°F last weekend. Merino base, LS jersey and a Pactimo shell/thermal jacket. Perfect layers. If it were colder, I would do a thicker merino base, maybe merino Jersey.
I usually struggle with cold feet and hands on wet cold rides in england. The other issue is that my ears will start hurting with the cold! The solution I found? Bin cycling for the bad winter days and embrace indoor swimming, works wonders
My best advice for winter training when its not too cold (between 10-3 degrees celcius) dont do coffee or cafe stops. When u cool down in your sweat. Getting back on the bike will be miserable. Do it at the end of the ride and you’re golden!
Insulated pogies on my drop bar was super surprising for me. In Montana, we have really cold winters. I can ride down to about 25F with no gloves if I have my pogies. My hands were still warm in -30F with mitts combined with pogies.
I rise with longjohns both shirt and pants, then sweat pants and a realtree insualted shell, somedays a balacava on warmer days a neck gaiter and a stocking hat then gloves and my carbon fiber toe timberland shoes great traction and warm with ultimate protection im usally warm and sweaty cause i naturally seeat alot but when i stop i cool down enough inget s little chilly then ride snd warm up i barely get sick I have been sick for 6 or 7 years I don't got sinus problems or anything like that❤❤❤❤❤
This is the direction I went, too -- a fleece-lined buff for the neck/lower face and a thermal one under the helmet is super comfy when the wind starts to bite
silicone coated insulated gloves are the best in cold. Keeps the wind out and heat in. They get warm. The con is they don't breathe well because, you know, the silicone.😂
Winter riding in my area involves lotsa snow -20C I don’t know what that is in American and ice hiding under the snow winter riding in Portland looks like summer to me what a fantasy that would be
My absolute fave piece of winter kit is a decades-old Salomon XC ski jacket. It's a softshell front and sleeved, with a thin, breathable back. It's warm, but vents great - stretchy, has a big back pocket, with a drop tail and long sleeves for no-gap performance. It;'s also wearing out so I am on the lookout for a replacement. Your Gore thermal jerseys look close - are they the same material front and rear?
Most of my winter riding is fat biking on groomed trails. Fat biking is so much easier to dress for compared to road riding. You’re going so slow you don’t really need to wear a wind blocking layer.
For the hands? Yeah... pogies. But not the big insulated ones that you usually see on Minnesota fatbikes. Just a basic shell. PogieLites from BikeIowa are AMAZING. Lightweight shell, but even riding around 20F I don't need but a lightweight long finger glove. And they're still good up to 40-50F or more. And need a break, they're light enough to either fold out of the way for awhile, or take them off and stash 'em, rolls up smaller than a jacket or pants. Oh, and use 'em in the rain too.
Noone talks about cold air that we breath in massively. My lungs were getting cold in 2 Celsius weather, had to stop riding after 5-6 kilometers. Asked in a pro shop, they said no real solution exists.
Clothing is so vital. I save a bit of money by getting my baselayers and insulation from workwear stores, but I absolutely do not hold back on my shell layers. The rain on Vancouver Island is just way too intense sometimes for anything but the best. I run hot so I like a jacket with a lot of mechanical venting options and so far the Showers Pass Elite is my go to. I strongly disagree with your statement that there is no bad weather. Sleet just around the freezing mark is absolutely miserable and I don't believe there is any clothing out there that will miigate that experience. I just hope for something that'll keep me alive.
Bright yellow deerskin gloves. Add a liner as it gets colder before going to the pogies below freezing. It looks a bit Mickey Mouse or Ronald McDonald, but they work.
My concerns involve hands and feet only. Keep them warm and dry. Stay happy. Also battery powered socks are game changers. $30 e-socks work better than my $350 winter shoes. Together they rule the world.
I cannot keep my feet warm. Tried various winter shoes and boots. Neoprene covers don't work as I initially start to sweat. I really need breathable, ultrawarm covers. Can't find those.
😏 If this video ruined your day, subscribing might finish the job: bit.ly/Subscribe_to_EBD
After 25 years of my own learning, I agree with all of this.
The one extra I find essential is an under-the-helmet warm hat that covers all of my ears, especially the lobes.
I agree once my ears and fingers get cold the rest of my body does as well 😂😂❤❤
This is better than GCN
The boot and glove dryer is one of those "how didnt we get this sooner" purchases. So worth it. The whole family gets use out of it in rainy season
Thoughts from a MN rider:
1. Wool, wool, wool. If you think your wool is wearing out too fast, its either cheaper wool or you aren't washing it right. (Turn it inside out, hand wash it 3 out of 4 times with wool safe soap, and every 1 out of 4 times, when machine washing it, put it in a pillowcase and wash on gentle with wool safe soap. Flat rack dry.) The 70% Smartwool base layers aren't bad, though I prefer the 100% Varusteleka stuff.
2. Endura makes spray trousers and jackets - thin shells with vent zippers made for English weather - wet and (relatively) warm. But over base/insulation layers they are great to stay dry with. And if you get hot, zip down the vents and get that hot air out.
3. Keeping hands warm - this is so person specific there is not a "magic" answer. For me, my fingers are cold till my core get up to temperature, about 20 min. Thin silk or wool under gloves are a must, with a waterproof glove over that.
4. I really recommend some kind of bag with you in the winter with spares. Backpack, bike mounted, whatever. Makes it easy to take spares.
Good lesson learned from hiking is "Be bold, start cold". That way you aren't stopping 10 mins up the road to ditch a layer.
Always get a chuckle about winter kit /rain gear. Winter is snow😂
Bar mitts! I'm dealing with Winnipeg winters of -20/-35C and for some reason avoided getting bar mitts for a few years.. Once I got them I felt foolish for not having them sooner. The wind never gets to your fingers and that makes so much difference.
Best winter gear that I love that I thought I didn’t need? Pogies. Freaking amazing in the winter. Throw a hand warmer in there and it’s cozy AF.
I agree, proper waterproof winter riding shoes, with a waterproof sock. Absolute must have!
ride year round in Coastal Maine , down to 0F, here are my super-finds: Walz ear/neck flap merino wool cap, Rapha merino wool neck/face snood (wool lets you breathe regularly), Baselayer-Smartwool IntraKnit cycling base layer tank top (gotta let the pits breath or sweat-waterfall occurs), Rapha Brevet Goretex infinium jersey, Rapha Classic winter shell with chest vents,, Rapha cargo fleece winter bibs, Gore winter lobster-gloves (lobster really helps fingers from going numb), Smartwool cycling socks, Fiziks winter booties & Assos toe-warmers, tinfoil inside my shoes.. I can easily ride 3 hrs, still relatively aero.
Mudflap in the Front is hands down one of the best Things for wet Winter weather.
Please try one !
I've been using a nordic skiing jacket as my midlayer. Warm, wicks well and has vents.
Great video Amigo!
Merino wool balaclava and water proof gloves are my biggest aha moments this winter
Bar mitts. I bought some for my hybrid bike and liked them so much I put a set on my road bike. It's nice being able to just wear a light pair of gloves and still have waterproof and wind proof hands.
I second this, Bar mitts were game changer for me
@@PaulJulienVAUTHIER my only concern when I first got them was that I wouldn't be able to get into the drop bars but I've found I can still grab them a couple ways and the bar mitts actually seem to divert the wind away from my hands despite them not being in the mitts. Gives my hands a chance to dry off a little without getting cold. They're just a win all around imo.
You're absolutely right, the best winter gear can be found at the thrift stores.
An often very unknown base layer is mesh. The last couple years I've been wearing mesh base shirts from Brynje. Both wool and synthetic. Wonderfully warm and feels even drier than a merino shirt when you're sweating. and they work great in the spring or fall. I'll wear one up to 50-60F, works great at temperature moderation. And again with the staying dry, after a hard climb, don't have the cold clammy shirt feeling at all.
11 year MN winter vet rider here (did -37 b4 windchill) and here are my inputs:
1. Talc/baby powder. Use mainly on your hands and feet but wherever to help delay the onset of moisture.
2. Perfect pacing. There is no such thing but it is worth considering and working on your pacing to stay under the sweat threshold. If youre out for HI then prep for that but if you're out for something more casual, keep the technique but dont sweat it.
3. Big ass seat bag....the kind that can fit a big piece of top gear so you can start warm, peel and, if it's a group ride with stops you can throw it back on.
4. Layers: single, double, triple and even quadruple (-37...had a hard time breathing! 😂). Generally speaking single or double pant layer and double to triple top layer. Single to double layer sock.
Bar mitts and thinner gloves are a great solution.
I bought 2 merino turtleneck sweaters on clearance at Target about 15 years ago. Full, double zipper. $11 each. Still in good shape. Wish I would’ve bought more.
Those turtle necks are the deal of the century!
A lot of good points. I like a light rag wool glove with an over mitt. To warm take off the over mitt and your ready to go. Going to buy a pair of long bib shorts this winter. Never had any and also going to try an squeeze in a pair of winter boots too. I but a pannier on my bike and carry extra stuff . Feel better being ready for this Vermont weather. Thanks for the video and take care, Al
Great stuff Dustin, I ride fixed all winter and I’ve been struggling with my layers and your tips were super insightful!
I just wear a bunch of trail running and nordic skiing gear, but I also run hot enough I almost never need anything warmer than just shorts. Waterproof socks have been a game changer too.
great Advice, thank you so very much.I wish it was winter in australia too hot to ride
Shorts with tights. +1 Thats my go to cold/dry combo. Im 6'. My hack is shopping the big girl section at Ross. You can score tights for 15 bucks or less. I ride flat pedals so shoes that stay dry ate tricky. OG sambas with scotch guard will do the trick for most Portland riding.
fave piece of winter kit i love and i didn't know i needed is a really nice, insulated columbia gaiter with a drawstring -- the drawstring really helps with fogged glasses!!!
A piece of gear I didn’t think I needed, but use a lot, is a pair of Gore rain shorts. Yes, SHORTS! I stay warm, but don’t overheat like in rain pants. I also wear Lake 304 boots with Vaude long gaiters (to keep the boots cleaner).
Gillet or vest was my gear I just added. That shell over my specialized winter jersey/ winter long sleeve you talked about solved my issues. Whether in 20s or 40s works.
Most solid. I'm taking these winter gear tips from Fargo's first citizen to the bank or, at least, the grain elevator. Buy nice or buy twice; and try not to lose fingers and toes in the winds and snows.
Wintershoes are the absolute gamechanger!
Yes Dustin, good blog,only thing I can add is for hands, petroleum jelly, rub a small amount the hands,then the"Not A Mechanic "" latex or tpu gloves on beneath your chosen winter gloves,,,then you're golden, good to go,can get sweaty,but believe me😂
Man of colour,!! Winter is not the norm for my heritage,but strange as it seems,I ride more on the winter, must be less distractions maybe
Good job again Dustin
My go to is ShowersPass rain shell - I live in SF so fog can be rain in slo-mo and drizzle is common - my other go to's are merino wool base layers and socks... LOVE the socks
I’m getting cold just watching this! 😂
Went out on a 3hr ride in 17°F last weekend. Merino base, LS jersey and a Pactimo shell/thermal jacket. Perfect layers. If it were colder, I would do a thicker merino base, maybe merino Jersey.
I wear long johns and a insulated shirt with sweat pants I normally sweat alooot and ride with a CamelBak pack ❤❤of course gloves
Come to Florida, the weather is great this time of year.
I usually struggle with cold feet and hands on wet cold rides in england. The other issue is that my ears will start hurting with the cold! The solution I found? Bin cycling for the bad winter days and embrace indoor swimming, works wonders
My best advice for winter training when its not too cold (between 10-3 degrees celcius) dont do coffee or cafe stops. When u cool down in your sweat. Getting back on the bike will be miserable. Do it at the end of the ride and you’re golden!
This rips, well handled.
Set fazers to stun 🎉
Defo winter shoes, but also best gloves possible a buff and skull caps and peaked cap...also embrocation on knees.
Insulated pogies on my drop bar was super surprising for me. In Montana, we have really cold winters. I can ride down to about 25F with no gloves if I have my pogies. My hands were still warm in -30F with mitts combined with pogies.
Gore shake dry jacket that i snagged based on one of your videos. Hands down
I rise with longjohns both shirt and pants, then sweat pants and a realtree insualted shell, somedays a balacava on warmer days a neck gaiter and a stocking hat then gloves and my carbon fiber toe timberland shoes great traction and warm with ultimate protection im usally warm and sweaty cause i naturally seeat alot but when i stop i cool down enough inget s little chilly then ride snd warm up i barely get sick I have been sick for 6 or 7 years I don't got sinus problems or anything like that❤❤❤❤❤
Yes, yes… MTB pants *over* long fleece tights will keep out just about everything, sleet, frozen rain, wind gusts etc. Armor works. 💪🏻🐻☺️
A buff or balaclava really help. Winter shoes (have three different levels) are game changers. Cold wind is the biggest villain here in Wyoming
This is the direction I went, too -- a fleece-lined buff for the neck/lower face and a thermal one under the helmet is super comfy when the wind starts to bite
Have a Pearl Izumi early spring mornings road Cali windbreaker it was prob $100 bucks in 1999. I still have it. I still use it 24 years later.
That’s what’s up!
Thanks for the advice Dustin. I love your lid. Where did you get it? Thanks 🙏
Cold feet can also be avoided by swapping out the pedals with a bmx or platform pedal and wearing hiking boots or shoes instead.
This video was insanely good and funny on top of being the most informative!! 🙂 lobster gloves ftw
silicone coated insulated gloves are the best in cold. Keeps the wind out and heat in. They get warm. The con is they don't breathe well because, you know, the silicone.😂
Winter riding in my area involves lotsa snow -20C I don’t know what that is in American and ice hiding under the snow winter riding in Portland looks like summer to me what a fantasy that would be
No matter how -warm you are- HARD YOU TRY, YOU CAN'T STOP US NOW
I asked Santa for a boot & glove dryer. Hoping my Christmas will be dry this year!
Your gonna be the happiest boy on the block!
A balaclava is a must
Castelli Gabba, better then all these big logo marketing average brands
My absolute fave piece of winter kit is a decades-old Salomon XC ski jacket. It's a softshell front and sleeved, with a thin, breathable back. It's warm, but vents great - stretchy, has a big back pocket, with a drop tail and long sleeves for no-gap performance. It;'s also wearing out so I am on the lookout for a replacement. Your Gore thermal jerseys look close - are they the same material front and rear?
Best winter weather gear is a smart trainer and a laptop full of movies
Most of my winter riding is fat biking on groomed trails. Fat biking is so much easier to dress for compared to road riding. You’re going so slow you don’t really need to wear a wind blocking layer.
For the hands? Yeah... pogies. But not the big insulated ones that you usually see on Minnesota fatbikes. Just a basic shell. PogieLites from BikeIowa are AMAZING. Lightweight shell, but even riding around 20F I don't need but a lightweight long finger glove. And they're still good up to 40-50F or more. And need a break, they're light enough to either fold out of the way for awhile, or take them off and stash 'em, rolls up smaller than a jacket or pants. Oh, and use 'em in the rain too.
That’s it I’m trying a set of these!
Still haven’t bought “winter shoes” even though that was the conclusion you came to last winter. Someday… 😅
Great reminders. Who makes the fluffy purple vest you're wearing?
Noone talks about cold air that we breath in massively. My lungs were getting cold in 2 Celsius weather, had to stop riding after 5-6 kilometers. Asked in a pro shop, they said no real solution exists.
Oh yes. Nothing like going out for a ride with freezing temperatures and a light pair of gloves. Never learned a lesson quicker in my entire life.
I suffer from my inability to tolerate terrible glasses and have therefore switched off. 😎
Clothing is so vital. I save a bit of money by getting my baselayers and insulation from workwear stores, but I absolutely do not hold back on my shell layers. The rain on Vancouver Island is just way too intense sometimes for anything but the best. I run hot so I like a jacket with a lot of mechanical venting options and so far the Showers Pass Elite is my go to.
I strongly disagree with your statement that there is no bad weather. Sleet just around the freezing mark is absolutely miserable and I don't believe there is any clothing out there that will miigate that experience. I just hope for something that'll keep me alive.
Bright yellow deerskin gloves. Add a liner as it gets colder before going to the pogies below freezing. It looks a bit Mickey Mouse or Ronald McDonald, but they work.
My concerns involve hands and feet only. Keep them warm and dry. Stay happy. Also battery powered socks are game changers. $30 e-socks work better than my $350 winter shoes. Together they rule the world.
Very curious about heated socks!!
@@EverythingsBeenDone I found them on Amazon, lots of choices.
Best winter gear? The buff. You forgot to mention the buff.
I cannot keep my feet warm. Tried various winter shoes and boots. Neoprene covers don't work as I initially start to sweat. I really need breathable, ultrawarm covers. Can't find those.
I ride brakeless and mash, I won’t touch bicycle law with a ten foot pole 😂
buy nice or buy twice
Pogie lites with a liner glove has out performed any gloves I've tried
I have all the gear I need for crappy winter weather... what I lack, however, is a SPINE.
cotton kills
Looooobbbttteeeeer!:O
Who is "Those people" and how do I get one? Are they related to "People like you" people, people?:I