@Joe

Plenty of pros think otherwise, and don’t find themselves dropped two climbs out from the finish of their goal race.

I didn’t say easier – I said easy enough. As in, sure it’s a bit harder, but it’s not so hard it justifies looking less fantastic. For that matter, Kwiatkowski managed to unto his warmers in the hectic run-up to the Poggio without missing a beat.

Agreed, if I can fucking do it, anyone can! If you find the grippers grab too much, roll the top over first. I find having them rolled up they go over your shoes easier as well.

I’m off to go find that footage of the WC pre-Poggio!

So what’s the ruling on toe covers for those days when it’s too warm for shoe covers, but cold enough for knee warmers and wool socks? Those toesies aren’t going to stay warm on their own.

Belgian booties if its dry mate, allow breathing from the inside so don’t get too hot, but shield more wind again. Or double up with a thin liner sock. Toe covers are like condoms for your shoes.

@gilly

Not even close.

Nice shot, mate. I’ve got one just like it.

@minion

@minion

@frank

@PT

Disgraceful.

Aaaaaaand he won so suck it/

Aaaaaaand he won wearing those tights over the line. So suck it twice.

Aaaaaaand if you think you can ride and never wear full length tights you don’t live somewhere that cold. I’ve started rides at -7c and finished them at -5c. If you want to ride in that shit in knee warmers go right ahead. But you’d be an idiot.

More or less my thoughts. I had the water in my bidon turn to slush last week. No way I’m doing a ride like that in knickers.

To those who weren’t looking, here’s the link to G-V gallery.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gent-wevelgem-2015/results for tights over bibs. Not suggesting that’s why he won, but you know. If you disagree with me you’re welcome to be fucking wrong. About everything, ever.

As you can see living in Australia’s really agreed with me.

Plenty of pros think otherwise, and don’t find themselves dropped two climbs out from the finish of their goal race.

I didn’t say easier – I said easy enough. As in, sure it’s a bit harder, but it’s not so hard it justifies looking less fantastic. For that matter, Kwiatkowski managed to unto his warmers in the hectic run-up to the Poggio without missing a beat.

Again I refer you to Sep’s twitter feed.  I believe he qualifies as being more ‘pro’ than most.  Correct URL for the first photo with warmers over shorts whilst ready for sign on/team presentation and then racing can be found here

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B_A2XA9VEAAqr6w.jpg

Though I have to disagree with your opinion that leg warmers are more easily removed whist under bibs.  I’ve found the gripper at the top catches the skin more if you try to tug them downwards, and it is easier to take them off from over bibs as the grippers don’t catch the skin.

@minion

Winning does not make it right.  See Armstrong, L.

Winning may not make it right, but it’s easier to swallow, for a while at least.

The easiest part in removing legwarmers on the move is pulling them out from under the bibs. If you’re pro enough to unclip a leg and remove the warmers without stopping, you’re pro enough to wiggle them out from under a bib’s gripper.

Reading for racing

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B_A2XA9VEAAqr6w.jpg:large 

Looking good in training

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B-EOWXqIcAI4J6Z.jpg:large

@gilly

Not even close.

Bang on Frank, they are shocking

Busted!  Though, to me it seems like a pretty tame admission.  It’s not like I’m using an EMPS, FFS!

Keepers with EPMSs, classics winners sporting full beards and warmers pinned over bib shorts…

@MangoDave

@ChrisO

…

I grew up mainly with metric and have trouble working out what’s hot or not on the Fahrenheit scale but… I do get why people like it.

In everyday usage Celsius is only good in a narrow range. Zero to 40. After that… I don’t care what temperature the water for my tea is, I just need to know whether it’s boiling or not.

If I understood it I think I would probably be happy to go retro on the temperature, just as I still do on height with feet and inches. Although I’m fine with km and km/h, despite being old enough to remember changing over from miles.

I’ll adhere to Rule #24 in discussions, but it’s only after doing a mental conversion.  I have no plans on changing the units to km on my cyclocomputers, mainly because I have almost 25 years of hand written training logs all in imperial measurements and I’m going to be consistent.

Nice demonstration of the Masturbation Principle. Apart from the admission, obviously.

Busted!  Though, to me it seems like a pretty tame admission.  It’s not like I’m using an EMPS, FFS!

@PT

@minion

Winning does not make it right.  See Armstrong, L.

Also, that gallery was from E3, not G-W.

Mea culpa. Just saw the photos from G-W. Ugh.

@minion

@frank

@PT

Disgraceful.

Aaaaaaand he won so suck it/

Aaaaaaand he won wearing those tights over the line. So suck it twice.

Aaaaaaand if you think you can ride and never wear full length tights you don’t live somewhere that cold. I’ve started rides at -7c and finished them at -5c. If you want to ride in that shit in knee warmers go right ahead. But you’d be an idiot.

More or less my thoughts. I had the water in my bidon turn to slush last week. No way I’m doing a ride like that in knickers.

@minion

Winning does not make it right.  See Armstrong, L.

Also, that gallery was from E3, not G-W.

Winning does not make it right.  See Armstrong, L.

@PT

Disgraceful.

Aaaaaaand he won so suck it/

Aaaaaaand he won wearing those tights over the line. So suck it twice.

Aaaaaaand if you think you can ride and never wear full length tights you don’t live somewhere that cold. I’ve started rides at -7c and finished them at -5c. If you want to ride in that shit in knee warmers go right ahead. But you’d be an idiot.

@frank

@Walbly

“and never – under any circumstances – wear full-length leggings” ???

Are you serious?  Why don’t you tough guys come up north and ride when it is 14 degF in your groovy knickers with your frost-bitten calves sluffing off in big black chunks.  With two pair of full-length fleece tights and one pair full-length regular tights I still am lucky if I can do 12 miles without feeling like I won’t even be able to get off my bike, much less strut around showing everybody my delineation.

Do you ever even wear full-fingered gloves?  And you call yourselves tough.

Two things in life are sure:

1. If I post a photo of my bike, someone who has not seen me riding it will tell me it does not fit me.
2. If I propose that tights or saddle bags are for losers, I will immediately receive a nastygram.

These are the primary reasons I have not yet retired from Velominati.

I know – right?

Although I suspect the reason @Walby can only crank 19.312128 kilometers (enough with the imperial measurements everyone – this is cycling, not Nascar) is due to his enormous ballocks stuffed into that much gear.

Hah!

And speaking of, what the hell’s a degF?

Use Kelvin, if you must.

You keep using this term leg-warmers. But I think you meant “embro.” And if it’s too cold for embro, it’s either winter break on the beach, or winter training in Mallorca. <Stop>

Yes, of course. It also begs to point out that the “Embro Application Stage” is just as flattering as the “Luca Over the Shorts Bibs”.

White socks over tights, always.

I wish that picture had come through; you can’t drag and drop despite the fact the picture shows up on your end, sadly.

@Ashley Evans

White socks over tights, always.

I wish that picture had come through; you can’t drag and drop despite the fact the picture shows up on your end, sadly. But the little photo upload button works fine if you are logged in, even from an ipad etc.

@ChrisO

…

I grew up mainly with metric and have trouble working out what’s hot or not on the Fahrenheit scale but… I do get why people like it.

In everyday usage Celsius is only good in a narrow range. Zero to 40. After that… I don’t care what temperature the water for my tea is, I just need to know whether it’s boiling or not.

If I understood it I think I would probably be happy to go retro on the temperature, just as I still do on height with feet and inches. Although I’m fine with km and km/h, despite being old enough to remember changing over from miles.

I’ll adhere to Rule #24 in discussions, but it’s only after doing a mental conversion.  I have no plans on changing the units to km on my cyclocomputers, mainly because I have almost 25 years of hand written training logs all in imperial measurements and I’m going to be consistent.

Nice demonstration of the Masturbation Principle. Apart from the admission, obviously.

Disgraceful.

Check photo 4 ( I think) in this collection.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/03/gallery/photo-essay-2015-e3-harelbeke_364737

Too many words. Looks like you’re all trying too hard. Sprezzatura…not

This man is an impostor!.

Too many words. Looks like you’re all trying too hard. Sprezzatura…not

Big difference between trying too hard and not trying at all… this shit should just come naturally. It’s the difference between going to work in a suit/smart clothes or a fucking tracksuit and slippers.

…

I grew up mainly with metric and have trouble working out what’s hot or not on the Fahrenheit scale but… I do get why people like it.

In everyday usage Celsius is only good in a narrow range. Zero to 40. After that… I don’t care what temperature the water for my tea is, I just need to know whether it’s boiling or not.

If I understood it I think I would probably be happy to go retro on the temperature, just as I still do on height with feet and inches. Although I’m fine with km and km/h, despite being old enough to remember changing over from miles.

I’ll adhere to Rule #24 in discussions, but it’s only after doing a mental conversion.  I have no plans on changing the units to km on my cyclocomputers, mainly because I have almost 25 years of hand written training logs all in imperial measurements and I’m going to be consistent.

As far as low temperatures and leggings, that’s just a fantasy for where I live.  Today it’s 32*C in the southwest desert, perfect conditions for my afternoon ride.  Kudos to all of you who kit up and are dealing with the cold.

Well I submitted the tights faux-pas yesterday but as the temp was hovering around 3c with a nice northerly breeze making it feel colder (there’s not a lot to stop any northerlies coming down the north sea through the wash and over the fens) and being a 54 year old who’s joints feel any cold meant this transgression had to be made.

I don’t think apologies are necessary.  My almost 61-year-old knees tell me the same.  High of 3C today with 20+kph winds, high of -3C for tomorrow so I’ll have bib knicks with full tights over to give my knees the protection they need.  Oh, and these merinos came yesterday so I’ll be smiling wearing them (even though they’ll be under everything else):

Not even close.

Even Sagan couldnt carry that look off.

I am inclined to romanticism and retro where aesthetics are concerned but when in comes to that which can be precisely measured then I am for the system that provides the greatest consistent accuracy.

There is a reason a crank arm, even on a bro-set, is not measured in fractions of a barleycorn. And so it should be in stating the temperature during a Rule #9 ride.

Besides, averaging 25 km/h over 70 km in -3 degree C sounds way better than averaging 15 mph over 40 miles in 25 degree F. (interesting note: the USA is the only country using Fahrenheit as the official unit where you could do that).

Just move to California where we do not use any of that shit!!!

I don’t think so. My brother has been there too long, clearly. He just bought a Porsche. Yet, he has secured his broken crank arm on his ride-to-go-surfing bike with…duct tape.

I need to have a Rule #25 intervention.

Appologies to @Pedale.Forchetta: The main shot is your photo and we credited you but somehow the credit/caption is not coming through. So sorry; will try to sort out why the caption isn’t coming through correctly.

Shots that cool go without saying. I didn’t even consider it was from anyone besides Pedale.!

Grotesque. Lady Gaga goes bicycling.

@harminator

I think he spotted a used scratchcard on the floor and is checking it to see if he could claim £20.

That’s gold! Damn, I’m laughing my ass off.

@steelhead

Ok then  Lets just all look fantastic who the fuck cares if were,re freezin our nuts off and thinkin we,re so hard all along the way , fashion rules !!! After all who in the world is tougher and more fashionable than we are .

Nothing says ,hardcore, like using all the wrong punctuation in all the right places. Beers all around!

We all know the hardcore factor is measured in exclamation points!!!!

@Dave

@frank

@John

@Dave

I love my toe warmers. Great for between 40 and 50F. How do you keep them not visible?

By never wearing them.

Ah.  By toe warmers I mean the single use chemical ones that give off heat for several hours after begin exposed to air.  You stick one atop the tip of each sock, obviously completely hidden inside your shoes.  Above 50F shoes alone work.  Between 40F and 50F hidden chemical toe warmers do the job.  Below 40F when out more than a couple hours I have to add shoe covers.  Results without these steps have gone beyond numbness; strayed into mild frostbite with dead skin layers.

FWIW I ride below freezing also, though below about 25F the outings are limited to an hour because the bottles freeze.  This winter one of my commutes was 20F, and though only half an hour I was pretty glad to get back to the house.  I have great respect for our brethren up North who ride in even colder conditions.

Metric motherfuckers, METRIC!!!

I don’t know that the Rules intend for all units to be metric. Rule #24 refers to speeds and distances only.

I grew up mainly with metric and have trouble working out what’s hot or not on the Fahrenheit scale but… I do get why people like it.

In everyday usage Celsius is only good in a narrow range. Zero to 40. After that… I don’t care what temperature the water for my tea is, I just need to know whether it’s boiling or not.

If I understood it I think I would probably be happy to go retro on the temperature, just as I still do on height with feet and inches. Although I’m fine with km and km/h, despite being old enough to remember changing over from miles.

I think he spotted a used scratchcard on the floor and is checking it to see if he could claim £20.

@Mikael Liddy

@brett

@VeloSix

@piwakawaka

Socks should never go over tights. Thats the equivalent of tights over shorts.

that’s the truth….  like arm warmers over your sleeves…

A former Pro I used to work with (Matt Illingworth – Linda McCartney team) would wear his leg warmers over the shorts… looked like shit, but he insisted that was the way the Pros did it and as he is a big, angry Pom I’d not push the point too far…

IAM Barbie went that way on the weekend…a perfect example of why Looking Pro and & Looking Fantastic are not always the same thing (still no gloves though).

‘Tis a fine feeling to see the lessons we be teachin’ be gettin’ learned as well. One might argue to put the legging over both the socks and the bibs in order to facilitate the removal once the race is afoot, but Heinnie is making life outright difficult for himself here. Not to mention that if you require that much kit, surely gloves would be in order?

Have to respect a man who holds his brand above all else, I suppose. Imagine what he could do if helmets weren’t compulsory.

What the fuck is Sauceler up to anyway? At first I thought he was removing the tag from his new Dicuts but now I think he might be trying to inflate a gel or using a €20 note to undo a sticky valve….Story please!

@steelhead

Ok then  Lets just all look fantastic who the fuck cares if were,re freezin our nuts off and thinkin we,re so hard all along the way , fashion rules !!! After all who in the world is tougher and more fashionable than we are .

Nothing says ,hardcore, like using all the wrong punctuation in all the right places. Beers all around!

Im sohardcoreI barelyusethefuckinspacebar

@frank

@John

@Dave

I love my toe warmers. Great for between 40 and 50F. How do you keep them not visible?

By never wearing them.

Ah.  By toe warmers I mean the single use chemical ones that give off heat for several hours after begin exposed to air.  You stick one atop the tip of each sock, obviously completely hidden inside your shoes.  Above 50F shoes alone work.  Between 40F and 50F hidden chemical toe warmers do the job.  Below 40F when out more than a couple hours I have to add shoe covers.  Results without these steps have gone beyond numbness; strayed into mild frostbite with dead skin layers.

FWIW I ride below freezing also, though below about 25F the outings are limited to an hour because the bottles freeze.  This winter one of my commutes was 20F, and though only half an hour I was pretty glad to get back to the house.  I have great respect for our brethren up North who ride in even colder conditions.

Metric motherfuckers, METRIC!!!

Ok then  Lets just all look fantastic who the fuck cares if were,re freezin our nuts off and thinkin we,re so hard all along the way , fashion rules !!! After all who in the world is tougher and more fashionable than we are .

Nothing says ,hardcore, like using all the wrong punctuation in all the right places. Beers all around!

@brett

@VeloSix

@piwakawaka

Socks should never go over tights. Thats the equivalent of tights over shorts.

that’s the truth….  like arm warmers over your sleeves…

A former Pro I used to work with (Matt Illingworth – Linda McCartney team) would wear his leg warmers over the shorts… looked like shit, but he insisted that was the way the Pros did it and as he is a big, angry Pom I’d not push the point too far…

IAM Barbie went that way on the weekend…a perfect example of why Looking Pro and & Looking Fantastic are not always the same thing (still no gloves though).

‘Tis a fine feeling to see the lessons we be teachin’ be gettin’ learned as well. One might argue to put the legging over both the socks and the bibs in order to facilitate the removal once the race is afoot, but Heinnie is making life outright difficult for himself here. Not to mention that if you require that much kit, surely gloves would be in order?

Have to respect a man who holds his brand above all else, I suppose. Imagine what he could do if helmets weren’t compulsory.

I dunno. I have some Castelli Sorpasso bibtights that I think are very comfortable and don’t look bad.

@frank

@John

@Dave

I love my toe warmers. Great for between 40 and 50F. How do you keep them not visible?

By never wearing them.

Ah.  By toe warmers I mean the single use chemical ones that give off heat for several hours after begin exposed to air.  You stick one atop the tip of each sock, obviously completely hidden inside your shoes.  Above 50F shoes alone work.  Between 40F and 50F hidden chemical toe warmers do the job.  Below 40F when out more than a couple hours I have to add shoe covers.  Results without these steps have gone beyond numbness; strayed into mild frostbite with dead skin layers.

FWIW I ride below freezing also, though below about 25F the outings are limited to an hour because the bottles freeze.  This winter one of my commutes was 20F, and though only half an hour I was pretty glad to get back to the house.  I have great respect for our brethren up North who ride in even colder conditions.

Ah yes, those saved my toes on the incredibly cold Keepers Tour 2013. Hopefully won’t need them this time…

@John

@Dave

I love my toe warmers. Great for between 40 and 50F. How do you keep them not visible?

By never wearing them.

Ah.  By toe warmers I mean the single use chemical ones that give off heat for several hours after begin exposed to air.  You stick one atop the tip of each sock, obviously completely hidden inside your shoes.  Above 50F shoes alone work.  Between 40F and 50F hidden chemical toe warmers do the job.  Below 40F when out more than a couple hours I have to add shoe covers.  Results without these steps have gone beyond numbness; strayed into mild frostbite with dead skin layers.

FWIW I ride below freezing also, though below about 25F the outings are limited to an hour because the bottles freeze.  This winter one of my commutes was 20F, and though only half an hour I was pretty glad to get back to the house.  I have great respect for our brethren up North who ride in even colder conditions.

Sprezzatura = Casually Deliberate

Q.E.D.

Thank you; I was too modest to say it myself.

@VeloSix

okay, upon further investigation of the top photo, Diego clearly doesn’t have my kind of cold sensitive feet….  if the chap can go without shoe covers or wool socks, what’s the the need for leg warmers or tights?

The Euros love warming up in fulls. Sweating helps drain some of the retained water caused by cortisone.

…dammit, now I have something new to research….

@VeloSix

@piwakawaka

Socks should never go over tights. Thats the equivalent of tights over shorts.

that’s the truth….  like arm warmers over your sleeves…

A former Pro I used to work with (Matt Illingworth – Linda McCartney team) would wear his leg warmers over the shorts… looked like shit, but he insisted that was the way the Pros did it and as he is a big, angry Pom I’d not push the point too far…

IAM Barbie went that way on the weekend…a perfect example of why Looking Pro and & Looking Fantastic are not always the same thing (still no gloves though).

okay, upon further investigation of the top photo, Diego clearly doesn’t have my kind of cold sensitive feet….  if the chap can go without shoe covers or wool socks, what’s the the need for leg warmers or tights?

The Euros love warming up in fulls. Sweating helps drain some of the retained water caused by cortisone.

Ha. Sorry, 40 fahrenheit (it’s actually more like 38F or around 3.33C if we are being exact).

@Owen

So what’s the ruling on toe covers for those days when it’s too warm for shoe covers, but cold enough for knee warmers and wool socks? Those toesies aren’t going to stay warm on their own.

Just… no. Are your toes cold but heels/ankles warm? I don’t think so. They are an abomination.

Often times, yeah that’s exactly what happens. My toes get unnaturally cold when logic says they shouldn’t.

But I’ll be duly chastened and not tell you about it next time.

… but for long rides below 40 degrees …

Good god man!?! 40 degrees Celsius is where you start wearing warmers?!? That’s still above normal body core temperature. What do you do when you get down to single digits? Or when water starts to freeze… at – you know – 0 degrees Celsius?

Just grabbed a pair of these to take to Belgium, they go over your socks, but I’d think you’d have to wear booties over them to keep the Looks Fantastic. They seem to fit pretty snug but not like socks.

On our 9 ride last weekend i found out that De Feet Slipstreams are great for cooler weather, but useless if it’s pissing down.

Can anyone recommend a decent cool and cold weather bibshort?

So what’s the ruling on toe covers for those days when it’s too warm for shoe covers, but cold enough for knee warmers and wool socks? Those toesies aren’t going to stay warm on their own.

Just… no. Are your toes cold but heels/ankles warm? I don’t think so. They are an abomination.

@piwakawaka

Socks should never go over tights. Thats the equivalent of tights over shorts.

that’s the truth….  like arm warmers over your sleeves…

A former Pro I used to work with (Matt Illingworth – Linda McCartney team) would wear his leg warmers over the shorts… looked like shit, but he insisted that was the way the Pros did it and as he is a big, angry Pom I’d not push the point too far…

@Walbly

“and never – under any circumstances – wear full-length leggings” ???

Are you serious?  Why don’t you tough guys come up north and ride when it is 14 degF in your groovy knickers with your frost-bitten calves sluffing off in big black chunks.  With two pair of full-length fleece tights and one pair full-length regular tights I still am lucky if I can do 12 miles without feeling like I won’t even be able to get off my bike, much less strut around showing everybody my delineation.

Do you ever even wear full-fingered gloves?  And you call yourselves tough.

Two things in life are sure:

1. If I post a photo of my bike, someone who has not seen me riding it will tell me it does not fit me.
2. If I propose that tights or saddle bags are for losers, I will immediately receive a nastygram.

These are the primary reasons I have not yet retired from Velominati.

I know – right?

Although I suspect the reason @Walby can only crank 19.312128 kilometers (enough with the imperial measurements everyone – this is cycling, not Nascar) is due to his enormous ballocks stuffed into that much gear.

Enough of this banter about what lower body coverage to wear in winter – It’s Spring! Time to work on the mid quad delineation.

“and never – under any circumstances – wear full-length leggings” ???

Are you serious?  Why don’t you tough guys come up north and ride when it is 14 degF in your groovy knickers with your frost-bitten calves sluffing off in big black chunks.  With two pair of full-length fleece tights and one pair full-length regular tights I still am lucky if I can do 12 miles without feeling like I won’t even be able to get off my bike, much less strut around showing everybody my delineation.

Do you ever even wear full-fingered gloves?  And you call yourselves tough.

Two things in life are sure:

1. If I post a photo of my bike, someone who has not seen me riding it will tell me it does not fit me.
2. If I propose that tights or saddle bags are for losers, I will immediately receive a nastygram.

These are the primary reasons I have not yet retired from Velominati.

White socks in winter? I guess your mum does your washing.

You, sir, are confusing bad weather with cold weather.

Holy Merckx, my gear’s been getting a workout here in Wisconsin. Over the last 6 weeks the temps I’ve ridden have ranged from mid 20s to high 60s. That’s going from full on fleece-lined neoprene booties, windfront tights, triple layer up top, heavyweight skull cap and gloves to knee warmers, shorts and medium long sleeved jersey. Various other grades of headgear, shoe covers, gloves, gilets have been employed too. Likely this summer it’ll get into the 90s at some point and at that point it’s bare minimum on gear: socks., shorts, jersey, helmet. It must be weird living in a place where the temps don’t vary much.

Indeed we’ve had a chance to try lots of combinations.  Up north of you we only got into the low 60s, but the same variations of winter shoes, summer shoes, neoprene covers, windproof covers, Belgian booties, merino socks, layered socks, summer-weight socks — and that’s only below the ankles!  I have found my new favorite piece of versatile clothing.  The Bontrager B2 windfront baselayer  makes a nice difference underneath a variety of top layers, all the way from my ShowersPass softshell trainer for colder conditions to under a midweight LS full-zip jersey and lots in between.  I think it will go very well with my Gabba SS and Sportful No-Rain warmers.

On the bottoms my favorite is my Endura bib knicks with windproof/water resistant panels.  Slightly thicker/warmer than my Nanoflex, works well under my 28-year old (!) PI tights for high 20s/low 30s, and wore them alone today when the high was 38F and 15mph winds.

Oh, socks of any variety are ALWAYS inside leg coverings…

@frank

@John

@Dave

I love my toe warmers. Great for between 40 and 50F. How do you keep them not visible?

By never wearing them.

Hell’s bells John, you had to see that one coming!

Holy Merckx, my gear’s been getting a workout here in Wisconsin. Over the last 6 weeks the temps I’ve ridden have ranged from mid 20s to high 60s. That’s going from full on fleece-lined neoprene booties, windfront tights, triple layer up top, heavyweight skull cap and gloves to knee warmers, shorts and medium long sleeved jersey. Various other grades of headgear, shoe covers, gloves, gilets have been employed too. Likely this summer it’ll get into the 90s at some point and at that point it’s bare minimum on gear: socks., shorts, jersey, helmet. It must be weird living in a place where the temps don’t vary much.

Weird, more like outstanding! I have bags of old jackets, bib knickers, gloves, booties, all in the closet. My kit varies not a bit out here. A vest has been worn for a bit but that is as radical as it gets in Hawaii.

@John

@Dave

I love my toe warmers. Great for between 40 and 50F. How do you keep them not visible?

By never wearing them.

Hell’s bells John, you had to see that one coming!

Holy Merckx, my gear’s been getting a workout here in Wisconsin. Over the last 6 weeks the temps I’ve ridden have ranged from mid 20s to high 60s. That’s going from full on fleece-lined neoprene booties, windfront tights, triple layer up top, heavyweight skull cap and gloves to knee warmers, shorts and medium long sleeved jersey. Various other grades of headgear, shoe covers, gloves, gilets have been employed too. Likely this summer it’ll get into the 90s at some point and at that point it’s bare minimum on gear: socks., shorts, jersey, helmet. It must be weird living in a place where the temps don’t vary much.

@Dave

I love my toe warmers. Great for between 40 and 50F. How do you keep them not visible?

By never wearing them.

I love my toe warmers. Great for between 40 and 50F. How do you keep them not visible?

I’ve said it before, but one awesome thing about The Rules is that they simplify life. There are those early or late season rides when the weather and temps are borderline and you have trouble figuring out what the hell to wear. Then you recall The Rules and realize it’s simple. No jackets, no tights, none of those bs neck warmers (futbol players and cyclists now in them?!), just the regular kit, with a gilet, arm warmers, leg warmers, maybe oversocks.

I did pick up some Sealskinz oversocks for rainy commutes. Boy oh boy, I look so much cooler than I did with the whole wheat bread bags.

For me, and I’m blessed to be in a mild climate, I generally go with the Kneekers for really cold road rides and reserve the full leggings for CX riding.

Opening photo – I’ve been working on perfect my PRO mounting technique. Those guys make the leg swing and slide into the saddle look ace! Don’t know how anyone can wear summer weight socks though in weather that requires a gilet and full leg warmers. My feet are far more sensitive to the cold than my shins or torso.

Another request that if full leg warmers are worn then socks be worn inside the leg warmers.

Then all Frank’s well-taken suggestions about the leg warmers can apply.

Always, although Diego Looks Fantastic, despite that obvious transgression.

@unversio

Defeet merino wool is awesome. Socks, gloves, knee warmers, arm warmers form the backbone of my winter riding. Also works perfectly well when wet.

Swiftwick delivered some extremely thin and warm socks too — durable as well.

Q.E.D.

@VeloSix

@Dave

Another vote for socks under leg warmers.  The line has to be drawn somewhere short of frostbite.  Below 40 that means full coverage.  Hate to admit it, but for long cold overcast or dark rides practical experience forces me to toe warmers (not visible of course) and shoe covers (smooth, tight well fitting ones).  I have come back too many times not able to feel my toes.

Toes are critical.  I can do less kit than many I ride with, but not for my feet.  Woolies, heaters, covers, all winter…..

I’ve learned to forget about my toes and DeFeet woolie boolies make it easier.

Love the woolie boolies, and they do help, but apparently in temps that freeze liquids, my blood stops flowing past my ankles; without some added assistance from human ingenuity.

I do agree that we should at least TRY to look our best while on the bike, but shouldn’t we be out riding instead of foraging through our drawers and closets….

I’ve seen some pretty silly things worn to stay warm, but, the person was outside doing something instead of in front of the boob tube.

Defeet merino wool is awesome. Socks, gloves, knee warmers, arm warmers form the backbone of my winter riding. Also works perfectly well when wet.

And if you think that having a bit of sock poking out of the top of your overshoe/sock whilst covering part of your leg warmers is stylistically acceptable, you’ll probably find you’ve got your bibs on over your jersey.

@Dave

Another vote for socks under leg warmers.  The line has to be drawn somewhere short of frostbite.  Below 40 that means full coverage.  Hate to admit it, but for long cold overcast or dark rides practical experience forces me to toe warmers (not visible of course) and shoe covers (smooth, tight well fitting ones).  I have come back too many times not able to feel my toes.

Toes are critical.  I can do less kit than many I ride with, but not for my feet.  Woolies, heaters, covers, all winter…..

I’ve learned to forget about my toes and DeFeet woolie boolies make it easier.

The full unabridged Don Logan.

Another vote for socks under leg warmers.  The line has to be drawn somewhere short of frostbite.  Below 40 that means full coverage.  Hate to admit it, but for long cold overcast or dark rides practical experience forces me to toe warmers (not visible of course) and shoe covers (smooth, tight well fitting ones).  I have come back too many times not able to feel my toes.

Toes are critical.  I can do less kit than many I ride with, but not for my feet.  Woolies, heaters, covers, all winter…..

I regularly wear full length non-cycling specific leggings. Under my shorts, obviously. I think it looks reasonably pro unless you look close. I tend to be a bit of a lone ranger on rides in the winter, and I’m always moving to fast for anyone else to get a good look.

Overshoes are very useful for covering the gap between base of leggings and top of chosen sock combination. Looking forwards to legging-free rides soon.

Full length leggings, below 1° – 2° C, always under the bibs (and over the socks).  Knee warmers otherwise.  That’s only a handful rides for our winters.

I do enjoy chatting up the folks whilst wearing less kit, especially if they’re mumbling through their ninja ski masks…..

Socks should never go over tights. Thats the equivalent of tights over shorts.

that’s the truth….  like arm warmers over your sleeves…

It’s my winter coat! Plus,I work outdoors year round, so I need all the fuzz I can get! Some days I wish I were woolier, just for that reason alone. Will shave/get sun when it’s above freezing out.Which should be aroud August it seems…

That’s your arm right? If it’s your gun, then you’d better shave it.

A fleeing wild Tugman, as captured in his native habitat, sporting winter coat and coloring. This specimen is partial to 3/4 length bib tights during Autumn and Spring, and can be seen only in shorts during the short, but extremely hot Summer months of the Great Lakes region. Due in part to the musculature of his guns, wearing full length tights would have him mistaken as a has-been obscure pro wrestler, fat ballerina, or Peter Pan wannabe.

Maybe it’s because English is not my first language and I am more of a visual guy but could someone post pictures of do’s and don’ts? Btw, I fully agree socks should be white and worn under the leggings.

Overshoes are very useful for covering the gap between base of leggings and top of chosen sock combination. Looking forwards to legging-free rides soon.