So far so good with these: http://www.sugoi.com/usa/bike/access...or-bootie.html After about 1 1/2 hours below freezing I could feel the cold creeping through the cleat, but could still feel my toes and couldn't feel the wind chill at all.
So far so good with these: http://www.sugoi.com/usa/bike/access...or-bootie.html After about 1 1/2 hours below freezing I could feel the cold creeping through the cleat, but could still feel my toes and couldn't feel the wind chill at all.
I just bought my first pair - $25 from the Specialized Outlet store a couple weeks ago - and rode them for the HP100. They performed well and, with only one exception, I didn't have any trouble clipping in. I wear a size 45 road shoe (11-11.5) and went with the size Large cover. When I got them I thought -OOPS- I messed up and got them too big, but once I had them on my shoe, I could see that size L was the right choice.
The lower-priced stuff uses fabrics designed to keep you cool. The expensive stuff is designed to keep you warm. Both are designed to wick moisture away. The lower priced stuff has some value, but isn't designed to wick moisture and keep you warm for long rides.
In practice, I find that with lower end base layers, I tend to get wet and then freeze. Much of it doesn't work well for me for the summer too... I get wet and then boil. In the summer, I've found that the inexpensive VERGE base layer works quite well. I just don't use it in the winter.
Hope that helps.
Pete
Another couple of additions:
HIT - Giro G10 Snowboard Helmet - I got this months ago before it got cold, and my first test was in 60 degree weather. I was prepared for this to be a MISS because in those temperatures, I was completely drenched due to lack of ventilation. However I had heard that this kind of helmet was for COLD weather, not COOL, so for today's ride, I saw the G10 hanging there in the basement and thought I'd give it another shot. Today's temperature is now listed as about 37 degrees but it really doesn't feel that cold, so let's call it high 30s/low 40s. I am happy to report this helmet was awesome. Super convenient without having to mess with earwarmers, hats, headbands etc. before even getting to the helmet. Ear coverage is complete and very toasty but with ventilation sufficient to keep dry. Inside the helmet, the same thing; I had the vents fully open and the bit of cool air coming in was very welcome in regulating the temperature. I sweat a lot and was surprised at how the helmet was pretty dry when I took it off. I stopped at Bikenetic along the way and took the helmet off, and didn't get that horrible freezing wet helmet shock when I put it back on. It's amazing how little protection you need on your face and neck when your head and ears are happy. I would say I'm easily good down into the twenties and teens with just this helmet plus maybe a neck warmer once I close the vents. Any lower than that and we'll have to see.
HIT - Body Control ArmCOOLer - The warm months are such a distant memory now and I almost forgot about these gems. These are one of those little finds that changes your life, and makes you wonder why more people don't use them. I burn pretty easily, and I also hate putting on sunscreen, but with these I am able to skip almost a complete step of my ride prep which makes life easier. You can put them on in seconds and they don't need to be re-applied, and they are also very good at cooling. I used them throughout the summer in the hottest temperatures and don't recall ever feeling like I needed to take them off.
OK, the OFFICIAL answer to this question is "Vaseline".
The cover ejected itself somewhere on my field trip to Bikenetic the other weekend, so I e-mailed Cygolite and they sent me 3 new covers and instructions for installation without the use of random pointy kitchen implements.![]()
So this is my new thing:
Top tube bag/Bento box: For a variety of reasons, I wanted to find a way to ditch the wedgie bag on my R3, at least for commutes/shorter rides around the area...mainly just to hold keys/phone/wallet. I thought about buying a CageRocket to use for my flat kit, but instead I decided to improvise one using one of my water bottles. Because of the shape, I had to cut out the narrow neck portion, and reattached everything, but it seems to have worked pretty well. I think I definitely prefer using the top tube bag+bottle combo...looks a little better than a wedgie bag, I think, and is actually a little more functional. I'll have to use the wedgie for longer rides when I need two water bottles, but I think for most of my riding this will work well.
Here's how it looks now:
This is my improvised CageRocket:
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