Cover High Before You Cover Low
With the transitions of seasons occurring all over the world as Summer shifts to Fall in the Northern Hemisphere and Winter to Spring in the Southern, we are faced with the seasonal challenge of how to kit up properly for volatile and variable weather conditions.
One of the most common mistakes made, apart from overdressing, is riders offending our collective sensibilities by inexplicably wearing leg coverings with short sleeve jerseys; an aesthetic faux-pas of monumental proportions. We’ve already discussed the merits of layering when kitting up in your Flandrian Best, and this specifically addresses the oft-abused Point IIV as discussed therein:
Maintain order; if it’s cold enough for knee warmers, it’s cold enough for arm warmers. First come arm warmers, then knee warmers.
While wearing shirt-sleeves and pantaloons is acceptable for civilian attire, doing so with your Cycling kit marks the rider like a greasy Cat 5 tattoo on the calf. The lower half of our bodies is working much harder than our upper bodies, which sit nearly motionless as our guns piston away at the pedals leaving a path of destroyed dreams and broken souls in our wake. The legs need air to breathe, room to roam freely; the caged bird doesn’t sing and covering up the guns unnecessarily with lycra is like caging a wild bird of prey.
There is a certain pleasure to be found in kitting up perfectly for the day’s ride. We deliberate over the temperature, the wind, the likelihood of rain. We lay out our options like a Valet for his nobleman, we may even take a step outside and reconsider our choices. Returning from the ride many hours later, we allow a wry smile to creep across our faces in the knowledge that we nailed our kit today.
- Expect to be cold when you first step outside. Once the engine is running, it will be pumping out heat; when you’re properly dressed for riding, you will be cold whenever you are standing still. If you’re comfortable standing still, you will overheat once the game is afoot and the engine room is calling for more coals to be heaped on the fire.
- Remember your layers, and always consider arm warmers and a gilet before a long sleeve jersey and knee warmers before tights. These give you the possibility of micro-adjusting your temperature as the day warms or cools, or if the rains suddenly arrive. Only move to long sleeve jerseys when there is no possibility of overheating.
- Long-fingered gloves are only allowed when paired up with arm warmers or a long sleeve jersey.
- Belgian booties are always acceptable in Spring and Fall, and always look the business.
- Wearing full leg warmers and a long sleeve jersey while enjoying a Pre-Ride espresso and talking shit is ultra-Pro. Deploy this at-will throughout the season, so long as you remove these layers prior to throwing leg over top tube.
@ErikdR
Note to self: know when to stop. This is TMI.
@Matt
Yes. Booties without leg warmers but with arm warmers.
@KogaLover
Hmmm, yes; I can see your point. On the other hand: as a none-native speaker, I still find myself baffled on a regular basis by some of the obscure English and American references (at least, obscure for me) on this website, as well as on the Winnipeg Cyclechick blog (and countless others, for that matter.)
Sometimes I just let it go, but I often look stuff up and try to figure it out. In general, it can be nice to know what people are on about, I think. Live and learn; that’s my motto. (It may also have something to do with the fact that I work as a translator, of course. When I sense that something is meant as a joke, but I don’t ‘get’ it, I take it as a challenge more often than not.)
For the record: where the Cyclechick is concerned, her post called “One for the Boys” (a follow-up to the “Dressed to Chill”-post), is another prime example of the lady’s talent for double entendre…
@chuckp
Excuse me … my bad. That’s knee warmers. But still need the arm warmers or long-sleeve jersey. Gloves optional.
@Ron
Not to mention they look better and they can be worn a lot lower than most knickers allow, at least for this Spinaker of a man.
@LawnCzar
You should be careful with that; you can damage your knees if they are too cold. Consider embro as an alternative.
@frank
My knee warmers probably come down to mid-calf (OK, I have short legs). But combine that with tall socks and booties, and at least last winter I didn’t need knickers/tights. Of course, I also didn’t ride when it was f**king cold either. But down to about 40 degrees. And when it was that cold (at least that’s cold for me since I’m one of those skinny ectomorph types) I donned a long-sleeve jersey that was a little more substantial and lined with soft fleece-like stuff. Sometimes with wind-stopper arm warmers underneath and a vest (I prefer that to a jacket) for both warmth and wind protection.
@Ccos
@Matt, you can wear them any damn time you please, and always look the business. I’d be careful wearing insulated overshoes without at least knee warmers, but Belgian Booties are cool any time of the year, in any weather.
Keep in mind that this does not refer to Lycra overshoes, but to wool overshoes only.
@fignons barber
Classic! I did it with a long sleeve cotton t-shirt, just cut the sleeves off and pinned them to the jersey sleeves!
@frank
Upon further review of Le Blaireau in the lead photo above, he is clearly wearing wool booties with shorts. That’s all the validation I need.
What a photo! Fantastic.
Is that a guy in a Peugeot jersey (and with a headband??) hitting the deck in the background?
And on the left: Panasonic jersey? (Not sure)
@the Engine
Its not the pocket size, its the jersey sag. If you’re not sagging and everything is nicely in place, carry on.
Pro tip: fold the gillet in thirds and slip it under your jersey; it doesn’t need to go in a pocket.
@KogaLover
Oh, she is a genius for sure; she even paid a visit to @Gianni when she stopped by on Maui. Apparently a class lady and lovely family to boot.
@chuckp
I’m pretty short, so knickers usually come to about mid calf on me. I’m comfy in shorts down to maybe 60, shift to knickers in the 40s and 50s, then to full length (and layers thereof) down to the 20s. I’m in DC (though hopefully moving to Colorado soon), so don’t see crazy fluctuations in temperature that make choosing that difficult even if I’m on the road for several hours. Guessing the Rockies may change that dynamic.
@frank
Yes, she does come across as a class act. Rides like a badass and her writing is clever, bawdy and humorous – what’s not to like?
I particularly enjoyed her posts on the subject of “The Guerciotti project”
@sthilzy
I don’t think they are hard asses, just morons. It’s a common thing in Aus (and to a slightly lesser extent in NZ) to see council workers etc wandering around in shorts in the middle of winter. They’re probably freezing their nuts off, but think they’re “real men, tough” for doing it.
@LawnCzar
Knickers are an abomination. Shorts with leg warmers if need be, you need that delineation. Knickers are for Pilates.
I haven’t even owned leg warmers for maybe ten years, always knee warmers, just pull them a little lower when it’s really cold, like KT13 cold where it wasn’t much above 0º for the entire trip. Need that little bit of gap to really look the biz.
And… best bit of winter kit ever: thermal bib shorts.
I have some terrific Campagnolo Sportswear lightweight knit knee warmers. The fit great (far better than lycra) and keep the chill off in a wide range of conditions. When it’s time to take them off, I tuck them in the back of my bibs, they sit flat and take up very little room.
Too bad Campagnolo killed their clothing line, wish I bought a few pairs.
@brett
considering ale prr ponente bib shorts _ can never be too sure what pad you’ll get with trying another brand _ castelli progetto x is currently the leader board
@brett
“probably” sounds like speculation – try it and you will not need to wince on cold mornings
@fignons barber
Everyone seems to mention getting a massage or to clean road rash as the origin of shaving, but I think it’s this. Applying Vasoline in cold weather would be a mess with hairy legs, so they shaved the guns. And having said shaved guns would instantly identify the hardmen who revel in the glory of Rule #9 conditions. Want to look like a badass pro? Rule #33.
I have no evidence for this theory, but it makes sense to me.
@brett
Ah, but in that delineation between shorts and knee warmers lies moral peril — the potential to violate Rule #82. And they’re not like arm warmers where you have an out and can argue that you were putting the hammer down…
A pair of kickers with the right fit, on the other hand, can nail the gap between them and the top of your socks and you don’t need to pull a Luca Paolini and use safety pins to make sure they stay up. Et voila.
I tend to
@frank
I tend to reach for the embrocation before reaching for the knee warmers. I use embro when the autumn mornings have a chilly bite to them, until the later transitional weeks of autumn. I find that a bit more embro can keep your guns warm and glistening for a long while.
I also thoroughly enjoy the warm, tingly trace sensations that embro leaves after having showered and dressed for work. The feeling of muted warmth and tender guns give me a feeling of time well spent laying down the V on another early morning training session.
A-bit high, but got me hooked on knee warmers, 1991
Edwig Van Hooydonck, Tour of Flanders
Man, Winning was just the absolute best mag for us English speakers, innit.
@nobby
Im with you on the knee warmers all winter Nobby. I always feel like I should be in Hot Gossip with tights and it makes me keep up the gun shaving too, but I’m strictly shorts come April
@LawnCzar
No you’re not the only one
1. Eddy Bosberg. Cobbles. Uphill. Out of saddle. On the TOPS!
2. Old school=no leg warmers of any kind for races, ever. Only embro. (and BTW, the Badger had a team car to put all of his extra shit in, pockets be damned)
3. Old school #B=cover legs under 65 deg. F while training. Our juniors coach used to tell us to suck it up if we were too warm believe it or not. Pull out your old copy of Eddie B’s book or similar.
4. Do not confuse racing and training. Do not confuse group rides and training.
If you always want to look like a pro, look like they do when they train, and look like they do when they race. They will laugh their asses off if you show up for a training ride with bare legs when it’s 50 deg. C and brag about how hard you are.
@ErikdR
If I were to guess, I’d say Gilbert Duclos Lasalle.
@fignons barber
Duclos Lasalle sounds like an excellent guess to me.
@ErikdR
Probably Francis Castaing in the Peugeot jersey. He was a headband man back in the day.
@Matt
In the 1980 L-B-L Hinault wore blue vinyl overshoes. I’m amazed it was the feeling in a couple of fingers he lost – those overshoes sucked big time – he’s lucky he didn’t lose toes to frostbite!
I’m not 100% but I think they were Detto Pietro overshoes – the logo was a couple of circles (spinning wheels?), located on the outer edge of the heel.
@frank
Flanders 1986: Johan van de Velde (Panasonic), Sean Kelly (Kas),Steve Bauer La Vie Claire), Guido Bontempi (Carrera), Francis Castaing (Peugeot).Kelly pipped in the sprint by Adri van der Poel Kwantum).
You guys probably know of this, but Sean Kelly has a blog with some great tales of his races…
@wiscot
That two circles/wheels logo would have been Duegi.
@wiscot
Strong work, @wiscot. Thanks!
Is Steve Bauer on a Look in that picture, then? WIth clipless pedals?
@ErikdR
He’s on an Hinault, but with Look pedals.
@Oli
Cheers!
@pistard
How stupid I have been throwing these away only a couple of years ago. I said Peter
@KogaLover
This article “leave-no-bike-behind” applies to kit as well.
It’s a fine balance between to let go or not to let go. Recently off loaded kit online as have lost weight and too loose on me, but will restock with sold kit funds. I was told by an old old timer – “don’t hang on to old gear”. That comment torments me every time I step into my garage! manage to keep these puppies – 80’s, 90’s, 00’s. Hmmm, time for a new puppy!
@pistard
Dammit! I was vaccillating between Detto and Duegi! I should have done with Duegi – I had a pair of Duegi shoes (still have ’em – plastic sole, leather uppers as soft as buttah!)
@universo
The pad used in the PRR winter bib short is the 4H “MEDIUM DISTANCE” bottom in elastic micro-fibre with padding strategically positioned in contact points. In the perineal and ischiatic area, the 90 kg/cm2 density padding is calibrated and breathable on all covered points to ensure utmost protection against collisions and stresses on road. The central exhaust was thought to protect nerve endings for improved support, also on long distances.
The lateral shaped wings are flexible and follow the body movements while pedalling, adapting to the cyclist’s anatomy for high comfort. Thnx Eva
@KogaLover
My excuse for throwing them away was because I threw them away before I picked up cycling again and way before discovering this site. But they were of higher quality than my current silver bullets, although they could not fit clipless pedal cleats anymore. I had to use nails and a hammer back then to fit them to the thick hard leather soles.
Sad to report that there was a couple of peeps breaking the bare arm-leg warmer violation on Saturdays club ride.
I on the other hand was rocking with bare legs,Castelli booties,arm warmers and a Sportful hot pack gilet*,the latter was taken off half-way round and being tiny when packed stuffed in one of the jersey pockets.
*One of my fave items of clothing;amazingly light,packs small yet still stops a chilly breeze.Sadly was ripped after an off a few weeks ago(with a nice Castelli jersey),but repaired with some self-adhesive fabric used for kite and sail repairs.
@KogaLover
I’ve still got my original pair of these shoes, although sadly after a few seasons of hard racing they’re not in exactly mint condition any more…
@KogaLover
@wiscot
@Oli
Rescued my 80s Detto Pietros a couple years ago; sadly, after 25+ years in my parents’ basement they were beyond salvaging. Bought some NOS Duegis thinking I’d wear them for vintage rides, but they haven’t been out of the house yet. Beautiful and comfortable, but I fear actually riding with clips and straps again would destroy any lingering nostalgia.
It’s hella uncomfortable, that’s for sure!
@Oli
That makes my loss even worse: I never did any hard racing with them, just rides, hence they were still in mint condition when I threw them away, including the original box, I even greased the soles to keep them intact.