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Newbie's first Enduro - Wet weather clothing question
I'll keep my newbie question brief.
I'm doing my first ever mini-Enduro, the 50km Capital Punishment in two weeks in ACT.
I'm curious as to what I should be wear on my top, especially if it's raining. I've got a 'proper' Bike T-Shirt. But if it's p*ssing it down, will I need waterproofs?
I've done long runs in the rain before and that's fine, but I'm budgeting being on the bike for the best part of 5 hours at least.
What's the 'norm'? I want to find that happy middle ground between being precious and being airlifted off the mountain with hypothermia!
[Mod. moved to events as this is about a specific one]
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All I can say is reckon it's going to be bl00dy cold there!
Rain in summer is not a drama, just ride like it isn't there. But in cold conditions you don't want to get soaked through with freezing rain and have to ride with that. Dunno about anyone else, but I'd rather be soaked with sweat under a thermal and a rain jacket than cold rain!
In fact I'd even go so far as to bet it will be cold enough that you should consider leg warmers to begin. Stopping to remove a layer on top and leg warmers after you warm up might be the go?
Im in for this one. My plan is to start with full leg warmers standard knicks standard jersey arm warmers and fleecy vest or non fleecy vest will depend on how cold as well as full finger gloves If it rains ill go a spray jack over the top with out the fleecy vest
It's Canberra in the middle of Winter and it sometimes snooooooooooooows!!!!
I'll be thinking of you all...that is rugged up with a nice cup of coffee.
Good Luck for the race though.
-1 tomorrow... better change that shock fluid to something that wont freeze and don't forget to keep those gels warm
At least the statistics almost promise that it wont rain..
Each to their own but IMHO I think you'll be warm enough, huffing and puffing your way around without the need for warm or wet weather gear.
However, I would look at keeping the chill off at the start till get yourself warmed up say for the first 5kms or so with arm warmers and full finger gloves. I find leg warmers fall down too easy and p*ss me off far too easy. I stopped wearing them, instead I wear full tights now if it's really cold.
If it's wet, I still think you'll be warm enough. I'd rather be wet and sweaty than hot and sweaty underneath a spray jacket.
If it's wet, I would be wearing clear glasses to stop the muddy spray getting in my face and eyes.
The big problem is if its cold and wet. Cold can be addressed by base layers, arm warmers etc. If its wet as well, the only mercy is that the start won't be quite as cold, but it probably won't warm up. While wearing a shell usually means you get wet on the inside from sweat, it's preferable to getting wet through from rain and being cold with it - any wind or downhill and you are a candidate for hypothermia.
I'll be taking and probably wearing a sleeveless water-and-wind resistant vest as an outer layer, plus a lightweight rain jacket that I will make a last minute call on carrying / wearing.
Ideal weather would be overcast to keep the overnight temp from dropping too low, clearing to a fine day. Fingers crossed.
In the UK I would ride in Wales when it was pretty cold, normally would go for tights and a full length base layer and then a cycling jersey on top of that. I doubt it will be that cold, but if it was me, I would go for a nice base layer from Katmandu, the Polypro ones or something similar which are quite tight, that will keep you warm and they wick away sweat as well which is a massive benefit.
Take a shell jacket, even if its a sleeveless one, they will keep the main part of you dry and only your arms will get wet if it rains, but cause you have the base layer they should stay fairly warm.
I find you can generally get away with cold legs, but the wind chill on your arms is far worse. I had to do the B2B road race this year in just a top and nicks and until the sun came out it was bloody cold. I wont be caught short again.
I too will be in this race. Yep it'll be cold, i'm wearin knee and arm warmers, bike t-shirt and long sleeve shirt over that.Make sure i warm up before the race, and bring a rain jacket that can fold up in my back pack. There's so many variables, and the level of cold down there is very different to what we are used to here on the coast. Hope it dont rain.!
I was starting to kick myself for not entering this one - even considered grabbing a last minute entry.
Thankyou for reminding me that it will be absolutely bloody freezing on the start line! I'll be warm and happy at home
Enjoy the climb up Stromlo in the last 10km's
Canberra too cold, Mogo too hot. You are a sensitive thing aren't you?!
And the switchback climb at Stromlo is an easy grind. I don't know why people think it's so hard..It's nothing like the long steep boring firetrail climbs on most of these enduros.
I'm lookin forward to the climb at the end, cause it will be down hill to the finish line. For a newbie like me to the race scene, i'm seeing the adventure side of it. Ask me at the end of the race and it could be a different story...! BRING IT ON....!
I think you would be mad to not wear warm gear Phil.
Eg today in the ACT is is still only 5 degrees at 9am......2 hours after the race starts. You would be well frozen by now if you only had a jersey and arm warmers on. Something to keep the wind off the chest would definitely be required.
If it is wet then a waterproof jacket would be an absolute must. In these kind of temperatures it would be near guarenteed hypothermia in the wind.
@morgan - you know I like it hot, will I see your lanky butt at mogo this year? but cold weather does bad things to my extremities.
I dont mind the stromlo switchbacks either, will let you know when I am down for a social ride in the coming months mate
Mate I've noticed what the cold weather does to your extremities. But that's another story.
Mogo nogo I'm afraid old buddy. Concentrating on exploring the rest of the ACT while I'm down here plus a couple of organised events. There's so much to ride here past the usual ST venues - some real epics are doable starting 25 mins from where I live, and even some tough dirt riding within the city itself.. Now those I'll show ya when you're down..
PS see you Saturday!
http://www.weatherzone.com.au/long-range-forecas... shows no rain forecast for the week around the event. Canberra has more stable weather patterns than Sydney so next week you'll be able to rely pretty well on Monday's forecast. If it says it will be dry, it'll be dry. If it says it will rain, it will probably rain. If it says showers/possible showers, generally there will be showers somewhere in the region.
On my way to work in the mornings (7am at 2 degrees) I've been wearing nix & baggies, leggings, 2 pairs of socks & shoe covers (I get cold feet), short sleeve jersey, long sleeve jersey on top, sleeveless windstopper, thick gloves & a skullcap.
Going home 5.15pm ( I know - I love working for the government), it's been as cold as 12 degrees, when I've worn the long sleever & windstopper, nix & baggies, & borderline leggings.
When I'm on the bike it's the wind that makes me cold, not the temp (hence the windstopper, baggies, booties & windproof gloves); as long as your body can keep a reasonable amount of the heat it's generating through riding, you'll be OK. Moving air and wet will wick that heat away, as will stopping for long periods of time as your body cools down.
If it is wet I'll be using my waterproof with removeable arms, which doubles up as a windstopper. I'll be wearing the booties too, 'coz rain and cold will get my feet really cold, but just leggings-I hate having much on my lower limbs. I'll also be seriously thinking about slapping on my front mudguard to keep the shite out of my eyes/glasses.
If it's dry the worst bit will be hanging around at the start at 6.30am so if you have a vehicle, rug up tons and then throw your stuff in the car 5 minutes before the start.
On special at T7 this week is a DSend baselayer set for $24.99
http://www.torpedo7.com.au/products/DCBYEW8TS/ti...
Anyone bought these before? Could be good for cold mornings or night rides.
Probably worth a try at that price
Hey all. I raced a bunch at the sharp end of XC and road in the UK and have a few tips for you that havent been mentioned here...
Whilst wearing booties is a good idea, the may (model dependant) cover the tread on your shoes, and will certainly get heavy when wet (puddle splash through, front wheel 'spit' etc). What we have always done is take a square of silverfoil (yup - from the kitchen drawer) of about 15cm x 15cm.
wear your normal socks, but before you put your shoes on, put the silverfoil sheet around your toes and the bottom and bridge of your foot. Then put your shoes on. You will squash the foli flat and wont know its there, and it will completely protect you from cold wind and water on your toes, also not holding any water, leaving your shoe tread free.
Nice hey?
Pre-Race warming up, an awful lot of people would use a black binliner (in the drawer in the kitchen under the silverfoil!), cut a head hole, and arm holes in it. Warm up in it, wear it on the startline, and with 15secs to go, just rip it off and either throw it to a helper to bin, or stuff it in your pocket. It really helps.
On your legs, a bit of warm-up oil really helps, and if you cant afford that, then the 'spray' olive oil in the other drawer in the kitchen works wonders - I also do it on my bike a bit too for muddy races - stops crap sticking to it.
If your head gets cold, but you wont want a skull-cap the whole race, stuff your front airvents with a bit of newspaper. Again - removable at any stage when you warm up.
Hope all this helps. See you on the startline - all toasty and warm!
Dunno about other brands, but I have a couple of Patagonia Capilene long sleeve thermals that are great. Like this:
http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/product/patagoni...
http://www.altrec.com/patagonia/mens-capilene-1-...
I usually wear one of these first (directly on the skin) and then put a cycling jersey (long or short sleeves) over the top and add a windproof vest or rain jacket as required.
They are very light but add a surprising amount of warmth. What's great about these is that they don't seem to get too wet and do seem to be able to retain warmth even if you do manage to soak it in sweat. Hmmmm... too many details?
Good for skiing too, BTW
long sleeve top under my cycling jersey & when it gets too hot I usually take it off & put it in my pack as it doesn't take up much room , or I have a light cycling jumper that is very warm for it's weight it is a little thicker than a long sleeve tee & it breathes to let out unwanted heat similar to goretex . Down in the Southern Highlans my brother puts glad wrap over his socks & puts a couple of newspapers on his chest too LOL ... that is very funny I told him
Im racing this oen too, and i will probably wear regular bike knicks, long leg skins, cycling singlet, long sleeve cycle jersey, full finger gloves, and a wind/waterproof jacket, i can take the arms off the jacket if it gets too hot aswell!
hopefully it wont rain, but if it does i'll whack on some toe covers
Wow, unlike Heather McCartney, this threads got legs.
I'm glad you guys have put me straight. You know what it's like as a real newbie. You don't want to turn up at the start line with full deep sea fisherman's outfit with ear muffs, nor do you want to die at the start line.
So, to keep costs down (given I'm bleeding money on bike related stuff... and inner tubes (see the my other thread!), I will be taking and maybe wearing full length skins worn if reallllly and anticipate stripping off 10mins in (note to self, don't go commando), whicking shirt, fleece and shell jacket.
Check.
Thanks boys. Great forum. Great community.
Do go commando! Never, ever wear underwear with bike nix!
It's grim oop Norf.
(Actually not bad ideas Ants, good onya)
Hey GAZZA, I haven't worn skins myself but I believe you need undies if you are wearing skins alone as I have heard they can feel like a cheese grater. Not sure if its true but just what I have heard.
Skins are awesome under knicks. Unfortunately mine are so old they're falling apart. but even then, despite splitting seams and pilled-up saddle contact patch, they are anything but cheese-graters. NO undies under them - the undies *will* feel like a cheese grater.
It depends to some extent on where the seams fall, but Skins've worked for me with regular knicks. I wouldn't wear them in a race though, if you haven't tried them out beforehand.
My best ever bit of riding kit is my Tinelli bibknicks. Bought at a discount through my employer's cycling club (has the employer's logo), I'm a changed man on the bike as a result. Even in the miserable wet two-hour ride home from work on Tuesday night, no chafing even without chamois cream.
Hopefully they're doing another group buy this spring because I want to order some more. I look like a skinny version of Mario Milano
until I get my jersey on, but I'll live with that for the comfort on longer rides.
definately commando under either skins or/and knicks, im a newbie in the bike world but ive tried both riding and running with underwear underneath and THAT definately causes the cheese grating effect, commando in skins feels like commando!
I watched the finish of capital punishment (am just returning from injured knee, didnt think the mud would help) and i hope u wore ur wet weather kit! 