I am wondering how quickly it will get cold after dark. Given we will be riding until about 11pm, I wonder how cold it will get, how much warm gear I need and how I am going to carry it. I don't usually take a pack on these rides but am considering a small pack this time. I don't want to take anything too heavy, but also don't want to get too cold either.
Thanks Andrew. The keys will be nutrition and hydration which I played around with on the weekend and am pretty happy with how it went. I am leaning towards a vest so will go and have a look at them on Thursday night. Not sure where I will look. I would also like to pick up a better front light which is a bit of a nuisance because I have left it too late to go the online option.Aushiker wrote:G'day
All the best with the ride Greg. Well done on giving it a go.
For the evening I would suggest a vest and maybe arm warmers should do the trick. You will be surprised how well a vest goes at keeping your core body warmth. A jersey with pockets is also useful.
Andrew
Hi Greg, I'll be keeping you company on this one.casual_cyclist wrote:Anyone else doing the UAF 300 on Saturday
Definitely take a small pack to put snacks and spare clothing in. When it's below 5 degrees I find that nothing beats a windproof jacket with full length arms. Under this I would have s/s Jersey, a base layer thermal top and arm warmers. When things warm up to say, 10 degrees I would just remove the jacket, then at 18 degrees I might remove the arm warmers or might just pull them down to my wrists. As for legs, I wear a base layer thermal under my knicks with leg warmers over the top when it is really cold, then remove the leg warmers at a stop later on. In addition, when it's below 5 degrees, full finger gloves make the riding less agonising!The only thing I am really thinking about (besides headwinds!) is that the forecast is for 4 degrees
But you are skinny ... this might be a bit of overkill for us eh bigger blokes; well not the glovescavebear2 wrote:When it's below 5 degrees I find that nothing beats a windproof jacket with full length arms. Under this I would have s/s Jersey, a base layer thermal top and arm warmers. When things warm up to say, 10 degrees I would just remove the jacket, then at 18 degrees I might remove the arm warmers or might just pull them down to my wrists. As for legs, I wear a base layer thermal under my knicks with leg warmers over the top when it is really cold, then remove the leg warmers at a stop later on. In addition, when it's below 5 degrees, full finger gloves make the riding less agonising!
If the forecast for Saturday holds up then it could quite probably be near the minimum forecast of 4 deg. at the start of the ride at 7:00AM. (It reached a minimum of 3.3 a couple of weeks ago just after 7:00AM on my regular ride to PIHC) At the other end of the ride I guess we might be looking at around 10 deg with the Sunday morning minimum forecast of 5 degrees. As for the full arm wind proof jacket thing - on the CTA 300km ride last year, I think everyone who didn't have one was shivering, but then I think it was somewhere near 0 degrees along the Brand Highway towards Gingin, with mist covering the road in places. That, togethor with a bit of an easterly probably put the apparent temp. in the sub zero area. (need more emoticons eg. shiver!Aushiker wrote:and the other point is it will not get to 4 C until well after the ride is finished, no?
- we started from Midland at 5:00AM ) I was wondering about that too. I guess it will be cold in the morning as I will be riding from 6:15 AMAushiker wrote:and the other point is it will not get to 4 C until well after the ride is finished, no?
I will put on my base layers, gloves and beanie and see if that is enough in the morning. For the night, I am hoping it will not get too cold before 11pm. As you have kindly pointed out, I am err... bigger 
and tend to be on the warm side anyway, so I think I will see if a vest will do this time (along with all the other warms I already have). My hydration pack doesn't have enough extra room for this trip, so I was thinking I would just take the bladder out and put it in my small backpack. That way I will have enough room for food (I just finalised my menu todaycavebear2 wrote:Definitely take a small pack to put snacks and spare clothing in. ... In addition, when it's below 5 degrees, full finger gloves make the riding less agonising!
), snacks and clothes. I have used that pack before on long rides and found it very comfortable. I just found I didn't need it after I got my hydration pack. I have nice warm (full finger) gloves sorted. I have only had to use them once but they are looking essential for this trip. I've been through exactly the same thought processes. I find that I generally don't need the hydration pack during winter, just get by with 2 bottles (or sometimes 3 on legs of greater than 75kms) I might use my hydration pack without the bladder for this ride as it's the most comfy option if a pack really is essential.casual_cyclist wrote:My hydration pack doesn't have enough extra room for this trip, so I was thinking I would just take the bladder out and put it in my small backpack. That way I will have enough room for food (I just finalised my menu today
I have been messing around with hydration and nutrition for the 200km and then over the weekend for 125km on Saturday and 105km on Sunday. I drink a fair bit and find the hydration pack convenient. I usually make up an iso drink in my bottle which lasts for about 100km. My pack usually lasts about 200km. Over the weekend (for 230km) I used 2L + 2 bottles, which is a bit less than the 200km ride. It depends what I eat too. If I have a gel, then I need a fair bit of water to dilute it. A pack will be essential for me because I like to eatcavebear2 wrote:I've been through exactly the same thought processes. I find that I generally don't need the hydration pack during winter, just get by with 2 bottles (or sometimes 3 on legs of greater than 75kms) I might use my hydration pack without the bladder for this ride as it's the most comfy option if a pack really is essential.casual_cyclist wrote:My hydration pack doesn't have enough extra room for this trip, so I was thinking I would just take the bladder out and put it in my small backpack. That way I will have enough room for food (I just finalised my menu today
+1 and a pack could save you a lot of money in food on a 300km ride!casual_cyclist wrote:A pack will be essential for me because I like to eat
mental note to myself: pre make sandwiches and stuff pack full of food. 
Also you can get what you want. For example, not sure what will be open at Pinjarra at 7:00pm except for chooks and the pizza shop. I don't fancy greasy chips or a pizza with a couple of hours left to ride knowing my track record with greasy food (it doesn't agree with me). I better get cooking because I am bringing out the big guns for this ride (sangas, rice patties and home made muffins). All this talk about food is making me hungry.cavebear2 wrote:+1 and a pack could save you a lot of money in food on a 300km ride!casual_cyclist wrote:A pack will be essential for me because I like to eat
Users browsing this forum: No registered users
