What to wear

Today, a wetsuit.

More seriously, cycle specific shorts are worth the money in my experience. Base layers, T’s and long sleeve running tops from ebay will do the job at a fraction of the cost of cycling brands. Whatever waterproof jacket fits budget. The more cycling you do, the more you’ll find out what suits you. Everyone has different preferences.

Padded undershorts are worth investing in.

I wouldn't worry about cycling specific kit, except perhaps some decent padded shorts or long trousers with a padded liner. Although even the need for padding can be minimised - it kinda depends how far and how long you want to ride.

For the rest I'd be looking at outdoor clothing, with good wicking properties (no Cotton etc...). Plus a breathable, water proof jacket.

Layers are a great way to stay warm.

OK thanks do you stay dry when it's raining I don't mind getting wet I'm just concerned if I get cold and wet if the outside temp is low.

I'm very unfit but gradually getting up a hill or two so not doing much distance wise I'm not sure what kind of distance I could manage and If I could manage to get back home.

Dave

As you're a '...big guy' try Fat Lad at the Back.

Padded undershorts are worth investing in.

I've used them on/off over the years. Much prefer riding without pads

OK thanks do you stay dry when it’s raining I don’t mind getting wet I’m just concerned if I get cold and wet if the outside temp is low.

I’m very unfit but gradually getting up a hill or two so not doing much distance wise I’m not sure what kind of distance I could manage and If I could manage to get back home.

Dave

I tend to dress to stay dry, but fully expect to get wet (sweat and rain) at times.

Lots of running kit or general outdoor kit works well for me.

In the UK at this time of year, the key is keeping warm when it's cold and wet,

Putting technical riding gear like chamois shorts aside for a moment, for most folks, layering is the way they go. so, Base Layer. Aim for something that won't wet out when you get sweaty (no cotton tee-shirts) that's reasonably form fitting to trap air. You can spend as little as a tenner on polyester and go all the way to over a hundred for wool, grab a short sleeved and a long sleeved version., just to give yourself an option. Next a Mid Layer Here you want something that provides warmth, and can vent; so aim for a thin-ish fleece with a full zip and long sleeves. then a Hard Waterproof Shell Again, the choice here is going to be dictated by how much you want to spend, and how long you want it to last before the rain gets in, but even cheapy waterproofs should last a couple of hours in the drizzle, again look for things like pit zips to allow you to vent some hot air. .

My wife has bought me some lycra legging type things to wear under shorts but I’m not sure how warm they would keep me.

I've mostly found that if I keep pedalling, my legs don't get that cold, the lycra leggings may keep you warmer than you expect.

Then there's the additional stuff to look after your extremities , socks, buffs, gloves, that sort of thing, best bet here is go to a bike shop and ask for recommendations and try some on. You can get waterproof socks, but its a personal thing, I prefer ones that will keep me warm regardless of whether they're waterlogged, other folk really have to have dry feet. Same with gloves, I know my hands will warm up eventually so thinner ones are OK for me, I know folks who have to ride in wind and water-proof gloves that are more bulky.

I've generally found that keeping my core and the extremities (ears toes fingers) warm, the rest of me looks after itself.

If I was starting out, I'd avoid going out in bad weather to start with.

Bad weather isn't a problem if you're in the right clothes, however they're quite an investment to start out with.

For short rides, I'd just wear normal outdoor gear to start. Decathlon's quite a good place to start.

If you get into it, I'd try padded shorts, then look at knee pads and then possibly specific riding shoes.

That should get you started.

OK thanks do you stay dry when it’s raining I don’t mind getting wet I’m just concerned if I get cold and wet if the outside temp is low.<br /><br />

You can try and stay dry but for riding off road with any level of exertion you are likely to get wet through various combinations of  rain, spray and  sweat.  The better the jacket the drier you will stay but there comes a point at which you will get wet, to some extent at least.  When you get wet the aim of the game is to wear clothes that manage the moisture and keep you warm while wet or damp.

Others will comment and add to the above but in the rain and cold I tend to wear a thermal layer (not cotton but some fabric that stays relatively warm when wet and wicks moisture away from your skin) there are multiple types from outdoor and cycling shops. They don’t have to be very expensive to do the job. Over that I wear a waterproof jacket. I have numerous but for example I have a cheap Endura one for local rides that does the job. I have others I use for longer rides.

On my legs in rain in winter I wear a pair of cycling tights or even just some Alpkit running tights and then a pair of waterproof shorts on top.  I accept my legs below the shorts getting wet as the tights will keep me warm enough. I don’t like full length waterproof trousers but some people seem to ride in them no problem.

For longer rides up in the hills (the Moor for you I guess) I spend more effort keeping dry than I do for a local ride.  I also take some spare clothes in places where it would be a problem if something happened to stop me riding to keep warm.

Not sure if this helps.  I tried to give a simple explanation.  I suspect others will have said similar while I type this but keep asking if you want detail and enjoy the riding.

Edit: I like riding in the rain - some people don’t and that’s cool. Sometimes just a short ride on a wet day seems worth it if you enjoy it.

Alpkit make some of their kit in a wider range of sizes and have a range of things that are pretty multi-functional, so not purely cycling, depending on what you're looking for. 

Another brand that might be worth looking at is Keela, for UK made, cross-functional outdoor kit sold direct at more reasonable prices too.

Keela Saxon jacket is a great lighter weight, breathable waterproof and available up to 3XL, 51-53" chest.  The people who make them are paid a living wage in the UK and the kit can be repaired at the factory in Glenrothes.

Whilst we are on the subject - can anyone recommend a good wicking long sleeved base layer?

I sweat quite a lot, even on the eeb - have all the decent wet gear and generally layer up, but often struggle with the balance between too warm/too cold

[b]Just don't wear jeans![/b] Dreadful things when wet. Some walking trousers would be better.

Apart from that just start with your normal outdoor gear and buy bits as you think you need them.

Don't overcomplicate it, I rode for a long while without any dedicated cycling kit when I first started.

And Decathlon is your friend when it comes to low-priced cycling kit.

can anyone recommend a good wicking long sleeved base layer?

How much do you want to spend? Two I'd recommend are the Patagonia Capilene  which is amazing in its ability to stay warm and not get clammy, or the other one I use is the Rapha short sleeved merino  equally brilliant for me Both about £70.00 pricey but well made and good at what they do.

these wet slodgy conditions, the crap gets thrown all over you

A decent set of mudguards can make a massive difference, you can basically road ride with mudguards and a fair bit less water protection IMHO, and riding off road keeping that constant muddy stuff off your back/backside gives any waterproofing a much better chance. I've got a full set of mudhuggers i sometimes put on if i cant be bothered to go full waterproofs

Point being, for full on pleasant riding in horrible conditions is a super expensive hobby on clothing, you could easily spend £100 on an item of clothing, think shoes, trousers and jacket to keep you not soaked through. but if you're not throwing crap all over yourself more budget items may give you a better chance. ie some semi waterproof kit from decathlon etc etc And being as you suggest you will be riding to get some fitness, we can assume you will be shrinking out of any riding kit soon enough so keeping it cheap will be key.

As above, Base layers, wool based top, and undershorts

In wet weather in these 10 degree kind of conditions i can happily ride in base layer and waterproofs, thats enough for me to stay warm.

On drier days base layers and jersey/riding trousers or shorts

As it comes towards zero ill throw on my fox thermal trousers and dhb thermal hoody.  the trousers are water resistant so that's usually enough for me when its that cold.

keeping your feet dry is a big deal, cheapest option is a set of sealskin socks

if your flash, invest in some waterproof shoes, your feet won't be shrinking so consider them an investment if you are going to stick with riding. you will get quite a few years of winter riding out of wet weather footwear.

Welcome!

Decathlon do a decent range into some larger sizes. I wouldn't worry too much about being cycle specific, as others have said stick to synthetics that deal with being wet better, not cotton!

Layers - which you can add or remove as and when are always good. If you are out on a long ride, having a new base layer and gloves in a dry bag in you pack to put on half way is great. Even if just a normal ride, something like a windproof or a gilet that you can easily put on before a descent and then take off again stops windchill.

Also in terms of investing - instead of LS tops and longs, consider arm and leg warmers. Means your (better, more expensive) SS kit is now usable most of the year.

In terms of staying dry. If it's really wet and you are staying out for a longer period then fact is you'll inevitably end up wet either by rain or sweat, so stuff that stays warm when wet is IMHO a better attempt than trying to stay completely dry which costs a fortune and still doesn't work. Embrace being wet - even if horrible out, getting out for 45 mins and back before you get cold is better than staying home because you won't 'survive' a 3 hour outing. You were going to have a shower afterwards anyway, so being wet is no great issue?

Specifics - don't overdo it at the start, particularly if you are unfit. If you get to a point where you are struggling to work hard enough to keep warm then you can get cold very fast. As above better to get back after an hour and think you could do more than finding that you've had enough and still 30 mins to go - I plan a route but have a couple of loops close to home / the car on crap days when this could happen, but the same can be said for your fitness capacity. You will improve fast so 'only' being able to do short rides to start off with is not a problem - don't get frustrated comparing yourself to people on here and their epic Strava outputs.

If like me you get cold fingers and toes - a couple of tips here. 1/ keep the core warm. If your core gets cold, your body restricts flow to the extremities so the core gets more benefit, and then your fingers and toes freeze. 2/ protect the wrists and ankles - unless you have heated boots and gloves they won't warm the blood flow. I see too many moaning their winter boots are no good when they have 3/4 length tights and ankles acting like heatsinks! What do you expect!

Welcome!!

protect the wrists and ankles

100% this ^. I suffer with cold hands and feet a lot. A mountain guide noticed this and recommended some £1 Sports Direct wrist bands and the difference was unbelievable. I don't tend to need super-duper expensive gloves using this method either. Thanks to a recommendation on here, I found some waterproof/windproof work gloves that are great too. Oh, and waterproof socks as also mentioned above - these are a ride-saver for me as I cannot find 'winter' cycling boots to fit.

Thanks folks for the really helpful suggestions I have no riding buddies as yet so learning every step as it comes.

Dave

Lots of sales just now. Decathlon is good. I've got some of their lightweight softshell trousers which I sometimes wear on the bike, I'd wear them more but I have some Madison bike trousers. They were cheap. I don't have any but you can get cheap base layers and fleeces from there. eBay is also worth a look especially for larger sizes that people no longer need or use. My most worn piece of clothing is a gilet. Doesn't need to be fancy. I very rarely wear a waterproof jacket, I don't like feeling sweaty and the gilet is more breathable but keeps your core warm and dry. For all the suggestions only time and experience will tell you what works for you. I couldn't imagine doing more than hour without padded shorts. And that's one thing that I think is worth paying more for.

For winter I like padded roubaix (fleecy) bib 3/4 with some cycle-specific shorts over the top. It’s a bit like wearing braces to keep the bottom half up and relieves pressure on the tummy. For top, layer up with a decent base, some jersey and a waterproof shell over the top. “Cycling specific” will have longer arms and back, but it really doesn’t matter. No shell is breathable enough to stop you getting damp inside when cycling, so merino tops work well underneath to stop you getting cold if you stop. I like icebreaker, again not cycling specific. 

This subject crops up periodically and one previous poster recommended getting down to the local golf retailer as they often have stuff like base layers and soft shell jackets at cheaper prices than "expensive" biking-specific brands (and probably more appropriate sizes for a "big lad").

I've no idea whether this idea of buying golf stuff is correct, but some mountain bike or road bike kit can be ridiculously expensive

Welcome to mountain biking!

Lots of good advice above (welcome to the Singletrack Forum!). The main thing, as you've observed, is to not get cold (that's when things get unsafe pretty quickly). Any waterproof will help with that - even if it wets through, it'll give you some wind protection. I don't think anyone has mentioned your head - the other important consideration in the battle against the cold, especially if you have to stop for a mechanical or something. A buff (or 'neck tube' copy) is a really handy thing to have - wipe the sweat off in the summer, keep the hail off your face in the winter, can be worn as a hat if it's cold and you need to stop, and takes up no space in your pocket if you're not wearing it. You can get fancy merino ones and suchlike, but I find the basic ones (often given as freebies in event goodie bags!) are the most versatile and useful. This sort of thing: https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/synthetic-tube-scarf-mt100-grey/_/R-p-330154?mc=8616253

And for some big guy MTB inspiration for you, here's Leo: https://www.instagram.com/landosteezy/