Went for a long ride in temps just above freezing today, got everything dialed in pretty well, fleecy bib knicks, base layer, jacket, cap, gloves, overshoes, etc. Everything was toasty except… my uhh “package” got really cold to the point of pain near the end of the ride. Any ideas for adding a layer or some wind blocking down there that won’t bunch up? My legs and everything else is toasty. I don’t really want to drop $400+ on another pair of winter tights right now (eg the Rapha Core tights don’t say anything about windblock but the Pro Team tights do). Want to get in as much riding time as I can before the snow falls.
There are brands other than Rapha that make tights if you’re not looking to spend $400.
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If you can’t find a Black Friday deal, try shoving a section of bubble wrap down there. Between the insulating air and the windproofness of it, it might work.
My Assos Ultraz bib tights do wrinkle a little where there are proper windproof panels, but not much. The windproof aspect makes a massive difference. I’ve been fine down to a windy 12 Fahrenheit / -11 centigrade with those.
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slightly off-topic - how do you ensure that the water does not get too cold? Because if you ride at 0 degrees or below, 1+ hour, not to mention 3-4 hours, the water is still ice cold at the end?
Never been a problem, it takes a long time for water to freeze at or around 0C (like 4-5 hours), you can also start with warm or hot water, or use an insulated bottle, or carry it in you back pocket, that will all keep it from freezing. If it’s -10C or colder and I’m snowshoeing I have to keep my hydration pack under my jacket or it gets slushy in a couple of hours but I don’t ride in those temps.
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The old school solution is to add vodka or whiskey to the bottle!
I don’t have a lot of experience riding below freezing, but I’ve been told that insulated water bottles help.
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Use insulated bottles and deliberately warm fluids at the start.
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Use a hydration pack. The larger volume of fluids will hold temp longer. And with it closer to your body, it stays warm longer. I’ve even run mine under my jacket to help this for fat biking and ski biking. I keep the drink tube in the chest area of my jacket as well, to keep the tube from freezing.
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Same as @mcneese.chad - I’ve used hydration packs under a jacket for skiing all day in real cold temps. They do sell insulated ones, with insulated tubes, but you also learn to blow the water back into the bladder so the tube doesn’t freeze in the wind.
I know it’s blasphemy for some, but I’d wear a chamois or a set of bibs and then full pants when I was commuting in real cold weather. These have held up surprisingly well and are cheap.
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I’ve had my regular bottles freeze up at the mouthpiece quite quickly if it’s very windy and sub-freezing. Defo time to buy some insulated and even capped bottles this year.
I’d also consider donning mountain bike pants with bibs underneath for training in these low temps. Whatever keeps you safe and active.
I’m considering removing the chamois from my deep winter bib tights and wearing bibs underneath so I don’t have to quickly hand wash the tights after each cold ride. Unfortunately, most chamoisless bib tights aren’t deep winter, windproof versions.
Both Craft and Gore make a windblocking baselayer that goes under your shorts….have no idea if it might cause chafing or not, but it is an option.
Or just go “old school” and place your frank & beans in a wool cycling sock.
I know it’s blasphemy for some, but I’d wear a chamois or a set of bibs and then full pants when I was commuting in real cold weather. These have held up surprisingly well and are cheap.
I do that too when it gets really cold (at or just below freezing), if they are tight and stretchy enough they don’t bunch up too bad.
Try shoving a section of bubble wrap down there. Between the insulating air and the windproofness of it, it might work.
So I actually gave this a try today, I found the bubble wrap to be too noisy/crinkly and it felt like, well, plastic - but it the spirit of experimenting with “packaging supplies” I had some of that thin foam stuff that fragile items get shipped in, so I cut a big square of that and stuffed it down the front. It worked surprisingly well, didn’t notice it at all except considerably warmer (but seemed to still breathe), and it stayed in place even though I was out of the saddle quite a bit. Winner!
Both Craft and Gore make a windblocking baselayer that goes under your shorts….have no idea if it might cause chafing or not, but it is an option.
Nice, I’ll look into that. I’m not in the USA so by the time anything gets to me we might be in deep winter here. Maybe I’ll go crazy and get some studded tires or a fat bike 
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The bib tights with Gore Infinium (previously known as windstopper) are the solution. At least Gorewear, Castelli and Sportful have those.
How much Infinium fabric is used depends on the manufacturer. You may want to verify from company sites, but at least some time ago the Gorewear and Castelli bib tights had wind blocking material only from the waist to the knees, which is perfectly fine for the milder winter conditions. For the real winter weather it is better to have the Infinium cover the lower part of legs too, as it helps to keep your feet warm.
Consider cross country skiing pants which are windproof on the front, but not the back.
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You can also get Terramar briefs with a windproof front panel. They are about $20 US and work very well. I don’t normally wear anything under bib shorts, but when it’s well below freezing, I’m only going out for an hour or two, and these don’t cause an issue.
Re bottles, I found an amazing stainless bottle that is well insulated and that has a plastic dome that swings over the cap. I got it after the coldest weather had passed last winter so it hasn’t really been tested, but I suspect it will work well. It also helps to start with warm liquid as others have suggested, and to make sure it has 90 grams of carbs and plenty of salt.
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