Reddit reviews Gore Men's Phantom Jacket, Lemon/Black, Medium

Keeping your bike in shape:

• Rust-proof your frame/fork if you ride steel. Salted, slushy streets are bad news for damn near everything on your bike.
  
• Get some lube designed for wet/gritty conditions. Again, salty slushy streets; your chain'll be going through more than it usually does in the winter.
  
• Fenders are awesome. You already have some, but to anyone else who's reading this and doesn't, get at least a rear fender. SKS makes a few cheap, solid seatpost-mount ones for $14 or so for road and mountain bikes.
  
• Tyres: This one's optional, really. Knobbies help when the streets are so oversalted that it's like gravel, but if you've got wide tyres then you'll be fine on slicks. My housemate's done winter on his 23s, came out of it fine. Obviously, MTBs have a tire width advantage here.
  
  Keeping yourself warm:
  
  
• Base layers are great. You don't have to go all-out on these, just get something snug and comfortable. Something like this will do you just fine, and may even be overkill on some days. I used MEC's T1 and T2 tights throughout last year, and had no trouble. Was even pretty toasty on most days!
  
• Softshells are also great. I'm a fan of the Gore Bike Wear stuff, specifically their Phantom jacket. I realize last winter was pretty mild, but I only donned this and a simple long-sleeved shirt (usually polyester, occasionally cotton) and much like my bottom half, was nicely toasty. Shameless plug: I'm selling a grey medium-sized Phantom for $80 (got it as a gift but only wore it for a week in the fall, bought a small instead)
  
• Tights are nice, but optional. Any kind of waterproof/resistant pants should do you alright. Look into Craft brand stuff, or swing by REI if you're near one. They've got plenty of cheap stuff.
  
• Gaiters/shoe covers/plastic bags: Whatever keeps your feet dry. Wet shoes/socks are, if not the start to getting frostbitten feet, at least pretty damn annoying.
  
• Wool socks: Because your feet are going to get cold, possibly wet, and wool both insulates nicely and dries quickly. On that note, keep a spare pair of socks on you during your commute. Nothing sucks like biking to work/school, getting wet feet, and having to deal with it all day.
  
• Gloves: If you're getting some simple softshell gloves, go one size larger than your usual; wear some cheap mittens under those, and voila, instant double-layered hands on the cheap. If it gets really frigid, throw some wool mitts over that combo and you're set for anything. Alternatively to all this, just get some gloves meant for skiing/snowboarding. It's easy to keep most of your body warm since it's moving all the time, but your hands are just sitting on the bars getting hit by wind. Easy for them to get chilly.
  
• Shoes! Riding on platform pedals? Salomon makes some damn nice waterproof/resistant shoes/boots. Riding clipless? Five Ten makes some great, heavy-duty shoes that have some decent weatherproofing thanks to the "action leather" they're made wtih. Check out their Cyclones.
  
  Tips:
  
  
• Remember, you've got to dress for both being active and not. Sometimes you'll be pedaling hard, sometimes you'll be pedaling lightly or walking around. Find a good balance in layers that won't have you being too hot with the former, or too cold with the latter.
  
• Lights are always a good investment, be it winter or any other season. Winter especially, since the sun's not out for quite as long. Keep visible. For a powerful front light, get a flashlight and a handlebar mount. I use the Fenix TK-21 and this cheap mount. for commuting, touring, mountain biking, you name it. And then you've got yourself a flashlight off the bike too!
  
• "Cotton kills" is a bit of an overdramatic statement, but cotton's generally good to avoid. It doesn't dry particularly well, meaning if you get wet, you'll be wet for a while. Wet + cold is a nasty combination, too. Polyester and wool stuff is nice.
  
• Head to Village Cycle Center in Old Town. They know their stuff and they'll talk winter biking (or any biking, really) with you for however long you like. Good folks.