Winter is about as tough as it comes. Cold and crisp or wet and wild, it'sIt's a uniquely challenging time of year. With cold creeping into your mornings and heat lingering into your evenings, staying comfortable whilst you train comes down to careful selection of kit. Here, we break down our top tips, when to wear them, and why we recommend them for your rides.
While layering is a term that’s thrown about, we’re going to do a deep dive into what we mean by layering, how it can help you stay more comfortable on the bike and ultimately how it will set you up to complete and conquer your training plan when the weather is isn’t always in your favour.
Warmers.
Leg, arm, knee. Warmers are a often a revelation to riders new to the sport due to the endless versatility. Offering close quarters warmth and coverage but stopping short of bulking out your kit, a quality pair of warmers will equip you for fresh starts and chill evenings, and extend the life of your jersey.
Better still, they pack small and tidily into your jersey pocket, meaning when things warm up or the sun does decide to make an appearance, you’re not stuck hauling full jacket.
Wind Jackets & Gilets
Before winter comes around, autumn winds shake leaves from the trees. They may not be the icy blasts that you get in January or February, but while riding, it’s going to be fresh. A small wind jacket or quality gilet will be easily packable whilst offering a windproof front fabric, stopping your core from taking a buffeting on the early rides.
With breathable rear mesh sections, these layers are ideal for you when you’re not just wanting to stay warm, but also put down an effort without condensation causing you to overheat on your efforts and then have you freezing on tempo efforts.
Long Sleeve Jerseys
Some days are just too cold for short sleeves and warmers. When those days come along, you need to be thinking about long sleeves. Typically using a slightly thicker jersey material, a quality long sleeve provides the barrier needed to reduce air flow and chill to your core, without overheating.
Toe Covers
It may seem simple, but a small bit of fabric over the toe can completely change your level of comfort on a long ride. Typically neoprene, these slip over your cleats but can offer protection from splash and spray as you ride.
Gloves.
They’re perhaps one of the most ordinary yet fundamental additions. Riding a bike requires your hands to be up front, and when the air is cold, before long, so are your fingers. A thin pair of gloves offer essential protection and is the basis for greater warmth as you ride deeper into winter.
Ideally find a pair that are touch screen compatible, as either your head unit or phone will need inputs at some point during your ride and having to remove a glove is a moment you often regret instantly.
Cycle caps.
It’s a classic – but a cotton cap can stop you from getting too cool. Most heat is lost through the head – and simply limiting that loss will help you remain more comfortable on the bike.
Round up.
If you've got all those bases covered, it just comes down to making the right choices. Even experienced riders get this wrong from time to time, but, an extra layer you don't use is always preferable to one you need and don't have.
As the fall rolls into winter, you'll gradually start adopting more and more layers, until finally, jackets become a staple of your riding gear.