“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing” or at least that’s how the saying goes. But anyone that’s been here to Wales will know that’s not entirely true. However, wearing the right clothing will make your cold ride that bit more comfortable.
So here’s PEDALSTORIES’s guide to winter clothes.
We’re going to start with the basics. A good undershirt is essential as soon as the weather starts to deteriorate. It doesn’t matter how cold the weather gets; when you start exerting yourself on a climb, you’ll start to sweat. A good modern base layer will help to wick away that moisture, which means you won’t get so cold when you descend down the other side. There are all sorts of different undershirts on the market—long-sleeve, short-sleeve, thin, thick, and even wind-stopper ones. The one you choose very much depends on what the temperature is where you’re riding. What you wear on top of that base layer again depends on what the weather conditions are like. If it’s not coming down towards freezing point, you’ll probably be alright with just a good base layer and a good winter thermal top, probably a wind-stopper. However, if it does get down towards freezing, you might want to put a couple of extra layers on, maybe a jersey or a smaller long-sleeve jersey. But make sure they’ve got long zips so that if you do get too hot, you can start to let some air in. Those extra layers will trap air, which will aid your insulation. Something which we definitely recommend is at least putting a gilet in your back pocket, and preferably a full-on rain cape. Because it doesn’t matter what the conditions are when you set out, you never know when that might come in handy. Try to make sure that your winter jersey fits properly too. Too big and the wind will come down through the collar and up the sleeves; too small and you’ll restrict both circulation and breathing, and also possibly have a gap between your gloves and the end of your sleeves.
On your legs, a pair of tights without a chamois pad are a good idea, as they can be layered over your normal cycling shorts. This gives another layer of fabric to keep your glutes, quads, and let’s face it, crotch, warm. Using leg warmers isn’t ideal, as although they’re made from a fleecy lycra, your shorts are knit, so you can get really cold this way.
From here, we’re going to turn to the extremities. Keeping your head covered is really important and an effective way of adding warmth to your whole body. If it’s raining but not too cold, then an old-style cap will keep your head warm enough while also keeping the rain away from your eyes. However, if it’s very cold and dry, a skullcap is likely to be the better option. Gloves can be really tricky to get right, but often problems with cold hands start not with the glove, but what you’re wearing on your body. If your core is warm, it’s easy to keep the blood flow into your extremities. That said, a good glove is still essential. The gold standard is for warmth without bulk, and for this reason, the modern wind-stopper fabric is perfect. If it does start to get really cold, again, layering is your friend. Try putting a thin pair of gloves, your wind-stopper ones over the top. If it’s wet and cold, it’s much harder to keep your hands warm. But the best, and most odd, are diving gloves with thick neoprene that works like a wetsuit.
Finally, feet can be an equally tricky proposition. It’s very easy to lose feeling in your toes. Neoprene overshoes are great. We’ve also had great success in layering a thin pair of these with a waterproof pair over the top. Riders often make the mistake of putting on thicker socks, but this can limit circulation, so it’s better to layer on the outside than the inside.
This last point is a little bit of a luxury, but having different lenses will help your vision during winter rides. In the summer, of course, we have shades on, but in the winter, we have all sorts of different types of lenses.
So, now you’ve got it all set and you’ve spent a small fortune down at your local bike shop, so there’s no reason not to brave the elements, absolutely. I can see myself doing that at some point.