The Ultimate Cycling Kit Guide For Cold Weather Rides

Wearing the right clothing when riding in winter can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. If you misread the conditions you can easily find yourself getting much too hot or really really cold! If you're unsure what to wear or just can't get the right combo, this is the ultimate cycling kit guide for cold weather rides!

Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
1:10 - Preparation: what’s the forecast?
1:54 - Baselayers
3:40 - Tights
5:52 - Jackets
10:11 - Overshoes
11:11 - Gloves
12:40 - Other Kit (Buffs, hats, sunglasses, hi-vis, gilet)
14:41 - Conclusion

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Do you have any top tips of your own for getting kitted out right in winter? Let us know in the comments below! 💬

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[gcntech]

Do you have any top tips of your own for getting kitted out right in winter?

[mikes]

Greetings from Wisconsin, USA. Temperature this morning -4F / -20C. Thanks for kit recommendations for Spring or Autumn!

[sventice]

Great video! One thing I would add, which isn't quite kit-related but still important: always have lights with you while riding in winter. Even during so-called "daylight hours" it can be fairly dark in bad weather. And if your ride takes longer than you anticipated due to ridiculously sloppy roads or a mechanical issue, having lights makes getting home after dark a lot safer and less stressful.

[DoNuT_]

My bold tip for outdoor sports in general is: Layers are layers and you don't always need to buy everything for every sport you do. Sure, winter bibs, overshoes/shoe covers and jackets might be cycling-specfic but you can certainly ride with gloves you use for winter runs or use the same baselayer you'd wear for skiing. Don't cheap out on the important bits (like a warm and waterproof jacket) but scalves, facemasks etc. also do from the discounter. Also don't be afraid of bodges, I just put a bit of tape over the ventilation holes of my shoes because that would be the weak spot, even in neoprene covers.

[FomeDH]

i have no idea what you’re talking about not cycling below 0 degrees celsius. here in minnesota we’re riding on and off-road at temperatures much lower than that. i think making a video about the stuff required to ride in sub zero(celsius) temperatures would be awesome to see as well. i’ve noticed that people around here who intend to ride year round will often go for a gravel bike for their all rounder since larger tires = more traction and i mention this because you said ice was a problem for riding at such low temps but. also you can run studded tires studded tires(i like the ones from 45nrth) for the most traction on ice. if you want to ride a pure road bike though i get that ice becomes a true barrier since you’re much more constrained in tire choice. i hope to see more extreme weather content from gcn. i feel like since in the uk from what i understand you don’t get long periods of below negative so making content about it could be difficult. maybe a video about a trip somewhere farther north and colder? bike packing in those temps is totally different, maybe even run some bar mitts pogies

[HanOfGod]

Handy tip if you are riding with many layers or thicker layers, is to take a musette bag with you in a pocket. If you miscalculate the weather and are too warm but the jacket is too thick or you have too many things in your pockets, this allows you to take off and carry your unneeded layers. The brand "Restrap" do ones that are packable with adjustable straps which i carry on most rides as my "just in case" bag.

[darrylhuculak]

One thing I realized recently is that if you are riding when it's cold out, make sure you ride in populated areas, ride with a friend, or at least make sure you have good cell reception. Also tell someone (preferably who has a car) where you are going. I recently mapped out a ride in an unfamiliar area while my wife and I were on a weekend getaway. The roads were nice and quiet, however the route took me up into some rarely travelled hills and the temperature was approaching the freezing mark. I was dressed to maintain body heat while riding, but had I suffered a crash or mechanical, I probably would have suffered hypothermia before anyone could rescue me as my sweaty gear began to chill my body rather than keep it warm. It reminded me to make sure I had a contingency plan before heading out.

[keflarjeoffrey]

I use yellow coloured glasses for riding in the winter, even drab days don't look too bad, really improves morale! Favourite bit of kit is definitely a windproof vest, highly increases the value of everything you wear underneath.

[manitoublack]

Coming from Adelaide Australia. If it's going to rain, I just don't go out. We get over 300 sunny day's a year. so staying off the bike 1 day for bad weather doesn't matter much :)
Jordan

P.S: If it's above 0°C and the suns out. Summer kit always.

[klauskeller]

1- A bright Vest can also increase visibility enormously. After sunset it gets colder and visibility is more important than the chic black of the jacket 2- The front enlarged edge of a cap also helps against glare headlights. I only use clear glasses for eye protection. 3 -At low temperatures, I use a very light baselayer under the Flanders which absorbs and releases sweat even better 4. Another advantage of Overshoes: You can clean them more easily and the shoes themselves become less dirty.

[bugeyesprite]

Seems like pogies rarely get mentioned. They are a godsend. They allow me to wear lighter gloves, keeping dexterity, while also keeping my hands quite warm. I also wear dedicated winter boots as some others have said.

[frazergoodwin]

I really suffer from Raynaud's syndrome and so struggle to keep hands and feet warm. The most important bit of kit to me therefore wasn't covered - winter boots. Over shoes are okay(ish) but cycling is really a strange old sport when a bit of summer kit (designed with loads of ventilation in mind) is just bodged with a cover rather than replaced with a dedicated winter version. There's now even budget friendly options of winter boots available too (my latest Shimano pair cost about €120). Definitely worth looking into if you too suffer cold feet on rides.

[wildsurfer]

Also when making clothing choices before a ride check the wind speed. On my recent weekend ride it was sunny and cloudy and was about 8 degrees. I could have worn my regular bib tights but choose my deep winter ones as the wind chill made the outside temperature actually feel like 5 degrees. My head unit then recorded the average temperature as 1 degree once the riding speed was taken into account.

[evantozer]

It’s currently -31C where I am, my tip is get an indoor trainer!

[Theerik]

My favorite is a Pearl Izumi Thermo Jersey I got for Christmas, it's incredible how it's warm and breathable at the same time while stopping wind. Hat off for fabric engineers.

[HanOfGod]

SealSkinz waterproof/cold weather socks are really good. I get really cold feet and these help keep my feet warm. I wear a thin sock as a liner, the SealSkinz and a toe cover and my feet are fine in really cold temperatures. overshoes are an option too, but my laziness in taking then on and off makes me choose toe covers instead.

[seattlegrrlie]

I love riding below 0c . The air is crisp, the ground glitters like diamonds, the sun rises and it is pure magic. You need the right tires and to slow down. You won't be winning any races, but it will make you feel more alive than any indoor trainer

[JeffShepherdphotos]

My new star buy are "Bar End Mitts" They are like neoprene over shoes but for your hands, fitting over your brake levers providing a windproof warm pocket. Unlike thick gloves they are not prone to socking up sweat and becoming a stinky smelly situation .

[lynseysiveyer]

Thanks Ollie for the tin foil tip! It has changed my winter/cold weather riding forever! 👍🏻One thing I do is put hot water( boiled and mixed with a little cold water) in my bottles. It means my water doesn't get freezing cold, it ends up being tepid, which, when in the cold, feels much better 👍🏻

[matt_m]

As a Canadian, my last 12 deg C ride I was in short sleeves. When it goes below that, I use running compression clothing as a base layer. It works wondefully well. Depending on wind, rain and temperature, I wear it either under short sleeves or long sleeves, with or without a jacket. In single digit temps, I have regular long bibs and overshoes. The only thing I overdo is gloves. It has to be very warm for me to take those off.