How to be comfortable cycling in any season

A question that I am asked by a lot of friends restarting cycling is what to wear and how to adapt to the changing seasons.

Giving a precise answer is difficult because you need to assess the weather on a given day, including wind and humidity and because we all have different ‘temperature settings’: I once went out for an autumn ride with an Italian friend. I was warm enough to be in jersey and shorts while he was wearing three layers and still feeling the cold.

What is essential is that you should be comfortable: not too cold but not sweating too much. Outside summer, if you are likely to be stopping for more than two or three minutes, it may be worth bringing an additional layer.

Below I have set out what works for me. I have organised according to how hot or cold it is with a rough guess about temperature in Celsius. This is just a ballpark figure. Adjust as you see fit.

20C and above
13 to 20C
7 to 13C
3 to 6C
2 to -2C
-3C and below

One word of caution: weather can change suddenly especially in spring and autumn so I tend to pack small changes of clothing just in case: a spare pair of woolly socks in winter, a rain jacket and/or fleece in spring and summer, arm warmers for spring and autumn and maybe a change of gloves for those days when it is warm but not that warm and you hesitate between fingerless and full finger gloves.

20C and above

The minimum. Short-sleeved bike jersey, ideally Lycra to let you sweat, and ideally with some pockets at the back for keys, money etc. Fingerless but padded gloves. Padded Lycra shorts. Thin cycling socks. Cotton sports socks will do but cycling socks will fit better and dry off quicker from rain. A pair of trainers. I recently switched to elastic laces, which was a great improvement as there is no longer any risk of the lace getting snarled in the pedals/crank.

13 to 20 C

The above plus arm warmers. I was initially a bit suspicious of arm warmers but they really help during spring and autumn for those days when it is a little chillier than the sun would suggest. Also worth packing a pair of light full finger gloves just in case and a light rain jacket.

7 to 12 C

You have two broad options here.

Until recently, I used to switch to a thicker rain jacket coupled with thicker padded gloves, leggings, thicker socks and possibly a muff or bandana.

I have recently been trying out a combination of sticking with the lighter rain jacket but pairing it with another light and packable jacket that can fit inside. This gives you more options for those spring and autumn days when the temperature can vary quite a bit.

Jogging leggings will be fine here, provided that they are full length. Again, Lycra is the answer so that they fit tightly and dry quicky from rain. I wear them over my Lycra shorts. I tend to move to thicker socks at this point while still using my trainers. For gloves, I alternate between thicker padded gloves and simple full length gloves, seeing how my fingers feel. If it is chilly when I set out, I also wear a muffler for my neck. You can buy them very cheaply in Decathlon and they are great for protecting you against the chill.

3 to 6 C

Rain jacket, muffler, fleece, full length jersey or insulated running top, thicker padded gloves, shorts, leggings, thicker socks, “non-breathable” shoes if you have them or thermal shoe covers/ gaiters if not.

Time for the lightweight fleece and to swap the bike jersey for an insulated running top or such like. I have a few from Decathlon and they keep me super warm in winiter, often to the point that I swap a fleece for a thin inner bike jacket so as to not overheat.

Depending on the humidity, you might also want to go for even thicker gloves (see below).

2 to -2 C

Yes, you can still be out riding in this weather provided that the roads are not too icy.

At this point, I add three things to my kit: a bandana for my head and ears, a thick pair of padded gloves and some thermal gaiters.

I have recently been experimenting with wearing kitchen/surgical gloves inside my main gloves for additional warmth. I am not totally convinced, but it might be a good option to bring some with you in case it is colder than you expected or your gloves do not keep you warm enough.

The gaiters/ shoe coverings are essential. You can pick them up easily at Decathlon and they really work and there is helpful guidance on temperatures and waterproofing. I have a pair of waterproof ones and some less waterproof thermal ones.

What you must do is to try them on: you will probably find that you need a few sizes bigger than your shoe size. Why? Because they are designed for bike shoes. What you want is a covering that can be squeezed round the outside of your shoe with not too big an effort and then sits snugly, insulating and not letting in too much water.

A woolly hat will also do. The important thing is to cover your poor ears.

Ski gloves will also do, though gloves with a little bit of wrist padding are better for you.

Once you have them on, you will not want to play around with them, but just in case I get cold, I also pack a pair of ski socks (see below).

-3 and below…

What’s stopping you? If the roads have been de-iced, you could be out for a memorable experience. Finnish children cycle to school even in the thick of winter.

At this point, it is a question of forgetting aerodynamism and simply getting out. This means raiding your ski wardrobe for a balaclava, ski or puffa jacket, ski trousers or jeans, and ski socks. I also wear a large luminous vest over the jacket.

In the days before I learned how to protect my feet.

A final word…

Riding in the different seasons is not just about clothes: it is also about your bike and carrying the right equipment.

In the summer, you should carry loads of water – around one 750ml bottle per 20 km – and consider taking a small towel or flannel to deal with the sweat. I also carry a small tube of sun cream.

In the spring and autumn, worth packing lights just in case you get home later than expected or get caught in a bad shower.

In the winter, you can let your tires be a bit softer but you need them to be grooved rather than bald, so this is the time to think of replacing them. You also want to check your brakes. I also take with me a thermos or thermal water bottle of hot tea to stay warm.

If you live somewhere that gets a lot of snow in winter – I envy you, living here in rainy Belgium – then snow tires are the answer.

In the pages below, I have set out other advice for getting going again: