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 it all comes down to our individual thermostat settings and assessing the weather on a given day, including wind and humidity. I have sometimes seen people out with their legs showing in the middle of a freezing day: a bit nuts to me but great if it works for them. What is essential is that you should be comfortable: not too cold but not sweating too much.
Below I have simply 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.
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 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. If you plan to stop for lunch or a bite to eat outside, also worth bringing an extra layer because you will cool down quickly.
Final caveat: I have written this based on my experience as a man. If you are a woman, you will need to factor in things like a sports bra.
20C and above
The minimum. Sleeveless 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.
13-20 C (mid-spring, mid-autumn)
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.
7-12 C (early spring, late autumn)
The above plus thicker rain jacket, thicker padded gloves, leggings, thicker socks and possibly a muff or bandana. 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 muff for my neck.
3-6 C
Rain jacket, muff, fleece, full length jersey or insulated running top, thicker padded gloves, shorts, leggings, thicker socks, “non-breathable” shoes.
Time for the lightweight fleece and to swap the bike jersey for an insulated running top or such like. Depending on the humidity, you might also want to go for even thicker gloves (see below). At these temperatures, your feet are going to get seriously cold and those breathable bits below the laces are going to do you more harm than good especially if you go through a puddle… At this point, I switch to an old pair of casual leather shoes with flat bottoms. No need to invest in anything sophisticated: just an old pair of weatherproof shoes that fit comfortably when you pedal. Depending on how humid it is, I sometimes put some rubber coverings over my shoes (see below).
-2 – 2 C
Yes, you should 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 rubber shoe coverings.
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.
The rubber shoe coverings are essential. You can pick them up easily at [major French sports retailer] and they really work. 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.
It is also possible to find non-rubber coverings but I found them less insulating and waterproof.
The drawback of the rubber coverings is getting them on. I put my feet through them before the shoe, draw them up a bit on my legs with my feet going through the big open part of the covering, then put my feet into my shoes, tie the laces and then squeeze the coverings over, trying to not pinch my fingers.
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.
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, your bike tires should be pumped to the maximum, 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.
In the spring and autumn, worth packing lights just in case you get home later than expected.
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.
thanks Crisp! indeed finding the right outfit for each weather has been crucial for me to continue biking even in the winter. it took some experimentation. I also admit that initially not knowing what to wear was an obstacle I needed to overcome. your advice is helpful 😀👍💪