Winter Wardrobe
Good evening! I'm back! Great news, had a holiday (we went to watch the WRC in Wales) and now the legs are performing well. The rest seems to have done me the world of good as I've come back into it feeling smoother, more resilient and for some reason I'm now climbing like a boss. So back to it, time to knuckle down. It's the season to be raking in the miles and building on your fitness ready for the new season.
There's just one thing getting in our way. It's just so damn cold!! So what are we going to do about it?
This time last year I was entering my first winter as a cyclist. It was also my first winter in some time under 65kg... and in turn my first winter in a LONG time with less bodyfat than brains (and that's saying something). It's safe to admit that, last winter, I wasn't prepared. It was bitterly cold in London and being the tough boot from the Isle of Man that I was, I reckoned to surviving on my feeble stock of jerseys, arm warmers and autumnal tights. Oh how wrong I was. There are many things to consider when dressing for the cold on a bike, most of these things I failed to consider last winter. So this year I vowed to make right my schoolboy wrongs, and so far it's not going too badly!
I want to share this post, not to review gear or necessarily to sell any particular form of dress, because everyone is different. However, last year, as a newbie, I found advice on dressing for the cold a little confusing. The shops are confusing, it's either too much, too little, too expensive or too shabby. Why oh why does keeping warm have to be so difficult?! It really doesn't, but there are some integral factors which you must consider when stocking up on your woollies;
1. Don't forget your head..
Contrary to popular belief, the idea that a large percentage of bodyheat is lost through your head is a total myth, there's no scientific backup to this idea. BUT and a large but, if you're descending your local pass at 50kph or more when the degrees are in the minus and you've not got anything on your noggin, you're GOING to feel it.
Also contrary to popular belief, you still sweat when you're riding in winter. Take this into consideration when buying both headwear AND baselayers.
On the hat-front, last year I wore a cycling cap, as a girl I found this to be a bit of a nuisance what with having lots of hair & all. This year I've bought a nifty headband from Bontrager, it wicks well so it doesn't encase my brain in freezing loitering sweat, nor does it retain rainwater like a towel. What it does extremely well is keep my ears (the important bit!) cosy and warm in pretty much all weather, without getting in my hairs way. As it's just a headband I can keep my hair in a ponytail (something I'm much more comfortable with) and remain warm on top.
There's lots of headwear out there, I'd suggest maybe trying one or two different solutions, at least you can swap and change dependent on the weather. While you're out there, get yourself a buff or snood too, always great to have something to protect your neck to prevent risk of illness.
2. It's what underneath that counts..
My biggest mistake last winter was not wearing a baselayer, of any kind. How I managed to get through that season alive is beyond me. I started wearing mine in September this year! Some folks wear wicking layers all year round, personally I'm not comfortable doing that as I get hot quite easily.
When you're shopping for a winter baselayer, you don't need to spend a fortune to get hold of a winner. Just remember that you will still sweat, something that wicks well and doesn't retain moisture is paramount. You can actually get merino wool baselayers pretty cheap now from the likes of Wiggle. Merino is an excellent addition to any winter wardrobe as it is naturally antibacterial, as well as naturally wicking and EXTREMELY warm. I'd highly recommend one of those for the very cold days in the middle of winter, and then perhaps a lighter sports layer for the warmer days or when you're not too sure about the weather.
3. Singing in the rain..
It's all well and good spending a small fortune on high quality waterproof gear, but if you're sweating underneath it that moisture is only going to cool down as the wind hits it.
The point is, rain isn't a problem, the issue is the air temperature, and without sufficient protection against that all this fangly spangly waterproofing isn't worth jack!
If you want to make a worthy investment, go windproof. Buy a windproof gilet and some softshell or windproof tights and DEFINITELY buy some wind and water proof overshoes - dear lord will your toes thank you for that one. Neoprene is OK but retains water when the rain is bad so maybe go a step up, there are some pretty epic overshoes out there that have wool fleece linings but 100% waterproof outers, get some!
4. Layering is key..
Some people might disagree with me here but personally I don't think you can go wrong if you layer-up your winter ride gear. If you go out with stuff you can't take off then you're stuffed if you get too hot. Trust me. I wore a windblock jacket, and not much underneath, on an seemingly cold but rather beautiful autumn morning recently and had to turn back due to overheating!
Everyone will have their preferences but my winter regime normally consists of wearing a baselayer, jersey, armwarmers (at the moment I'm using Sportful No Rain arm and leg warmers which work brilliantly in showery weather) gilet, bibshorts, legwarmers, overshoes (either oversocks or full blown winter overshoes), merino socks, glove liners and autumn short finger gloves, plus a buff for my neck and a head band for my ears. It gives me the opportunity to shed layers as I go while still keeping me pretty warm.
As the weather gets cooler I will probably add some tights to that list, possibly with roubaix fabric, and swap the glove layers for softshell cycling gloves. When the rain comes in I'll be busting out my high-vis, it's cool, it's hip, I know it's hip. Generally that's enough for me, you can only really figure it out for yourself by experimenting but remember you don't have to spend a fortune, buy bits and bobs as you go from sales and shop around online.
5. The best of the rest..
There's loads of little tricks you'll learn over time about looking after yourself throughout the seasons. There's a few more little tricks you could try to keep warm such as; if you get cold knees, try a little rub of warm up balm on the spots that bother you, it really works. Wear merino socks. Put your heart rate strap on the radiator the night before you ride, that's a no-brainer. If you live in Sibera you could consider a thermal bidon (a what?) it's basically a thermos flask cycling bottle, have a search for them online, tea or coffee could make your winter rides blissful! You can now also get thermal bar tape. Pop some of those heat pad teabag things in your gloves and shoes before you ride (if there's room). Time your central heating to come on half an hour before you're due to return.
Hopefully these tips and tricks are helpful to anyone that perhaps either hasn't thought of them yet, or are just entering their first winter like me last year. If you've any tips to share it would be great to hear any comments you may have!
There's just one thing getting in our way. It's just so damn cold!! So what are we going to do about it?
This time last year I was entering my first winter as a cyclist. It was also my first winter in some time under 65kg... and in turn my first winter in a LONG time with less bodyfat than brains (and that's saying something). It's safe to admit that, last winter, I wasn't prepared. It was bitterly cold in London and being the tough boot from the Isle of Man that I was, I reckoned to surviving on my feeble stock of jerseys, arm warmers and autumnal tights. Oh how wrong I was. There are many things to consider when dressing for the cold on a bike, most of these things I failed to consider last winter. So this year I vowed to make right my schoolboy wrongs, and so far it's not going too badly!
 |
| COLD. |
1. Don't forget your head..
Contrary to popular belief, the idea that a large percentage of bodyheat is lost through your head is a total myth, there's no scientific backup to this idea. BUT and a large but, if you're descending your local pass at 50kph or more when the degrees are in the minus and you've not got anything on your noggin, you're GOING to feel it.
Also contrary to popular belief, you still sweat when you're riding in winter. Take this into consideration when buying both headwear AND baselayers.
On the hat-front, last year I wore a cycling cap, as a girl I found this to be a bit of a nuisance what with having lots of hair & all. This year I've bought a nifty headband from Bontrager, it wicks well so it doesn't encase my brain in freezing loitering sweat, nor does it retain rainwater like a towel. What it does extremely well is keep my ears (the important bit!) cosy and warm in pretty much all weather, without getting in my hairs way. As it's just a headband I can keep my hair in a ponytail (something I'm much more comfortable with) and remain warm on top.
There's lots of headwear out there, I'd suggest maybe trying one or two different solutions, at least you can swap and change dependent on the weather. While you're out there, get yourself a buff or snood too, always great to have something to protect your neck to prevent risk of illness.
2. It's what underneath that counts..
My biggest mistake last winter was not wearing a baselayer, of any kind. How I managed to get through that season alive is beyond me. I started wearing mine in September this year! Some folks wear wicking layers all year round, personally I'm not comfortable doing that as I get hot quite easily.
When you're shopping for a winter baselayer, you don't need to spend a fortune to get hold of a winner. Just remember that you will still sweat, something that wicks well and doesn't retain moisture is paramount. You can actually get merino wool baselayers pretty cheap now from the likes of Wiggle. Merino is an excellent addition to any winter wardrobe as it is naturally antibacterial, as well as naturally wicking and EXTREMELY warm. I'd highly recommend one of those for the very cold days in the middle of winter, and then perhaps a lighter sports layer for the warmer days or when you're not too sure about the weather.
3. Singing in the rain..
The point is, rain isn't a problem, the issue is the air temperature, and without sufficient protection against that all this fangly spangly waterproofing isn't worth jack!
If you want to make a worthy investment, go windproof. Buy a windproof gilet and some softshell or windproof tights and DEFINITELY buy some wind and water proof overshoes - dear lord will your toes thank you for that one. Neoprene is OK but retains water when the rain is bad so maybe go a step up, there are some pretty epic overshoes out there that have wool fleece linings but 100% waterproof outers, get some!
4. Layering is key..
Some people might disagree with me here but personally I don't think you can go wrong if you layer-up your winter ride gear. If you go out with stuff you can't take off then you're stuffed if you get too hot. Trust me. I wore a windblock jacket, and not much underneath, on an seemingly cold but rather beautiful autumn morning recently and had to turn back due to overheating!
Everyone will have their preferences but my winter regime normally consists of wearing a baselayer, jersey, armwarmers (at the moment I'm using Sportful No Rain arm and leg warmers which work brilliantly in showery weather) gilet, bibshorts, legwarmers, overshoes (either oversocks or full blown winter overshoes), merino socks, glove liners and autumn short finger gloves, plus a buff for my neck and a head band for my ears. It gives me the opportunity to shed layers as I go while still keeping me pretty warm.
As the weather gets cooler I will probably add some tights to that list, possibly with roubaix fabric, and swap the glove layers for softshell cycling gloves. When the rain comes in I'll be busting out my high-vis, it's cool, it's hip, I know it's hip. Generally that's enough for me, you can only really figure it out for yourself by experimenting but remember you don't have to spend a fortune, buy bits and bobs as you go from sales and shop around online.
5. The best of the rest..
 |
| Here's a Group B 205. I'm in love with it. |
Hopefully these tips and tricks are helpful to anyone that perhaps either hasn't thought of them yet, or are just entering their first winter like me last year. If you've any tips to share it would be great to hear any comments you may have!
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