Finding the right cold weather cycling gear for -4°C
Nailing cycling gear for cold weather is tough - start warm and you'll be sweating too much, start too cold and you might be miserable all ride.
I just got back from a bike ride in minus -4°C. I was so close to being dressed correctly.
I had on a slightly ridiculous list of clothes:
- Bib tights
- Extra long socks
- Spatz Roadman overshoes
- Spatz Thermos Gloves
- Normal summer cycling shoes
- Merino Wool base layer
- Long sleeve jersey
- Spatz rainwear arm warmers - these are amazing! There are thicker panels on the front to keep the wet and cold out
- HUUB jacket
- Gilet
- Balaclava
- Neck buff
- Sunglasses
How'd it fare?
Tops
After 2.5 hours, the base layer and jersey were pretty soaked with sweat.
I have some Spatz Base layers on order which are meant to be far better at wicking sweat and warmer, so I think the idea is you can wear fewer layers, which lets sweat evaporat, and stay warm and dry.
Gloves
My hands were pretty cold at the start and went numb - so just wearing the Spatz Thermos Gloves is not enough.
Some ideas to try:
- Adding a merino wool / thin glove as a base layer
- Adding a big pair of skiing mittens over the Spatz gloves
- Adding Barmitts for the winter
Feet
Damn, they finally got cold. I thought the Spatz Roadman overshoes were invicible.
Some ideas:
- Winter shoes - my summer cycling shoes are covered in wents, most of these are covered by the Spatz but I guess this would help keep the cold out
- Adding another pair of toe warmers under the Spatz overshoes
- Charcoal warmers
Other ways to solve riding in the cold...
Ride on Zwift, inside, in the warm 🤣
