I get cold very easily, especially my hands and feet, but I try my best to not let the cold weather ruin my rides. Below is the winter gear guide with what I wear when temperature gets below around 10°. It also depends on how strong the wind is and whether I will be riding Road or MTB. The MTB trails tend to be more protected from the wind as they are covered by trees.
I personally stop riding once the temperature is too cold for my gear. There is definitely warmer gear out there that I could purchase to extend the riding season but, for now, I choose not to as this gear is good enough to cover most of the season before snow and ice gets in the way.
The gear listed below I use for both Road and MTB.
Base Layer
I use a merino wool base layer, usually from Gobik, underneath a cycling jacket. This item is rated to work for a temperature range from -5° to 10° C.
Jacket
I use a jacket on top and mine is rated for temperatures ranging from 0° to 12° C.
For me, this jacket combined with the base layer it is enough to keep me warm up to around 3-5°C.
Bandana
I use a bandana that I wear around my neck and, if needed, I can extend it over my nose to protect my face from the windchill.
I actually like to use this in the summer for MTB as well, especially if it is an area with mosquitos, as I can cover my face when needed to prevent them from biting me or getting under my glasses (or in my nose!).
Socks
During the winter I switch from regular cycling socks to merino wool socks. They keep my toes warmer but it is still not enough if it gets too cold. Which is why I use a shoe cover listed below.
Shoe Covers
One of my most recurring issues is that my feet get too cold too quickly. I started using a shoe cover on top of my cycling shoes and it has helped.
My toes still get cold but it takes much longer (at least over an hour) before I start to feel them getting cold. This is mostly a ‘me’ problem, as my feet are frequently cold, even in the summer!
Gloves
During the summer and most of the fall I use lightweight gloves, but for the winter I switch to heavy gloves to prevent my fingers from getting numb. The wind can greatly impact your hands when riding.
Winter Cap
When the temperature gets close to 0°C I like to wear my winter cap. I can use it for both disciplines as I use the same helmet for both.
For bottoms I simply switch from shorts to tights (also from Gobik) and they are warm enough. Check out Gobik’s backroom as they usually have discounts.
All of this might seem like overkill for some of you as you might be more used to the cold than I am. I hope this guide is helpful if you are thinking about getting some winter gear.
Let me know below what other gear you use, it might help others as well.
Looking for summer or basic gear to get you started. Check out my posts for MTB and Road.
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Thank you! Appreciate the support 🙂