The Ultimate Cycling Kit Guide For Cold Weather Rides

Wearing the right clothing when riding in winter can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. If you misread the conditions you can easily find yourself getting much too hot or really really cold! If you’re unsure what to wear or just can’t get the right combo, this is the ultimate cycling kit guide for cold weather rides!

Chapters:
0:00 – Intro
1:10 – Preparation: what’s the forecast?
1:54 – Baselayers
3:40 – Tights
5:52 – Jackets
10:11 – Overshoes
11:11 – Gloves
12:40 – Other Kit (Buffs, hats, sunglasses, hi-vis, gilet)
14:41 – Conclusion

____________________
🚴 With the 2022 road season promising to be one of the most exciting in recent memory, subscribe to GCN+ for live racing all year round, exclusive shows & cycling adventure films: https://gcn.eu/plus
Download the GCN App 📲 for FREE & be part of the world’s largest cycling community: https://gcn.eu/app
Join thousands of other cycling fans in receiving our free weekly ✉️ newsletter roundup, including news, competitions and discounts: https://gcn.eu/3K7

Subscribe: http://gcntech.co/subscribetogcntech
The GCN Shop: https://gcn.eu/YearEndSale
#Cycling #GCN #GCNTech #RoadBike

Do you have any top tips of your own for getting kitted out right in winter? Let us know in the comments below! 💬

If you enjoyed this video, make sure to give it a thumbs up and share it with your friends. 👍

Watch more on GCN Tech…
📹 https://gcn.eu/WinterTips

Music – licensed by Epidemic Sound:
ES_villager – shamgang.wav
ES_Backseat Driver – baegel.wav
ES_Cocoa with You – baegel.wav
ES_Coqui – Auxjack.wav
ES_Drizzle in Da Hizzle – Daniel Fridell.wav
ES_Hosta Mahogey – Jobii.wav
ES_Llama Drama – Jobii.wav
ES_See Thru (Instrumental Version) – Xavy Rusan.wav
ES_Spin Cycle – Dylan Sitts.wav
ES_Sutro – Ballpoint (1).wav

Photos: © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Bettiniphoto / http://www.bettiniphoto.net/

Brought to you by the world’s biggest cycling channel, the Global Cycling Network (GCN), GCN Tech is the only channel you need for all things bike tech – past, present and future.

Simply put, we’re obsessed with tech: we seek out and showcase the best in bikes, components, tech, accessories, upgrades and more from races and events, tech shows and product launches across the globe to bring you the best in road bike technology.

We’ve also got great maintenance videos to help you get the most from your bike; pro-bike tours from all the biggest races; special features and the weekly GCN Tech Show. We also take a deeper look into the future of cycling, apps, smart tech and virtual riding.

Join us on the channel and the GCN App to submit your content, vote on the latest tech and keep abreast of exciting new trends.

Thanks to our sponsors:

Castelli Clothing: https://gcn.eu/Castelli
Giro Helmets: https://gcn.eu/Giro
Pinarello Bikes: https://gcn.eu/Pinarello
Zipp Wheels: https://gcn.eu/Zipp
Enervit Nutrition: https://gcn.eu/Enervit
Topeak Tools: http://gcn.eu/Topeak
Canyon Bikes: http://gcn.eu/-Canyon
Pirelli Tyres: https://gcn.eu/Pirelli
Orbea Bikes: http://gcn.eu/Orbea
Vision Wheels: http://gcn.eu/Vision
Wahoo Fitness: http://gcn.eu/Wahoo-Fitness
Park Tool: http://gcn.eu/-parktool
Elite Bottles: https://gcn.eu/EliteBottles
Whoop Fitness: https://gcn.eu/Whoop
Komoot: https://gcn.eu/komoot
Selle Italia: https://gcn.eu/SelleItalia
Zwift: https://gcn.eu/Zwift
Shimano Wheels: https://gcn.eu/Shimano
Shadow Stand: https://gcn.eu/ShadowStand
DMT Shoes: https://gcn.eu/DMT
Muc-Off: https://gcn.eu/MucOff

Facebook: http://gcntech.co/gcntechfb
Instagram: http://gcntech.co/gcntechinsta
Twitter: http://gcntech.co/gcntechtweet
YouTube: http://gcntech.co/subscribe

GCN: http://gcn.eu/SubscribeToGCN
GCN Japan: https://gcn.eu/subscribe-gcn-japan
GCN Italia: https://gcn.eu/GCN-Italia
GCN en Español: http://gcn.eu/Suscribirse
GCN auf Deutsch: https://gcn.eu/auf-deutsch
GCN en Français: https://gcn.eu/GCNENFRANCAIS
GCN Training: https://gcn.eu/gcntraining
GCN Racing: https://gcn.eu/gcn-racing
GMBN: http://gmbn.eu/subscribe
GMBN Tech: http://gmbn.tech/subscribe
EMBN: http://embn.me/subscribe

Leave us a comment below!

you want to ride your bike in winter but the weather is wet cold and horrible [Music] having the right kit can make it much more enjoyable and less grueling but there are a lot of different options out there which can be confusing so in this video i’m going to explain what to wear and when depending on the weather and which kit to prioritize [Music] i’m going to run through pretty much everything you’ll need for riding in winter so sit tight and you’ll find out everything you need to know but if you’re in a rush or you’re after one thing in particular we’ve handily broken this video up into chapters so that you can jump around there are loads of different winter kit options for different conditions which i’ll explain and we’re using castelli kit in this video because well they’re our kit sponsor and they help make our videos possible but also because we’ve got a very comprehensive range and a lot of the things that i discuss in this video are applicable to other brands too i decide what i’m going to wear for a winter’s ride the first thing i do is look outside and see what the weather’s doing and then i go and check the weather forecast online for my start point and then also for my destination because the cyclists can travel quite a long way then from that i plan my kit for each bit of kit i’m going to explain what i would wear depending on different temperatures ranging from naught degrees through to around 6 degrees and then 12 degrees because this temperature range is typically what we encounter while riding in winter if you’re thinking about cycling below naught degrees i wouldn’t recommend it because not just well it’s cold but also because there’s a risk of ice so i recommend you go indoors or off-road the first thing we’re going to consider is a base layer it’s the foundation of any good winter outfit and something that you shouldn’t overlook now they come in different gauges or thicknesses and for the coldest weather between north and 5 degrees i suggest wearing one of the thickest ones available such as this flanders base layer i’m wearing you can see that it has different fabrics on it to allow you to breathe and sweat in the key locations but then also it’s got a higher neck as well to help help insulate that area beginners often overlook base layers and i’ve seen people trying to use just a standard cotton t-shirt they have lying around problem with this is it’s not very good at wicking sweat away it’s not very breathable and as a result it gets wet sweaty which makes you smelly and also cold synthetic fabrics like this provide excellent insulation for their weight but as the temperature increases to around sort of 8 degrees six degrees i’d consider wearing a slightly lighter thinner long sleeve base layer something like this you can also see that it’s got a longer tail to help you tuck into the back of your bib tights and as the temperature rises to around eight or 12 degrees celsius and it’s that bit warmer i’d consider wearing a lighter base layer perhaps even a mesh one or one that’s slightly thicker but without sleeves that way you can use arm warmers with it too in previous gcm videos we suggested the tip that once you get to the cafe you uh pop out your base layer and take a spare one with you so that you don’t get cold because from the sweat once you stop moving but in our experience found that this is actually a lot less necessary these days with modern jackets and fabrics that just breathe incredibly well you should stay a lot drier though this does depend on how hard you’re working next up is tights and again they come in different thicknesses or gauges depending on the weather if you’re consistently riding around naught degrees then i suggest going for a heavier duty winter pair they offer more insulation and they sometimes have windproof panels in key locations as well to keep you warmer but if you’re only going to get one pair of tights then i’d probably suggest going for a medium gauge set this is because they’ll work in the widest temperature range and you can often get away with them even when it is around zero degrees that’s because your legs tend to require less insulation than other parts of your body such as the extremities bib tights like the ones i’m wearing right now with the straps on are ideal because they keep the tights nicely secure and in place and the straps also mean that you have no cold air gap at the back they hold the tight all the way up so it means you don’t get well a builder’s bum and get cold cyclists will also wear leg warmers in conjunction with regular cycling bib shorts this is a leg warmer here now these i wouldn’t recommend using in cold temperatures below six degrees or even probably eight degrees because the shorts aren’t very insulated usually if they’re regular shorts they are however very versatile and ideal for riding in temperatures around 12 degrees if you need that versatility so if you’re riding up and down mountains where it’s very cold at the top of the mountain then at the bottom you want to whip them off because it’s warm in the valley floor or perhaps you’re warming up for a race and you don’t want to get cold while you’re waiting at the start of the race leg warmers can be ideal a good budget option that’s also really versatile is to get a set of tights without a chamois pad these are designed to be worn over the top of bib shorts that you already have and they usually cost less money than a set of dedicated bib tights with a chamois built in they also have other features on them such as these ankle zips this is so that you can get the tights on over a pair of cycling shoes but also maintains a nice tight fit around the ankle as well next up is the jacket key features to look for are pockets on the outside like a jersey a dropped hem at the back is also useful to protect your bum from road spray now in the coldest of weather i’ll wear a heavy winter jacket such as this castelli alfa ross 2. it’s super warm and i absolutely love it and the thing is with jackets like this they’re designed to be worn with just a base layer underneath they’re that effective insulating you which means that they’re really breathable too and a key feature of this one is it’s actually two jackets in one it’s got an inbuilt liner which you can unzip if you get too hot on the inside on a climb the advantage is that if you get too hot you can undo the inner liner and keep the outer one closed so that you don’t have to have a sort of flappy jacket blowing around in the wind and making you less aerodynamic features that you should look for on jackets like this include water repellent coatings breathable fabrics and windproof fabrics too which you guessed it stop the wind but once the temperature gets to around eight degrees and above i’ll opt for a lighter jacket this is a castelli perfetto now it’s essentially a long-sleeved version of the famous gaba jacket and it’s made from gore windstopper which is a class-leading fabric it’s brilliant the way this fabric is breathable and the way it works is that it’s not actually just one fabric it’s three different layers so you’ve got the outer layer here which is treated with a durable water repellent coating and then on the inside you’ve got this sort of fleecy inner layer and then sandwiched between those is a kind of perforated sort of plasticky membrane which helps keep a lot of the water moisture out but because it’s perforated it’s able to breathe too if i actually hold it up to the light you can see the little holes in it as well you can see the light coming through it waterproof capes and jackets have improved a ridiculous amount over the last few years they used to be zip up bin bags that would well turn you into a human greenhouse such as their lack of breathability or they’d be waterproof the first couple of times you wore them and then not be waterproof however fabrics like gauze shake dry has been a real game changer it’s found on a number of different browns jackets including this idro it’s super waterproof it stays waterproof it’s really breathable and when the rain stops and you finish with it it’s super packable it’s packs down to nothing and then it can just be stored in your pocket and a bit of science for you the waterproof rating of jackets is usually tested using something known as the hydrostatic head test whereby they get a portion of the fabric and then put a huge cylinder of water on top of it and they gradually fill up this cylinder until the fabric fails and water starts to permeate through and a waterproof jacket is classed as one that has a hydrostatic head rating of 10 000 millimeters of water at least before it permeates the shake dry fabric that’s rated up to 28 000 it’s proper waterproof so the main downside to this kind of jacket and the reason why you don’t wear them all the time is that they can add quite a bit of bulk and flat in the wind which makes you considerably slower and a lot less aerodynamic so if you’re riding in showers and not riding in prolonged rain or there’s just a chance of rain then i suggest wearing a water resistant stretchy soft shell fabric such as found on the gaba or the perfetto jacket as you’ll be much faster for the same effort for around 12 degrees i tend to opt for a long sleeve jersey or perhaps a gaba paired with some arm warmers this is because you don’t need as much insulation and these options are a bit tighter fitting more aerodynamic than dedicated winter jacket [Music] overshoes come in different types too so some are designed to keep your feet dry some of them are designed to keep your feet warm and some are designed to do both of those things and i would recommend getting a pair that does do both because it just covers both bases and you’re likely to find them useful in the widest range of conditions neoprene overshoes can be quite good as well they tend to trap a layer of water which then insulates you a bit like the same principle of a wetsuit also classic gcn tip if your feet still get cold even with overshoots on then wrap some foil around your sock and then put it inside the shoe for added insulation my brother swears by that technique now overshoes also have the bonus of actually helping protect your shoes and keeping them clean i tend to wear over shoes below 10 degrees as at that point i need the added insulation but it’s very personal some people get cold feet at higher temperatures than that having cold hands feels utterly horrendous it can completely ruin your ride and cause long-term damage plus trying to change gear or pull the brakes if you can’t feel your hands well that’s not very pleasant either my hands tend to really feel the cold so when it gets for around naught degrees to five degrees celsius i opt for a nice heavy duty pair of gloves like these bad boys that just offer loads of insulation and keep me snug as gloves get thicker and bulkier they generally offer more insulation but the trade-off of this is that they’re heavier bulkier and they offer less dexterity the most expensive gloves will have a waterproof membrane built into them something like gore-tex but you can also get much more affordable ones like neoprene gloves which are generally pretty good although they don’t typically work as well at those lower temperatures around nought degrees but a top money-saving tip is that you can take a lighter less expensive pair of gloves and make them considerably warmer by wearing a pair of latex disposable gloves or nitrile in this case as inners there you go bonus tip around eight degrees i’ll wear a lighter fleece-lined glove such as this as it should keep you warm and a feature worth looking for these days is special fingertips that allow you to use touch screens this can be incredibly useful other bits of kit then well buffs buffs are great they’re really versatile they help keep your neck warm they can also keep your face warm if it gets cold or if you just want to you know hold up your local cycling cafe it’s said that we lose most of our body heat through our heads and a great way of mitigating this is with a hat now from around 8 to 12 degrees i’ll typically wear a cap with a peak like this the peak’s also useful at stopping rain spray and road spray coming up from the road and protecting your eyes but when it gets lower so below sort of six degrees or below eight degrees i like to have my ears covered because they start to get quite cold and so for that i’ll opt for a thermal skull cap such as this glasses are worn in winter too the sun is often lower in winter meaning it can be quite glaring but you may want to opt for a lower light lens glasses offer protection from the wind the cold they stop your eyes watering but also just the same debris and bugs that you can encounter in summer one final word on visibility is that in winter you often have less light and daylight hours are shorter and i’d suggest that you use either really bright clothing or you opt for clothing that has highly reflective details on it such as oh you can’t actually tell right now but very reflective [Music] another item which i’d say is optional but really useful is a chile or a vest these can provide some extra insulation to you and then if you’re too warm or you don’t need it anymore they’re very easy to take off and then they pack down to very little and can be stored in your jersey pocket they’re really good if you’re starting out and your ride is really cold but it’s going to warm up later on or if you want a bit of extra warmth while you’re at the cafe stop one thing i would recommend though is you go for one that has pockets in the back because trying to reach your pockets underneath your jeely while you’ve got cold hands and wearing thick gloves can be like sort of well trying to play pin the tail on the donkey with oven gloves on how warm or cold you get while riding in winter is very personal and it will also depend on how hard you’re actually riding but fine tuning your clothing is something that you’ll learn the more experienced you get at riding outdoors in winter i hope you found this video useful and if you have please give it a thumbs up and also let us know down in the comments below what your winter riding clothing tips are and what your favorite bit of kit is mine i think is definitely this jacket so so snug