To help keep hypothermia and heat stroke at bay, we recruited professional cyclist Ted King ( fresh from a very cold, very wet Tour of Flanders ), USA National Team member Alison Tetrick, and former pro Andy Jacques-Maynes to share their dressing secrets .
Below Freezing
33 to 45 Degrees
33 to 45 Degrees With Rain
46 to 60 Degrees
61 to 75 Degrees
76 Degrees and Hotter
Clothing for Cyclists: Below Freezing
Ted King, Alison Tetrick, and Andy Jacques-Maynes share their favorite clothing for all types of weather, from freezing to sizzling.
The pros raceway in the snow, and you can excessively .
Most recreational riders are sane enough to ride indoors at these temperatures. That said, many road riders are masochistic beasts who simply have to train—and race—in measly conditions .
Take King. The professional cyclist recently returned from Europe, which is just thawing out after one of the iciest springs in its history. King raced the Tour of Flanders on a day with record-breaking cold temperatures .
“ Frigid-weather gear means angstrom much Gore-Tex, windproof, and thermal invest as you can afford, ” King says. “ Function over fashion here. You ’ ll likely attend like a bloat lout with all this gear, but it ’ s better than hypothermia and losing a few digits to frostbite. ”
begin with the extremities, which tend to go cold beginning. Thick, rubbery shoe covers are a must, as are lobster gloves that pair your fingers together for add affectionateness. In the cold of conditions, choose for a set of bar hand over your gloves. These rubberized hand-shaped pouches attach to your handlebars, adding another layer of wind-stopping material without compromising your ability to shift .
Cold can do a number on your skin, so King recommends a balaclava facemask like Craft ’ s face defender for runners. Always wear glasses in cold conditions to keep your eyes from tearing up and to protect the finespun skin in that area .
Your extremities go cold first, but you ’ ll freeze solid without some core protection. King recommends raiding your ski drawer for a set of long undershirts. Wear a standard set of bib and leg-warmers on your legs, and cover them with a thick tights for add heat. Top it off with a fleece-lined shell and you ’ re good to hit the road. just commemorate : If you get cold, pedal fast .
Clothing for Cyclists: 33 to 45 Degrees
Ted King, Alison Tetrick, and Andy Jacques-Maynes share their favorite clothing for all types of weather, from freezing to sizzling.
At final, racing weather .
Alison Tetrick hails from Northern California, where rides can be moisture and cold in the winter and where dressing appropriately is just arsenic much separate of a train plan as intervals and hill repeats .
In this zone, the key is walking the line between overheating when you ’ re working unvoiced and freezing when you ’ re good spinning. No matter how hot your body runs, Tetrick suggests starting with a long-sleeve jersey for insulating material and a thermal vest —which you can strip off during hard efforts—for wind security .
To keep your legs from seizing up, choose for a adjust of leg warmers or tights, and tuck both under your shorts to prevent them from slipping off. Keep the conversion between metrical foot and ankle warm with a pair of tall wool socks. But resist the recommend to splurge on white horseshoe covers ( they ’ ll lone get dirty and ripped-up ). rather, go for a bright color—good for visibility and vanity
Top it off with a pair of long-fingered gloves and some liniment —cycling-specific warming oil—underneath your branch warmers, and you ’ ll be as toasty enough to ride for hours .
Rain adds another degree of complexity to your invest choices. In case of precipitation, Tetrick suggests you ditch the vest and long-sleeve jersey and alternatively opt for layering a thermal jacket over a long-sleeve base layer for heat. Top it all with a shell to keep you dry .
Don ’ t forget your feet, either : Choose a fix of waterproof neoprene covers with a compressed neck, and match them with a fixed of water-repellent tights .
What to Wear in Any Weather: 33 to 45 Degrees With Rain
Ted King, Alison Tetrick, and Andy Jacques-Maynes share their favorite clothing for all types of weather – from freezing to sizzling.
There are betters ways of riding in the rain .
Rain adds another degree of complexity to your dress choices. If temperatures range from 33 to 45 degrees and it ’ s dry, you can get away with a long-sleeve jersey and a thermal vest. Throw in precipitation, and you ’ ll need to don a few extra layers to keep your core strong.
Tetrick suggests you ditch the vest and long-sleeve jersey and rather opt for layering a thermal jacket overtop a long-sleeve base level for warmth and wearing a shell like the barrier jacket to keep you dry .
Water has a filthy way of winding up in your shoes, therefore choose a set of raincoat neoprene covers with a tight neck, and match them with a set of water-repellent tights overtop your branch warmers and bib .
even at warmer temperatures, if it ’ second raining you ’ re going to want to wear a rain jacket and pack a few extra layers in your jersey pockets. You can ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate go faulty with a pair of arm warmers and a vest .
Clothing for Cyclists: 46 to 60 Degrees
Ted King, Alison Tetrick, and Andy Jacques-Maynes share their favorite clothing for all types of weather, from freezing to sizzling.
Perfect reading weather. (Willy Begic)
You can last stow your clayey thermal gear away in the water closet at these temperatures, but don ’ t make the novice mistake of riding in only a short-sleeved jersey and bib .
Long-sleeve new jersey influence well at the lower end of this spectrum, while short-sleeved jerseys and weapon warmers are the recommend choice as temperatures near 60 degrees. Whatever the temperature, it ’ s a good mind to start your ride wearing a vest ; if you get besides hot, you can just take it off and stuff it into a pouch. “ Vests fit snugly into this class, both the ambiguously titled ‘ weave ’ vests and the much sturdier thermal vest, ” says King. For your legs, either knee or stage warmers will work, but you should skip the tights .
You ’ ll still want long-fingered gloves, although you can ditch the lobster versions for more form-fitting models. At the lower end of the crop, choose for a match with some wind-stopping properties. As it gets closer to 60 degrees, you can choose an all-fleece model, adenine long as you make certain the palm has some brassy substantial to keep your hands from slipping .
Thin shoe covers will be enough to keep your feet affectionate, but your face still needs some attention : King recommends finishing the ensemble with a multi-purpose neck gaiter .
Clothing for Cyclists: 61 to 75 Degrees
Ted King, Alison Tetrick, and Andy Jacques-Maynes share their favorite clothing for all types of weather, from freezing to sizzling.
Spring riding weather. (Matt Dell )
Jacques-Maynes won ’ t go on a ride without an singlet below his jersey unless it ’ second blistering than 80 degrees outside .
“ The singlet is pretty much constantly on. If I get a cold eyepatch or slow down, I won ’ triiodothyronine get a chill—I am normally soaking wet with sweat—if I have an supernumerary layer on, ” he says .
In accession to the basic singlet, jersey and tipple shorts, Jacques-Maynes recommends wearing a fit of knee warmers at the starting signal of the tease but peeling them off as the sidereal day heats up. He besides suggests packing a arrange of arm warmers along in a new jersey pocket as an easy excess layer to pull on before a lineage or to prevent any sweat-induced chills .
Standard fingerless cycle gloves are besides a must. Like a helmet, it ’ s an crucial safety measure that can prevent painful road rash to your hands in the sheath of a crash. And unless it ’ second rain, never wear a hat under the helmet, says Jacques-Maynes .
“ I constantly snicker at the guys wearing cycle hats—I assume for fashion—when it ’ second hot and cheery out. It ’ second just like wearing a raincoat to the beach, ” he says .
Clothing for Cyclists: 76 Degrees and Hotter
Ted King, Alison Tetrick, and Andy Jacques-Maynes share their favorite clothing for all types of weather, from freezing to sizzling.
Garmin leads the field, Stage 5 Paris-Nice .
When it ’ sulfur this warm out, your clothe choices become fairly easy. As King puts it : “ Jersey and shorts, duh. ”
Read more : Should Your Horse Wear Shoes or Go Barefoot?
A dress of shades are all-important for UV security, and to prevent any errant rocks from hitting your eyes. Most importantly, resist the urge to ditch your gloves and socks. While you won ’ t discovery many pro roadies wearing them, Pearl Izumi ’ s sun sleeves are designed to be cooler than riding with bare arms, and are a good choice if you well burn .
No count the temperature, a jersey—with sleeves—is another mandatary detail .
“ even when it ’ randomness stiflingly hot out and you want to work off your farmer ’ mho tangent, you should never ride without a jersey. Rules are rules, my friends, ” says King. rather, if you tend to overheat try Louis Garneau ’ s super- whippersnapper new jersey .