How to Dress for the Ride:
No cotton! Cotton traps sweat, and when it is cold out, the standing water in your cotton clothes makes you very cold. The colder it gets outside, the more challenging it is to stay warm on the bike, because trapping in warmth while venting the moisture is tricky. If you are too warm, you sweat, which makes you very cold when you slow down or stop at traffic lights. Breathable, exercise specific clothes are important. Tech T-Shirts and wool base layer shirts are important because they wick the sweat (water) away from your skin, and allow it to evaporate out, while still holding the warmth in. Wool is always warm, wet or dry.
Please refer to this video to help you pick out appropriate riding clothes for most types of weather conditions:
Cooler air means wearing:
Wool is warm, regardless if it is wet, or not. Fleece is only warm when it is totally dry. Wool is the only material that will keep you warm on a cold rainy ride. Wool socks are the best! Wool base layers are also great.
You lose about 40% of your body heat through your head. When your body senses that you are losing heat from your head or core, it shuts down circulation to your arms and legs to preserve heat in the most important parts of your body (head and core). Your hat is the most important piece of clothing to stay warm, because if your head is warm, your body will allow blood to flow out into your fingers and toes… If you have no hat, then you are cold no matter how warm your shoes and gloves are.
No cotton! Cotton traps sweat, and when it is cold out, the standing water in your cotton clothes makes you very cold. The colder it gets outside, the more challenging it is to stay warm on the bike, because trapping in warmth while venting the moisture is tricky. If you are too warm, you sweat, which makes you very cold when you slow down or stop at traffic lights. Breathable, exercise specific clothes are important. Tech T-Shirts and wool base layer shirts are important because they wick the sweat (water) away from your skin, and allow it to evaporate out, while still holding the warmth in. Wool is always warm, wet or dry.
Please refer to this video to help you pick out appropriate riding clothes for most types of weather conditions:
Cooler air means wearing:
- Tech T-Shirts under your jersey (or wool base layer)
- Arm Warmers (very important)
- Knee, or Leg Warmers
- Shoe Covers, or toe covers
- Warm Full Fingered Gloves
- Wind Vest
- Riding Jacket: very light & waterproof
- Beanie hat (that comfortably fits under your helmet) Most important!
Wool is warm, regardless if it is wet, or not. Fleece is only warm when it is totally dry. Wool is the only material that will keep you warm on a cold rainy ride. Wool socks are the best! Wool base layers are also great.
- Woolie Boolie Socks are great for cold and/or wet weather.
You lose about 40% of your body heat through your head. When your body senses that you are losing heat from your head or core, it shuts down circulation to your arms and legs to preserve heat in the most important parts of your body (head and core). Your hat is the most important piece of clothing to stay warm, because if your head is warm, your body will allow blood to flow out into your fingers and toes… If you have no hat, then you are cold no matter how warm your shoes and gloves are.