How should you dress for winter cycling?

Layering is often quoted in cycle clothing articles, and it’s very beneficial during the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn. As you build up heat on a ride, and as the air temperature increases, you want to be able to gradually peel away outer layers leaving you at a comfortable temperature. Items like gilets, knee warmers and lightweight jackets are ideal to wear over shorts and jerseys. They can be worn when needed, and are light enough to be stashed in a jersey pocket or bar bag when not needed.

Personal preference and your riding style affect your clothing too. If you’re a racing cyclist and often ride reasonably hard, you’ll need to wear fewer thinner layers to avoid getting too sweaty. If you do mainly recreational cycling and enjoy slower speeds and less sweating, you’ll want to wear thicker and warmer layers. If you’re a commuter, you need to take into account that it can be much colder on the way to work compared to the ride home in the afternoon/evening.

The key thing about spring clothing is to find what works for you. If you’ve already got a few basics like bib shorts and a couple of jerseys, adding a gilet and arm warmers might be all you need to get you through spring to summer. Lots of the clothing on this page will actually serve you well in a typical British summer, too.