Ever started a ride freezing and one climb later, you’re overheating and sweating? How can you remain at the perfect temperature throughout your ride? Conor talks you through how to dress correctly for your rides, from layering up to picking the right cycling jackets and bib length.
00:00 Intro
00:39 Cycling base layers
02:42 Cycling snood
03:30 Cycling vest and gilet
04:33 Breathable cycling clothing
05:24 Waterproof cycling jacket
06:10 How intense is the bike ride?
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Getting your clothing choices right for a ride can be somewhat of a fine art sometimes get it wrong and you could end up shivering from the cold or gasping as you overheat but get it right your ride will feel so much easier so in this
Video we’re going to share a few tips to do just that conquering those rid with these woo a perfect ambient temperature the advantage of wearing a full long sleeve jacket and long bib tights is that it fully Shields you from the cold you’re warm you’re wrapped up and you’re protecting yourself from the
Colder temperatures but if you do begin to overheat it can be quite hard to cool yourself down really all you’ve got to your disposal is taking off your jacket which can be quite bulky to store or just unzipping your zipper in winter months you probably won’t need to do
This but in shoulder season spring autumn when temperatures can really fluctuate eight you are going to want to be able to take off and on layers as the ride Progresses base layers are a vital piece of Kit if you’re looking to regulate the temperature properly whilst you’re riding leg and arm warmers are perfect in this regard because you can easily take them off and on again when needed so if you’re climbing for example when you can begin to overheat perfect Unity
To take them off to cool yourself down but then on a long descent you can quickly whip them off again without having to stop faf about putting on and off jackets and you’d be surprised at how quickly just having your arms exposed to the wind can cool your whole
Body down so it is a perfect way of really quickly and easily keeping yourself warm keeping yourself comfortable without the added luggage lots of layers stashed in your pockets if you’re in cold conditions then I would say try and get a Marino based layer if you can it’s naturally Thermo
Regulating and it naturally Wicks sweat away from your body stopping you Cooling and then becoming uncomfortable as a result because of all that moisture that’s clinging to your skin the importance of a Bas layer is so that it keeps your core warm but it can also help in keeping yourself cool when
You’re riding in hotter conditions if you opt for a thinner more summer specific one in this way it helps improve your body’s cooling mechanisms by wicking sweat way and helping it evaporate more effectively plus it can be a great additional UV barrier too stopping yourself get sunburnt out on those long hot
Rides the humble snood perhaps my favorite cycling accessory and it’s a relatively cheap one too this works so great for stopping cold air traveling down your jacket and you wouldn’t believe how much warmer you feel just for keeping that cold air off your neck
And even you able to put it it up over your mouth on cold descent plus it works as a hat too use it on your head fold it up to add another layer to the top of your head plus it’s super packable because if you want
To and you don’t need it anymore you can whip it off really quick store it on your bike like this saving space in those Pockets but a brilliant tiny little accessory that can really help adapts to the conditions you face with out on the Bike as I said before perhaps the key way to keeping your whole body warm is making sure your core is warm making sure this part of your body is well protected it does catch a lot of wind and you want to make sure you’re blocking yourself from
That one way to do this to use a sleeveless light Gile which adds an extra layer of wind resistance to this part of your body the big advantage to a sleeveless Gile is that you can easily take it on and off and it is super lightweight and easily packable so those
Chilly early morning starts or perhaps the longer Des sense when you do want to add an extra layer to this part of your body is perfect and then you do need to take it off it’s easy to unzip without the sleeves easy to get off if you’re
Not happy with taking your hands off the bars do stop at the side of the road pack it up nice and tight fit it in a rear pocket and carry on with the ride During the winter months you’re obviously going to be looking for a jacket which is well insulated and warm but also you want to consider the breathability of the item that you’re wearing for example the jacket I’m wearing now has fleece lining inside which continuously expels excess body
Heat and moisture before it builds up and causes discomfort whilst at the same time stopping cold air from entering into your core the other Advantage here is that the fabric is hydrophobic so it won’t be weighed down quite as much as you begin to sweat and moisture is
Whipped away to the outer layers going for a jacket that works in such a way will help to regulate your body’s temperature as you move between different effort Intensities in changeable conditions a rain jacket is a vital piece of Kit and you always want to have one on you in case the rain does start to fall and I say my top tip when it comes to rain jackets is speed get it on as soon as
Possible as soon as you start to feel those drops don’t delay don’t think oh wait a few kilm and get it on down down the road where there’s a lay by find a safe place to stop get your jacket on and keep yourself dry cuz that is the
Aim of the game when you’re riding in changeable conditions you don’t want to be riding with wet clothes you’re going to then increase that wind chill factor and make you cold so get that rain jacket on stay warm stay dry last up it’s definitely worth considering your effort intensity and
What you plan to achieve out of the ride so when you’re getting dressed in the morning you’re getting your layers on think you’re heading out and doing super hard efforts where you’re going to be really working hard overheating you need to cool yourself down or are you going
Out for a more chill ride taking it easy where you’re perhaps going to need a few more layers to keep yourself warm in this way you need to adapt what you’re wearing ing make those choices based on your effort intensity what’s coming up for the day so there you go a few tips
Which will hopefully get you climbing those mountains with e get you to the top without absolutely sweating buckets and then enjoying those descents on the way back down feeling nice and toasty but let me know in the comment section down below if you’ve got any other tips
Which you like to use to make sure you’re dressed optimally right just right so you’re nice and comfy get involved in the comments down below and if you found this video useful please give it a big thumbs up we see the next one thanks for watching everyone
49 Comments
Do you have any cycling clothing tips? π²
Thanks Conor and crew…does Conor have any issues with stuff not fitting ? I am OAF , and an actual human , most of the rain jackets are ridiculously small for me .
Please can you make another video to know how can we detect cracks on the Frame, Thank you!!
A base layer is what I can't forget…. always hv them on rain or shine…π
Got a Buff for Β£5 in the Wiggle sale, it's been very well used the last few months to keep my neck and face warm in the colder weather. One of those things I'll probably always take, ideal for neck protection in the sun or as a mask on dusty gravel trails as well.
My cycling jacket was from the middle aisle of one of the cheap shops, but it's been great for the Β£25 it cost me. Soft shell so will handle some rain and the sleeves zip off so the armpits are breathable all the time and can be converted to a gilet when required.
Be bold, start cold.
As an American I continue to be shocked at how often these videos feature cars patiently waiting for a safe time to pass, and not leaning on their horns/ threatening your lives. Is this normal in the rest of the world, or are the drivers behaving because they see the camera on the motorbike? To be clear, I have NEVER experienced a car content to ride behind me indefinitely on a long narrow climb.
A bike that big just doesnβt look good does it.
Nothing makes me look for the shortcut home quicker than cold feet and hands. A little core discomfort is manageable. Frozen toes is a no go.
You have to find out what suits you. Every body is different, that's what I found out. Been riding over 30yr now.ππ
When itβs cold, I like to wear a polypropylene mesh baselayer and another merino on top of that. The first one takes up almost no moisture itself but transports it to the next keeping your skin dry. The mesh traps air which is good insulation.
It always amuses me, the cold weather advice on these channels. It's good info, but – and I mean this with all the good will in the world – it's kind of hard to accept advice about how to dress properly from someone who's riding in a place with leaves on the trees.
I ride with a backpack because I can't decide if I need a jacket or not, so it ALWAYS comes with me.
The most important tip is to actually ride say 5 minutes with your clothes. The first 30 seconds it could be to cold, thats fine, but after 5 minutes you should have used muscles enough to have an idea if its to cold or warm. This also means those first 5 minutes should be close to your home. it's a bit of a throway but better 5 minutes thrown away then hours to cold or sweating all over
Recommending a merino wool base layer is great idea! Unless youβre allergic to all wool like me π
Once you find the correct clothing choices, its brilliant. Its worth experimenting until you find the combination you need for the ride duration amd intensity π
From experience, I learned to not wear smaller sizes in winter! The fabric gets stretched and loses both windproofing and keeping the body temperature in.
There are windproof, brushed, pre-shaped socks. I find them a great intermediate solution between overshoes in wet or very cold conditions and normal socks in milder temperatures.
Wear breathable and natural clothes, cotton and wool are king. Not those ugly lycra tops.
I struggle a lot with sweating while riding in cold winter days! Anything close to 0 Celsius ..
I remember years ago having fantastic neoprene tops that were so good at insulting me from the cold, when it snowed on me the snow could land on my neoprene jacket and not even melt.
In Minnesota land of 10 thousand lakes. Waterpolo H2o – Turbo – 55% Pbt 45% Polyester – Knit Swimsuit – Men.
Helmet with a built in visor. Where is the outrage that they don't make them anymore!!!!!
-I'm not riding with a stupid had under my helmet. Why? I ride in the summer when it's hot, and the hat blocks the vents. AND the hat messes up the fit of the helmet.
-Sunglasses WILL NOT BLOCK late afternoon sun streaming into my eyes. You know, because I ride after work when the sun is lower in the sky. And there isn't a pair of sunglasses strong enough to block direct sunlight.
-I also ride where there are trees and buildings. You know, things that cast shadows. So wearing solar-eclipse proof sunglasses means I can't see shit when I'm in shadows.
-Rain. Yeah, some of us do ride when it rains. Sunglasses will not keep rain off your face. Not like a visor will. A visor actually keeps the front of your glasses water free.
-Sunburn. Yeah, skin cancer is a thing. Having your nose out in the sun for hours on end is a great way to get skin cancer. A visor keeps the radiation off your face.
-I just want one helmet. I use my helmet for road/gravel/mountain biking. I don't need a burly all-mountian/downhill helmet when I'm on the road. So having one helmet with a visor is the ideal solution. (Because mtb helmets all come with visors, as they should).
–
Considering you pay $150-$300 for a quality helmet these days, there is no reason they can't AT LEAST HAVE THE OPTION of a visor. It's $10 worth of plastic. There are no aero concerns. There are no weight concerns. The companies are just 'cheaping out' by leaving the visor option off.
–
Hey GCN, why not do a deep dive into why every god dam helmet manufacturer refuses to make a higher end lightweight road helmet with a visor.
On my multi-day bike tours, I just donβt have space to store a full, softshell jacket if I have to take it off. So I βhackβ the same effect by putting on a gilet for warmth plus a rain jacket as windbreaker. π
How to choose ur clothing volume 423
Because our weather fluctuates so much in the midwest United States, I began keeping a log of what layers I wore for all of the weather conditions. Now I have a spreadsheet I can reference.
Jeans with lycra
Be bold. Start cold. It'll get better.
I can't wear a rain jacket because it rains inside the jacket; I sweat too much, even in cool weather π. I also can't find anything to keep my thumbs or feet warm below 10Β°c. I can wear wool socks and shoe covers and within 1hr I'm ready to come home because my toes and thumbs are frozen and numb. I also can't wear face coverings as my glasses fog up and I can't afford the $200 pair of anti fogging glasses π. Pleasure cycling in Canadian winters sucks, even without snow.
Overheat? I live in Canada there is no such thing here… I do however dress to be a bit chilled when starting as I'll warm up whilst riding but this can change depending on the conditions
'Get that rain jacket on' is a good general rule. It avoids the extended deliberation about when it becomes too wet (and that's already too late). The rain notices when you put on the jacket and comes again another day.
Gloves. Canβt stand sore fingers
Can you please do a vid that tests which bits of clothing are the best to spend more on. For those of us on low to moderate budgets, top gear head to toe is unrealistic, so it would be great to know where to splash out..
For example, does an expensive bib short or expensive jacket have more noticable benefits to the rider versus affordable ones?
Seems good, but I gotta say, I don't believe in base layers.
Great video, great advice,
Just make sure you're not wearing the GCN puffy jacket with a hood. Who thought that's a good design for cycling??
In the USA, the 'snood' is named a buff. Could always grow a longer beard. It will shield your neck from wind and cold.
Is that French term = to wind vest?
Actually, it s just about advertising the new expensive GCN clothes.
Iβm always amazed at how pro riders are made to struggle to put on and fasten wind proof jackets just before they do big descents. Surely itβs possible to design a jacket thatβs easier to put on than the traditional ones they currently use. I often see them give up trying after several minutes of frustration to put their arms in poorly designed jackets or if they manage to get that far they canβt zip them up. Surely thereβs a better way?
I'm an older bike rider in Victoria, BC, Canada who grew up on the Canadian prairies and had to learn how to best manage the cold weather. One if not the of the most effective keeping my hands warm was to use mitts not gloves. So for my cycling I use flip mitts which are much more efficient in keeping my hands warm not gloves. The other advantage flip mitts provide is that by exposing my fingers, I can quite easily control/minimize any over heating. Some would question my control of my bike but that has never been an issue.
Dan
Now… base layer under or over bib tight straps?
Any tips for s breathable, packable, waterproof jacket?
Any tips for s breathable, packable, waterproof jacket?
Any tips for s breathable, packable, waterproof jacket?
Any tips for s breathable, packable, waterproof jacket?
When I ride in wet and cold weather I like to keep my cycling shoes covered. For wet weather I have water proof shoe covers. For cold weather I have insulated shoe covers. Keep in mind that your feet are the most exposed to the road spray from your tires. Awesome video!
Be bold, start cold is my husbandβs motto
Apparently im weird. I was going for a cycle last week just wearing my short sleeved jersey, 3/4 bib tights and gloves. Saw maybe 8 riders all layered up along my route. I wasn't cold btw… well, not once I got going π apparently I just pedal myself warm π