Off the back of the Decathlon tread, what would you say are your cycling wardrobe essentials. Not the obvious stuff like padded shorts, the stuff that a newbie wouldn’t think to buy but you consider essential?
As a starter, and I accept this is from a road perspective:
Arm and knee warmers. Perfect for “in between” days and when it starts of cold but warms up.
Baselayers. In a variety of weights.
Gilet – always good, unless it’s really raining hard.
Overshoes – the cheap planet ones so your disco slippers become winter boots….sort of. Cheap because if you get more than a couple of winters out of them, that’s pretty good.
I wouldn’t say arm and knee/leg warmers are roadie stuff, they are just very useful cycling kit.
A couple of buffs, overshoes, spare gloves.
If you’ve driven to your ride then a full set of warm clothes back at the car ready to change into when you finish. On a similar note, something warm and/or windproof to put on when you stop or need to fix a mechanical.
You can stand in it in muddy car parks to change out of wet gear and it keeps your feet dry and then you can throw all your wet kit in it to keep your car dry.
Toe covers for your shoes is another one. They live on my road shoes 3 quarters of the year and are great under full shoe covers for extra warmth in the winter.
Another one, for me, is a decent winter jacket. Once you find one that fits well and works for you, I pretty much ride exclusively in it for 3-4 months of the year. Currently using the Rapha Core Winter Jacket, which was only £60 in their sale. It’s waterproof on the front, so saves carrying a water proof for light showers etc.
Combined with a buff (as the collar is a bit short on me), it’s fine for 4-5 hour rides in winter.
For when your fat, little inactive ass is too weak to lift your bike onto the overly tall, jacked up car that you bought for no good reason because you are stupid.
I don’t have any of the stuff listed I don’t think.
Essentials for me are proper cycling shoes with a stiff sole. thats one thing that made a big difference to me when I started using them. Proper cycling tights made a marginal difference. I like a proper cycling softshell as well.
Check you have gloves that are windproof and waterproof for the winter months, thought I’d brought such a pair with me to Prestatyn, but they were sodden more than once this past weekend.
Shoes that have extra space for thick socks and still have some space to reduce how cold your feet get on nippy days.
Buffs are mega useful – can be worn for warmth in winter, and sweatbands in extreme heat
Decent winter gloves and boots – Generally if my extremities are happy then I’m happy
Tiny packable windproof – Emergency layer, gets carried on pretty much every ride, all year
Castelli Perfetto – Go-to garment from November until April. Pretty much every roadie I ride with owns at least one!
All look slightly weird and unnecessary but once you’ve used them essential. Also a bargain as they effectively turn your summer kit into winter kit for all but the coldest days. (Add a cheap t shirt base layer under a summer shirt)
DeFeet WoolieBoolie socks
Cut-down RAF surplus goretex shorts
Lightweight softshell jackets (I have a few)
Road jersey with windproof front & arms (Endura Jetstream 3 is my fave)
I’d also recommend decent overshoes. As a perpetual sufferer of cold feet, even in winter boots, these are usually the best method of keeping my tootsies warm.
Gilet is also a good shout.
I’m also a big fan of 3/4 bibs. Full length are pften too warm and normal bibs don’t cover your knees, which in cold weather really hurts. 3/4s are the sweet spot and are great for 1-2 hours in even really cold conditions.
I also found I kept putting my finger nails through the bag whilst stuffing it in my jersey pockets riding along (I take a lot of photos whilst riding along). Hence upgraded to the Rapha Clutch bag…
Currently using the Rapha Core Winter Jacket, which was only £60 in their sale. It’s waterproof on the front, so saves carrying a water proof for light showers etc.
Why is it waterproof on the front? When you’re leaning forwards, y’know, say, riding a bike, particularly a road bike, your back gets a lot more rain than your front.
the one thing a cyclist can buy to make winter better is MUDGUARDS.
+1
Why people persist without mudguards I do not know, for both road and general XC biking about. There are so many good designs now. I get it if your racing or at the very vanguard of shredding the gnarr but for everyone else?
Why is it waterproof on the front? When you’re leaning forwards, y’know, say, riding a bike, particularly a road bike, your back gets a lot more rain than your front.
Depends which way the wind is blowing. I guess two reasons, 1) your back is likely to be more sweaty due to lack of wind and 2) waterproof fabrics don’t breathe so well, so 50:50 split is a good compromise. Personally I love it, ridden in the rain in it and very happy with the performance. Pretty much all I’ll wear from now till March. Got a good review on road.cc as well: