Dressing for a fall or winter ride can feel like an unsolvable puzzle. One minute you’re freezing, the next you’re sweating through your jacket. Even as cycling apparel keeps getting better, selecting the right combo of base layers, insulating pieces, jackets, gloves, and head coverings can be daunting. But it doesn’t have to be.
This episode of the Bicycling Show About Bicycling offers loads of helpful advice, building on Dan Chabanov’s popular article, “How to Layer for Winter Cycling.” That story goes deep dive into the science and strategy behind dressing for fall and winter rides and includes his recommendations for every temperature range.
In this show, Dan shares even more nuanced perspectives and tips. On a cool fall ride, he joins fellow experienced cold-weather cyclist Tom Messina to put those principles into practice, talking through real-world gear choices and their own strategies for dialing in cycling’s cold-weather dress code. Dan walks listeners through his go-to system, which doesn’t rely on any single piece of gear. ”The very basic concept of layering is that it’s too much to ask any one garment to do everything,” he says.
Both riders stress that every body is different, and offer recommendations for personalizing your perfect winter-riding kit. And they don’t always agree. Dan likes to carry multiple pairs of gloves to swap as he warms up, while Tom admits he rarely wears any unless temps dip below the high 30s.
Once you nail your winter-riding wardrobe, it may be time to look at your fit—another great way to improve your ride in the cooler months (or anytime, really). Our member-exclusive Guide to the Perfect Bike Fit is packed with expert advice on how to get more comfortable on your bike, and eke out more performance from every pedal stroke.
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Louis Mazzante is the Test Director at Hearst’s Enthusiast Group, overseeing product testing and expert reviews at Popular Mechanics, Runner’s World, and Bicycling; he has more than 20 years of experience testing bikes, skis, cars, tools, and cool gadgets—and he is always searching for new gear that looks good, solves problems, and has a fair price. Prior to his current role, he wrote for or led several product-focused consumer and trade magazines. He’s a former ski instructor, bike racer, trail builder, and, thanks to the demands of a 2005 Nissan X-Terra with 208k+ miles, amateur car mechanic.