Ollie: Riding in winter can be a truly horrific experience but with
the right kit and clothing, it shouldn't be. Manon: As the saying goes, there's no such
thing as bad weather just bad kit. In this video, we're going to give you our expert advice on what
to wear in winter. Ollie:
Before we get into the specifics of what to wear, there are a couple of things
to consider. First, before setting off, look at the forecast and if it's likely to change during
your ride. It can often be freezing first thing and then warm up during the day or perhaps it's
going to start dry and then rain is on its way. Manon: This impacts the clothing I'll choose.
Certain items such as gilets and raincapes pack down really easily than a fuller jacket so offer
good versatility for varied weather. When deciding what to wear don't just look at the weather,
consider what type of riding you're going to be doing. If you're doing a low-intensity
ride maybe wear more because your body isn't going to generate that much heat.
Ollie: If you're doing a race or a high-intensity ride, you can wear less but you may also want to
think about the aerodynamics of what you're wearing. In that case, I'd suggest avoiding
things that are looser fitting and can flap around. Something like a Gaba softshell
that's much tighter fitting is going to be much better in that regard or perhaps, this Isadore
Medio jacket as well has a nice tight fit. Manon: A final point about dressing for
winter is visibility. The days are shorter meaning there's less daylight.
We'd always recommend high-vis elements. Ollie: Clothing brands are getting really good
at integrating hi-vis into garments in a way that doesn't make it look like you're in fancy dress
as a lemon sherbet or a fire safety warden. This jacket is a great example. It appears, at first
sight, to be black and stealthy which is great for those who want that look but it's actually
made from really high-vis reflective material. When you shine a light on this fabric which is
on the front, the sides, and the back, all over the place, it actually is super, super reflective,
and high-vis. We've seen other examples of this too such as the OSRAM jacket which has lights
built into it. [music]
Base layers form the foundation of your winter cycling outfit and there's lots
of different types out there. Broadly speaking, they come in two different
categories either merino wool ones such as this or synthetic. Merino wool ones
have a number of advantages in that they're very soft and nice against the skin. Also,
it has natural antibacterial properties which helps it get a little less stinky.
Particularly useful at the café stop. Manon: Synthetic ones also work really
well and are great for wicking sweat. If it is really cold, we'd recommend wearing a long
sleeve base layer and then a long sleeve jacket over the top. If it's really, really cold, you
could wear a long sleeve jersey underneath too. Ollie: Many beginners skimp on base layers and
just use a standard t-shirt under their clothing but something tight-fitting like this will offer
much better insulation and also be far more effective at wicking sweat away from your skin
and then allowing it to evaporate through your breathable jacket as well. This is a deep winter
base layer so it's got an added windproof panel on the front, a more built-up collar around the neck,
and a really nice feature that you get on some base layers, and this one are thumb loops.
These you don't have to wear them the whole time but they stop you getting a gap between
your glove and your sleeve but also when you put your jacket on, it keeps the sleeve
in place and stops it riding up your arm. Manon: There are loads of different types
of tights out there but most brands offer a working temperature range so you can work out
if the tights are going to be warm enough for the conditions that you're riding in.
Ollie: The light gauge tights which are typically used in the changing seasons
so spring, fall, autumn. Then there's standard, medium gauge tight a and then the warmest tight,
a deep winter tight. An example being these ASDA types from Isidore I'm wearing now. They offer
the greatest amount of insulation. They also feature windproof panels in key locations help
to keep you as warm as possible and durable water repellent coatings to keep you dry.
Manon: It's also good to look out for a reflective paneling on the tights too and some good zips
around your ankles help you get the tights on and off if you've got a big foot like Ollie.
Ollie: Just maintain a nice tight fit around the ankle. There's also tights that don't have
chamois in them as well. The idea being that you wear these over a regular set of big shorts.
They can be quite a good, versatile option and are often a bit cheaper than a pair of
dedicated bib tights with a padding on them. Manon: It's good because then you can have
a fear of a pair of shorts and you can wear them all year round.
Ollie: Every day? Manon: Yes.
Ollie: Without washing them? Manon: Definitely wash them.
[music] Ollie:
A key piece of your winter wardrobe is the jacket. The fit is absolutely crucial. Some people prefer
a more relaxed, looser fit and will go up the size in order to achieve that but personally
I like it to be tight and tailored, and this makes it more aerodynamic, more efficient and
personally I just think it looks better. Manon: In recent past, this meant that you
would need a soft shell jacket that was warm, but compromised on waterproofing.
Ollie: However, clothing companies have got a lot better at integrating waterproofing
into soft shell jackets that still have that stretch and this is through big advancements
in fabric tech. For example, this Medio jacket from Isadore that I'm wearing, is rated
up to 10,000 millimeters waterproofing but it still has that stretch so it's still fitted.
Manon: Also features to look out for on a jacket is the little flap at the bottom to keep your bum-
Ollie: Yes, a bum flap. Manon: -dry from the spray.
A bum flap, yes. Also taped seams, and good sized pockets and also jackets like these
are breathable so you don't get sweaty and cold. Ollie: Once again a jacket that has those high vis
features that we've spoken about previously. [music]
Ollie: There are lots of different types of gloves out there. The ones I'm wearing
at the moment are a medium weight glove that are made from a wind stopper fabric with some
water resistant coating on the outside to help keep your hands a bit dry if there's a shower.
If you're going to be riding in torrential rain, a good option can be neoprene gloves.
They're made out of wetsuit material like a wetsuit. They're designed to sort of absorb that
water and then use it as an insulating layer. You can also get gloves made from GORE-TEX.
These generally perform very well but they can be quite expensive.
If I was going to be riding in much colder conditions than this, it's about
eight degrees today. If I was riding close to zero, I'd be wearing a much thicker,
more substantial glove than this. I'd also say factor in where you're going to be riding. If
you're going to ride down a mountain and there's a chilly descent, again because that wind chill,
you might want a thicker glove. Manon: I have found that how cold your hands
and feet get are very personal. If you do feel the cold, I'd opt for maybe a thicker pair of gloves
but personally I'm quite hard so I wouldn't wear gloves unless it's minus degrees.
Ollie: I'm quite hard. Manon: You're soft. You are.
[laughter] [music]
Ollie: What you wear on your head is really important because you lose
most of your body heat through your head. Manon: I'm a big fan of a skull cap and I
see you are too Ollie. They keep your ears and your head warm and they fit neatly
under your helmet but just remember to take it off of the café because the cosmonaut look,
well it's not a good one. Ollie: What are you trying to say?
Anyway, a skull cap is really good because they can also extend over your ears and keep your ears
warm. A casket or cycling cap can also give you a bit of insulation on your head but they don't
normally cover your ears. Manon: They're quite
fashionable though the caskets aren't they? Ollie: Yes.
Manon: If you can pull them off. As an added bonus, aero helmets with
fewer vents can be nice in winter, because they can be warmer and keep the rain out.
[music] Ollie: The best way to
keep your feet warm is with overshoes but you need to be aware they come in various different types.
For example aero over shoes are designed to make your feet more aerodynamic and not
necessarily to keep you warmer. Some waterproof overshoes are designed to just keep the water out
but again don't offer much added insulation. Manon: We'd recommend a good set of Neoprene
Overshoes. They're made of the same material the wetsuits are made of. They'll keep your
shoes nice and clean, and your feet insulated. Ollie: Also look for the ones that have got a
zip on the back. This makes it much easier to take them on or off without damaging them
and you can do it quicker. [music]
Neck warmers are really useful for keeping your neck warm. The clue's in the name,
but also your face if it's feeling particularly chilly.
Something else that's versatile is a rain cape. If you live in a temperate region,
such as the UK, then I'd say that they're an essential item. I very rarely leave the house
without it such is the chance of rain. What I would say is ideally you want to go for one that's
lightweight and packable so that you could stuff it into your jacket or jersey pocket easily,
but also one that has good level of waterproofing and is breathable as well. In this regard,
the Gore-Tex Shakedry fabric which is used on quite a few jackets, including this one.
It's expensive but it really is the gold standard. Manon: I also find the rain cape useful for
when you're going down descents and when you're going to get a cold, or after you've
stopped at the café and you need to get warm. Ollie: Yes, or if you have to stand around at the
side of the road while your mate fixes a puncture, which seems to happen all the time in winter.
Manon: Always. Ollie: Yes. It's
nice having that extra layer. There you have it. Those are our tips on how to dress for winter.
We hope you've found it useful. Let us know your tips down in the comment section below.
Manon: If you did enjoy this video, please give it a big thumbs up as it really does help. We'll
see you in the next one. Ollie: All right.
Let's go. Manon: Ollie.
[unintelligible 00:10:57] Shut the-- [00:11:01] [END OF AUDIO]