Winter Bike Touring Clothes
09
Oct
Oct
Cycling in the cold and snow is not impossible. This past winter I spent two months cycling in and around the mountains of Switzerland and these are the clothes I wore while out on my bike. Not only did these items help to keep me warm and dry when cycling my way through ice, snow, rain and mud, but they (for the most part at least) kept me from overheating and getting sweaty.
3. Seirus Innovation Ultra Clava Winter Face Mask
4. Fox Racing Jersey
5. Hurley Lightweight Jacket
6. Burton Snowboarding Jacket
7. Men’s DKNY Watch
9. Road I.D.
10. Patagonia Snow Pants
11. Warm Ski/Snowboard Socks
12. Shimano Men’s Multi-Purpose Cycling Sneaker
What kind of clothes do you wear when cycling in the winter? Let me know by leaving a comment below.
It should be noted that this is for extreme winter riding. There is a good chance (depending on where you will be riding) that your winter riding will just mean very cold weather (no snow). In that case, this outfit might be a little overkill. But this, at the very least, should give you some ideas on what you could wear if you were to encounter more serious winter conditions. It worked for me!
I’d like to hear more about the pants — how’d you choose that particular one, what else you’ve tried, what features matter, what you wear underneath, etc.
I currently wear tights or leg warmers. They work pretty well, but I’m looking for a less “cyclist” look while still working fine for long hours on the bike…
We’d love some advice for touring this winter…have you ever worn the touring boots?
I commute and live in cold weather and find no biking cloths that can work in the weather out here thanks for the idea for skey gear. also what bike do you use
At the moment I am using an old beat up mountain bike as my winter commuter biker. However, this past winter when I was riding around in the snow of Switzerland I was riding my Bike Friday New World Tourist.
I’ve never worn touring boots.
I chose the Patagonia pants because I had them in my closet and they work well on the bike as long as you put a pant leg protector around them.
I live/commute in Buffalo, NY. The weather here tends towards more sloppy than extremely cold. My biggest problem is footwear. I use traditional mnt. bike pedals and ride a beater mnt bike: no clips. When it gets cold/wet, I wear traditional snow boots, or sneakers with shoe covers and J&G rain pants/jacket.
However, when it hovers around 45 and is pouring, I want to use my road bike, which has toe clips. Water runs down my rain pants and into my shoes. Currently, I would rather suffer wet sneakers and bring an extra pair of shoes to my destination than switch bikes. No good solution, yet.
Lowest temperature I can tolerate? 5 degrees. At that point the space between my cycling glasses and balaclava at the bridge of my nose gets painfully cold. I like the idea of the goggles, but may just try creating a hat which has a pendulant extension to cover that spot.
Nice articles, BTW
In the winter in Fairbanks, AK, most cyclists use some form of pogies, see article:
https://www.icebike.org/Clothing/handprotection.htm
This is for fairly serious winter conditions (think -40 F/C), and you might still wear a thinner glover underneath. I have heard tell of people making them out of second hand winter coats or hoods from old jackets as well.
Oh and something should be said about color choice and visibility, both of which con become extremely important in ice fog or on slippery roads!
About the shoes and the reader sufferin from wet feet — Get winter riding shoes. Some people think of them as a luxury but if you’re a serious winter rider it’s a must. I got the Sidi Hydro shoes and they’re amazing. Not the perfect fit but again it’s a winter road bike shoe that you clip in. Water proof and keeps you warm below zero. I hate booties now.
On snowy winter rides I wear Patagonia Super Alpine Bib, Arcteryx Fission SV jacket, Oakley Crowbar goggles, Black Diamond gloves. I also have a SealSkinz waterproof socks.
I have all the best ski stuff and I always felt a bit bad about spending 1000’s on it when not in use but now that I’ve incorporated it into my biking I feel way better.