There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.
- Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes
Cycling in the winter can suck. Rain, cold, street grime, and slush can make an unprepared rider pretty miserable. When the weather gets rough you have a choice..,move in the gym and spin away like a rat on a wheel, or pick up the right gear and embrace the added challenges winter brings. The way I look at it is the long spring rides will feel that much easier after you’ve toughened up all winter.
For this winter, I’m rocking the following gear on my rides. I’m now no longer in fear of what my weather app is going to say in the early hours of the morning when all I want to do is stay in bed.
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In researching gear, I really gravitated to Castelli. They breakdown the climate ranges for all their products which takes a lot of the guess work out of the process. I also love that they make tri specific gear as well so I don’t feel like I’m “faking it” pretending to be a cyclist when I’m doing my training rides.
My general rule in buying gear is none of it can serve just a single purpose. Triathlon training, gear, race entries, and travel can get crazy expensive so I want to minimize the number of things I need to buy as much as possible. Therefore, I didn’t want to get a winter jacket and then have to also get something for early spring. I wanted a jacket that I could use in the depths of winter (into the 20s) but would also work in the early spring rides when it’s pushing up into the 50s. The Espresso Due jacket is Castelli’s widest range so it right away fit what I was looking for. It’s also by far their best looking jacket, and has some really nice features like front chest and rear shoulder venting.
I also looked at a few Pearl Izumi jackets like the P.R.O Softshell Jacket and the ELITE Shoftshell Jacket but I wasn’t confident they would work in all conditions given the reviews I read. I needed something with broad temperatures coverage and that is waterproof. Pearl Izumi has great stuff but I felt for the price it wasn’t going to give me the all around utility I was looking for. Also, I have a really hard time making a decision when there are so many options and Pearl Izumi, and most of the activewear world in general, suffers from a paradox of choice problem. There are just way too many items.
Because I seek out simplify in selection, I really learn towards Rapha but in the end I cannot justify the price when I can get something better for less. For example, their Classic Softshell Jacket is amazing looking but I can’t drop $375, without any front or rear venting, when I picked up the Castelli Espresso Due for $240 from Competitive Cyclist (best online bike and tri shop IMO).
Castelli Leggerezza 2 Bib Tights
They make two versions of these - one with padding and one without. I opted for the padded ones. They don’t have the best padding out there but when combined with the things going to them - weight, breathability, flexibility, and cost - I figured it was a fine trade off. The padding isn’t horrible, but it’s not over the top cushioning as you find in most tights or bib shorts these days.
I’ve ridden in these tights enough to have fallen in love and know it’s for real. First, some of the Castelli stuff can get a little crazy with the designs. They love that scorpion logo and their name and they put them everywhere. These are understated and sleek looking. Second, the temp range Castelli recommends for these is spot on. Haven’t ever felt too hot or too cold and I’ve been out with these when the temp is pushing into the low 20s and when its been up to the 40s. Third, the combo of warmth, breathability, and flexibility is perfect.
In trying out tights I felt a bit like Goldilocks looking for the pair that was just right. The Pearl Izumi AmFib Bib Tights felt like I was wearing a full on wetsuit and the Pearl Izumi ELIETE Thermal Barrier Thermal Barrier Bib Tights felt like they might be good for a spring day but that was about it. The Castellis were right down the middle.
Icebreaker Pursuit Long Sleeve Half Zip
This is my base layer for under my jacket. It’s incredibly warm yet breathable, and fits close to the skin so it doesn’t get bulky under the jacket. I love Icebreaker’s products (the brand is a bit weak if I’m honest) so it was an easy choice when looking for a base layer. I wanted something that I can also use running (to not have to double up on purchases) so any pure cycling base layers or long sleeve jerseys were out. I went with the half zip style vs. the crew neck so it adds a bit extra warmth around the neck but I can unzip it if I get hot to release some heat. I picked up a few of these as my go-to base layer for all winter running and cycling.
I also wear an Icebreaker neck warmer that I pull up over my face when the wind is bitting. I don’t like the balaclava set up. I feel too claustrophobic in it. Instead I go with Icebreaker neck warmer and a simple fleece running hat under my helmet. The running hat also doubles as my running hat. Multi-discipline products for the multi-discipline athlete.
Capo Innesco OD LF Glove and Pearl Izumi Thermal Lite Gloves
My hands get very cold so I needed a glove system that would work across all temps and keep me warm. I opted for a two layer system. The Capo gloves have the lobster claw shape which helps keep my fingers warm when I’m out in aero position and it’s in the teens with the windchill. These gloves are pretty great on their own from the low 40s down to the mid 30s. Below that I double up with the Pearl Izumi liners. These are the same gloves I use for running (my hands get a lot warmer when running for some reason so I don’t wear heavy gloves). With both layers I’m super warm and really don’t lose any flexibility or dexterity. In the mid 40s and higher, or after a couple hours of riding, I go with just the Pearl Izumi liners on their own.
I didn’t try out too many other glove options. I picked these up from my LBS and they’ve worked great so I haven’t had the need to look for other solutions.
Gore Bike Wear Road SO Thermo OverShoes
In an out of character move, I picked up my overshoes in an actual store without doing any research first. These Gore Bike Wear overshoes were on sale for $20 in my LBS down from $80. They are waterproof, windproof, and have a thermal lining. I figured at that price I couldn’t go wrong, and I haven’t been disappointed. I’d definitely recommend them, even not discounted. 1