Cycling Layering For Year Round Riders

Few things can ruin a ride—the first is a puncture, the second is an uncomfortable saddle, and the third is being unable to regulate your temperature out on a ride due to poor clothing. This can leave you sweating and too hot on ascents and freezing cold on the flats and descents.

Unless you ride in near perfect weather conditions, all of the the time (unlikely for the UK!) then as a cyclist you need to consider investing in, and working out a layering system which keeps you cool and comfortable on the bike.

Layering up, when done correctly - traps your body heat between the layers, meaning that you can stay warm, with the option of removing a layer if you get too hot. When layering is done correctly, the layers also work to pull moisture and sweat away from your skin and your body - helping you remain comfortable. Of course, layers also prevent moisture from rain and spray from reaching your body too, keeping you dry.

Upper Body Cycling Clothing Layering

There’s no hard and fast rule for what cycling clothing to wear and how much clothing to wear on each ride, but for cycling during the colder months, the below layering system is what we recommend as a starting point.

Layer 1 - Cycling Base Layer

The starting point for any cycling layer is the very suitably named base layer. The Base Layer is absolutely essential in getting your layering strategy right, and the cycling industry has worked hard to create an excellent range of base layers that do a great job of wicking moisture away from your body during an arduous ride.

There’s two main choices to make when it comes to choosing a base layer, choosing a base layer with man made fibres - which tends to be a high tech mixture of polypropylne and polyester - or choosing a base layer made from natural fibres, such as Merino wool blends.

Both types of base layers do a great job, but we prefer the natural-based base layers, such as a Merino Wool Base Layer from Mons Royale. I’ve personally had one of these base layers for several years now, and it’s still going strong. It’s always the layer that I choose to pick up when I am heading out on the trails, and it does a great job of keeping me warm, comfortable, and not smelling.

Another great option is the Scott Windstopper Short Sleeve Base Layer. This base layer uses gore-tex in key areas to provide a windproof layer that still provides all of the wicking required to keep you comfortable. It’s quick-drying and again, a perfect companion on a wintry day.

You can also choose a long sleeve cycling base layer or a short sleeve cycling base layer - I tend to always choose a long sleeve base layer when riding during the colder months of the year, and I never feel uncomfortable wearing a longer sleeve base layer.

Whether you choose a man-made or natural base layer, always avoid cotton. A cotton base layer, such as a cotton T-shirt, gets wet from sweat and stays wet, leaving you with a cold and wet shirt against your skin—which can not only make you suffer from the cold but can also cause sores and poor hygiene.

Layer 2 - The Mid Layer

The Mid-Layer is designed to work with the base layer that you are wearing, helping transport and wick sweat and moisture away from your body, keeping you dry. Additionally, the mid layer is designed to trap your body heat in, to this end - your mid-layer should not be overly tight, it should be a little bit loose, to allow air to be trapped between it and your body, keeping you warm.

Cycling specific mid-layers are available, but I often just wear a cycling jersey, usually a long sleeve jersey. These jerseys can be outer layers in good weather, but I find they work really well as a mid-layer during the colder months.

There’s so many choices for cycling jerseys, Endura do some great cycling jerseys towards the lower end of the pricing budget, and of course there are masters of jerseys such as Castelli which are world renowned for their line of jerseys.

If you are cycling during colder months, than a fleece lined cycling jersey will be perfect - look for one with long zips to allow you to cool down when required.

Layer 3 - The Outer Layer

The outer layer, is the third and final layer that we recommend wearing when layering up for the colder months. This outer layer needs to continue the work that the base layer and mid-layer is doing, so needs to be breathable - in order for sweat to be wicked away from the body.

In addition, this layer also needs to provide weather resistance - and these jackets can be waterproof and windproof, or can be waterproof and wind resistant depending upon riding conditions and requirements.

Usually, a thinner, waterproof and windproof cycing jacket is the best choice to wear for those headin gout on the bike, these smaller jackets can also be easily folded up and stored on the bike or in a jersey pocket should conditions allow. This allows the rider to take the jacket off for ascents which can be warm-going, and then back on when the cooler conditions start, such as on the flats, during a pause or during a descent.

Lower Body Cycling Clothing Layering

A lot of lower body cycling clothing layering will depend on what type of cycling you are doing, if you are mountain biking - you can purchase and use an excellent pair of mountain bike trousers, which can provide all of the warmth and waterproofing needed to keep you comfortable on the bike.

The SingleTrack Trousers II from Endura are a great example MTB trousers which perform really well out in the real world, these trousers work perfectly with or without a pair of thermals underneath during the colder weather months.

If you are cycling on the roads, you can match a pair of cycling shorts with leg warmers, if you are cycling in colder conditions - a pair of cycling tights with a fleece lining would be our first choice, providing warmth for the full leg muscles and also keeping your muscles supported.

Those looking for reace ready winter tights, would do well to consider the Assos EQUIPE R HABU Winter Bib Tights - which have been designed to provide all of the warmth required, without any restriction.

Protect the Extremities

Your body’s extremities is where a great deal of heat can be lost, resulting in you feeling pretty poor and under the weather whilst on a ride.

Head

Your head is one of the areas in which you can lose most heat, and it can be difficult, when wearing a helmet - to regulate and find a comfortable temperature for your head. There’s so many different ways of keeping your head warm, from snoods and skullcaps across to balaclavas and headbands. Ideally, you will have something that you can take off and stash if required - and something which is comfortable and low profile enough to be worn underneath of a cycling helmet for all day use. Most of these products are designed to cover the ears, which can take a real battering from the weather and elements when cycling, especially at higher speeds.

One of our personal favourite products is the ASSOS Robo Cap - Black Series. Although a summer under cap, we find this cap works really well in colder temperatures, and wicks moisture and sweat away really well, when riding hard.

Arms & Legs

Arm & Leg Warmers are the ideal piece of clothign to chuck on when cycling, to provide a quick burst of warmth and insulation when you need it most. Easy to remove, pack away and take on and off - arm and leg warmers provide a reliable way of adding warmth to your cycling kit, without having to overpack. Most arm and leg warmers are designed to pack up small enough to fit into your jersey pocket, making them an essential part of a cold weather cycling setup.

There’s different arm and leg warmers depending on brand and requirement - and there’s also winter specific arm and leg warmers, such as the ASSOS R Witner Arm Warmers, and the ASSOS Winter Knee Warmers, which both make excellent choices for when the weather begins to bite.

Feet

Nothing quite ruins a ride like cold feet, apart from wet feet! Overshoes are designed to combat both, and they slip over your cycling shoes to provide an extra layer of protection against cold, wind and water. If you are regularly cycling in winter, we would always recommend choosing a waterproof and windproof option for your rides.

One of the warmest overshoes/over boots out there is the Castelli Estremo Shoecovers. These overshoes are designed to keep your feet warm. They are built with Goretex to protect against the elements, and they are also fleece lined for warmth, whilst still retaining high levels of breathability.

Gloves

Cycling Gloves, whether long fingered or short fingered gloves should really be worn all year round, the benefits of wearing them, when it comes to comfort and control is well documented.

In winter, thicker, long finger cycling gloves which are designed to keep your hands and fingers warm are recommended.

The POC Thermal Lite Gloves are a personal favourite of ours. They have a windproof outer and a thin leather palm, providing the perfect balance between grip, flexibility, and warmth. The neoprene cuff has been designed to provide complete coverage when wearing a long-sleeve jersey or jacket.

Post Ride Clothing

One of the most overlooked lines of clothing is always the casual cycling clothing - cycling clothing brands all make really high quality, really cool shorts, hoodies, t-shirts, beanies and jumpers, which are absoloutely perfect for warming up post ride.