Clothing guide for riding in cold weather

Summer is too short. That's a fact. However, with the right clothing, you can extend your road cycling season into spring and fall. Here are a few essential items to help you enjoy the pavement when the mercury drops.

The cool one: 15-20 degrees

You don't need to go overboard to keep warm when the sun is shining, but when it's around 15-16 degrees, cloudy, and windy, you can easily end up shivering uncomfortably.

• Arm yourself with sleeves: you can easily remove them if the temperature rises.
• If the temperature doesn't seem to be rising (or if your Ride short in the morning, for example), a Jersey , fairly thin Jersey such as the C.D.A model from Givelo will be perfect.
• Equip yourself with a Gilet (also called a "waistcoat"). Again, it protects your torso from cold winds and can be easily stored in a pocket. We particularly like the Gilet stow away"Gilet from PNS, which can be unzipped in both directions. It's ideal for rummaging through your jersey pockets or simply turning your Gilet a cape to let the air in on climbs, then zipping it back up on descents.

• Extra: very thin gloves may be appropriate for those who are naturally sensitive to the cold.

It's starting to get cold: 9-14 degrees

It's best to be prepared for all conditions, especially if the Ride long and the weather uncertain: rain at 10 degrees isn't exactly the same as rain at 25 degrees.

• Wear a longJersey with a Base Layer underneath Base Layer help wick away sweat.

• Bring a pair of light or medium-weight gloves, depending on your tolerance to the cold. Your hands are immobile and exposed to the wind, and the extremities are the first parts of the body to suffer from drops in temperature.

• Speaking of extremities, the shoes are very well ventilated for summer heat, but that also means they let in cold air. A pair of Shoe Covers made from breathable material, such as those from Fingerscrossed, are easy to slip on and prevent your toes from freezing.

• So bring along a Jacket can be quickly stowed away in your pockets, such as the Stow Away Jacket from PNS. If it's windy, the temperature drops, it rains, or you have to wait by the side of the road while your friends collect flat tires to change, you won't regret the few extra grams that easily fit in a back pocket.

• Protect your knees with knee warmers. It makes all the difference.

• Protect your head. With a Headband, cap, or Beanie . We like the latter because it is breathable, takes up little space when stored, and can be pulled down over the ears if necessary.

Everyone is freezing, get dressed: 0-9 degrees

It has been scientifically proven that exposing your joints to temperatures below 14 degrees Celsius can be harmful. Although professionals take everything off at the end of a race, they are dressed from head to toe during training or the first few hours of a competition. Do as they do: stay warm. It's not a contest to see who can show the most skin when it's freezing.

• A long bib is a must. Choose the one that suits you best: some have a warmer lining than others.

• Put on your thickest gloves.

• Pro tip: you can use Shoe Covers , which are very effective, but you can also put toe covers on your shoes BEFORE adding your Shoe Covers. It's less restrictive and very effective.

• There's nothing better than a good softshell shell for exercising in cold weather: it blocks the wind, resists rain (to a certain extent), but above all, it wicks away perspiration while keeping you warm... but not too warm.

Wear a neck warmer. It will come in handy at the start of Ride, on descents, and generally to prevent you from inhaling large gulps of icy air.