Getting dressed for a trail ride in the heat of summer is easy. But as the days grow shorter and temperatures drop, what you wear on the bike becomes all about versatility and performance. These are the technical pieces of gear that will keep you riding鈥攁nd smiling鈥攖hrough the shoulder season and beyond.
Pearl Izumi 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 Rove Long Sleeve Shirt ($80)

While some performance flannels听incorporate technical features galore, ranging from stretchy look-alike fabrics to hidden zipper pockets, is a simpler rendition with just the necessary bike-friendly tweaks. The brushed polyester twill is exceptionally soft and cozy, making it warmer than the average riding flannel and a highly effective layer on chilly mornings,听but it also wicks sweat well and dries quickly. A roomy fit and longer drop-tail cut offer听full coverage in the riding position and when the shirt is cinched under a hip pack. The lack of bike-specific features听help听make this shirt more activity agnostic than other tech checks,听too鈥擨鈥檓 equally happy wearing it on the ride as I am at the campsite.
Gore听C5 Gore-Tex Infinium Gloves ($60)

When riding temperatures get into the forties听and fifties, I often find myself like Will Ferrell鈥檚 Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights鈥.听Should I wear my normal trail gloves, which protect my palms and improve my grip but offer little to no insulation? Or should I wear my winter gloves, which are warm but less dexterous听and at times bunch and rub at the seams? fill that big gap perfectly. They鈥檙e constructed like mountain-bike gloves, with a snug fit, Velcro closures around the wrists, and a synthetic leather palm that gives me a direct interface with my grips. A windproof and water-resistant shell provides more warmth and weather protection than summer-weight gloves, and pre-shaped fingers reduce the material bunching between my hands and the handlebar, which eliminates rubbing. These work great with touchscreens, too, enabling me to operate my phone in chilly conditions without taking them off.听
Bontrager Avert 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 Mountain Bike Rain Jacket ($170)

is small, light, and highly packable, stuffing down into its own pocket鈥攕omething the most fervent space weenies will appreciate. Super-snug听elastic wristbands help keep moisture out and warmth in. A longer, mountain-bike-specific cut fits听over baggier layers and offers generous coverage while retaining a slim and flattering shape. My favorite feature, though, is a hood that actually accommodates a trail helmet to keep your head dry in a storm, with a Boa dial system that enables you to ratchet the hood down over your lid for a secure fit. For a waterproof jacket, the Avert is also respectably breathable, allowing for short periods of gentle climbing without overheating.
7mesh 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 Revo听Short ($225)

The brand 7mesh, based in Squamish, British Columbia,听knows that a听good pair of rain shorts can make the difference between staying in听and听getting out in crappy weather. will make you feel invincible in a downpour. Constructed with waterproof Gore-Tex and fully taped seams, the Revo short keeps your butt and chamois dry, even while riding along听waterlogged trails. The legs are roomy enough to fit over knee pads comfortably, while a slim, tailored cut and just-right inseam are flattering鈥攈itting right听below the knee, they provide extra coverage in the wet while avoiding that听cankle听look that longer Capri-style shorts produce. An adjustable waistband and sturdy zippered fly with a button closure are durable fixtures that have withstood two seasons of machine washes.
Velocio 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 Trail Mesh Bib Liner ($139)

Technically, these aren鈥檛 a fall-specific item;听the highly breathable mesh material is actually intended to prevent overheating on hot summer rides. But I recently came to appreciate them for cold-weather adventures when my group rolled up on a trailhead bathroom during a chilly ride. The pee-break-friendly design meant that I could skip into the latrine, still cozy in my fully-zipped jacket and layers, and drop trou without having to expose myself to the cold. A lot of brands offer bathroom-break-friendly women鈥檚 bib shorts, but Velocio鈥檚 extra-stretchy, extra-wide, crisscrossed strap design makes it super simple: no buckles or clasps, just pull the waistband down like you would with shorts.听
Other features make these liners my go-to for long rides in general: the straps keep everything in place when I鈥檓 moving around on the bike, and the chamois stays robust and comfortable for several hours. The luxuriously soft mesh feels like pulling pantyhose over my body, and extra-wide leg grippers provide the ideal听amount of compression and support听without constricting or rubbing.
Thule Rail Hip Pack 4L ($100)

In the past, I haven鈥檛 been a fan of hip packs with integrated bladders. Generally, the heavier a hip pack is, the more unstable and shifty it is around my waist in very bumpy terrain. Finicky hose-attachment systems can also result in a loose and dangling hose midride, and they make taking the pack off or putting it on feel like a two-step process.听
Thule鈥檚 new four-liter听听is the best hip pack I鈥檝e tried to听solve听these problems. A flatter profile and wide, stretchy waistband (unusual for a hip pack) help听it conform to my body and prevents the Rail听from sliding around on hectic descents. Other packs use magnetic hose attachments, too, but instead of a single-point attachment, Thule鈥檚 smart system features a roughly 8.5-inch-long magnetic strip that runs听the length of one side of the waistband, providing generous real estate for securing the hose sleeve (also designed with听a magnetic strip). The result: you can drink midride听and replace the hose without fumbling around or even looking down. The Rail鈥檚 flatter shape means that using the pack with a full bladder of water leaves just enough volume to stow a tube, tools, a phone, and a couple snacks. Strapping听your tube to your bike could also allow you to pack a light layer.
Giro Manifest Spherical Helmet ($260)

Launched this spring, the 听incorporates Giro鈥檚 Spherical MIPS technology. This tech is the brand鈥檚 proprietary execution of , which helps protect against the rotational forces that are related to the majority of brain injuries by enabling the outermost layer of a helmet to 鈥渟lide鈥 subtly on the head in an impact, absorbing energy from oblique hits. This lid听features a unique two-piece design: an outer EPS foam liner sits on top of an inner liner, allowing the two pieces to rotate around one another ever so slightly. Giro says there听are two main benefits of Spherical over other MIPS executions: no rough-edged plastic MIPS liner against the hair or scalp, and that听liner doesn鈥檛 interfere with fit.
The Manifest is an exceedingly comfortable trail helmet. While Giro鈥檚 previous-generation Montaro and Montara trail helmets felt a bit tight to me around my temples (likely due to the MIPS liner located听directly between the head and the helmet鈥檚 EPS foam),听the Manifest fits perfectly on听my average-shaped head. The antimicrobial liner is pleasantly cushy, and venting is generous for hot rides. A magnetic buckle system is a nice touch, enabling quick fastening and one-handed opening. Silicone grippers in the front vents allow you to stow your shades, though I did have a hard time getting some sunglasses to fit securely. If goggles are more your style, you鈥檒l appreciate the rubber goggle-strap gripper on the back of the helmet.
Roka听x Machines for Freedom GP-1 Sunglasses in Palmera ($250)

奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 cycling apparel maker Machines for Freedom is known for its boldly feminine, eye-catching floral prints. This limited-edition collaboration with performance eyewear maker Roka听features Machines鈥 gorgeous tropical-themed Palmera print on Roka鈥檚听GP-1 . The rose-gold mirrored lens works well in all but the very lowest light conditions, and it was perfect on听partially cloudy days, when听the light is always changing.听
While intended for both road and mountain biking, the GP-1鈥檚 are included in this roundup because they stayed securely on my face on the trail听and offered good clarity and light transmission in bright-light conditions in the trees. Fogging was a nonissue, and the wraparound lens and frameless upper half provided an unobstructed field of vision. These shades also garnered a lot of compliments, and wearing them made me happy. (Note: For maximum joy, readers who also dabble in drop-bar riding鈥攁nd can afford this combo鈥攁re advised to wear these shades with the matching Machines for Freedom in Palmera.)