In recent years, bike-apparel companies have stepped up to build听gear to keep you seriously warm and dry during the most frigid rides. Here鈥檚 the听winter kit that keeps me pedaling through the worst weather the season has to offer.
Getting icicles in my beard sucks, which is why I鈥檝e started packing one of these on any ride that鈥檚 below freezing. 听has a layer of fleece-lined Gore听Windstopper on the bottom half of the tube, which keeps听the soft fabric听against my face and the tough outer material shielding me from听the elements. No more icicles.听
听added a heating mechanism to an already warm, waterproof glove that鈥檚 stuffed with PrimaLoft Gold insulation. Two separate, rechargeable battery packs are hidden in the cuffs, and you can choose听three levels of heat.听Most winter days, the gloves are warm听enough on their own, but occasionally, that extra boost of toastiness keeps me in the saddle longer. The goat-leather palms provide grippy contact with the bars, too.听
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My layering on chilly rides starts with a merino-wool base layer. is step two. The majority of the Versa听is soft shell, which lends a solid amount of stretch and mobility, but the chest panel is loaded with 133 grams of PrimaLoft insulation to keep the heat in. It鈥檚 all protected by a water- and wind-resistant poly face that keeps my chest shielded from any gusts. A rear stash pocket is big enough for snacks, while a zippered chest compartment can hold your phone. I find听it burly enough to work as an outer shell if it鈥檚 snowing or lightly drizzling.听
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I鈥檓 picky about my pants. I don鈥檛 want to wear tights, but I don鈥檛 want baggy cargos either. I need听them to be warm without suffocating, and they have to be able to shift from the bike to the bar with ease. 听fills all my requirements and then some. It鈥檚 cut听without being too skinny, and it鈥檚 made from a warm, tough, double-woven nylon that鈥檚 soft and stretchy.听Kitsbow loaded it with pockets: a small cargo pouch for keys or a wallet, two deep slots听on the side, and a dedicated one听on the hip that can hold most phones. Reflective stripes on the back and cuffs enhance visibility to others, ideal for low-light sessions.
The wind is often the trickiest aspect of riding in the winter. Technically, you don鈥檛 need a bike-specific wind jacket. (If you鈥檙e willing to forgo a drop-tail hem, a normal听rain shell will听work听most of the time.)听But听 will convince you otherwise. A suite of sport-specific details make this my go-to bike top. The elbows are reinforced to withstand scratches and scuffs听but also stretchy enough to accommodate elbow pads. The hood fits snug under your helmet, while a tall collar helps block drafts听and rain from your face. It鈥檚 made from ripstop nylon with a DWR treatment that will withstand everything shy of a monsoon. The whole thing comes in at a light 170 grams and easily stashes in its own chest pocket when the sky clears.听
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Full disclosure: this shoe is overkill for winters in the southern Appalachians, where I do the majority of my winter riding. But if you鈥檙e looking for a clipless shoe that will keep your feet warm in the coldest temperatures, the听听is your jam. A completely waterproof Gore-Tex liner is matched with a nubuck-leather upper and padded high-top ankle cuff for a winter boot that eliminates the need for covers or gaiters. It鈥檚 basically a cross-country ski boot that鈥檚 compatible with SPD cleats. I like the power strap鈥攖ech borrowed from the nordic world鈥攖hat tightens across the bridge of your foot to give you a super secure fit. With an EVA foam midsole and a half-length shank, these shoes offer support and make walking comfortable.