[Closed] Cycling kit staples

Gilet - always good, unless it's really raining hard.
Overshoes - the cheap planet ones so your disco slippers become winter boots....sort of. Cheap because if you get more than a couple of winters out of them, that's pretty good.

A buff for wearing under my helmet.

Liner gloves.

I wouldn't say arm and knee/leg warmers are roadie stuff, they are just very useful cycling kit.

A couple of buffs, overshoes, spare gloves.

If you've driven to your ride then a full set of warm clothes back at the car ready to change into when you finish. On a similar note, something warm and/or windproof to put on when you stop or need to fix a mechanical.

Lightweight caps for warm weather and a thermal cap which covers the ears when it's cold.

One of these...

You can stand in it in muddy car parks to change out of wet gear and it keeps your feet dry and then you can throw all your wet kit in it to keep your car dry.

ear covering headband and neck warmer. Great for winter.

Toe covers for your shoes is another one. They live on my road shoes 3 quarters of the year and are great under full shoe covers for extra warmth in the winter.

Bib shorts and jerseys with pockets.

Waterproof phone case, mainly protects against sweat in the jersey pockets. I use a Rapha Clutch Bag...

Another one, for me, is a decent winter jacket. Once you find one that fits well and works for you, I pretty much ride exclusively in it for 3-4 months of the year. Currently using the Rapha Core Winter Jacket, which was only £60 in their sale. It's waterproof on the front, so saves carrying a water proof for light showers etc.

Combined with a buff (as the collar is a bit short on me), it's fine for 4-5 hour rides in winter.

One of these....

For when your fat, little inactive ass is too weak to lift your bike onto the overly tall, jacked up  car that you bought  for no good reason because you are stupid.

Waterproof phone case, mainly protects against sweat in the jersey pockets. I use a Rapha Clutch Bag…

i have a tesco zip lock bag. i wrote rapha on it in sharpie so my roadie friends didnt disown me.

Waterproof phone case, mainly protects against sweat in the jersey pockets. I use a Rapha Clutch Bag…

i have a tesco zip lock bag. i wrote rapha on it in sharpie so my roadie friends didnt disown me.

Clear plastic pencil case for me.

Essentials?

I don't have any of the stuff listed I don't think.

Essentials for me are proper cycling shoes with a stiff sole. thats one thing that made a big difference to me when I started using them. Proper cycling tights made a marginal difference. I like a proper cycling softshell as well.

Check you have gloves that are windproof and waterproof for the winter months, thought I'd brought such a pair with me to Prestatyn, but they were sodden more than once this past weekend.

Shoes that have extra space for thick socks and still have some space to reduce how cold your feet get on nippy days.

Buffs are mega useful - can be worn for warmth in winter, and sweatbands in extreme heat
Decent winter gloves and boots - Generally if my extremities are happy then I'm happy
Tiny packable windproof - Emergency layer, gets carried on pretty much every ride, all year
Castelli Perfetto - Go-to garment from November until April. Pretty much every roadie I ride with owns at least one!

Arm warmers
Knee warmers
Mesh back Gilet
Buff

All look slightly weird and unnecessary but once you’ve used them essential. Also a bargain as they effectively turn your summer kit into winter kit for all but the coldest days. (Add a cheap t shirt base layer under a summer shirt)

i wrote rapha on it in sharpie so my roadie friends didnt disown me

You are Donald Trump's cycling twin and I claim my £5!

Waterproof socks for winter, they will let water in eventually but warm and windproof.

lunge

Subscriber
Waterproof phone case, mainly protects against sweat in the jersey pockets. I use a Rapha Clutch Bag…

i have a tesco zip lock bag. i wrote rapha on it in sharpie so my roadie friends didnt disown me.

Clear plastic pencil case for me.

Waterproof phone for me - plastic is the work of the Devil, don't you know?

DeFeet WoolieBoolie socks
Cut-down RAF surplus goretex shorts
Lightweight softshell jackets (I have a few)
Road jersey with windproof front & arms (Endura Jetstream 3 is my fave)

Those silly roadie caps. In winter, and with road helmets not having a peak, they're invaluable for keeping rain off your face and glasses.

I'd also recommend decent overshoes. As a perpetual sufferer of cold feet, even in winter boots, these are usually the best method of keeping my tootsies warm.

Gilet is also a good shout.

I'm also a big fan of 3/4 bibs. Full length are pften too warm and normal bibs don't cover your knees, which in cold weather really hurts. 3/4s are the sweet spot and are great for 1-2 hours in even really cold conditions.

Pogies / bar mitts, for winter. Make a big difference to keeping my fingers warm, nicer than bulky gloves.

Rainlegs, for wet weather commuting. Great for keeping my trousers dry, less faff to put on/off than overtrousers.

Waterproof phone for me – plastic is the work of the Devil, don’t you know?

it is a hemp phone ?

Those silly roadie caps. In winter, and with road helmets not having a peak, they’re invaluable for keeping rain off your face and glasses.

I just bought a GTX one for when it's raining. Also keeps your head warm as my roadie helmet has too many vents for winter.

plastic is the work of the Devil, don’t you know?

I also found I kept putting my finger nails through the bag whilst stuffing it in my jersey pockets riding along (I take a lot of photos whilst riding along). Hence upgraded to the Rapha Clutch bag...

the one thing a cyclist can buy to make winter better is MUDGUARDS.

Currently using the Rapha Core Winter Jacket, which was only £60 in their sale. It’s waterproof on the front, so saves carrying a water proof for light showers etc.

Why is it waterproof on the front? When you're leaning forwards, y'know, say, riding a bike, particularly a road bike, your back gets a lot more rain than your front.

the one thing a cyclist can buy to make winter better is MUDGUARDS.

+1

Why people persist without mudguards I do not know, for both road and general XC biking about. There are so many good designs now. I get it if your racing or at the very vanguard of shredding the gnarr but for everyone else?

Mudguards. Massively antisocial riding or commuting on road without them.

Mudhugger on the mountain bikes as well. Rear mudhugger will cope with pretty much any sort of riding - not just Bimbling .

Why is it waterproof on the front? When you’re leaning forwards, y’know, say, riding a bike, particularly a road bike, your back gets a lot more rain than your front.

Depends which way the wind is blowing. I guess two reasons, 1) your back is likely to be more sweaty due to lack of wind and 2) waterproof fabrics don't breathe so well, so 50:50 split is a good compromise. Personally I love it, ridden in the rain in it and very happy with the performance. Pretty much all I'll wear from now till March. Got a good review on road.cc as well:

https://road.cc/content/review/232710-rapha-core-winter-jacket

Fair points.

+1 for the trusty Ikea bag, to be found in car boots and hallways everywhere there is a muddy rider.

Me, its a slimmed down waterpoof wallet for the essential Credit/Octopus card, ID Card and some cash that goes with me on every ride.

Stolen goat ride pac for me, too many holes in ziplocks, or the cheap plastic wallets breaking.
Felt expensive for what it is, but been great to use.

Why is it waterproof on the front?

Front collects rain as you whizz along, back dries qucikly through bodyheat.

Sealskinz socks.

Dry summer days excepted they are pretty much the only bit of kit I always use.

Dry feet = happy rider!

Good socks, merino for me, good gloves, Defeet Dura gloves are a personal favourite for Spring/Autumn and a good chunk of winter and a gilet. And it doesn't hurt to have a couple of buffs at hand. It's a case of trial and error when it comes to cycling clothing, I rarely wear a jacket but some guys I ride with wear them for nine months of the year. Tried overshoes but never thought they worked for the kind of riding I do but that's not to say they're not perfect for others.

Had to chuckle at the IKEA bag as I hadn't thought about how much mine gets used until you posted that.

3x Black Rapha Core shorts plus Gore knee warmers
2x Roubaix Bib 3/4
Merino short and long socks
Various base layers
Short and long-sleeve club jerseys plus a roubaix Rapha 500 Core jersey for posing (pockets too high to actually use!)
Club Gilet
Mavic hardshell rain coat
Endura race clear race cape
Gloves in four thicknesses - I have to wear them for my palms - including merino liners
Helmet liner for seriously cold nights (remember to put the helmet on!)
Buff in fetching colour to match club kit

Defroster boots for spds and Sidi boots for KEOs
Castelli Toe Things for down to freezing (see socks)
Waterproof cover for phone, card, money and a key

Mudguards
Fixed wheel bike

A pair of gloves for each temperature range! My cupboard has a stack. Pulled out the old Cannondale 2-7deg pair this morning as the 4-10deg 100% Briskers were getting a bit chilly. I feel the cold more than I used to, but hate it if hands are too hot.
Warm socks - One One Thickies are good.
I go from overshoes to Goretex boots when the weather gets properly cold.
And switch from leg warmers to softshell trousers too. I would've said Merino leg warmers until I got the trousers.

Helmet with a peak, so you don't have to get one of those daft roadie caps 😉

Wrist sweatband for snot purposes

Wrist sweatband for snot purposes

Genius.

I produce a lot and the towelling on gloves isn’t enough

Lapsing into TMI now though.

Wet wipes.

Wet wipes.

I make do with a mini-roll of toilet paper in a plastic bag.

That reminds me, must re-up after last week's alfrescopoop.

Wrist sweatband for snot purposes

tampons or Richie Rude style nasal dilators could also work

A pair of gloves for each temperature range!

I often take two pairs, as I don't like my hands too warm, start with thicker ones then go to thinner and often end up with no gloves on.

I produce a lot and the towelling on gloves isn’t enough

You need to practice your "snot rockets". I can clear both nostrils very easily without needing to wipe afterwards.

Yup I do snot rockets but sometimes you just need to wipe

Depends how hot you run and where you live. Living  on the South Downs I can’t ride MTB in gilets or jackets, I’d cook. Long sleeve jersey for almost all of winter does me fine. It’s rarely under 5deg here. Baselayer & 3/4 bibs for the few rides it is.

I see riders out in jackets and trousers in October, I’m almost envious.

I've found a pink marker so I'm going to make my plastic sandwich bag an exclusive "club" one!

depends on type of riding but "get you home" lights are useful if not an all i can possibly carry is a tube concealed in an orifice type...have some quite bright but tiny lezynes that run on think are CR2032 batteries in my tool bag (taped over to stop accidentally turning on)

This morning I would have to say painkillers. I hit the tarmac last night and this morning everything on my left side is sore. Thankfully no road rash though as the wet leaves helped me slide.

Arm and leg warmers.
Buff - I have dozens, almost always free ones from events.
Overshoes - I tend to buy relatively cheap ones, they do a season on road shoes then get moved to MTB shoes where (at a push) they last a winter of CX/gravel/all-purpose riding and end up in tatters from walking on them. But at least they've kept the shoes clean and dry!

A thin Primaloft gilet for all but summer riding, prefer it to a warmer jersey + windproof jacket or gilet combo.
The right polyester sports briefs so I don't need to use trad lycra shorts. Comfier, suprisingly.
Roadie cap. Peaked helmets pretty useless in the wet in comparison. A Gore roadie cap is brilliant in the rain.

Since this day...

View this post on Instagram

Knee pads

There's too much variation in riding style/type; location/exposure; and body/fitness to give a definitive list.

I generally do shorter rides 2-4 hours, in the south, so more forest than mountains. I generally don't do coats unless its really bad weather. Non padded but tight underwear is my preference, if my arse hurts I need to stand up more.
Trousers are a god send in the wet, keep your leg hairs dry which adds quite a bit of warmth and comfort. Also stops water running down legs into shoes.

To go as general as possible:
Shoes - get some proper shoes and pedals (flats or clips, whatever your preference) its your main contact point, and all your power goes through them. Old running shoes are not going to cut it.

Whatever your outermost torso layer is - make it cycling specific. Its cut longer at the back, shorter at the front and the shoulders slightly forward. Stops that hole appearing on your lower back which is cold, uncomfortable when combined with a backpack, and stops little mud dingle berries making their way down into your shorts

Some good ideas in here, never tried a roadie cap myself.

Interesting how we all cut our cloth different with regard to staying warm & dry. I don't like the faff of arm/leg warmers and prefer to just pick a jersey/tights combo and stick with it.

Gilet is handy for rides with temperature changes or standing around.

Gilet and armwarmers can cover you for many months of riding during the year. Caps, aswell as useful for keeping rain off are quite handy for this time of year when the sun is low in the sky.

Roadie caps are also useful for preventing helmet shaped sunburn on those less hairy heads in the summer.

Hardened roadie - I hate caps and I hate arm warmers! The caps come down too far and then you crick your neck, the arm warmers slide down my arms. You used to flip the peak up in the days before riding with a helmet#. Now that just tensions the helmet on the head. I have dedicated lighter jerseys with long arms instead of arm warmers. For summer, there are thin options for the follicle-challenged MC1R homozygotes like myself - as there are for arm covering too.

But a gilet is a year-round staple.

#I wear a club cap on my recumbent trike because 1) it's slow, 2) I'm upright and 3) I don't wear a helmet and need the cover.

Low budget allocated to MTB here

Activity shorts - Matalan £10

Black thermal long-johns: Lidl £3

Home-made arm-warmers (Mrs Rider’s stretchy thigh-socks with feet cut out) £2

Winter hi-viz cycling zip-up jacket with rear pocket (Lidl, £16)

Couple of hoodies (charity shops, £10)

Good solid tees (xmas gift)

Quality skate shoes (£3, unworn, local YHA shop) and have plans to DIY silicone waterproof

Buff headwear to keep ears and bonce and face warm £12?

Pogies for bars for extreme wind-chill or cold rain etc £25

a roadie cap and a buff works better than a traditional Belgian winter hat because you can get them under a helmet
I've seen riders wearing a roadie cap backwards in the summer to stop sunburn on the head and neck

lobster gloves for very cold days, the fingers in proximity keep warmer

Liner gloves, Buff type thing for neck / ear coverage, waterproof socks, overshoes, quality breathable waterproof, base layers and technical t-shirts all get used a lot alongside the usual shorts.
Generally I don't buy the high end stuff but I do have a Mavic rain jacket and Gore convertible gilet/jacket that have been well worth the cash - and I get loads of wear out of a HH Lifa base layer.

@jameso, what are these magic polyester pants then?

I've been mountain biking since 2005 and road cycling since 2007 and think - in my opinion - I now have the perfect collection of cycling clothing for riding in the lowlands of Scotland. Used to always use a Camelbak off-road but these days only use one on long rides.

Normal setup for both road and off-road for 3/4 of the year are (listed from head to toe):

Road

Road helmet
Road cap
Buff
Short sleeve merino base-layer
Long sleeve road jersey
Lightweight windproof (well fitted) jacket.
Short fingered gloves
3/4 bib shorts
Merino socks
Road shoes.

Off-road

Mountain bike helmet
Long sleeve merino base-layer
Short sleeve cycling jersey
Lightweight windproof (well fitted) jacket.
Long fingered gloves
3/4 bib shorts
Baggy shorts.
Merino socks
Flat mountain bike shoes.

I'm a big believer of buying quality kit that is well made using good quality materials that fits nice (not too baggy and not too restrictive). Keep an eye out for 7mesh kit in the sales and look at hillwalking brands for shorts as they're cheaper than mountain bike shorts with a less baggy fit.

Hope that helps.

Skull cap under helmet.

Most of my unexpected staples I didn't know about when I started have been listed - arm and knee warmers, gilets, caps, buffs. Waterproof wallet/phone case probably my most recent revelation after years of ziplok freezer bags that often became single or double use plastic waste after keys and coins went through them.

Most phones are now waterproof. As are £5 and £10 notes. Just goes in the pocket of my (non waterproof) shorts or trousers.

Exped xxsmall dry bag if you don't want to use single-use plastic for the phone.

I faffed about for years buying roadie caps made of special technical fabrics until I tried some normal cotton (or cotton/poly? I dunno) caps and realising they work loads better.

I'm also really glad that I have a fairly waterproof phone now - just goes straight in my pocket without the faff of a wee baggie.

Mtb - Kneepads after a couple of bad crashes - not wanting a knee infection again.

Base layers - thin and thicker -
I’ve decided the Under Armour got / cold gear are pretty good for not too much money. Although no Fox logos allowed apparently (on this thread) I tend to wear a Fox technical T in all weathers - with varying base layers on temperature and a Royal Racing Matrix coat on top of its honking it down with rain. Done minus 3.5 degrees snowy weather for a whole day in a cold gear base layer / tech tee / royal racing coat - that was a push up day at Windhill.

Commuting- buff to go round your neck when it’s cold - and a thin skull cap to wear under the helmet when really cold.

Either activity I’ve decided I like BTwin socks from Decathlon - quick thick ones without going to full thermal. Cheap ish and seem to be lasting well for commuting or mtb.

I want one of those plastic bucket things posted a page or so ago - great idea for standing in to change by the car and then dump kit in afterwards!

Waterproof shorts. Even some experienced riders don't know how good they are

Gilets- yes they make you look french but in warm wet conditions they are marvellous. Nobody really cares if their arms are wet.

Glacier Gloves- neoprene drysuit gloves made for window cleaning, but they're the absolute bollocks for cold riding if you struggle with frozen hands (like me- bad circulation). Only downside is that they make your hands smell like they've been inside a dead animal.

Waterproof shorts. Even some experienced riders don’t know how good they are

Wore mine on the commute to work this morning, then change in to me 'executive' shorts once at work 😉