[Closed] Winter gloves / kit

Roubaix (the material not the brand/model) bib tights with windproof/shower proof baggies over the top. Some of the winter bib tights have a tightly knit outer skin that sheds some water but won't deal with a deluge. You used to be able to get 3/4 length showerproof baggies but I found out today that Endura (at least) no longer make them.

Gloves - have a look at mountaineering gloves, I've a few ice climbing gloves that I now use for biking. If it gets really cold then pogies (go and see Andy at backcountry.scot in Aviemore) are well worth it.

Gore windstopper tights, totally ace, never once been cold wearing them in 5+ years. I also have merino socks that I wear underneath my usual socks in cold weather, equally effective!

Waterproof socks help: wet = cold.

I have a range of gloves as weather turns colder. Planet X crab gloves for coldest weather (I live in the SW though 😜).

Winter tights - found cheaper stuff has been as good as more expensive. I wear tights or full length bibs under shorts.

On top layers are your friend.

Getting proper winter boots will make riding much more bearable in winter. The Shimano ones are very good for the price. I’ve been using the Pearl Izumi amfib winter tights which are super warm and water resistant for the past ten years and also the amfib winter gloves which have been super. I’ve even used them snowboarding when I’d forgotten my regular snowboard gloves.o

Lidl / aldi winter lycra tights with a pair of ordinary shorts over the top for me.  I don't get the MTB uniform of long baggy shorts

Goretex socks are good tho

I just wear road cycling tights with shorts too.

Aviemore resident and regular winter rider here...

(a) a fatbike.

(b) mudguards

(c) Bontrager OMW boots

(d) Warm socks (Sealskinz a possibility)

(e) Lycra tights. Windstopper fronts if possible)

(f) Waterproof shorts.

I find MTB trousers too flappy once they get wet and waterproof trousers too restrictive to pedal in or too flappy too. They can be great once it's colder though - cold enough that everything stays frozen.

For the hands - Pogies. Even the cheap ones from Hotpog.co.uk will make things a lot warmer.

If you insist on gloves then try neoprene. Polaris have them on sale for £10 this current weekend.

Oh - plastic pedals too.

Another good winter tip is silk liner gloves and socks. They're cheap on ebay and make a real difference.

I second neoprene gloves for really cold weather. Although they can be an acquired taste, they’re incredibly wind proof  and retain the heat you generate well, but they’re not waterproof and make you’re hands sweat. So great when you’re riding but your hands chill quickly when you stop for any period and if you take them off the get cold quick (so stuff them down your bibs if you do). Only thing that keeps my hands warm when it gets near zero

aldi winter gloves are my gloves of choice for cold weather

great when you’re riding but your hands chill quickly when you stop for any period and if you take them off the get cold quick (so stuff them down your bibs if you do

Good point. If out bivvying with them in low temperatures, put them in your sleeping bag overnight. Leaving them out is a mistake you'll only make once!

There's a series of posts (<< linky) on the 45Nrth site about clothing for various temperatures. If you've not come across them before 45Nrth are an American company (hence the stupid Fahrenheit temps) that specialise in winter cycling kit and tyres. Obviously the posts are biased towards their kit but the principles remain.

One thing to remember is that in winter you don't want to be sweating - the dampness reduces the effectiveness of your insulation - you should be dressed so that you are just warm enough when moving. When you stop have something you can quickly put on to retain heat then remove it when moving again. It's not an easy thing to get right.

Lycra bib tights (Decathlon of course, 900 series stuff is awesome), baggies over the top if you must.

Good socks, Merino ideally, thin silk liner socks if it’s rewlly cold but make sure your shoes aren’t too tight.

Aldi gloves with silk liners are what I’ve always used but I’m also experimenting with neoprene gloves this winter.

And not kit advise, but keep moving. As soon as I stop for any length of time I get cold, winter is not the time of year for faffing around IMO.

Keeping your lower legs dry goes a long way to staying warm - trying to keep the water spray off your legs (mudguards) overshoes and even climbing gaiters to protect your shins makes long, wet cold rides bearable. A decent pair of winter tights - my faves are Sportful Total Comfort and some Windstopper shorts is good to well below zero (worn mine at below -20C in the arctic winter). For extremely cold conditions, XC ski pants over XBionic bike tights is my choice. I have tried Windstopper-faced bike tights before but I find them restrictive and clammy. Pogies for proper cold and a lightweight inner glove - most GoreTex ski / mountaineering or whatever gloves simply don't breathe well enough - the inside of the glove gets clammy. As Bob / Whitestone says, managing moisture is the key to keeping warm in extreme cold - too much insulation when you're moving can be bad thing as it gets damp, getting cold when you stop.  During a 5-day unsupported arctic winter race, most of the time I was just wearing a good base layer with XC pants and jacket when I was moving - on the last couple of days it never got above -20C, so added a Polartec Alpha gilet.