Categories: Accessories and GearLook Pro

Look Pro: Dress for Success

A cold morning ride on Keepers Tour 2013. Photo: Brett Kennedy

I recently overheard someone say that there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. This is the kind of statement that makes me want to hate people as a species a little bit. Of course there such a thing as bad weather. There are also bad people (loads of them), bad ideas (even bigger loads of them), bad advice (especially on the internet) and, despite what your mother told you, there certainly are stupid questions.

Despite being so clever as to render itself useless, there is a sentiment behind the claim that should be taken seriously, and that is the notion that if one is to venture out in bad weather, one should give some consideration to dressing appropriately for it. For example, I routinely see photos of Spanish Pros riding the trainer indoors in wooly hats and leggings. I would never ride indoors with leggings because the most redeeming quality of riding indoors is that you get to stare at your guns shamelessly without worry of being spotted doing so.

A Velominatus should take care to ensure they have a complete wardrobe of kit for different kinds of weather; bibs and jerseys, of course, but also arm and knee warmers, gilets, long sleeve jerseys, overshoes, gloves, caps, winter caps, knee warmers and leggings, and even jackets or rain coats depending on where you live and what kind of weather you encounter.

Always remember that the more you’re wearing, the worse you look. That’s not an opinion – that’s science. Perfection starts with bibs and a jersey, tanned guns, and a sweet set of shades. Next in line is the Flandrian Best, but after that, it’s all downhill, ending with the unfortunate invention of thermal bibs. They may be a necessity under some circumstances, just know they look complete crap, so you will too.

Still, its better than not riding, so as you’re getting ready to kit up for the day, I advise you take into account the following considerations.

Overdressing is as bad as under dressing. Getting too hot is just as miserable as being too cold, so unless you’re deliberately overdressing in order to lose weight, dress like Goldilocks, not too hot and not too cold.
Start out cold. Dress for how hard you’ll be riding that day; I like to dress such that I am chilly for the first 15 minutes of the ride because after the blood starts pumping or you hit the first hill, your core temp will rise and you’ll be perfectly dressed.
Choose layers over bulk. Layers have the advantage that they can be combined in different ways to tune their effect. For example, a jersey with arm warmers and a gilet can be as warm as a long sleeve jersey, but allow you to shed the gilet and arm warmers if you get too warm.
Windproof is more important than waterproof. If it keeps the water out, it will keep your sweat in as well, no matter what the label says about breathability. Which means you’re getting wet anyway. Windproof layers, on the other hand, will keep the wind from getting through to those wet fabrics so you can stay warm, and breathe much better than do waterproof materials. Unless its the kind of downpour that starts the animals lining up in twos, you won’t find me in a rain jacket.
No ear muffs. If your ears get cold, get a proper winter cycling cap. We’re not savages after all.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

cyclebrarian says:

Feb 6 2014 at 9:39 am

@frank

Our small town/country doctor told us that you lose 80% of your body heat out of your head and would chastise people at church who did not wear a hat in the winter. I'll always remember that.
PeakInTwoYears says:

Feb 6 2014 at 9:40 am

@Mike_P

Oh bollox - you know I'm going to have to go base layer shopping now!! Where's that Rapha catalogue?

No, dude. Go to DeFeet for base layers.
wiscot says:

Feb 6 2014 at 9:45 am

@Ron

ChrisO - team car?! You are make us all hate winter a bit more. Having your own team support car in a race last week, now riding shotgun? This isn't fair. But, at least you shared that video.

Oh boy, so the lace up shoes have made it to the peloton via Phinney. I can't wait for him to have to float back to the car to have a mechanic tie his shoe. "Taylor, you realize they make these things with dials and straps these days, right?" I've also been waiting for someone to post some of the shots of him at the pre-race press conference on the beach. He looked...interesting.

The Oracle - If I can't get fired up in the depths of winter, than getting fired up during the heat of the VSP would look more like show, than substance. I'm vigilant around the calendar.

I've never been to Milwaukee, it's definitely a place I'd like to visit, then head on up to lake country. Having spent time in Geneva, NY, I'm curious to see Geneva, WI.

Ron, between me and the Oracle, we can take you on the best rides in SE Wisconsin. Geneva will be too busy with big ass fancy SUVs. I've got miles of empty farm roads around me.
wiscot says:

Feb 6 2014 at 9:49 am

@ChrisO Very jealous of the experience. Have to say, that Giant kit really is one of the nicest, classiest kits I've seen in a long time. Mind you, the blue, black white combo is catnip for me. I stopped buying PRO team kit ages ago, but I do have a Giant bike . . .
frank says:

Feb 6 2014 at 9:58 am

@Cyclops

I started "living the dream" again by working at a bike shop again. I like that they carry Endura's clothing line but I loathe the number of YJAs hanging on the racks.

Reading this, I was like, "Why the fuck is he talking about clothing..?"

Then I remembered what the article was about. I was so distracted by Ron's medication having worn off and him rekindling the War of Northern Aggression here that I forgot what it looked like to be on-subject.
frank says:

Feb 6 2014 at 10:02 am

@Mike_P

No excuse at any time of the year to look shit.

This. Also, the skinnier you get, the harder it is to dial in your temperature. Small drops seem to matter a lot more.

@Chris

@Mike_P

...I don't give a crap what my base layers look like, but everything above that needs to be just so...

Nope. It needs to start with the base layer. The process of building up the feeling of awesomeness is a complex one requiring that each layer is just so. Any weak link in the process and the illusion might crumble at the first turn of the pedal.

I think this depends on your level of OCD. I'm with you, but I can understand @Mike_P's position if he's less gifted in in obsessive behavior.
PeakInTwoYears says:

Feb 6 2014 at 10:05 am

@frank

I was so distracted by Ron's medication having worn off and him rekindling the War of Norther Aggression here that I forgot what it looked like to be on-subject.

"Well, I heard ole Neil put her down..."
Cjcosgrove says:

Feb 6 2014 at 10:06 am

@cyclebrarian Turns out that's based on a military study from the 50's where they studied people's heat loss in winter who were...wait for it...not wearing hats. Of course they lost MOST of their heat through their heads, they were wearing great big ol' parkas and what not. If they weren't wearing shoes then every damn fool would be talking about how much heat we lose through our feet.

Thus ends today's nerd rant.
PeakInTwoYears says:

Feb 6 2014 at 10:10 am

@Cjcosgrove

Ahem. A nerd would've cited his source.
Cjcosgrove says:

Feb 6 2014 at 10:36 am

@PeakInTwoYears

US Army Survival Manual:FM 21-76; US Department of the Army, 1970:148.

Vreeman, R.C., Carroll, A.E. Festive Medical Myths. BMJ 2008;337:a2769

Made me go there, sorry. Nothing though about proper kit choices in those.