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

@mrs engine says:

Feb 5 2014 at 11:13 am

@the Engine is going to need a bigger wardrobe if he starts to get anymore kit. Winter, summer spring! Jeez. Am thinking we are gonna need a shipping container in the back garden to keep it all in. Actually that's a great idea cause then he could live in it and sleep with the f****** bikes too.
Teocalli says:

Feb 5 2014 at 11:24 am

@@mrs engine

@the Engine is going to need a bigger wardrobe if he starts to get anymore kit. Winter, summer spring! Jeez. Am thinking we are gonna need a shipping container in the back garden to keep it all in. Actually that's a great idea cause then he could live in it and sleep with the f****** bikes too.

This is an incentive to get us woosie southern arses in gear and come up for a visit for the Northern Cogal.
Chris says:

Feb 5 2014 at 11:24 am

@Jon

What a nonce, stay on the turbo and of the roads, your not welcome round theses parts.

Oh dear. Anonymous internet hardman alert.
Teocalli says:

Feb 5 2014 at 11:27 am

@Jon

What a lot of shite as usual. You pick up on something somebody has said, then script an article on its premise, by the end of the article your giving poor advice about bad weather cycling. What a nonce, stay on the turbo and of the roads, your not welcome round theses parts.

Another thoughtful and incisive contribution.
ruud says:

Feb 5 2014 at 11:29 am

A-Merckx to all of that! But when you start out cold, especially if the exiting side of your house has been getting sun and little wind, it's good to bring a little vest for if the warming up disappoints. It's also nice to be able to reach for a gilet during hour three, when the wind begins to get a grip on your now damp layers (not applicable when you start out wearing a jacket).
Chris says:

Feb 5 2014 at 11:32 am

For "proper" rides, I never seem to need to look beyond my regular bibs and jersey paired up with base layers, leg & arm warmers, gilet and or softshell jacket as appropriate.

The long sleeve jersey and bibs only really get used for commuting when I've got to sit on the train for an hour then ride across London before getting a hot shower.
Teocalli says:

Feb 5 2014 at 11:40 am

@Chris

For "proper" rides, I never seem to need to look beyond my regular bibs and jersey paired up with base layers, leg & arm warmers, gilet and or softshell jacket as appropriate.

Ha Ha. With that list and all the plurals in there I'm not surprised. You'd only need to add an overcoat for the full set.
Cjcosgrove says:

Feb 5 2014 at 11:47 am

My question is how best to disseminate this info to the unknowledged masses. At the Metropolitan Defi last year, one of my buddies showed up with a HOODED hunting jacket (granted, it was 3 Celsius, raining and with 40km wind gusts).

Maybe it was my poor French, but "Hey, you can't ride near me looking like that," didn't go over so well.

In his defense, he showed up and rode and wasn't wearing a poncho or trash bags like some folks were.
PeakInTwoYears says:

Feb 5 2014 at 11:53 am

+1 on the Gabba and Nanoflex. However, being a bit of a wuss I will wear my Showers Pass jacket when it's down to around 5 deg and wet. I know it makes me look like a short fat commuter (instead of just short and fat), but it vents well enough that I can handle a variety of temps and moisture levels over the course of a ride like this last Sunday's when conditions were kind of all over the place.
@ mrs engine says:

Feb 5 2014 at 11:58 am

@Teocalli Anytime, just bring a 20 tog duvet cause that container gets very cold at this time of year.