Categories: Accessories and GearBelgian AffirmationsEtiquette

Cover High Before You Cover Low

Hinault keeps the guns clean.

With the transitions of seasons occurring all over the world as Summer shifts to Fall in the Northern Hemisphere and Winter to Spring in the Southern, we are faced with the seasonal challenge of how to kit up properly for volatile and variable weather conditions.

One of the most common mistakes made, apart from overdressing, is riders offending our collective sensibilities by inexplicably wearing leg coverings with short sleeve jerseys; an aesthetic faux-pas of monumental proportions. We’ve already discussed the merits of layering when kitting up in your Flandrian Best, and this specifically addresses the oft-abused Point IIV as discussed therein:

Maintain order; if it’s cold enough for knee warmers, it’s cold enough for arm warmers. First come arm warmers, then knee warmers.

While wearing shirt-sleeves and pantaloons is acceptable for civilian attire, doing so with your Cycling kit marks the rider like a greasy Cat 5 tattoo on the calf. The lower half of our bodies is working much harder than our upper bodies, which sit nearly motionless as our guns piston away at the pedals leaving a path of destroyed dreams and broken souls in our wake. The legs need air to breathe, room to roam freely; the caged bird doesn’t sing and covering up the guns unnecessarily with lycra is like caging a wild bird of prey.

There is a certain pleasure to be found in kitting up perfectly for the day’s ride. We deliberate over the temperature, the wind, the likelihood of rain. We lay out our options like a Valet for his nobleman, we may even take a step outside and reconsider our choices. Returning from the ride many hours later, we allow a wry smile to creep across our faces in the knowledge that we nailed our kit today.

Expect to be cold when you first step outside. Once the engine is running, it will be pumping out heat; when you’re properly dressed for riding, you will be cold whenever you are standing still. If you’re comfortable standing still, you will overheat once the game is afoot and the engine room is calling for more coals to be heaped on the fire.
Remember your layers, and always consider arm warmers and a gilet before a long sleeve jersey and knee warmers before tights. These give you the possibility of micro-adjusting your temperature as the day warms or cools, or if the rains suddenly arrive. Only move to long sleeve jerseys when there is no possibility of overheating.
Long-fingered gloves are only allowed when paired up with arm warmers or a long sleeve jersey.
Belgian booties are always acceptable in Spring and Fall, and always look the business.
Wearing full leg warmers and a long sleeve jersey while enjoying a Pre-Ride espresso and talking shit is ultra-Pro. Deploy this at-will throughout the season, so long as you remove these layers prior to throwing leg over top tube.

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

ErikdR says:

Sep 18 2015 at 10:12 am

What a photo! Fantastic.

Is that a guy in a Peugeot jersey (and with a headband??) hitting the deck in the background?

And on the left: Panasonic jersey? (Not sure)
frank says:

Sep 18 2015 at 10:18 am

@the Engine

@Ron

During the turn over months, I LOVE a jersey with big pockets. Just picked up a new Mavic jersey and though it is meant for warm weather riding, damn, the pockets are awesome. Bigger than those on my V jersey, which are adequate, and much bigger than on my much-liked Torm jersey, which are not quite adequate. Also, while everyone needs to get on the bigger pocket bandwagon, can all jerseys come with at least one zippered pocket? I love being able to zip up my house keys and ride without worry they might fall out, from a bump or when shoving warmers in/out.

I like my pockets wide and deep enough for a bottle of Post Ride Recovery Ale (a big boy, not a 355 mL) and/or a bottle of rye. Never know when you’ll just happen to have your route send you right past the bottle shop…

This – is there a pocket size Rule? I’ve always been OCD about having big pockets on all my apparel but, on the other hand, one doesn’t want to attract male camels by shoving unnecessary shite into a droopy gilet. Where does one draw the line?

Its not the pocket size, its the jersey sag. If you're not sagging and everything is nicely in place, carry on.

Pro tip: fold the gillet in thirds and slip it under your jersey; it doesn't need to go in a pocket.
frank says:

Sep 18 2015 at 10:20 am

@KogaLover

@ErikdR

Yep, I read that article on winter kit from her. You do not look pro then anymore btw. She’s not very active these days anymore. Maybe too busy managing her minions!

Here it is: http://winnipegcyclechick.com/dressed-to-chill/

Oh, she is a genius for sure; she even paid a visit to @Gianni when she stopped by on Maui. Apparently a class lady and lovely family to boot.
LawnCzar says:

Sep 18 2015 at 10:43 am

@chuckp

@frank

@Ron

@LawnCzar

I’ve never understood knee warmers. I find that I go from shorts directly to knickers. Commit to a bottom length. If it’s knicker weather, it’s well past time for long sleeves.

Uhhh, if I head out early as and ride for many hours, knickers are going to be far too warm by mid-day with a high sun. Warmers allow me to pull them off when it warms up. I actually haven’t even worn my knickers since I moved from upstate NY to the south a few years ago. Just bibs + Kneekers.

Not to mention they look better and they can be worn a lot lower than most knickers allow, at least for this Spinaker of a man.

My knee warmers probably come down to mid-calf (OK, I have short legs). But combine that with tall socks and booties, and at least last winter I didn’t need knickers/tights. Of course, I also didn’t ride when it was f**king cold either. But down to about 40 degrees. And when it was that cold (at least that’s cold for me since I’m one of those skinny ectomorph types) I donned a long-sleeve jersey that was a little more substantial and lined with soft fleece-like stuff. Sometimes with wind-stopper arm warmers underneath and a vest (I prefer that to a jacket) for both warmth and wind protection.

I'm pretty short, so knickers usually come to about mid calf on me. I'm comfy in shorts down to maybe 60, shift to knickers in the 40s and 50s, then to full length (and layers thereof) down to the 20s. I'm in DC (though hopefully moving to Colorado soon), so don't see crazy fluctuations in temperature that make choosing that difficult even if I'm on the road for several hours. Guessing the Rockies may change that dynamic.
ErikdR says:

Sep 18 2015 at 11:26 am

@frank

@KogaLover

@ErikdR

Yep, I read that article on winter kit from her. You do not look pro then anymore btw. She’s not very active these days anymore. Maybe too busy managing her minions!

Here it is: http://winnipegcyclechick.com/dressed-to-chill/

Oh, she is a genius for sure; she even paid a visit to @Gianni when she stopped by on Maui. Apparently a class lady and lovely family to boot.

Yes, she does come across as a class act. Rides like a badass and her writing is clever, bawdy and humorous - what's not to like?

I particularly enjoyed her posts on the subject of "The Guerciotti project"
brett says:

Sep 18 2015 at 12:59 pm

@sthilzy

Mind you have seen some hard-asses riders in shorts kit in 5’C winter mornings! Me thinks how do you do that?!

I don't think they are hard asses, just morons. It's a common thing in Aus (and to a slightly lesser extent in NZ) to see council workers etc wandering around in shorts in the middle of winter. They're probably freezing their nuts off, but think they're "real men, tough" for doing it.
brett says:

Sep 18 2015 at 1:04 pm

@LawnCzar

I’ve never understood knee warmers. I find that I go from shorts directly to knickers. Commit to a bottom length. If it’s knicker weather, it’s well past time for long sleeves.

Am I the only one that love, love, loves riding on a cold, rainy day with shorts, arm warmers, and casquette? It calls to mind great old race photos and inspires greater V when your rear wheel slips going up the steeper ramps.

Knickers are an abomination. Shorts with leg warmers if need be, you need that delineation. Knickers are for Pilates.

I haven't even owned leg warmers for maybe ten years, always knee warmers, just pull them a little lower when it's really cold, like KT13 cold where it wasn't much above 0º for the entire trip. Need that little bit of gap to really look the biz.
brett says:

Sep 18 2015 at 1:17 pm

And... best bit of winter kit ever: thermal bib shorts.
Nate says:

Sep 18 2015 at 1:22 pm

I have some terrific Campagnolo Sportswear lightweight knit knee warmers. The fit great (far better than lycra) and keep the chill off in a wide range of conditions. When it's time to take them off, I tuck them in the back of my bibs, they sit flat and take up very little room.

Too bad Campagnolo killed their clothing line, wish I bought a few pairs.
universo says:

Sep 18 2015 at 1:38 pm

@brett

And… best bit of winter kit ever: thermal bib shorts.

considering ale prr ponente bib shorts _ can never be too sure what pad you'll get with trying another brand _ castelli progetto x is currently the leader board