Tom Kellogg gives advice on cycling apparel and how to dress properly for all seasons.

Tom Kellogg's Off Season Apparel Tips, Advice, and Admonitions

General Advice on Cold Weather Riding

Cycling tradition holds that shorts and short sleeves are fine for an expected temperature range above the high sixties. If precipitation is expected, long sleeves or arm warmers are called for. Below that temperature range, you are doing your body no good by not covering your limbs. Of course, on the first seemingly warm day (60 degrees) of spring, we all are tempted to go with shorts and short sleeves. Just remember that warmer days are right around the corner. Treat your body right, cover up.

Once temperatures get down into the 15 to 20 degree area and below, many riders are to the point where they are risking temporary lung damage and bronchitis. Do yourself a favor and don't risk it.

Specific Advice

Dressing for days where the temperatures are not expected to vary much is pretty easy once you have determined how your body reacts to different temperature ranges. Once you begin dressing for temperatures below the high fifties, you are into the "layering" range. Briefly, there are three types of layers:

Base Layer

  • The purpose of a base layer is primarily to wick moisture away from your skin to keep you dryer.
  • Secondarily, it will add some insulation properties and can add wind blocking and additional thermal properties in some cases.
  • Base layers can be as simple as the original Lifa Poly-Pro stuff of years gone by or as high tech and effective as the Craft line of base layer products. Craft base layers are available in different weights, styles and even with wind blocking built in.
  • The base layer is what controls the climate right at skin level, it is worth it to get the right stuff.
  • At a minimum, most riders will want both a light short sleeve or sleeveless base layer and a medium weight long sleeve base layer in their closet.
  • Craft makes the best base layering. The quality is excellent and it is clearly designed by folks who actually ride. It fits right, it works right and it comes in a number of weights and styles.

Thermal Layer(s)

  • This is the purely insulating layer in your system. Given a chance, it is what keeps the cold away from your base layer and your warmth away from the outside of your wind blocking layer. It works just like the pink stuff inside the walls of your house.
  • For a thermal layer to work, the air within the layer needs to remain undisturbed. That is, a thermal layer will not work well if wind is allowed to travel through it.
  • A thermal layer can be a thermal jersey such as a Spectrum TU long sleeve or an Assos EVO or even a...
  • Thermal jacket. A modern thermal jacket is both a thermal layer and wind blocking layer at the same time.
  • The old wool jerseys of the past make some of the best thermal layers as they work as well wet or dry. They do not have the comfort or lightness of the modern stuff, but they work well anyway.
  • I use a range of thermal layers depending on conditions. As a separate thermal layer, my Spectrum TU jersey is as heavy as I ever need to go. In less extreme conditions, I will use a light summer weight jersey as a thermal layer.

Wind Blocking Layer

  • This is your outer layer. It keeps the air in your thermal layer(s) still enough for that layer to do its work.
  • The best wind blocking layers do allow some controlled air movement to allow for moisture evaporation. For example; most wind shell vests and jackets have vented panels either on the back or down the sides. The best thermal wind jackets will have thermal (but vented) areas down the sides of the body and on the back of the arms.
  • My outer layer options include a Assos Element Zero Vest, and an Assos Climajet Breaker. With these pieces, I am able to prepare for any conditions that I might want to ride in, and even those that I don't.
  • Gore-Tex products do not serve well for outer layers. The Gore membrane allows for moisture transfer, but for a hard working cyclist, it simply can't move the moisture fast enough to be sufficiently effective.

How to Use the Layering System

In colder weather, and especially during days where you expect temperature to vary widely, layering is the way to go. That way, you can add or remove a layer or two to keep up with the changes. It will take some experience before you can consistently dress properly for a set of varying conditions. The outline below will give you a head start and a short list of garments that can take you from stupid-low temperatures up to those first warm days of spring. A full layering system looks something like this:

Torso

  • Wicking knit base layer (Craft or basic Poly-Pro)
    • The trick here is to keep your skin as dry as possible. Good base layers do just that and they add considerable thermal protection by trapping body heat within their knitted fabric.
  • One or more thermal layers (Spectrum TU long sleeve jersey, etc.)
    • Your choice for thermal layer(s) is determined by how cold it is, how hard you will be working and your own core temperature characteristics. Experimentation is required.
    • The weight or thickness of the material has little relevance any more since there are some very light, very thermal materials on the market. These new materials enable riders to ride with much less restriction and more comfort now than they used to.
    • Thermal layers must be breathable. If not, moisture will build up inside the thermal layer and you will be prone to chills during descents and excessive sweating during climbs.
  • Wind blocking layer or outer jacket
    • All wind blocking layers must be breathable. Most wind stopper materials do not breath well, so the garments frequently have breathing panels on the sides, on the back or down the back of the arms. Make sure that your wind blocking layer can breathe.
    • If you expect temperatures to vary considerably during a ride, make your wind blocking layer one that can be removed easily and stuffed into a back pocket. A thermal outer layer is not what you are looking for in this case. A wind stopper vest, such as the Assos Element Zero Vest, or Pearl Izumi Optik Vest are your best choice here. I use both wind shell vest frequently for this purpose.
    • The best thermal jackets are the Assos jackets that have been on the market in various forms for a couple of years now. The material continues to improve and Assos material is currently the best. It is super light, completely wind proof and very warm. It can only be used when temperatures are not expected to rise above the low fifties. It is just too warm. For example; a Craft Active Wool base layer and the Assos Airjack 851 jacket will take you comfortably from 30 to 50 degrees. Add a thermal layer between the two other layers, like the Assos Powerstatic Plus Long Sleeve and the comfort range is about 15 to 35 degrees. You get the idea.
    • Or break the bank and buy the best Thermal jacket, the Assos Fugujack. Good down to 21 degrees!

Arms

  • Wicking knit base layer (Craft or basic Poly-Pro)
    • Above about 40 degrees, I don't bother with a base layer on my arms. I will just use arm warmers or a jacket like the Assos Airjack 851.
  • Thermal layer (Spectrum TU LS jersey, Assos EVO) or arm warmers.
    • My arms are usually covered with arm warmers if I expect temperatures to change, or a jacket if it is cold enough. Some Arm Warmers are good down to about 20 degrees. Just make sure they are thermal, such as the Assos model.
    • Above 50 but below 70 I will use either non thermal arm warmers or a light thermal jersey.
  • Wind blocking jacket if you are not using arm warmers.
    • A thermal jacket alone will take my arms from 30 to 50 degrees.
    • If I use a base layer under a thermal jacket, my arms are good well below what my lungs can handle.

Pelvic Area

  • Shorts or bib shorts.
    • I don't use another layer over shorts unless the temperature is below 30 degrees. Some men do need additional protection from the cold. Nordic skiing briefs can be a help. Both Craft and Lifa offer wind briefs.
  • Tights or thermal tights depending on temperature.
    • Thermal tights over shorts will take you down into the teens. Assos makes the best bibs. Thin, warm and functional. For example, the Assos Airplus LL tights will allow you to ride into the coldest weather.

Legs

  • Leg warmers, knee warmers, tights or thermal tights depending on temperature.
    • I prefer knee and leg warmers over tights as I prefer only one layer in my pelvic area if possible. Leg warmers will take me down to about 25 degrees and knee warmers work down to about 45 degrees.

Hands

  • Glove liner if temperatures require it.
    • The thinner and snugger, the better. The more wicking, the better as well.
  • Thermal glove or mitten if temperature requires it.
    • Lots of bulk is no longer required with the new materials.
    • Buy the size that allows you to use a thin liner if you need to. Tight gloves will not be warm no matter how good they are. Assos gloves tend to run small.
  • Wind blocking over-mitt if required.
    • A wind shell mitt will make a good thermal glove much warmer and enable you to ride at much lower temperatures.
    • Their drawback is that they cause you to loose much of your dexterity. Control levers become more difficult to use.

Head

  • Hats, Ear bands, Skull Caps, etc.
    • If it is quite cold, wear hat, or skull cap. Assos makes one of the best hats around. A large proportion of your body heat leaves through your skull.
  • HELMET! Always a helmet. A thick winter cap will not keep your brains inside if you crash.

Feet

  • Wicking, very thin sock liner if required.
  • Thin wool sock (Craft, Assos, DeFeet, etc.)
    • A thin wool sock is the trick here. Thin, so that it does not restrict your circulation, wool so that is insulates, even when wet.
  • Shoe
    • Just make sure that your shoe is only slightly snug with the sock(s) you are wearing. Too tight and you will not be able to keep your feet warm.
  • Thermal bootie or shoe cover as required for conditions.
    • If you expect your feet to get wet, a waterproof booty is a must. Once your feet are wet on a cold day, you are sunk.

Face

  • My feeling here is that if you need face protection, suck it up and ride indoors. When the temperatures require me to use a face mask or balaclava, I can expect to get bronchitis the next day.