I like to ride my bike outside all year round. I also ride early in the morning, in the dark. Here in North Carolina that means riding in the cold at some point. Once you’re mentally prepared and dressed right this isn’t bad. There are a few parts of riding in the cold and winter that you don’t get in the summer time. I’ve spent years gathering a good layering system for the winter in North Carolina. After about 10 years I finally have it pretty dialed in.

It’s strange how often what I wear in the cold comes up in discussion. I got the idea that I should write it all down. Then I could share it with others and refer back to it next year when I inevitably forget parts. So buckle you’re seat belts, this is going to get exciting. This is what works for me and it’s taken a long time to build these pieces up. Most people seem to have the most trouble dealing with fingers and toes so I’ll spend some extra time there.

Feet

Starting at the bottom. I think the best investment for me for year round riding was winter riding boots. I’ve had a pair of Specialized Defrosters for about 10 years now and they’ve made a world of difference. They don’t get near the ride time that my other shoe’s do so they’ve lasted a long time. I would say I wear them 20-30 times a year in pretty much anything below 35 degrees or so. I might wear them in close to 40 if it’s particularly wet. The defrosters aren’t the most heavily insulated shoe out there but I prefer it that way, they are waterproof and windproof. It makes it much more versatile in my opinion. I can choose sock thickness or even layer socks if it’s really cold. When the temperatures get down in the low teens I wear a thin summer sock under my super heavy winter sock and I’m good for a while.

Legs

For years I stuck to my Under Armor running tights over top of bike shorts. This worked well honestly but it didn’t leave me a lot of flexibility in various temperatures. When it got really cold and/or wet I would layer on some waterproof bike knickers to handle the extra chill and dampness. This is effective and I recommend it if that’s what you have lying around. It’s good enough to get out there.

Late last year though, I finally pulled the trigger on some proper bike riding trousers. Specialized Demo pants, these have been a tremendous addition to sort of solidify my lower half. They fit really well, breathe where you want them to, stretch as you’d want them to, and leave just enough space to add a layer if it’s real cold. When the temp’s drop below the mid-20’s I add some long underwear underneath the pants and I’m all set. This is on top of bib shorts, I still like a chamois, keeps things where things should be kept more than anything else I think.

Mid-Section/Upper Body

This area is pretty subjective. Generally speaking though it’s baselayer, jersey (I’m a sucker for a 3 pocket jersey for most rides), and a cycling jacket. The baselayer “weight” can be varied greatly depending on the temperature and so can the jacket. When temps are below 35 or so I’m almost always reaching for the Sycamore Hincapie Sportswear jacket. This one blocks wind well, repels light moisture, and seems to trap heat really well. It also has 3 pockets. It has been another one of those really nice items to round out the options. The baselayers vary from short sleeve summer layers to heavy thermal layers. For the 25 degree day I generally reach for the medium wt baselayer, short sleeve jersey, and the hincapie jacket. When I’m climbing I can open all the zippers and keep the sweat at bay. Flats and Descents I close up as needed. This has worked great and kept me happy in as low as 10-15 degrees.

Hands

This is where things get tricky. There are a few ways to go about it and some personal preference to it. When the temperatures are going to be below 20 for the whole ride I typically go to the Bar-Mitts. They’re a little clunky but they keep you warm without sweating and give you good dexterity. In the temps above that there are still a few ways to get it done. I have 3 main gloves for the winter. A really thin “glove liner” from serius, a “cold” glove from Handup, and a heavy winter Pearl Izumi glove.

With the layered gloves it’s relatively easy to keep my hands comfy around 25 degrees and warmer. The serius glove liner does a great job of adding some warmth to the others without much bulk. I’ve found the dexterity on the bar doesn’t seem to be a big problem. The most annoyance comes from trying to grab zippers and stuff to keep the sweat down. Riding in Pisgah there are often extended climbs that warrant glove switching to try and keep the hand sweat down (which is also one of the nice things with the Bar Mitts, that isn’t really an issue).

Head/Misc

The last big piece is ears and head. This one is pretty straightforward. When it’s more than 25 degrees I usually like to take a buff and double it up on my ears and part of my head. When I do that I’ll leave the top open to let some heat out. My Helmet is nicely sized to let this happen and stay comfortable. When the temp gets below 25 I’ll go to an old Under Armor running hat that fits nicely under my helmet. It get’s toasty quickly though so I try to save it.

Lastly, if there’s a lot of wind or it’s below 25 I’ll add the buff around my neck. This keeps wind out of the top of the jacket and gives me something to pull up over my chin.

All and all, the temps in Western NC aren’t all that cold most of the time. With the Freeze thaw cycles some of the best riding is early when it’s cold while the ground is frozen. Being willing and able to get out in the cold also keeps the trainer days to a minimum which is always good. You don’t really “need” too many specialty items to make it enjoyable. If it’s going to be something you do with any consistency those things do make it easier and more convenient.

Anyhow, get out and ride.