Clothing – dress for the occasion
Staying warm and dry is vital while cycling, as you’ll likely encounter some very cold conditions and that can be dangerous in itself. The layers will protect your health and wellbeing, and as a result, help to keep your attention on the road.
While it can be tricky to get the layers just right between being too warm and too cold, it is advisable to be warmer and perhaps riding a little slower, so you don’t get too hot and sweaty (and then end up cold anyway) rather than struggling to be warm at all as you have too few layers.
Top tips
- You’re likely to encounter rain, so investing in some waterproof clothing will help to prevent you from getting soaked and cold. You can get waterproofs, not only for your body, but also for your helmet and to go over your shoes.
- Gloves are worth investing in, as your hands could quickly go numb, if exposed while cycling for long periods. You could also wear a hat or headband under your helmet if that helps.
- Your pedals can become slippery when wet, so it is important you wear shoes with good grip.
- Protective glasses will protect your eyes from dirt, and anything else that could be kicked up from the road. If it’s dark or wet out, you might want to think about getting clear lenses with a hydrophobic coating and vents to ensure you don’t struggle with steamed lenses. Or maybe yellow or orange tinted lenses, which can help boost contrast, helping to make the road surface and obstacles easier to see in low light conditions.