Must-have clothing and accessories for winter cycling
Some types of clothing and accessories make cycling in the dark or winter SO MUCH nicer. We are giving you a quick overview of some of our preferred cycling clothing and accessories suitable for winter riding. Let’s dive in!
Waterproofs
Whether we like it or not, waterproofs are a must in Scotland all year round. This is even more important in winter where getting wet and cold is a combination for failure! Some features make waterproofs better suited for cycling and we’re taking a look at those below
Emily borrowed our trailer for an epic adventure to Arran with friends and her wee 10 month old baby
Waterproof jackets
When looking for a waterproof jacket, it’s worth considering what type of cyclist you are: do you like going for leisurely rides wearing regular clothes underneath or do you like pushing yourself and enjoy cycling as a physical activity wearing sports clothes/Lycra? This will determine how loose fitting you would like your jacket to be! If you like cycling in regular clothes make sure that there is space for a jumper underneath - often times it’s pretty cold when it’s raining in Scotland.
We would also recommend you look for a jacket with a waterproof index or rating of 5000 mm or more and with taped seams. Anything less will likely have you soaked through quickly if you come across a heavy shower (and even then some of the best waterproofs may soak through if you get caught in some very heavy or long lasting rain!)
To avoid getting wet from the inside by sweat we recommend getting a waterproof jacket with pit-zips. In that way you can nicely ventilate your jacket as your are cycling.
Waterproof trousers
Many people choose to skip the waterproof trousers, but if you’re out in some moderate to heavy rain your thighs will get soaked through in no time if you don’t wear any. Again it’s always up to personal preferences, but we definitely recommend wearing (or at least bringing) some waterproof trousers with you.
The big pain with waterproof trousers can be to get them on and off. We warmly recommend getting trousers that have zips around the ankles so that you can easily take them on and off without having to take off your shoes. Total gamechanger!
Gloves
Some might consider waterproof gloves a luxury item and granted most gloves aren’t waterproof it’s fair to suggest that. However, if you struggle with cold hands (many women do!) then choosing some gloves to keep your hands warm even when it’s raining makes the WORLD of difference. Unfortunately, not all waterproof gloves are actually waterproof (folk within our team have gloves to prove it!) so it’s worth splurging out a bit more to get some that really work. We’ve found Sealskinz waterproof gloves to be good, but we’re sure there are other great ones out there!
Also for those of you with wee ones - cold hands are an absolute no go (you’ll only have trouble for the entire ride!) so we warmly recommend getting warm and waterproof gloves for your kids too. They can be hard to find for the littlest ones, so even a wee plastic bag around each of their gloves/mittens is a cheap and quick solution!
Socks or shoes
Don’t forget about your feet! This is not only a problem when it’s raining - after a shower there may be puddles which can easily splash up water on your feet. And walking about with wet feet for a full day after a wet morning commute is TOTALLY miserable (we talk of experience!) We recommend wearing a nice waterproof pair of shoes or boots that keep your feet nice and warm. If you don’t have any shoes that are waterproof or you cycle for long periods at a time, it’s worth investing in a few pairs of waterproof socks. They keep your feet nice and dry even on very wet rides!
Reflective clothing
Look we know hi-vis vests aren’t for everyone, but the reality is that reflective clothing makes a big difference on how visible you are in the dark. Luckily there are alternatives for those of you who aren’t so keen on hi-vis vests but who are still keen to be seen at night.
Reflective vests
You can go for the bog-standard hi-vis vests and they’ll do the job nicely! The good thing about hi-vis vest is that the yellow and orange will make you stand out during the day and at night the reflective bands on the vest will light up when a light is shone upon it (like when a car is approaching).
Now if you’re not mad for hi-vis vests then there’s another fab alternative out there - reflective vests! These are mainly just straps that you wear on top of your jacket. The straps are reflective and makes you easily seen at night. They are also fab if you like running in the evening (a lot less fabric compared to hi-vis vests)
Perks of both hi-vis vests and reflective vest are that they can be easily worn on top of your favourite jacket (or even in summer just over a simple t-shirt)
Reflective jackets
Reflective jackets are the next step up from hi-vis vests and reflective vests. Most of the fabric is reflective on these jackets which makes you super easy to see from all angles when a light is shone upon you.
At the same time, these jackets are often designed specifically with either cyclists or runners in mind and they are therefore super fit for purpose. Lots of our trainers are really keen on these jackets. That being said if you prefer to cycle in a warmer winter coat on the chilly days, reflective vests might be a better shout (most of the reflective jackets aren’t super warm).
Accessories
These are all nice-to-haves - they all make cycling that wee bit better (in our humble opinion!)
Trouser clips
Trouser clips are just brilliant - they tuck your trouser legs in nicely so that your trousers don’t get caught in the chain (getting the oil off is a NIGHTMARE!) These are also fab with waterproof trousers where many other alternatives struggle to keep the waterproof fabric stay in place (we are looking at you slap bands!)
Buffs
Buffs are one of the most versatile pieces of kit we carry. They work fabulous underneath the helmet and keep your ears toasty on cold days, but they are equally great around your neck to avoid a load of cold air sneaking into your jacket. Cheap and fab - we are big fans!
Reusable handwarmers
If you struggle with cold hands on your cycle rides, we warmly recommend reusable handwarmers. You can warm these up before the ride (they are typically heated up in a microwave oven) and pop into your gloves to keep your hands nice and snug.
Warm hats
Cold ears are no fun and can feel rather painful if you’re out on a longer ride. There are loads of hats that fit nicely under your helmet and can keep your ears happy all throughout your rides.