Life In The Saddle

Low temperatures and winter storms push wind-chill factors to sub-zero. Bike riding does not have to cease in freezing conditions though; with the right clothing, there is no reason not to enjoy your cycling, even in the chilly months of winter. In this blog post, I offer my tips and advice for the right clothing to keep you comfortable when cycling in the depths of winter… 1 – Long Sleeve Base Layers Cold hands when cycling in low temperatures? Long sleeve base layers are the key to comfort here. Your hands are an extremity—they are one of the furthest points from the central boiler pump that is your heart. In order to keep them warm, you need to keep the blood that is flowing to them warm. Protecting your lower arms from wind-chill and insulating them with a long sleeve base layer will aid warm blood flows down your arteries all the way to your hands. The best long sleeve winter cycling base layer I have used is the GripGrab Expert Seamless Thermal Long Sleeve Cycling ...

Santini remain a historic brand in the world of cycling, yet their products are far from antique. The Santini Adapt Winter Bib Tights are some of the most technically advanced and best performing winter cycle wear I have used to date; using state-of-the-art Polartec fabrics, seamless technology, and a fantastic fit. These are ideal cycling tights for spring/fall and early winter riding. The Adapt range from Santini is designed for versatility. As the name suggests, the fabrics chosen for these products are intended to be suitable for a wide range of temperature and weather conditions. The Adapt Bib Tights glean their adaption capabilities from the Polartec Smartwool fabric used in their construction. Smartwool is a unique blend of wool and synthetic yarns; creating a fabric that holds all the exceptional thermo-regulation capabilities of wool, but with added durability and improved wicking capabilities of synthetics. The Powerwool fabric really is next-level. It is beautifully so...

On wet roads, a set of full-length mudguards will add comfort to your ride; as well as saving your bike from expensive maintenance costs. The Kinesis Fend Off Mudguards are an affordable and bombproof set of full-length winter mudguards; featuring an all-metal construction and stainless fitting hardware. Wet feet? Wet back? Gritty drivetrain? All these things can be solved with a set of full-length mudguards. Okay, they will not protect you from the downpour coming from above; but a set of full-length guards will prevent the worst of the road spray and debris hitting your body and bike. I fitted a set of the Kinesis Fend Off Mudguards to my Kona Rove Ti as we headed into the autumn months; a time when leaves, field run-off, flooding, and hedge-cutting leave our lanes strewn with wet debris and puddles. Fitting full-length guards is a bit of a fiddle; there is no denying that. It delivers hours of improved comfort though, so it is time well spent. The Kinesis Fend Off Mudguards t...

The dhb Aeron Lab All Winter Polartec Jacket is one of the most technically advanced winter cycling jackets that I have tested and reviewed to date. Combining three of Polartec's leading fabric technologies, dhb have been able to create a jacket that is exceptional in all areas of protection, breathability, and thermal regulation. The Aeron Lab collection is dhb's range-leading line—a selection of products that push the boundaries of what can be done with fit and function of cycling apparel. It is an impressive range to see; especially for me, as I watched first-hand the brand grow from a budget beginner into an award-winning label. The dhb Aeron Lab All Winter Polartec Jacket is a softshell jacket designed to be both your mid-layer insulation and outer layer protection; worn with just a base layer underneath in temperatures down as low as zero degrees Celsius. Like all winter layers though, it must deliver flexibility and adaptability to a range of temperatures; it does ...

The Vaude Steglio Softshell Jacket is an innovative high performance winter cycling jacket; featuring a superb fit, deep winter insulation, and an eco-friendly weatherproof shield. It is packed full of well thought-out design elements, and much like other Vaude kit I have tested it is standing up admirably well to a winter of use and abuse. The Steglio Windproof Softshell Jacket is a two layer jacket. The inner fabric is a soft brushed fleece material, which traps in valuable body heat. The outer is a windproof softshell material and uses Vaude's unique S-Cafe® oil coating (derived from used coffee beans!) to provide an eco-friendly non-PFC water-repellent finish. The fit of the Steglio jacket is articulated and close fitting, but it has room for layering. The sleeves feature contoured seams to provide a comfortable fit when in the riding tuck; while the long low cut of the back panel provides protection from rear wheel spray, and the hem is held firmly in place by a gripper ar...

There are few things that stop me from riding my bike. Icy roads though, instil fear into my mind. Cycling with spiked tyres on a bicycle is something that I have never explored before; but on realising they could provide the solution to the risk and fear associated with ice covered roads and trails, I was interested to test them out. I have been riding the Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro MTB tyres in some challenging conditions, to see if they deliver… I decided that the roads of the Isle of Wight did not provide enough of a testing ground to explore the capabilities of the Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro. So, to find out what they were able to offer, I headed to the frozen land of Norway, in January. Three days of 'Ice Biking' started from the city of Oslo. It wasn't long after rolling (noisily) off the ferry from Denmark that we found our first ice rink bike paths. Normally, the sheet ice spread across these paths would have me wincing in fear; but, miraculously, I had traction… ...

Waterproof thermal cycling socks can be a great asset in the cold months of autumn and winter, especially on muddy and wet cyclocross and mountain bike rides. The new Bridgedale Waterproof Stormsock Thermal Socks are a great example. Overshoes are ideal on the road, and even for most off-road pursuits; but their capabilities are diminished if you are required to dismount and walk through mud or water; in these environments you find water and mud seeps in between shoe and cover, and quickly soaks your socks and feet. The solution I have found is waterproof cycling socks – these allow you to walk through anything up to ankle deep puddles, and retain warm and dry feet. The Bridgedale Stormsocks come in a variety of cuff lengths and thermal insulation levels; I have been testing the mid-range option; the Bridgedale Stormsock Midweight Boot, which is cut as a standard crew-length sock just above the ankle. The socks are made of a three layer construction: with a soft Terry pad provi...

The Sportful Fiandre Extreme Jacket is one of the most impressive pieces of cycling kit I have come across to date; the single layer Polartec Neoshell fabric creates an outer layer that is lightweight, yet extremely protective against the elements. I used the first iteration of the Sportful Fiandre Extreme Neoshell Jacket for the TorTour Cyclocross Winter Stage Race , last year in Switzerland. The jacket instantly impressed: I was riding at threshold effort, in wind and snow, and yet I never once overheated or felt cold. The superb temperature regulation is thanks to the innovative Polartec Neoshell fabric. This single membrane holds properties similar to neoprene, in that it is waterproof, insulating, and super stretchy; it is different from neoprene though, in that it is highly breathable, and much thinner in profile. The way that Sportful has used the Neoshell fabric in the Extreme Jacket – with taped seams and a YKK waterproof zipper, make for an impressive jacket: a shieldin...

The Rapha Brevet collection is designed with distance in mind. Providing comfort and performance, for many hours of adventure. The Brevet Long Sleeve Windblock Jersey is a highlight of the collection, and provides a superb outer layer for riding in mixed weather conditions. The Windblock Long Sleeved Jersey uses merino wool throughout the garment, to provide breathability, stretch, insulation, and comfort. The technical wind-proof fabric is then overlaid as a second layer on the front facing edges of the sleeves and the chest panel, to provide notable protection from wind-chill and light precipitation. The merino wool used within the garment is a unique quick-drying variety. The logical thinking behind this selection is that the jersey could be washed and dried in a matter of hours; perfect for overnight stops mid-way through a long distance bike tour. Bikepacking and bicycle touring always place a premium on stowage space. Storage in the Brevet Long Sleeve Jersey comes in ...