Clothing
Men's and women's cycling clothing for road, gravel and travel, from summer down to -5 °C. Everything is chosen in layers, according to the temperature at the start, the effort and what the descent has in store.
Men's and women's cycling clothing for road, gravel and travel, from summer down to -5 °C. Everything is chosen in layers, according to the temperature at the start, the effort and what the descent has in store.
Cycling kit works in three layers. Against the skin, a base layer moves sweat away. Over it, the jersey regulates warmth. On the outside, a gilet or a jacket stops the wind or the rain. Why three thin layers rather than one thick one? Because effort warms you more than the thermometer cools you: at 200 W on the pedals, the body gives off about 700 W of heat. On a climb, you open up; at the top, you close up again before the descent. The coaches' rule: set off feeling a little cold for the first ten minutes.
Bib shorts are chosen like the top half, by temperature: shorts in summer, bib tights in winter. In between, arm and leg warmers turn summer kit into mid-season kit, and go in the pocket by midday. Below about 15 °C, cover your knees: the joint has little muscle to warm itself.
When it is cold, the body protects the core and cuts the blood sent to the hands and feet. Yet they are the ones taking the wind, hands out front on the handlebar, feet under the shoe vents. At 5 °C, a descent at 40 km/h feels close to -1 °C on bare skin. Gloves with the right temperature range, socks and overshoes, a neck cover or a balaclava from the head and neck collection: that is often what decides how long a winter ride lasts.
Q36.5 makes almost everything in Italy: close-fitting pieces for the road, most with a stated temperature range, so you put your kit together by the thermometer. 7mesh, founded in Squamish, Canada, by former Arc'teryx people, thinks gravel and bikepacking: pockets for a day without a bag, GORE-TEX jackets that also work on foot. To finish the kit, see the shoes.
In layers: a base layer against the skin, a jersey, then a gilet or a jacket depending on the wind and rain. Set off a little cold for the first ten minutes, the effort will do the rest, and keep a layer for the descent.
Below 5 °C: thermal base layer, winter jacket, bib tights, deep-winter gloves, overshoes, neck cover or balaclava. Hands, feet and head get cold first: they decide how long the ride lasts.
For fitted pieces, yes: a women's jersey, jacket or bib shorts has its own pattern, cut for the female body, not a smaller size. Base layers, some gilets and the accessories are unisex.