There is no reason not to ride your bike during the cold season. Because cleverly combined, functional clothing ensures a pleasant microclimate on the skin all year round. The pressedienst- Fahrrad shows which clothing and which accessories are good insulators for driving pleasure.
The motto "There is no bad weather, only bad clothing" has not only established itself among outdoor enthusiasts. Even everyday cyclists should not save on the second skin, as it has to meet many requirements: In addition to thermal insulation, weather protection and breathability, the specifications also include wearing comfort and good visibility. Light colors, reflective materials and bike-specific cuts such as longer back and arm sections mark real bike clothing.
Dressed warmly and appropriately with the onion tactic
Unstable weather conditions, cold and changing physical exertion - when it comes to the dress code in autumn and winter, clever cyclists best use the onion tactic, like Step
Hanie Herrling from the outdoor specialist Vaude explains: “The multi-layer principle has proven to be efficient protection against the cold. At least three layers of clothing made of breathable materials are worn on top of each other. They wick the moisture away from the skin.” And not only the transport of sweat, but also the temperature can be regulated layer by layer thanks to the onion tactic.
Layer one: moisture regulation
The unwanted cooling effect of evaporating moisture is particularly noticeable on the first layer, the underwear. The primary task of the first layer is therefore to quickly transfer perspiration to the garment worn over it. According to Dieter Schreiber from the US cycling apparel manufacturer Line of Business Tight-fitting laundry promotes moisture transport. Such underwear is made of synthetic materials or, more and more often, of scratch-free merino wool, which, unlike cotton, is able to manage the climate. In contrast to synthetic products, the sweat remaining in the fabric hardly leaves any traces of odor. Manufacturers such as Giro or Vaude often rely on animal wool when it comes to underwear: “Compared to synthetic fibers, merino wool can absorb far more moisture. Even when wet, it feels dry on the skin and keeps its shape
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property,” explains Stephanie Herrling. "Worn directly on the skin, like with our 'Base Layer Crew', merino wool is really the best material," confirms Schreiber.
Layer two: thermal insulation
In order to keep as much heat as possible on the body, several pieces of clothing are now sometimes used. Above all, light and stretchy underwear or jerseys such as the "LA High Neck Zip-up" from Giro (149,95 euros) make the layered strategy really successful. Because depending on the temperature sensitivity, other such layers or more warming fleece tops can be pulled over them. On really cold days, padded clothing has recently been used on the bike. Primaloft is the name of the filling material known from mountain sports, which stores body heat particularly well and is easy to carry and compress. The very light "Insulated Vest" from Giro is lined with a good 25 grams of this material. The vest in signal red that can be seen from afar or in a subtle gray costs 169,95 euros.
Layer three: weather protection
Finally, depending on the weather, a breathable wind or rain jacket is used. Incidentally, softshell jackets offer the best compromise between breathability and weather protection. “They are equally suitable as an insulating and protective layer. They should only be combined with a classic rain jacket in heavy rain,” explains Stephanie Herrling. There are also special autumn and winter models for trousers: with the look of classic everyday trousers, the “Lauca Windproof Pants” city cycling trousers from Vaude (130 euros) made from robust stretch material stand up to the weather. In the rear area, it protects against rain and splashing water; According to the manufacturer, the pants are completely windproof at the front and keep cold wind off your legs. The trouser legs, which are rolled up to protect against the chain and crank, reveal the tight-fitting cuffs of the trousers. These are equipped with reflective elements and increase the visibility of the cyclist in traffic.
Warm from head to toe
While the ventilation openings of the bicycle helmet ensure a cool head in summer, the air flow around the head is undesirable in winter. Many helmet manufacturers therefore offer warming accessories. So does the manufacturer Abus, whose “Winter Kit” is a warming helmet cap made of flexible and comfortable fleece with ear protection. The German manufacturer goes one step further with the “Urbanaut” pedelec helmet. In addition to the optional winter kit, closable ventilation openings protect against cold winds. "By the way, the helmet is also approved for skiing, which speaks for its use in winter," explains Torsten Mendel from Abus.
The hands of cyclists in particular are permanently exposed to cold wind. Padded gloves like the “Syberia Gloves II” model from Vaude (55 euros) keep your hands warm and flexible even when the temperature is below zero. The index finger and thumb, which must be able to move freely to operate the gears and brakes, are packed separately. The remaining three fingers come in a common chamber, which means that the heat is stored better and the individual fingers do not cool down as quickly. Waterproof footwear or special cycling overshoes keep your feet protected from rain and spray during the cold, wet season.
