One of your resolutions for 2017 might have been to cycle throughout the year, not only during the warmer months. Or (if you live in London) the tube strike last week was the kick up the backside you needed to leave public transport behind you. Or maybe you need a way to shed some of that Christmas flab and cycling to work is a convenient option.
Whatever the reason, more and more people are now cycling through the winter and it’s really encouraging to see all these new cyclists taking to the roads whatever the weather, which over the last few days has been pretty challenging. As I write this there’s bright blue sky outside my window, but half an hour ago there was a blizzard going on… so how do you dress properly to commute on a schizophrenic day like this?
First off, consider the length of your commute: if it’s only 10 to 15 minutes, you’ll barely have enough time to warm up before you arrive so dress up nice and warm. Anything longer than that though and you’ll start to get all sweaty if you’re overdressed. The solution? Layers, layers, layers.
Start with a Merino wool top. Merino wool comes from a particular breed of (magical) sheep and it naturally regulates your body temperature so it keeps the warm air created by your body against your skin when you’re cold but, once you start to heat up, it releases that warm air and keeps you cool. It also absorbs sweat, taking (“wicking”) it away from your body, avoiding nasty sweat patches.
Another favourite of ours at Cyclechic HQ is the heatttech range by Uniqlo. The fabric takes body heat and stores it within air pockets deep within the fibres to keep you warm. The range comprises everything from long-sleeved t-shirts to leggings, and as you’d expect it’s great value. We don’t sell these products but you can buy them online.
For your next layer add whatever you would have worn: a blouse or a shirt, jumper or cardigan which will help keep you warm, but are fairly easy to remove if you start to get all hot and sweaty. Stitch-Me-Lane have a wonderful retro style Merino wool jersey (£79.99)
Now you’ll need a jacket. You want something that won’t restrict you around the shoulders, and is water resistant, windproof and breathable. Your everyday winter coat might work just fine, but if not here’s a selection:
This As Bold As Drench coat (£147.99) is a contemporary take on the classic trench and ticks all the boxes and it has the added bonus of high-vis panels which are reflective, making you more visible on the roads but which can be neatly tucked away when you don’t need them.
The Georgia in Dublin Bronte Jacket (£130) comes in yellow, black, red, navy & stone and is anchored at the waist and wrists with an elasticated band and cuffs which make it incredibly comfortable and flattering to wear and ensures that no cold air goes up your jacket as you ride along. It has a high collar to keep the wind out too and is fully waterproof. And its lovely butterfly buttons are made in-house from recycled inner tubes.
The Mia Melon Commuter jacket (£159.99) comes in 3 colours: red, black and olive. Designed in Canada (where they know a thing or two about bad weather), these jackets are windproof, waterproof and tailor-made for commuters. Triple tick in our book. We also love the reflective details on the end of the sleeves, the 2-way zipper for better movement on the bike, the adjustable waist… and the fact that this jacket will keep you warm this winter, but when you get too warm the under arm zippers let just enough air in to cool you down.
And finally if you’re looking for something in the sales, the Urban Legend jacket is priced at just £104.99 and we’ve still got a few left in small and medium.
Maybe you’re too tough to care about having cold ears, but for those of us who like to wrap up all nice and snug, some of our favourite brands have what you need. Bern make the Cordova liners which will transform your cycling helmet into a winter sports one (£39.99) and Sawako (£15) and Yakkay (£19.99) produce great ear cosies which can be added to the helmets straps.
Add in a good pair of warm gloves like these Georgia in Dublin ones priced at £23 and we’ve got you covered, literally.
If you regularly commute in the dark – which let’s face it is pretty likely at this time of year, you might also want to think about adding some reflective elements. Here are some suggestions to make you as visible as possible.
Add a reflective band by Lflect to your helmet, or if you’ve got one with holes at the back you can try these pretty reflective bows by 123 Speed.
We also carry a selection of vests you can wear over your jacket to make yourself really stand out.
As Bold As offers a high-vis reflective vest at £46.99. Day Glow Doris has vests which come in 3 colours (£48.99) and the Heinrichs ones (which are more expensive but are made entirely of reflective fabric) come in pink or grey (£72). A cheaper option, but one which releases your inner Miss World, is the Bramble and Mr Twigg sash at £22.50.
And why stop there, what about your feet? For a sweet detail, the Lflect socks are great fun (£17)…
… and these clever Tracey Neuls reflective shoes (£169) are a good solution as your feet are constantly moving and therefore eye-catching.
Last but not least, show your bike some love with some heart reflectors!
Keep safe and warm out there, and don’t forget the single most important part of cycling in the cold: a nice hot cuppa at the end of your journey.
For more inspiration on stylish winter cycling, checkout our Pinterest page
Happy winter cycling everyone!
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