What To Wear On A Winter Gravel Ride
Katie from Spin 11 walks us through what to wear to stay warm on your winter gravel rides.
There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear! Sometimes it can be hard to get the motivation to head out in the lashing rain or cold days. Once you head down the first gravel path, you’ll be glad you did it. Preparing the night before always helps!
Base Layer and Bib tights
Starting off, you need a decent base layer. This can come in a variety of styles, either long or short sleeve depending on the conditions outside and your personal preference. From here, the next item to put on are your bib tights. These are a must for winter rides as they will generally have a taller section at the lower back and are fully fleece lined for thermal insulation.
Winter Jacket
A good winter jacket is a must in every cyclist’s wardrobe. If conditions are tough, you could pair it with your bib tights. If conditions are mild like they have been why not pair it with a set of bib shorts.
I paired our Aquatek jacket with a set of Spin11 Sport Plus bib shorts over the weekend and was a perfect temperature…once I kept moving. When you’re heading out on a gravel ride it’s hard to know exactly what to wear especially in our climate I find the Spin 11 Aquatek jacket ticks all my boxes, keeps me warm, has 3 pockets on the back, is well fitted and has a super water and wind proof membrane (eVent membrane, with a water column of 15,000 mm)
Head
Some gravel riders may opt for a skull hat under their helmets if conditions are frosty.
I myself would never really wear a hat on my head maybe it’s down to the amount of hair I have on my head.
Hands and Feet
Hands and cold feet are a big ‘No’ from me. A good pair of winter gloves is essential, it’s also a key to make sure they are the right size, so you still have full control over the bike when dropping into a gravel trail. A good pair of winters socks to keep the toes warm is a must.
Neck Tube
Something that is always forgotten but makes all the difference. A tubular neck scarf, also known as a neck snood or buff. This can be used to keep that draft away from your neck but can also be used as face mask, balaclava, headband, beanie or bandana. The list goes on.
Enjoy
Most importantly enjoy the ride! Thanks for reading!
Katie.
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