Zero degrees, neither hot nor cold, as the classic saying goes. Outside a mist begins to lift after the first hours of sunshine. It's cold, but I still feel like cycling for a while, maybe shorter, maybe less hard, but just as pleasant.
Cycling and winter are no longer two concepts that repel each other, on the contrary, the cold season can be a good time to enjoy cycling in a different way and even an ideal period to recover the hunger for cycling and build fitness for the next season.
It is true that many cyclists all year round take the opportunity to do other things, such as gym or walking, but also within cycling you can find modalities that are more appealing in winter, such as gravel or MTB, in more sheltered environments and at calmer rhythms.
From Gobik we have put ourselves in the situation and thought of all kinds of solutions and garments for each of the circumstances that the cyclist can find in the unpredictable winter.
If you live in the Spanish Levante, Mediterranean or southern Italy...
The winter here, except for a few days, tends to be milder, with many hours of sunshine and temperatures that vary quite a lot between early morning and midday. For this scenario, we recommend you to use a first layer with the "Limber" if the temperature is cooler.
On top, the main armor, a jersey between the "Pacer" and the "Hyder", if it is really cool in the early morning or if we foresee that the day is not going to go up and the clouds prevail. With the first one we can combine it with one of the vests, the "Plus 2.0", a timeless classic, or the new "Vector", very aerodynamic and with an elegant waist adjustment.
If you don't want to wear vest in your pocket, the jersey “Super Hyder" offers perfect protection.
Underneath, complete with merino socks, to keep your feet protected, and consider the option of wearing a jacket if we expect some cold or wind. Both the "Mist" as well as the "Envy" are good companions.
If the ride is on gravel, the comfort of the "Unbeat" jacket is appreciated, with adjustable hood and, importantly, very easy to carry when folded. For gloves, the new "Bora" are the middle ground in everything you are looking for in not very cold environments.
If you live in the center of Spain and France or in northern Italy...
We go one step further in protection. We are talking about places where the temperature starts at the bottom of the thermometer and does not rise as easily as on the shores of the Mediterranean.
As a first layer, the "Winter Merino", there is also a short-sleeved one. It is a base layer that fits very well and provides good thermal balance. On top, the "Hyder" seems a good option, always with the upgrade of the "Super Hyder", in the chamber.
Here we would already use more powerful vests for the cold, such as the "Eminent" or the "Xmax". The first one is, to give you an idea, the version in vest of "Armour" jacket, with Neoshell© and Alpha©, with excellent breathability.
For the feet, a little extra protection with the "Winter Merino" socks and "Defender" neoprene toe caps.
In jackets for these places, it is better to go for the "Skimo Pro" (slower rhythms) or directly to the "Armour" (demanding rhythms). For gloves, the "Nuuk" gloves are ideal, with Primaloft© and, if it is very cold, the "Zero". As you know, the thicker the padding, the more protection, but at the same time, the less touch with the handlebars.
If you go out on gravel, consider neoprene rain gloves, the " ", and if it is very cold, the "Tundra" in case it rains, and a "Exo" jacket, aerodynamic and foldable, ideal for the epic gravel environment.
If you live in the Basque Country, Great Britain or rainy environments...
Here it is necessary to go with good equipment with first layers and "Winter Merino" socks. Although in this case it is essential to use a shoe cover, especially the "Kamik" for some rain and cold, or directly the "Velotoze", 100% of silicone, perfect for the rain.
In this scenario, the jersey can also function as an inner layer, and there both the "Pacer"as well as the "Hyder" work like a charm. Then there is the jacket: if the temperature does not drop below five degrees, we have two perfect candidates, the "Exo" and the "Envy", both of which work well in this context, as they also have a rear skirt. If the rain is expected to be more extreme, the "Exo" is the perfect choice.
If the mercury drops below five degrees Celsius, the "Armour" jacket is the winning card in combination with the "Neoshell Bora" gloves or, one step further, with the "Tundra".
If you live in or near high mountains...
The combinations go to the most powerful garments against the cold, being common element the deep winter merino in the first layers, while in the jackets two options: if the route is going to be "cheerful", the "Armour" jacket, whose protection with Polartec© fabrics and its double zipper make it easier to breathe better when it is convenient, and if it is a quieter outing, the "Skimo Pro", a less breathable option but very warm.
In all cases, we did not talk about bib tights, because we have limited ourselves to two references: the "Limited" and the "Absolute". The latter is more thermal and has a water and wind resistant fabric.
And finally some of those accessories that can be played with to improve our comfort: the bandana merino and two new additions, the thermal tape "Frontline" and the "Brigade" beanie.
