A Search for Cold-Weather Bike Clothing
After signing up for The Rift, I hit the online post-holiday sales pretty hard. I am a fair-weather rider and don’t have any clothing to wear for such varied conditions as Iceland in July.
I started Googling things like, “gravel bike apparel” and “winter bike gear.” I came across PEdALED and liked the look. Because they were having a sale, I ordered two different sizes of the Essential Merino Long Sleeve Jersey and one sleeveless merino base layer.
I decided on wool, because I like it’s functionality — and The Rift website seems to promote wool for the race climate.
When I received the PEdALED clothing, I learned a lot. First, the base layer was great! I tried that on, cut off the tags and have been wearing it for runs and rides all through the winter.
The long sleeve jerseys felt really nice but didn’t fit me well at all. Not the fault of the company — just didn’t compliment my non-cyclist physique. After this, I decided on some goals.
Price: You get what you pay for, and bike gear is no different. But that didn’t mean I was okay with shelling out hundreds of dollars for brand names. I decided that I should shop good quality companies but I would target the year-end sales to make this possible.
Quality: As someone who bargain shops, I can sometimes get caught up in the “find it for less” mentality. I didn’t want to buy the cheapest option to save money, though. I tried channeling my husband who is more likely to buy one really nice (expensive) pair of leather boots that will last him years longer than the cheaper counterpart.
Comfort: I aim to be as comfortable as possible on the bike — and in spandex. I want my gear and clothing to be good for ME, not anyone else.
Here’s where I went after PEdALED.
Rapha
I was introduced to Rapha a long time ago, because my husband is a fan. I have a pair of their women’s Core bibs, so I figured I should expand on that. They also had an end-of-year sale, so I ordered piles of stuff (free shipping, free returns!). Here’s what came and how it worked for me:
Women’s Brevet Insulated Gilet (I ordered an XL but it ended up being too big. I returned for a L)
Women’s Core Long Sleeve Jersey (L, green)
Women’s Core Winter Tights (These things are cozy and warm! No wonder you can bike in the cold with the right clothing. I ordered a size up (L) from my bib shorts (M) but probably didn’t need to. There’s some extra length that ends up bunching behind my knees, but it’s not a big deal.)
Core Jersey (I returned this — it just didn’t feel like me)
Wool socks (I like them, but they are too thick for my cycling shoes)
Velocio
Here are my reactions to Velocio.
Holy shit, this stuff is expensive! They have bibs that allow women to pee! Their website feels more inclusive than other bike companies!
I LOVE the fact that men and women of all sizes are pictured wearing Velocio clothing (this hooked me), and that they share content about athletes and mothers.
The first Velocio item I ordered was a pair of Women’s Signature Bib Short from a local bike shop that happened to be 50% off (and final sale). It was a gamble that paid off. After that, I started paying attention to the Velocio website and discovered the Winter Sale, which was 40% off a whole bunch of stuff, plus Final Sale items, which for a short time included an additional 15% off. I ordered another haul of clothing (again, free shipping and free returns). Here’s what came and how it worked for me:
Women’s Breton SE Wind Vest (This was a Final Sale item, so it was a bit of a gamble. But I could have returned it for store credit if I needed — but I didn’t need to!)
Women’s Concept Merino Jersey (I kept this in a dark green. The quality feels really nice and I like that it’s really understated.)
Women’s Signature Zipperless Jersey (I LOVE this thing, mostly because I get to skip the whole zippered cycling look. I originally ordered the Pine (loved it) but ended up with Moonrock, because that was the best size. I first tried it on without bibs, and it felt really unflattering. But when I put the jersey over a base layer and bibs, it was much better.)
Women’s Signature Bib Knicker (When I wear leggings, whether for running or yoga, I tend to not like it when they go all the way to my ankle. I figured these capri-style bibs might be just the right option for me, because I wouldn’t have to deal with my whole leg being tightly covered. I’ve ridden in them twice, and I like them a lot, but am going a size down to increase the compression. Velocio’s try-it policy is terrific, so exchanging them isn’t a problem.)
Women’s Merino Mesh SS Baselayer (I’m a fan of layering and this shirt has worked its way into my running wardrobe, too.)
Leg Warmers (All I can say is these don’t squeeze the soft part of my thighs like others I’ve tried on.)
Signature Rain Bootie (These feel a little unnecessary but this is my test phase, so I need to see what works. I feel funny wearing them, but they work! The inside of the booties were a little damp after wearing them on a dry cool day but my feet weren’t cold.)
Pactimo
Colorado company for the win! I started with the Range Merino Cargo Jersey, because I liked the color, material, and fit. Then their Winter Sale started, so I ordered some more items. If you have’t noticed, I’m a sale shopper! Here’s what I scored:
Women’s Storm+ SS Jersey (I don’t know much about this stuff, but apparently this could be a good option for protecting against wet conditions in Iceland without having a lot layers.)
Women’s Range LS Wind Jersey (This was $15!!!!!! And I LOVE it. Fits well. Feels really light and comfortable - I think I’m going to get a lot of use out of this one.)
Women’s Ultra-Lite Jacket (Seems good, especially for the price. Packs down small, is lightweight and will give me some kind of wind/rain protection.)
Women’s Range Aero Cargo Jersey (I’ve bought a lot of gear for cooler weather but I figure once summer rolls around, I’ll need to some lightweight clothing, too!)
IMPORTANT: I took this picture while moving, and I didn’t fall off.
Endura
I found my gear by reading a lot of other people’s articles and reviews. When looking for a rain jacket, I struggled with sticker shock. I fully understand that waterproof, lightweight, and packable can equal $$$. But, I didn’t want to shell out big bucks for something I might now wear a lot.
I found a couple of articles where Endura products were listed, so I did some more digging. I ended up ordering the Women’s FS260-PRO Adrenaline Race Cape II for about $50 (found a sale, of course). It might not keep me dry for miles in a monsoon, but it should do the trick for wind and reasonable amounts of water — and it fits well.
Gorewear
I tried some jerseys and bibs from Gorewear, but the sizing didn’t work well for me. Things felt baggy or tight in the wrong places. I did keep a pair of waterproof gloves, though, that were on sale!
Specialized
I found a neck gaiter that I like a lot! And I’m currently wearing their shoes (footwear will get its own post — it’s been a slog.)
Bottom Line(s)
I relate to Velocio and Pactimo the most — in their marketing and in their fit. I like the images of the people they share and the stories they tell. But that’s just me!
There are a lot of other (affordable) cycling brands out there, like Primal and NeoPro that I haven’t tried and would like to. But, I told myself that I wouldn’t order anymore cycling clothing after January.
Have you tried a brand not mentioned here? Weigh in!