Each new year is filled with so much promise, as we all set out with great intentions to make ourselves healthier and happier. If your New Year’s Resolutions include riding more, further or faster, then you’ll need all the motivation and incentives you can get, particularly in the early, coldest part of the year. Everyone knows that new kit makes you happier, faster and more likely to jump in the saddle, so we’ve got a list of products which will give you the kickstart you need.
1. Bib-tights
Every cyclist’s closest friend on winter rides is their trusty pair of tights. Complete with chamois, fleece lining and comfortable shoulder straps, a good pair of tights is a must-have item for winter warriors. Tested by the professionals, the Specialized RBX tights will keep you warm on the coldest days and enjoy the illusion of toned thighs, accentuated by the sleek black lycra, with not a sausage leg in sight.
Women’s alternative
2. Merino base layer
Although it seems like winter has been dragging on for months already, it has only just begun, and we can expect to still be in head-to-toe insulation well into March. With that in mind, a merino technical base layer is a key component of your winter wardrobe. With moisture and odour-wicking properties and natural insulation, the Endura Baa Baa is a great choice. It boasts a high warmth to weight ratio even in the wet, and it’s flat-locked seams provide maximum comfort.
Women’s alternative
3. Long-sleeved jersey
We’re getting into multiple layering territory now as we slip into the biting weather of January and February. A wool base layer, long-sleeved jersey and technical jacket (see below) might seem like overkill, but it isn’t. There is very little that is worse than a cold chest on winter rides. The Specialized RBX LS jersey is a brilliant piece of technical clothing that is not only warm, but which incorporates a hydrophilic treatment to channel sweat outwards, keeping your body dry.
Women’s alternative
4. Jacket
If you fail to keep your core warm, you risk all sorts of unpleasant consequences including catching a cold and becoming downright miserable all ride long. A decent technical jacket is the final layer to wrap yourself in. Besides the inspiring name, the women’s Endura Roubaix jacket is an insulating and durable fleece layer that looks great too.
Men’s alternative
5. Indoor trainer
However much you might count yourself a winter warrior, sometimes the weather conspires against us, coating the roads in ice and snow. In that event, it’s a great idea to have a turbo trainer ready and waiting to make sure that you don’t miss out on a day in the saddle. Direct mount trainers are all the rage at the moment, so we’ve picked out the Tacx Flux Smart Trainer, the like of which you’ll see at the start lines of professional races being used for warm-up and warm-downs by all your favourite riders. Having fixed a cassette onto the machine, all you have to do is remove your rear wheel and mount the bike directly onto the turbo, avoiding tyre wear and improving efficiency.
Now you’re dressed head to toe in new kit, with indoor alternative for the worst winter days, you're more than ready to get out and smash 2017 out of the park!
