Autumn has landed, or as we like to call it: weird weather season. Because right now we’re in that strange limbo where the weather just can’t quite make up its mind. And that makes it tricky to know what to wear on the bike. Mild one day, freezing the next. Wild flip-flopping between glorious blue skies and pouring rain. Head out in summer kit, and you can guarantee the weather will take a chilly turn. But play it safe with the winter jacket, and of course that’s when the sun will decide to stick around and you’ll be sweating your hooves off by noon. Never mind a weather app, we could do with a crystal ball!
If the weird autumnal weather has got you tearing through your kit drawer in despair, we’ve got you covered. In our autumn cycling kit guide, we’ll talk you through how to layer up to stay comfortable on the bike, whatever the weather. Plus we share our top tips for making autumnal rides enjoyable come rain or shine!
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Essential autumn kit
Added extras
What to wear and when: Stolen Goat’s expert kit recommendations for different autumn cycling conditions
Top tips for riding in the rain
Essential autumn cycling kit
First let’s look at the essential bits of cycling gear we’d recommend for cycling during the autumn months. We’ll talk you through how to layer up for different conditions later, but for now here’s our top recommendations for the basics you want in your kit drawer!
Thermal cycling jersey
A long-sleeved thermal cycling jersey is the ultimate all-rounder for changeable conditions. Think of it as the cycling kit equivalent of Goldilocks’ porridge. Look for a thermal jersey which is breathable, with a fit that’s close enough that it won’t flap around in the autumnal breeze but leaves you with a bit of breathing space to layer up underneath.
A good thermal cycling jersey keeps you comfortable in a range of autumn cycling conditions [Photo: Jake Baggaley]
Bib tights
Soggy bottoms: guaranteed to ruin a perfectly good ride (as well as a perfectly good cake). A good pair of mid-weight cycling bib tights can be a serious comfort upgrade for your autumn rides. Not only will they help you to stay warm when the temperatures drop. Choose a pair with water-resistant fabric and they’ll also keep you dry when the rain shows up.
We’d recommend looking for cycling bib tights which have reflective features for gloomier conditions. And make sure you check out what chamois pad you’re getting too. At Stolen Goat, we’ve added a top of the range chamois pad to our autumn cycling bib tights, available for women and men, to make sure warmth doesn’t come at the cost of a comfy undercarriage!
Gilet
When it’s not quite cold or wet enough to justify a full cycling jacket, a gilet is your versatile best friend. Small enough to store in your back pocket, but easy to whip out and deploy if the weather turns. A gilet will help to keep your core warm, particularly when you’re riding into a headwind, which in turn gives your body a helping hand to keep your extremities nice and toasty too.
Ideally, you want a gilet which has openings so you can still get to anything you need in your cycling jersey pockets underneath. We’ve loaded ours with two openings, plus one functional pocket for easy on the go storage.
Women’s cycling gilets
Men’s cycling gilets
Base layer
A cycling base layer is another highly recommended bit of kit for all-weather versatility. Sleeveless options sit effortlessly under any jersey, and they’re also useful for sweat-wicking in the summer to keep your kit fresh! Meanwhile long sleeved cycling base layers are perfect for turn of the season rides where you’ll be too hot in a jacket but too cold without one. Look for base layers with a bit of stretch, so they’ll sit close enough to your body to help keep the heat in without restricting your range of movement.
Shop base layers for women and men.
Waterproof cycling jacket
Depending on how much of an all-weather rider you are, this might be more of a ‘nice to have’ than an essential. But if you’re well and truly anti-indoor training, or you’re a cycle commuter. A good waterproof cycling jacket deserves a place on your autumn cycling kit list.
Remember that not all waterproof cycling jackets are created equal. Our Stolen Goat waterproof jackets (for men and for women) come with a bit of stretch so they move with you (no scratchy school anorak feelings in our Herd!) and while the seams are taped to keep the rain out, the material also has some breathability so you won’t overheat.
Nice to have: the optional extras for next level comfort (and style!)
With those essentials, you’ve got the versatility you need to layer up and take on whatever the weird and wonderful autumn weather throws at you. But if you’re looking to style things up with a few accessories, and unlock extra comfort while you’re at it, here’s what else you might want to consider before you hit the saddle.
Cycling gloves and mitts
For milder autumn days, a pair of fingerless cycling mitts can be all you need to take the edge off that little extra nip in the air without overheating. You can check out our range here! Once the temperatures really start to drop, you might want to switch over to a full finger winter cycling glove – especially if you tend to suffer with chilly fingers while you’re riding.
Our Climb and Conquer winter cycling gloves are surprisingly versatile. We’ve designed them to offer superb protection against the cold and wet, with grippy palms to stop you sliding off your bars when the rain pours. But their lightweight and stretchy design means you don’t lose dexterity like you do with a classic bulky winter cycling glove. You can wear them with a liner in the winter for extra warmth when it gets truly freezing. But for now, they’re breathable enough for autumn conditions. And if you get too warm, you can easily stash them in your back pocket.
Run hot? Cycling arm warmers will become your new go-to kit
If you tend to run a little hot, then you might be breaking out in a sweat at the thought of committing to a full thermal cycling jersey and bib tights unless it’s snowing out. But if you’re ready to admit you’re just that touch too cold as you soldier on in your short sleeved jersey and bib shorts – we’ve got your back!
Our thermal arm warmers are an excellent versatile layer to stash in your back pocket. Pop them on to take the edge off when you need them, whip them off when you don’t. We’ve even got a range of designs so you can mix and match. Knee warmers or leg warmers can also be a great option for cold mornings and changeable days.
Neck warmer
Small but mighty, a neck warmer is one of those bits of cycling kit that you’ll find yourself getting a surprising amount of use out of. Obviously, it’ll keep your neck warm. But you can also pull it up over your mouth and nose if you’re getting blasted by road spray on rainy rides. Or wear it as a headband (though we also have thermal headbands so you can have the best of both worlds). Oh, if you’re a Goat who likes to get out on two wheels as well as two hooves, a neck warmer is also super useful for running too!
Overshoes
We know, you don’t want to deprive onlookers from seeing your carefully crafted sock game (there’s a reason we have so many designs!), but for cycling in the rain or colder days a good set of overshoes can be game-changing. Look for overshoes that are waterproof and ideally are either high stretch or have a zip up design. Having spent way too many hours rolling around on the floor wrestling with uncompromising overshoes, you want cycling overshoes that are as easy as possible to get on and off.
What to wear for cycling in the autumn: Our recommendations on how to layer up depending on the conditions
Having the best waterproof cycling jacket, a good thermal jersey and a solid kit drawer of versatile accessories is one thing. But knowing what to wear and when is another! Of course, the answer is largely ‘it depends’. Because how much you layer up will come down to a few factors. How far and how fast are you planning to ride? Do you feel the cold or are you part-werewolf and it needs to be practically arctic out there before you’ll consider long sleeves? There’s an element of trial and error, which is why it’s always handy to have layers you can easily put on or take off as you need them while you’re on the move.
But to help you plan your weekend riding ensemble, here’s our top level recommendations for what to wear on the bike in different autumn conditions.
[Photo: Jake Baggaley]
Mild autumn days (12-14 degrees Celsius)
- Bib shorts or our Kiko bib tights (designed specifically for autumn/between seasons riding) depending on how much you feel the cold.
- Mesh base layer: keeps your core at the optimal temperature and wicks sweat away if you get warm on any climbs
- Long sleeved cycling jersey or a thermal jersey
- Gilet in your back pocket in case of pesky head wind
The mild autumn days are perhaps the trickiest to dress for. If you feel the cold, we’d recommend pairing bib tights with one of our long sleeved thermal jerseys. For those who run hot, either a long sleeved lightweight jersey or a short sleeved with arm warmers might be a better option. Either way, a gilet in your back pocket is always to deploy if there’s a nasty headwind and you start feeling the chill!
Wet and wild conditions – what to wear for cycling in the rain
- Kiko bib tights (no soggy bottoms in our Herd!)
- Mesh base layer or long sleeved base layer
- Intermittent showers: thermal cycling jersey
- Persistent rain: waterproof cycling jacket
- Consider: mitts, neck warmer cap and overshoes
Wet, but not miserable: get the right cycling gear and riding in the rain can actually be pretty fun. We’ve shared some tips further down on things like tyre pressure and bike handling. Kit-wise, we’d recommend wearing bib tights – our Kiko tights are made from water-resistant material which will make sure you’re not suffering from a dreaded soggy bottom. Depending on the temperature, a mesh base layer or a long sleeved base layer will keep your core warm. Remember, the wet can make it feel cooler.
If the rain is intermittent, a long sleeved, water-resistant thermal cycling jersey should be plenty to keep you comfortable. But if the showers are heavy, or the rain is more persistent. We’d certainly recommend investing in a good waterproof cycling jacket. Mitts can also be useful for wet conditions as they’ll give you better grip on your handle bars. A cap can help to keep the rain out of your eyes. And overshoes will keep your hooves dry if you go tearing through any big puddles.
Nippy mornings and cooler autumn days (8-10 degrees Celsius)
- Bib tights
- Long sleeved base layer
- Thermal cycling jersey and a thermal gilet
- Climb and Conquer winter cycling gloves
- Neck warmer and overshoes
When it’s cold, but not cold enough to go out in full winter kit, we’d recommend layering up our thermal jerseys and Kiko bib tights with a thermal gilet for the added protection to keep your core warm – our thermal gilets have a windproof ‘fuzzy’ layer inside the front panel to keep the chilly autumn breeze at bay. Add our full-finger Climb and Conquer gloves and some overshoes to keep your extremities nice and toasty. And if you feel the cold a bit more than others, top it all off with a neck warmer and some overshoes and you’ll be riding happy.
Head over to our Autumn Cycling Kit collection to stock up on any missing essentials from your kit collection!
Cycling in the rain and other top tips to get the most out of your autumn rides
Having the right cycling gear for the conditions is 90% of the battle when it comes to riding outdoors all year round. But we’ve got a few other top tips up our cycling jacket sleeves that will help you to have fun and stay safe on the bike this autumn.
With the right gear and a sense of adventure, cycling in the autumn doesn’t have to be wet and miserable! [Photo: Jake Baggaley]
Dos and don’ts for cycling in the rain
Wet weather doesn’t have to mean resigning yourself to the indoor trainer – though, there’s no judgement here if you do! Once you’ve got yourself some decent waterproof cycling kit, here’s what else you need to know for your rainy day rides.
Do
- Adjust your tyre pressure. Wet roads can be slippery, so dropping your tyre pressure slightly can help to improve grip by increasing the surface area. The exact optimal pressure will depend on your tyres (tubeless or tubed, width) but a general recommendation is to reduce by ~7 psi/0.5 bar in wet weather.
- Give yourself more time to brake. In wet conditions, your stopping time will increase so slow down early ahead of junctions to avoid any last minute harsh braking.
- Watch out for road markings and drains. White lines are your enemy when the roads are wet as they can become super slippery. Avoid them if you can, and make sure you don’t make any sharp turns or slam the brakes when your wheels are on them. Same goes for drains!
- Remember to use bike lights. Wet weather usually means gloomy weather, which can make visibility tricky for riders and drivers alike. Ensure you’re visible by using bike lights – a flashing light on the bike as a minimum. And choose kit with reflective details.
- Plan your route with a ‘get out of jail free’ card. Obviously if you’re commuting or bikepacking this doesn’t apply. But if you’re just out for a weekend ride, consider planning a route made up of shorter loops so if you’re feeling a bit wet and miserable you can get home before your sense of humour taps out. There’s no shame in cutting a ride short if you’re not having fun!
Don’t
- Make sharp turns or brake suddenly. Drop the pace a little (your Strava followers will forgive you, promise!), take corners slower and wider and give yourself extra time for any turns or stops. Sudden movements are a good way to lose a back wheel in the wet!
- Forget to hydrate and fuel. It’s easy to neglect your nutrition and hydration when you’re riding in the cold and wet. Set a reminder on your bike computer if you need to (most have custom notifications you can set according to time or distance) and make sure you’re eating and drinking enough to fuel your effort. A cafe stop never hurts, either!
- Go blasting through the middle of big puddles. We know, we’re spoilsports. And we like making a big splash as much as the next rowdy goat. But big puddles can hide big potholes – go zooming through the middle and you might end up diving over the handlebars and going for an unplanned swim. Take it slowly and try to go round the shallow edges of puddles where you have a better chance of seeing the road underneath.
Other autumn cycling tips
Rainy day advice aside. It’s also worth doing a bit of a stock take of your spares kit. Chances are you might have used a few things over the summer months. And as the weather gets worse and the roads get covered in grit, grime and other fun stuff. You’re more likely to get a puncture. You don’t want to discover your past self forgot to replace your gas canisters when you’re stuck on the side of the road with frozen fingers in the pouring rain!
Check your weather app before you head out and use it to plan your route, as well as your wardrobe. It’s always worth knowing the wind speed and direction, ideally so you can plan a route that means you’ll have a tail wind on the way home when you’re getting tired. No one likes a surprise head wind!
Finally, whatever the wild weather might throw your way. Don’t forget to take a moment to look around and appreciate the beauty of the changing seasons – there’s always joy to be found when you embrace your sense of adventure!