Getting dressed for Winter riding can be a real chore. Not only can it take ages to decide what you’re going to wear based on the weather forecast and concerned glances out of the window, it can take an equal amount of time to just get it all on. I mean we all know the dreaded overshoes, dragging them out the cupboard at this time of year…knowing you have to give 10 more minutes to your prep time in the morning!
Then, fully dressed, you start worrying about whether you’ve made the right choices, having spotted a slightly darker cloud or sliver of blue among the overcast skies that you’re sure wasn’t there before. A full re-assessment ensues, usually resulting in you emptying vast swathes of your accumulated kit onto your bedroom floor as you search for the day’s ensemble. Never finding quite what you need because you haven’t thought through the process of actually buying the right sort of kit.
It can be a real challenge, with some not bothering at all and sticking to the turbo instead of risking being caught out. However, who really wants to confine themselves to the turbo? I mean each to their own but that to me is joyless cycling.
So, this is where I come in and help you find that perfect outfit that will last over the Winter months and help you feel confident in dressing appropriately and thereby getting more enjoyment out of your ride!
I’d say the 3 main items I bought for Winter and that have been the most useful include the Intermediate Jacket, the Winter Jacket and the Neoprene Shoe Covers. The Intermediate Jacket in the Performance (middle) range cost £79 and has been a firm favourite of mine taking me through those cold, wintry days, it fits well, moves with you and is a reliable zip-through item which I feel most members should own. When the weather is VERY cold, such as in sub zero temperatures, I wear a different jacket called the Winter Jacket. This again is in the Performance range and costs £114. It contains a thermal stretch fabric with a soft brushed lining. It is a little less fitted than the Intermediate Jacket so I could’ve selected the size small for this rather than my go-to medium. It is a reliable piece of kit for adventures to the Lake District and beyond when the conditions get a little more testing!
Shown below are the Intermediate Jacket in the classic club colours Blue, Green and White (also available with blue arms), the Winter Jacket and the Wind Jacket. There is also the orange colour scheme in all three jackets if you would like to try this variation.
Since my email to members on Saturday, I have since discovered the BLUE, GREEN AND WHITE overshoe no longer exists in the range as more and more cyclists these days tend to go for plain black neoprene type material, however the lycra/speed overshoes are still available in black on the Team Store website. As they are made entirely from lycra they have huge amounts of stretch so should confirm to all models of shoe.
There are also a number of different shorts and bib shorts that have thermal lining, not dissimilar to the familiar lining known as Roubaix. There are two different bib-tights in the Performance and Apex range shown below. These are extremely comfortable and provide more than enough warmth throughout the Winter.
Generally speaking the size chart gives you a good idea of which size to get.
The orange jersey, more commonly known as the ‘Craig Perry’ jersey has been hugely popular. It’s easy to see on the road and it’s a great alternative to the regular kit but still in keeping with the typical striped look so recognizable as the Centreville cycling club. We have armwarmers in the orange range and legwarmers, as well as 3 variations of socks in a black and orange colour scheme (predominantly black with a bold orange strip at the top). There is also the white and orange combination, again predominantly white but with the orange strip across the top. There will also be bib shorts to coordinate well with the orange club top. These have been created in the last couple of weeks so they are brand new! With a fair amount of tweaking in the early stages (I mean nobody wants illuminous orange shorts as one block colour, unless you’re uber confident!) the final product I feel has just enough of the orange to enhance the jerseys, the bottom of the shorts is emblazoned with one bold stripe. See picture below:
The Skinsuit was also developed this Summer as a piece of kit designed for racing and on the track. It is at present only available in the orange design and as a new adventure, we are still testing the water with this item but I feel come next year it will come into its own as Centreville members take on time trials and races that requires this streamline fit. Our very own President of the Club, John Drake has been wearing his orange skinsuit at the Velodrome in Manchester over the last few weeks and gives us advice about the fit, design, cut, comfort and has produced review of the latest skinsuit for all of us to see and get an appreciation of the item and what it entails. Feedback of this kind is paramount to those starting out at the circuit and looking to buy club items that fit that kind of environment. Please have a read of the write-up – see attachment! I think you’d agree it’s a fantastic piece of kit but obviously not for everyone.
It is only available in the Apex range so comes in a little more expensive. The Apex Summer Skinsuit is designed to be the least air resistant item available on Team Store, it’s quite an aggressive cut road suit designed with and worn by UAE Team Emirates in the Tour De France 2020. Maximum aerodynamics and fabric contact are of course key to delivering the best performance. The ergonomic fit has a lot of pre-shape for the riding position. I think you can appreciate it’s certainly not a suit designed for standing around in! I think the cut is well explained in the fit advice on the product website to manage expectation of this and John communicates this well in his description.
If you are interested in the orange Skinsuit or any of the orange jerseys, it is worth noting that they are not our registered colours for the club so cannot officially be used in BC events. They can be worn in CTT events and non BC events though.
