Getting the balance right between undergarments and overheating isn’t easy in winter. We consulted cycling scientist James Hewitt for a few tips on how things should be done…
Heat to the beat
The body’s metabolism converts the energy stored in food and body tissue into what’s needed for cycling, but only 25 percent of that is used, with the rest released as heat.
“You need to wear enough to keep your muscles warm, but balanced to avoid trapping too much heat," says Hewitt. "As you ride faster and harder you raise heat production, forcing you to sweat more.” The base layer is crucial to temperature regulation: “Get that core warm and contain that heat and it’ll help keep your extremities warm too, reducing the need for additional layers."
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Get on your wick
Base layers that provide ‘wicking’ to take sweat off of the body are vital – you’ll produce a fair amount on the climbs, which will quickly chill against your skin on the descent if you don’t use a material that wicks it away.
Related: The best winter bib tights for cycling
“Depending on the temperature severity, a second, long-sleeve layer beneath a zip-up top can help strike that balance,” suggests Hewitt. That zip is one of the simplest but most effective temperature regulators you can have to ventilate the build-up of heat or zip out the cold air.
Vest is more
Outer elements
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
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