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When the mercury dips, you don’t have to stop riding your bike outdoors. With some well-thought out layering, the right gear and a bit of safety-minded common sense, you can keep on pedaling year round and actually enjoy it. Whether winter translates to “rain and mud” or “snow and ice” in your neighborhood, the right winter bike gear essentials will keep you warm, dry and safe. And for those that live in a hot and sunny part of the world, let’s just say, lucky you. 

When the mercury dips, you can keep riding when properly equipped with the right winter bike gear.

Regardless of weather, I prefer heading out on my bike rather than going to the gym. And as a bonus, the roads and trails are generally quieter this time of year, which can give you an extra sense of peace. Spending winters everywhere from Minnesota and Sweden to soggy and cold England or Northern California, I’ve tested a wide variety of winter bike gear over the years. From cycling apparel and bike lights to mudguards and even sunglasses, these are some of my favorite essential items to keep you happily riding through the cold and dark winter months.

Best Winter Bike Tights: Pearl Izumi Amfib Cycling Tights

Best Winter Bike Jacket: 7Mesh Revelation

Best Winter Bike Shoes: Five Ten Trailcross GTX

Best Overshoes: Gore Wear Shield Thermo Overshoes

Best Bike Light: Knog PWR Road 700

Best Winter Bike Gloves: Showers Pass Crosspoint Waterproof Knit Wool Gloves

Best Mudguard: Ass Saver Saddle Mudguard

Best Winter Sunglasses: Tifosi Crit

Best Indoor Bike Trainer: Wahoo Kickr Bike

A good pair of winter bike tights will keep your legs warm and dry without causing you to overheat. Designed specifically for cold weather riding, Pearl Izumi Amfib bike tights are made from a water-repellent thermal fleece fabric that feels soft and cozy against the skin. Strategically placed waterproof and windproof softshell panels on the front of your legs, seat, and Achilles tendon area further protect cold-prone sensitive areas from harsh wind, rain, slush, mud or whatever the road and trail can throw at you. 

I’ve been comfortably wearing these bike tights in 30-degree weather without the need to add an extra layer over top unless it’s pouring rain. The tights don’t come with a built-in chamois which means you can use them for running, cross-country skiing or other winter sports. When riding a bike, simply throw them over a pair of your favorite liner shorts.

With these tights, Pearl Izumi ditched the zippers at the ankle for extra warmth and so that they better fit inside a pair of overshoes. Reflective strips at the hip and back of the calves add a level of visibility in low light conditions. Women may want to order a size up as they are extra form-fitting.

The right bike jacket can mean the difference between enjoying and enduring your winter ride. When worn over a series of layers such as a base layer and a thermal jersey, the 7mesh Revelation protects you from inclement weather. Made from a three-layer wind- and waterproof Gore-Tex Pro fabric, this bike jacket keeps you warm and dry without leaving you a sweaty mess.  

Unlike normal bike jackets, 7Mesh gave this one a bit more room knowing that when it really turns cold, you might need to add another layer or two underneath. And it does this without creating extra bulk that just flaps around needlessly in the wind. Longer across the back and with extra room in the hips, the jacket is designed precisely with riding in mind: It keeps you covered when you are hunched down over the bars. 

For those occasional winter sunny spells, zippered vents on the forearms and sides let you dump excess heat, while also giving you easy access to your back jersey pockets. The hood fits underneath your helmet when the rain starts dumping and can easily be removed if you ride in cold but drier climes. Tw0 hand pockets come in handy for storing a phone, wallet, or even a snack or two.

Mountain biking or bike commuting in wet and muddy weather can mean misery for your feet. These waterproof bike shoes will make riding this winter a heck of a lot more fun. The Five Ten Trailcross GTX are purpose-built for cold and wet weather riding with their hi-top design and Gore-Tex waterproof membrane. A neoprene ankle cuff works to further keep you dry by blocking debris and rain from running down your legs inside your shoe as your ride. 

The sticky rubber sole clings to slippy pedals as well as wet terrain or sidewalks when you are off the bike. Lightweight with a shock-absorbing foam midsole, these bike shoes are more flexible than average for all day comfort and easier walking. If most of your rides are done in the soaking wet, combine these waterproof bike shoes with a pair of waterproof pants and you’ll be dry, warm, and happy at the end of every ride. 

Whether you are road cycling or bike commuting, if you don’t want to buy a special pair of shoes for winter, you can easily weatherproof your current footwear with a good pair of overshoes. The Gore Wear Shield Thermo overshoes slip over your existing bike shoes to keep your feet warm and dry while still allowing you to clip into your pedals. Available in a variety of sizes, the overshoes are made from a combination of the company’s Gore-Tex Infinium waterproof fabric and Windstopper fabric for complete protection from the cold winter wind and rain. Further water-repellent treatment on the outside ensures mud, slush and other gunk simply rolls right off. 

A large zipper on the inside of the foot makes them easy to slip on and off over your bike shoes and adds a level of warmth since your cold-prone Achilles heel area stays protected. Stretch material around the cuffs keeps crud from getting down inside your bike shoes as you ride.

Bike lights are essential for winter riding; even during the day, visibility can be restricted as a result of fog, mist or other inclement weather. The PWR Road 700 from Knog delivers up to 700 lumens of light and runs from 1.7 hours up to 165 hours depending on mode—there are six programmable modes available from max to eco-flash. Four indicator lights on the side of the rechargeable battery pack let you know just how much juice you have left so you don’t get caught out in the dark. 

The best part? The PWR Road is a modular bike light meaning you can swap out the light head for a brighter version, swap out the battery for a fully charged one on the go and even use the battery to charge other devices such as your phone and bike computer. Best of all, the bike light mounts above or below your handlebars without the need for any tools so you can easily switch it between bikes in seconds.

Cold wet hands are the fastest way to ruin any ride. The Crosspoint Waterproof Knit Wool Gloves from Showers Pass use a three-layer construction technique to keep your hands warm and dry when riding through any kind of weather. A durable knit exterior gives your fingers plenty of dexterity for shifting and braking and is soft against the skin for those frequent runny nose wipes. A waterproof-yet-breathable membrane blocks rain from getting inside your gloves, while letting any sweaty moisture buildup escape. And the merino wool lining not only helps to keep your hands warm, but also cuts down on the stink factor thanks to its natural anti-microbial properties. A silicone print overlay on the palm gives you better grip on your handlebars in wet conditions. 

The waterproof bike gloves come in a variety of colors, including high-vis yellow and orange in case you want to add an extra level of visibility when riding outside during winter.

Inevitably, gunk from wet and muddy roads or trails is going to fly up off your wheels as you ride through harsh winter weather. Protect yourself from the dreaded skunk stripe up your back, a wet chamois, and mud all over your face with the Ass Saver mudguards. Unlike normal mudguards or fenders, there is no need to bolt these heavy duty plastic mudguards to your frame. Instead, they simply attach to the base of your saddle (or front fork) with absolutely no tools required.

To install, slide the mudguard through the rails on your saddle and flip up the tip to lock the mudguard in place. Pre-folded scoring lines help you shape the fender so it sits perfectly over your wheels and stays put over rough terrain. The no-tools-required easy install means the mudguards can quickly be switched from bike to bike if you have more than one winter rig. The original mudguard is suitable for tire widths between 23 to 35 mm, but other models come in a variety of sizes and styles to fit your type of bike.

When you think of winter cycling gear, sunglasses may not immediately spring to mind. But they should; protecting your eyes from road spray, mud and rain (not to mention harmful UV rays) is absolutely essential. The Tifosi Crit sunglasses feature a photochromic lens that automatically adjusts the tint according to the available light—perfect for winter riding where conditions change from day to day or even from hour to hour.

The Light Night Fototec tint are the lightest tint photochromic lenses from Tifosi so perfect for winter with its lack of sun—the lenses darken in bright light to block over 75% of light and lighten in dim conditions to block only 27% of light. Made from polycarbonate, the lenses are virtually shatterproof and include vents to eliminate any fogging.

Made from a lightweight yet impact resistant nylon, the sunglass frames won’t cause pressure points on your face or temples. Rubber nosepiece and temple ends become tackier when wet for reliable grip in wet conditions and can be adjusted to dial in the fit.

Realistically, there will be days where it’s simply too dangerous to ride outside, whether it be icy conditions, darkness or blizzard levels of snow. Instead of resigning yourself to a day on the couch watching Netflix and giving up on your training or fitness program, the Kickr Bike from Wahoo simulates riding outdoors from the safety and warmth of your home. 

When paired with online programs such as Zwift or Wahoo’s own SYSTM training platform, the bike’s large flywheel and internal motor brake deliver resistance to recreate the terrain grade changes in real time so you feel as if you are actually outside riding up and over mountain passes. The bike can be set up to match the exact geometry, shifting and gear ratio of your own bike in order to further enhance the real-bike feel. The indoor smart bike can be hooked up to all your normal accessories such as bike computers and heart rate monitors and accurately delivers power measurement for anyone who trains using that data. 

Virtually silent operation means you won’t annoy your neighbors or whoever else lives in your household as you race against hundreds of your virtual friends through Watopia.