Dig out those bike lights and don’t forget the gloves: after an oddly mild November, that morning commute just got a hell of a lot chillier. Oh, and darker, if you’re one of those unlucky enough to leave the house pre-7.30am.
That plunge into winter might happen every year but that doesn’t make it any less of a shock. The upside of a new season, though? New gear.
Out with the bib shorts, then; in with the thermal layers and that snazzy new reflective jacket. Here are this year’s winter cycling heroes to add to your Christmas list.
The lights: See.Sense Beam+
Connect this smart light with See.Sense’s app for crash and theft alerts, ride stats and light customisation.
It’s the premium version of the brand’s Beam light and is even brighter, adapting its brightness to your speed and light levels, increasing your visibility in places like roundabouts and junctions.
Trade in your old light (any brand, as long as it’s in good working condition) to buy it for a discounted £99. Just use the code DONATELIGHT and your traded-in lights will be sent to a charity called ADSUM that sends bikes and kit to Madagasgar.
The jersey: Rapha Pro Team Training Jersey
Rapha’s new Pro Team Training Jersey features the brand’s signature stripe on the upper arm and Pro Team “convict stripes” on the back.
There are three rear pockets lined with a breathable mesh and long sleeves for those cooler mornings looping Richmond.
The waterproof jacket: Sweaty Betty Waterproof Cycling Jacket
Yep, Sweaty Betty does cycling kit now and it’s obviously some of the chicest on the market.
This season, its hero product is its rain-ready cycling jacket featuring fully waterproof fabric and taped seams for drizzly rides. There’s a clever open back panel so you can still reach in and access those pockets on the back of your cycling jersey.
The road jacket: Nalini New Road Lady Jacket
One of the most flattering women’s jackets on the market. It’s made of three-layer stretch pre-dyed fabric and features set in sleeves and an elegant Italian cut.
It doesn’t skimp on technicality, though. The inner membrane offers maximum protection in cold winter conditions and it’s protective against light rain rain. The inside layer is textured and breathable.
The gilet: Hearth Hestia Heated Vest
For the friend who says it’s too cold to come out riding. This water and wind-resistant gilet comes with heated pads that connect to a power bank to warm you from your core — perfect for early morning commutes or those frosty mornings zipping around Richmond Park. Pop it under your cycling jersey and it’ll feel like you’ve brought a hot water bottle along for the ride.
It’s so energy-efficient you’ll want to wear it inside, too: Hearth says its jacket will heat you up for eight to 10 hours for just 8p, which is roughly the same as boiling a kettle once. Is there a better cost-of-living Christmas stocking filler than that?
The leggings: Madison Stellar Reflective Thermal Tights
Reflective leggings, but subtle enough to wear to the pub. There’s a reflective print across the ankles and shins to keep you safe at night and a thermal, moisture-wicking Roubaix fabric to keep you warm and dry.
Silicone grippers stop them falling down as you ride.
The cropped leggings: lululemon Base Pace High-Rise Reflective Tight
Luxury lululemon leggings, but make them reflective. These figure-hugging tights come with 360-degree reflectivity, a back pocket for storing your work security card and a continuous drawcord.
There’s no inseam so they’re super comfortable.
The glasses: Bollé C-Shifter Sunglasses
Bold and beautiful. These glasses also use a special Thermogrip thermoplastic rubber that’s specificaly engineered to get grippier when in contact with water and sweat.
The nylon frame is light, flexible and the adjustable nose piece and temple tips help you find the perfect fit so they don’t fall down your nose.
The waterproof backpack: Rains Rolltop Reflective Rucksack
Rainproof and reflective. Rains’ classic rolltop rucksack is iconic among cycle commuters but this year’s edition comes with reflective bindings that’ll catch vehicles’ lights and light you up on the roads.
There’s a side-access laptop pocket, padded back panels and a zipped pocket at the front for keys and valuables.
The reflective backpack: Proviz Reflect360 Cycling Backpack
It’s all very well wearing a reflective jacket, but covering it with a big black backpack will hardly help you stand out to the traffic behind you. Pair it with Proviz’ latest reflective backpack for ultimate visibility: it comes with millions of integrated reflective beads and even the straps are reflective so you’ll stand out from the front, too.
Other extras include adjustable waist, hip and chest straps, a laptop compartment and plenty of zipped pockets for storing valuables.
The helmet: Thousand Chapter Bike Helmet
One of the safest urban helmets on the market, thanks to its 50 lumen magnetic taillight that runs for two hours in flash mode.
It comes with a secret PopLock feature for securing your helmet with your lock and special MIPS (Multi-Directional Impact Protection System) technology for added protection against concussions.
The headphones: Shokz OpenRun Pro
These headphones transmit sound through your cheekbones using tiny vibrations, so your ear canal is left open to hear fellow road users while you listen to the Today Programme on your ride in.
Shokz is a world-leader in bone-conduction technology and its OpenRun Pros are their smartest edition yet, featuring two added bass enhancers, improved battery life that’ll last for 10 hours of calls, and faster charging. Plug in for just five minutes for an impressive 90 minutes of usage.
The gloves: Rapha Brevet Reflective Gloves
Your go-to winter riding gloves: padded, insulated and reflective. The redesigned wrist section features a bonded hem to avoid friction against the handlebar, with a streamlined velcro closure to reduce bulk.
There’s strategically-placed memory foam padding in key pressure areas of the palm to guard against nerve damage (yep, that’s a thing).
The socks: Proviz Mid-Length Classic Stripe Cycling Socks
You’ve got the Proviz jacket and the Proviz backpack. But have you got the Proviz socks?
The go-to reflective kit brand has just launched a snazzy new mid-length socks for autumn 2022 and they’re guaranteed to get you spotted as you race the dark around Richmond Park. They’re breathable, moisture-wicking and feature outter facing seams to stop them rubbing and causing blisters. Choose from pink or yellow.
The lock: Litelok Core Plus
Wearable bike locks don’t get much brighter or more secure than this one. The latest edition of Litelok’s award-winning Core Plus model exceeds some bike lock security ratings while also boasting the flexibility and reach to lock up against fixed objects.
Attach it to your frame or wear it around your waist for extra visibility.
The bottle: lululemon Purist Cycling Water Bottle
No annoying bottle caps or screen-turn lids. lululemon’s squeezable bottle is specificaly designed for easy-access hydration at high speeds.
Choose from three different colours and patterns.
