Cold conditions
What to wear cycling at 0°C (32°F)
Zero degrees is proper winter riding. The cold itself is manageable; it's the wind you make by riding that bites, especially on your hands and feet. Layer up fully, accept feeling a bit cold for the first ten minutes, and keep the pace steady so you don't soak your base layer on the first climb.
Updated
Short answer
Cycling cap, thermal base layer, winter jersey or softshell, thermal winter gloves, thermal bib tights, thermal overshoes and thermal socks.
The forecast's feels-like temperature, adjusted for how hard you ride, how warm you naturally run and riding into the wind. Your hands and feet don't warm up as much from effort, so their kit is chosen a bit warmer.
Feels like 0°C, moderate pace, light wind (10 km/h, 6 mph), no rain. Same logic as the calculator.
More on: bib tights or shorts · base layer · overshoes · winter gloves · winter cycling clothing
Adjust
When to change your kit at 0°C
Effort, wind, rain and how warm you run all shift the recommendation. Only the parts that change are listed.
Easy or recovery pace
Coffee ride, recovery spin
- Head
- Thermal skull cap
- Upper body
- Thermal long-sleeve base layerWinter jerseyInsulated jacket
Strong wind
35 km/h, 22 mph
- Head
- Thermal skull cap
- Upper body
- Thermal long-sleeve base layerWinter jerseyInsulated jacketWind gilet opt
Rain likely
60% chance or higher
- Upper body
- Thermal base layerWinter jersey or softshellRain jacket (waterproof)
- Hands
- Waterproof winter gloves
- Feet
- Waterproof winter overshoesThermal socks
You always run cold
Warmth tendency: always cold
- Head
- Thermal skull cap
- Upper body
- Thermal long-sleeve base layerWinter jerseyInsulated jacket
You always run warm
Warmth tendency: always warm
- Upper body
- Long-sleeve jerseyBase layer opt
- Legs
- Bib tights
No change at 0°C for: riding hard or racing.
FAQ
Cycling at 0°C: quick answers
What riders ask about kit at 0°C (32°F), from gloves to rain.
What should I wear cycling at 0°C (32°F)?
At 0°C (32°F), at a moderate pace in light wind and no rain, wear: cycling cap, thermal base layer, winter jersey or softshell, thermal winter gloves, thermal bib tights, thermal overshoes and thermal socks.
What to wear cycling at 32 degrees Fahrenheit?
32°F is 0°C. At a moderate pace in light wind (6 mph) and no rain, wear: cycling cap, thermal base layer, winter jersey or softshell, thermal winter gloves, thermal bib tights, thermal overshoes and thermal socks.
Do I need gloves cycling at 0°C?
At 0°C (32°F) wear thermal winter gloves.
Shorts or tights at 0°C?
At 0°C (32°F) wear thermal bib tights.
What changes if it rains at 0°C?
At 0°C (32°F) with rain likely, change this: upper body: thermal base layer, winter jersey or softshell and rain jacket (waterproof); hands: waterproof winter gloves; feet: waterproof winter overshoes and thermal socks.
Other temperatures
Colder or warmer?
What changes compared with 0°C, at the same moderate pace.
Colder
What to wear at -5°C (23°F)
- Head
- Thermal skull cap
- Upper body
- Thermal long-sleeve base layer, winter jersey and insulated jacket
Warmer
What to wear at 5°C (41°F)
- Legs
- Bib tights
It's never exactly 0°C for the whole ride
The calculator uses the hourly forecast for your location and ride window, including wind, rain and how hard you're going.