Cool conditions
What to wear cycling at 10°C (50°F)
Ten degrees is the trickiest temperature in cycling: cold at the start, warm on the first climb. A long-sleeve jersey with leg warmers gives you room to adjust, and this is where effort changes the most. Ride hard and you'll drop a layer; go easy and the optional base layer earns its place.
Updated
Short answer
Long-sleeve jersey, light cycling gloves, bib shorts, leg warmers and light overshoes or toe covers. Optional: light cap and base layer.
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 10°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
Adjust
When to change your kit at 10°C
Effort, wind, rain and how warm you run all shift the recommendation. Only the parts that change are listed.
Riding hard or racing
Race pace or a fast group ride
- Upper body
- JerseyArm warmers opt
- Hands
- Fingerless gloves or no glovesThin full-finger gloves opt
- Legs
- Bib shortsKnee warmers opt
- Feet
- Regular cycling socksToe covers opt
Strong wind
35 km/h, 22 mph
- Upper body
- Long-sleeve jerseyBase layer optWind gilet opt
Rain likely
60% chance or higher
- Upper body
- Long-sleeve jerseyBase layer optRain jacket (waterproof)
- Feet
- Waterproof overshoes
You always run cold
Warmth tendency: always cold
- Head
- Cycling cap
- Upper body
- Thermal base layerWinter jersey or softshell
- Legs
- Bib tights
You always run warm
Warmth tendency: always warm
- Upper body
- JerseyArm warmers opt
- Hands
- Fingerless gloves or no glovesThin full-finger gloves opt
- Legs
- Bib shortsKnee warmers opt
- Feet
- Regular cycling socksToe covers opt
No change at 10°C for: easy or recovery pace.
FAQ
Cycling at 10°C: quick answers
What riders ask about kit at 10°C (50°F), from gloves to rain.
What should I wear cycling at 10°C (50°F)?
At 10°C (50°F), at a moderate pace in light wind and no rain, wear: long-sleeve jersey, light cycling gloves, bib shorts, leg warmers and light overshoes or toe covers. Optional: light cap and base layer.
What to wear cycling at 50 degrees Fahrenheit?
50°F is 10°C. At a moderate pace in light wind (6 mph) and no rain, wear: long-sleeve jersey, light cycling gloves, bib shorts, leg warmers and light overshoes or toe covers. Optional: light cap and base layer.
Do I need gloves cycling at 10°C?
At 10°C (50°F) wear light cycling gloves.
Shorts or tights at 10°C?
At 10°C (50°F) wear bib shorts and leg warmers.
What changes if it rains at 10°C?
At 10°C (50°F) with rain likely, change this: upper body: long-sleeve jersey, base layer (optional) and rain jacket (waterproof); feet: waterproof overshoes.
What if I ride hard at 10°C?
At race pace or on a fast group ride you warm up a lot more. Change this: upper body: jersey and arm warmers (optional); hands: fingerless gloves or no gloves and thin full-finger gloves (optional); legs: bib shorts and knee warmers (optional); feet: regular cycling socks and toe covers (optional).
Other temperatures
Colder or warmer?
What changes compared with 10°C, at the same moderate pace.
Colder
What to wear at 5°C (41°F)
- Head
- Cycling cap
- Upper body
- Thermal base layer and winter jersey or softshell
- Hands
- Thermal winter gloves
- Legs
- Bib tights
- Feet
- Thermal overshoes and thermal socks
Warmer
What to wear at 15°C (59°F)
- Head
- Helmet only
- Upper body
- Jersey and arm warmers (optional)
- Hands
- Fingerless gloves or no gloves (optional)
- Legs
- Bib shorts and knee warmers (optional)
- Feet
- Regular cycling socks
It's never exactly 10°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.