Cold conditions
What to wear cycling at 5°C (41°F)
At 5°C it's still winter kit, but regular bib tights are enough on the legs. Hands and feet decide whether this is a good ride or a long count back home: thermal gloves and overshoes matter more here than an extra layer on your chest.
Updated
Short answer
Cycling cap, thermal base layer, winter jersey or softshell, thermal winter gloves, 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 5°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 5°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
- Hands
- Light cycling gloves
- Legs
- Bib shortsLeg warmers
- Feet
- Light overshoes or toe covers
Strong wind
35 km/h, 22 mph
- Upper body
- Thermal base layerWinter jersey or softshellWind 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
- Upper body
- Thermal long-sleeve base layerWinter jerseyInsulated jacket
- Legs
- Thermal bib tights
You always run warm
Warmth tendency: always warm
- Head
- Light cap opt
- Upper body
- Long-sleeve jerseyBase layer opt
- Hands
- Light cycling gloves
- Legs
- Bib shortsLeg warmers
- Feet
- Light overshoes or toe covers
No change at 5°C for: easy or recovery pace.
FAQ
Cycling at 5°C: quick answers
What riders ask about kit at 5°C (41°F), from gloves to rain.
What should I wear cycling at 5°C (41°F)?
At 5°C (41°F), at a moderate pace in light wind and no rain, wear: cycling cap, thermal base layer, winter jersey or softshell, thermal winter gloves, bib tights, thermal overshoes and thermal socks.
What to wear cycling at 41 degrees Fahrenheit?
41°F is 5°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, bib tights, thermal overshoes and thermal socks.
Do I need gloves cycling at 5°C?
At 5°C (41°F) wear thermal winter gloves.
Shorts or tights at 5°C?
At 5°C (41°F) wear bib tights.
What changes if it rains at 5°C?
At 5°C (41°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.
What if I ride hard at 5°C?
At race pace or on a fast group ride you warm up a lot more. Change this: upper body: jersey and arm warmers; hands: light cycling gloves; legs: bib shorts and leg warmers; feet: light overshoes or toe covers.
Other temperatures
Colder or warmer?
What changes compared with 5°C, at the same moderate pace.
Colder
What to wear at 0°C (32°F)
- Legs
- Thermal bib tights
Warmer
What to wear at 10°C (50°F)
- Head
- Light cap (optional)
- Upper body
- Long-sleeve jersey and base layer (optional)
- Hands
- Light cycling gloves
- Legs
- Bib shorts and leg warmers
- Feet
- Light overshoes or toe covers
It's never exactly 5°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.