Extreme cold conditions
What to wear cycling at -5°C (23°F)
Minus five is full winter kit with nothing left out: thermal skull cap, a thermal base layer, winter jersey and an insulated jacket, the warmest thermal gloves and thermal overshoes. If it's wet as well, switch to waterproof gloves and overshoes. The bigger risk at this temperature isn't the cold but the road: black ice on shaded corners, bridges and wet patches. Ride a route you know, keep it shorter, and stay closer to home than you would in spring.
Updated
Short answer
Thermal skull cap, thermal long-sleeve base layer, winter jersey, insulated jacket, 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 -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.
Strong wind
35 km/h, 22 mph
- Upper body
- Thermal long-sleeve base layerWinter jerseyInsulated jacketWind gilet opt
Rain likely
60% chance or higher
- Upper body
- Thermal long-sleeve base layerWinter jerseyInsulated jacketRain jacket (waterproof)
- Hands
- Waterproof winter gloves
- Feet
- Waterproof winter overshoesThermal socks
You always run warm
Warmth tendency: always warm
- Upper body
- Thermal base layerWinter jersey or softshell
No change at -5°C for: riding hard or racing, easy or recovery pace and you always run cold.
FAQ
Cycling at -5°C: quick answers
What riders ask about kit at -5°C (23°F), from gloves to rain.
What should I wear cycling at -5°C (23°F)?
At -5°C (23°F), at a moderate pace in light wind and no rain, wear: thermal skull cap, thermal long-sleeve base layer, winter jersey, insulated jacket, thermal winter gloves, thermal bib tights, thermal overshoes and thermal socks.
What to wear cycling at 23 degrees Fahrenheit?
23°F is -5°C. At a moderate pace in light wind (6 mph) and no rain, wear: thermal skull cap, thermal long-sleeve base layer, winter jersey, insulated jacket, thermal winter gloves, thermal bib tights, thermal overshoes and thermal socks.
Do I need gloves cycling at -5°C?
At -5°C (23°F) wear thermal winter gloves.
Shorts or tights at -5°C?
At -5°C (23°F) wear thermal bib tights.
What changes if it rains at -5°C?
At -5°C (23°F) with rain likely, change this: upper body: thermal long-sleeve base layer, winter jersey, insulated jacket and rain jacket (waterproof); hands: waterproof winter gloves; feet: waterproof winter overshoes and thermal socks.
Other temperatures
Colder or warmer?
What changes compared with -5°C, at the same moderate pace.
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.