After suffering many years of mid-winter discomfort,
modern

clothing is at last making life bearable for the year round MTB’er.

Here is my list of clothing items I swear by to fend off the chill winds.

Endura bib tights

Lovely and warm with a rubberised shin to fend off the worst of the mud. They also
last for ages.



Karrimor ABL top


A thin thermal underwear top that doesn’t smell or generate static. Incredibly warm
for its weight. Two worn together is as warm as a thin fleece!!



Neoprene overshoes

They get chewed up on the soles very easily
but will last about 2 winters before they disintegrate. £10 a winter for warm
toes is a bargain.



Windstopper fleece gloves

Try Gore or Polaris. Toasty warm for such
thin gloves.



Porelle dry socks

Use on their own in less severe conditions,
or in conjunction with overshoes when it’s really grim.



A thin balaclava

Roll up as a skull cap under your helmet, use as a neck warmer, or even go for the
full-on terrorist look when frostbite threatens.



Trek lobster overmitts

Non-breathable black nylon ‘things’. Quite
tricky to ride in but absolute life-savers when nothing else will help. Pack up
very small.



Alexa Lombardia top

Yes – a roadie top. If it were made by an
MTB company it would be called a ‘close fitting micro-fleece mid layer’, but it isn’t.
More comfortable than a fleece top.



Gore-Tex Winner smock

A very simple waterproof top, with a short
zip, no hood and 1 pocket. Made by Gore bikewear, and the most breathable waterproof
I have ever worn. Wear it even when it doesn’t rain to save on mid layers – you’ll
have to carry a waterproof anyway at this time of year. And the best bit, 340grams
and £99. Bargain.



A buffalo supporter

A little known piece of kit that protects that most important of all extremities
(male readership only). Keeps your bits cosseted behind pertex and thick fibrepile,
bliss……