Fall 2015 Cycling Essentials
With stay-out-all-day temperatures and changing colors of the leaves, Fall is hands down my favorite time to ride! Cooler temps and shorter days require a change up in gear from your summer kit to help you get the most out of your rides this time of year. Here are a few of my favorite knickers, gloves, lights, sock, and jerseys for fall cycling.
#5 | Blackburn Central Front Smart Light
Shorter days means a commute home in the dark and fewer opportunities for daylight mountain bike rides. At 18-500 lumens, Blackburn’s Central Front Light is a trail-worthy headlight at a very reasonable price. A perfect fit for the commuter who also enjoys some trail time. Unique auto-adjusting setting allows the light to change the amount of light based on current conditions. Or just dial it up to 500 lumens and crank out a late night lap on your favorite local singletrack loop.
$119 | blackburndesign.com
#4 | Smartwool PhD Snowboard Medium Socks
Go ahead, laugh it up, but Merino Wool socks, like SmartWool’s PhD snowboard socks, combined with knickers (see #2) is my go-to combination in the 30-50 degree range. The extra thickness is perfect on the feet, and the knee-high length provides just enough lower-leg warmth on cool days. And just admit it, you dig the possibilities of color combinations! Plus, if you’re a snowboarder, you need some new socks anyway!
#3 | Club Ride Jack Flannel
This is your new favorite flannel. Quick drying, breathable, and UPF 30 for when you’re ripping your favorite singletrack on a stay-out-all day sort of afternoon. Reflective highlights for your commute. And 100% geek-free for when your ride ends at the local tap room. Win, win!
#2 | Swrve Lightweight wwr Knickers
Every cyclist should have a good pair of knickers in their kit. I turn to knickers as soon as the temperature drops below 70 degrees, and usually wear them all winter, in combination with a full length base layer or snowboard socks (see #4) depending on the temperature. Swrve has come a long way since their early designs, and their Lightweight wwr Knickers are the most comfortable riding pants I’ve owned. Articulated knees, cyclist specific waist cut, double-ply seat, reflective accents, and DWR finish for water resistance.
$110 | swrve.us
#1 | Ibex Kilometer Glove
Cold hands is one of the best ways to ruin a day in the saddle. A good pair of gloves is arguably the most important piece of gear for anyone who ventures out in cool or cold weather. Ibex’s warm and comfy Kilometer Glove is made with a wool blend, mixed with soft suede in key spots. Ideal for cycling, cross country skiing, running, or scooping the driveway. My go-to gloves for all cool weather aerobic activities.