What to Wear Cycling at Every Temperature (and What Goes Under Your Jersey)
Under a cycling jersey, wear a thin moisture-wicking base layer or nothing. Under padded cycling shorts or bibs, wear nothing at all. Then dress for the temperature: short sleeves above 65°F, add arm warmers and a vest from 55 to 65°F, long sleeves and leg warmers from 45 to 55°F, and thermal layers with bib tights below 45°F.
In short
- Under a jersey: a thin wicking base layer or nothing. Under padded shorts or bibs: nothing.
- Above 65°F wear short sleeves. From 55 to 65°F add arm warmers and a vest.
- From 45 to 55°F go to long sleeves and cover your legs. Below 45°F wear thermal layers and bib tights.
- Wind, rain and effort can shift these bands by 5 to 10 degrees.
What should you wear under a cycling jersey?
A thin, moisture-wicking base layer, or nothing. The base layer's job is to move sweat off your skin so it can evaporate, which keeps you drier in summer and warmer on cold descents. A cotton undershirt does the opposite. It soaks up sweat and holds it against you, and wet cotton gets cold fast once you stop pedaling. Cheap synthetic fabric is not much better. pelotonracer on BikeForums described it well: "cheap jerseys feel plastic and get damp quickly, while expensive ones feel better."
Our cycling base layers are a lightweight sleeveless mesh in polyester and elastane. They are most often worn under a summer jersey to help with cooling, or under a winter jersey as a light extra layer.
Women usually wear a sports bra under the jersey, with or without a base layer on top of it. If you wear bib shorts, the base layer goes on first and the bib straps sit over it.
Do you wear underwear under cycling shorts?
No. Padded cycling shorts and bibs are made to be worn against bare skin. Underwear adds seams right where the saddle presses and traps moisture, two of the main causes of chafing and saddle sores. The chamois is the underwear.
If you want padding under regular shorts or pants, for example on a commute, choose padded cycling underwear. Our padded cycling underwear has a thin 3D gel pad made to disappear under everyday clothes.
What should you wear cycling at each temperature?
Use this table as a starting point. Dress so you feel slightly cool for the first ten minutes, because you warm up fast once you are moving.
| Temperature | Top | Bottom | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| Above 75°F (24°C) | Short sleeve or sleeveless jersey, mesh base layer optional | Bib shorts or cycling shorts | Cap, sunscreen, extra water |
| 65 to 75°F (18 to 24°C) | Short sleeve jersey, mesh base layer | Bib shorts or cycling shorts | Light vest for early starts |
| 55 to 65°F (13 to 18°C) | Short sleeve jersey, base layer, arm warmers | Bib shorts | Packable vest for descents |
| 45 to 55°F (7 to 13°C) | Long sleeve jersey, or short sleeve plus arm warmers, base layer | Bib shorts with leg warmers, or bib tights | Vest, light full-finger gloves |
| 35 to 45°F (2 to 7°C) | Long sleeve jersey with thermal fleece, base layer | Bib tights with thermal fleece | Windproof vest or jacket, full gloves, shoe covers |
| Below 35°F (2°C) | Long sleeve jersey with thermal fleece, base layer, cycling jacket | Thermal bib tights | Winter gloves, shoe covers, head and neck cover |
Wind, rain, sun and how hard you ride can shift these bands by 5 to 10 degrees. A windy, cloudy 55°F with long descents feels colder than a calm, sunny 50°F with steady climbing.
What should you wear cycling in 50 degree weather?
At 50°F (10°C), most riders wear a base layer, a long sleeve jersey (or a short sleeve jersey with arm warmers), bib shorts with leg warmers or bib tights, light full-finger gloves and a vest in the back pocket. If the day will warm up, the short sleeve and warmers option is better, since warmers come off and fit in a pocket.
What should you wear cycling in 40 degree weather?
At 40°F (4°C), cover everything. Wear a base layer, a long sleeve jersey with thermal fleece, bib tights (fleece-lined if you feel the cold), full winter gloves, shoe covers and something over your ears. Add a windproof vest or jacket for descents, because wind chill at 25 mph is far below the air temperature.
When do you need a warmer jersey instead of layers?
Below about 50°F, a standard summer jersey starts to struggle. It is built to push sweat out as fast as possible, and on a cold descent that damp outer surface chills you. A brushed fleece lining holds a thin layer of warm air against your body while sweat still moves outward.
Our long sleeve cycling jerseys come in the same wicking fabric as the summer range by default. The thermal fleece is an add-on, so you select the fleece lining in the customization panel on the jersey's product page. The same option exists on our cycling bib tights. Fleece adds a little bulk, so if you are between sizes or plan to wear a base layer underneath, size up.
How do arm warmers, leg warmers and vests help?
They turn one summer kit into a three-season kit. A cold morning that warms into a mild afternoon is the hardest day to dress for: too cold for a jersey alone at the start, too warm for full winter kit by mid-ride. With removable pieces you adjust on the move.
- Arm warmers pull on under the jersey sleeves and roll down or come off in seconds. Ours have a silicone gripper so they do not slide down. Shop arm and leg warmers.
- Leg warmers do the same for your legs with bib shorts.
- A vest blocks wind on your chest for descents and early starts. Pick a windproof one that folds small enough to fit in a back pocket.
- A long sleeve jersey with the fleece lining takes over when the mornings stay cold. Add the thermal fleece in the customization panel on the product page of any long sleeve jersey.
A good order to build in: arm warmers and a vest first, since they extend your summer kit right away, then leg warmers or bib tights, then a long sleeve jersey with the fleece lining.
What should you wear cycling in hot weather?
Above 80°F, airflow matters more than anything. 80vette on BikeForums, riding through Florida summers, recommends full-zip jerseys for hot climates, and the advice holds anywhere it gets hot. Look for mesh side panels, a full-length zip you can open on climbs, and a light-colored or lightweight jersey. Our jerseys pair a 140 GSM moisture-wicking polyester body with 110 GSM mesh side panels and a full-length hidden zip for this reason.
A thin mesh base layer can help in the heat too, since it moves sweat off your skin. Add a cap under the helmet, sunscreen on exposed skin and more water than you think you need.
Quotes from riders are reproduced exactly as they were posted, typos and all.
Frequently asked questions
Do you wear a base layer under a cycling jersey in summer?
Many riders do. A thin mesh base layer moves sweat off your skin and can feel cooler than a jersey alone. It is optional, so try a ride with and without it.
What do you wear under bib shorts?
Nothing. The chamois sits against bare skin. A base layer can go under the straps on your upper body, and women usually wear a sports bra under the straps.
What temperature is too cold for cycling shorts?
Most riders switch from shorts to leg warmers or bib tights somewhere between 50 and 55°F. Knees are the first thing to feel the cold.
Should I wear a jacket or a vest?
A vest is enough for wind on the chest from about 45 to 65°F. Below that, or in rain, a jacket covers your arms too.
Can I wear a cotton t-shirt under my jersey?
It is better not to. Cotton holds sweat, gets heavy and turns cold on descents. A polyester or mesh base layer does the job properly.
How do I dress for a ride that starts cold and warms up?
Wear a short sleeve jersey with arm warmers and carry a packable vest. Take the pieces off as the day warms up and keep them in your back pockets.
