If you’re reading this seriously looking for fashion advice for mountain biking please let me know ( ) because that’s really funny. I’m the least fashionable person on the planet. I wear one pair of Blundstone boots (that changes every 5 years), wife beater singlet, Hobart MTB Tours jumper. Jeans in winter, shorts in summer. I live in bib and brace bike shorts whether I’m on the bike or not. If you’re still not convinced, I cut my own hair every three months while drinking a beer in the backyard. But please don’t think I’m a snob, I love people who have style and flair, who put in the effort to look sensational, they make me happy, but its not me.
So why am I writing an article entitled “Mountain Bike Fashion: What to wear , when”? This is a guide to what gear to wear over the range of weather to stay comfortable. I prefer road riding gear because it is very versatile with lots of zips. It looks pretty silly but it works. Mountain bike specific gear looks much better but a lot of it seems to be suited to short downhill runs or sitting at the pub after the ride.
| 25C + | Hot Hot Hot… maybe too hot |
| Head | Well ventilated helmet |
| Torso | Lightweight short sleeve jersey with a full length zipp |
| Hands | Lightweight, short finger gloves or no gloves at all |
| Legs | Lightweight shorts |
| Feet | Lightweight socks and well venilated shoes |
| Carry | Water / sunscreen, headband or sweatsoaker |
Its hot, riding uphill is not much fun, even less than normal. Make sure you have water and a route amongst shady trees might be the go. I live in Hobart, Tasmania, a cool climate location and I pull the pin somewhere around 30C. Maybe its time to find a nice pub with a shady beer garden. ( have a look at the pasty guy in the photo – he doesn’t see much sun )
Try and stay cool
| 20 24 C | Perfect for easy riding |
| Head | Well Ventelated helmet |
| Torso | Tee shirt or short sleeve Jersey |
| Hands | Short finger gloves |
| Legs | Shorts |
| Feet | Socks and shoes |
| Carry | Water / sunscreen, money for post ride beer |
Happy days! Possibly too hot if you have lots of tough climbing to do but for most riding this is ideal and you can wear pretty much what ever you like. If you’re trying to convert you’re partner to mountain bike riding this is the day.
Great weather for easy riding
| 15 – 19C | Perfect Conditions |
| Head | Helmet |
| Torso | Wife beater beater singlet and short sleeve jersey OR long sleeve top |
| Hands | Short finger gloves or lightweight long finger gloves |
| Legs | Shorts |
| Feet | Socks and shoes |
| Carry | Arm warmers, spray jacket, beer money |
You can ride all day in these temperatures without a care in the world, except for snakes and mechanicals and where you left your kids
Mountain biking without a care in the world
| 10 – 14C | Great Conditions for hard riding |
| Head | Helmet |
| Torso | Wife beater singlet, short sleeve jersey and arm warmers, or undershirt and long sleeve top |
| Hands | Mid weight full finger gloves |
| Legs | Short knicks, |
| Feet | socks and shoes |
| Carry | Packable spray jacket, leg warmers |
For Tassie riders, like me, this is perfect. Summer mornings or spring and autumn afternoons. Be prepared for weather changes but apart from that just have fun!
Ready for hard riding
| 5 – 9C | Good Conditions if you’re prepared |
| Head | Helmet |
| Torso | Mid weight thermal and a jacket |
| Hands | Mid weight full finger gloves |
| Legs | Short knicks and leg warmers or 3/4 length knicks |
| Feet | Winter socks and shoes |
| Carry | Packable spray jacket, neck tube |
Great conditions for hard riding, but be prepared. At 9C on a dry, windless sunny day you can probably get away with short sleeve jersey, shorts, arm warmers and gloves – IF NOTHING GOES WRONG! If you have to stop for a while as you or a mate fixes a flat tyre you will cool down so make sure you have enough layers for all possibilities. Time to start wearing technical fabrics
| 0 – 4C | Getting Cold Now – Be Prepared! |
| Head | Helmet, Beanie or Bandana, Neck Tube |
| Torso | Long sleeve thermal top, fleecy top, windproof waterproof jacket. |
| Hands | Winter gloves |
| Legs | Long, winter knicks |
| Feet | Winter socks, shoes and booty covers |
| Carry | Hand warmers, spare pair of gloves, packable spray jacket, space blanket, matches. |
If you’re well prepared, riding in this temperature range can be exhilarating but be careful. Wear technical fabrics that stay warm when they get wet, no cotton! Check the weather! There’s a huge difference between 4C on a dry sunny day sheltered among the trees and 1C descending on an exposed road in the rain with a 20knot wind. Creek crossings which leave you with wet feet might be best avoided – especially early in a ride. Make sure you’re well prepared and carry a few spare items for your less prepared mates..
Prepared for the cold
Below 0C???
Yes you can do it but I draw the line around 0C and pursue other activities.
Beer and a log fire
