Tools to prevent a breakup with your bike.
One Gore Thermium Jacket ($350)
The Thermium is a virtual miracle of insulation: it’s thinner and lighter than a sweatshirt but as warm as a down puffy. It breathes well, too, so wearing it while going hard didn’t result in moist underlayers.
Giro Timberwolf Helmet ($99)
The Timberwolf’s insulation, with a soft fleece liner, is cozy and warm, but it’s the helmet’s climate control that makes it so effective. A switch on the crown opens and shuts the ten vents, mak- ing it easy to regulate your temperature and keep out precipitation.
First Lite Minaret Aerowool Crew Top ($90)
Though not as soft as untreated merino, the Minaret is the ultimate base layer for winter riding. The fibers are infused with hydrophilic particles that attract, then vent, sweat, which kept us drier—and hence warmer—during intervals.
45Nrth CobraFist Pogie Mitts ($115)
For truly frigid conditions (think: subzero), you’ll want to layer gloves under these insulated mitts that slip over handlebars and lock into place. With 400-gram PrimaLoft Gold fill, these are so warm they have two zippered vents that can be opened to dump heat. If your hands are cold in these, don’t ride.
Garmin Edge 820 GPS ($400)
Accurate navigation is vital in winter, when a wrong turn could leave you lost and frozen. We rely on the 820, with a super-sharp color screen and the most advanced mapping software we’ve tried. Best of all, the touchscreen is operable while wearing gloves.
Assos iJ.tiburu Evo7 Jersey ($239)
This midweight jersey is surprisingly warm, given its thin, sheer fabrics. A wind-repellent layer up front cuts the cold without adding much bulk, and the stretch-grid fleece back allows heat to escape.
Adidas Sport Eyewear Zonyk Aero Pro Sunglasses ($199)
The wraparound Aero Pro shades provide almost as much coverage as goggles, and they quash fogging, thanks to a removable brow pad that lets air circulate. Lenses can be subbed in and out, but we found the Blue Mirror best in snow.
Specialized Defroster Trail Shoes ($200)
The Defrosters aren’t big or warm enough for expedition riding, but, thanks to a thin layer of 400-gram fill, they’re toasty despite the sleek profile. Plus, the big neo- prene cuff cinches tight.
Pearl Izumi P.R.O. Pursuit Cycling Bib Tights ($195)
With three-layer soft-shell panels in the quads and seat, to ward off water, and lighter-weight fabrics elsewhere, these bottoms provided protection from the elements where we needed it.
Rapha Winter Gloves ($130)
A wind layer on the back tempered stinging gusts and kept us warm down to 20 degrees. The sleek cut and goatskin palms made fiddly tasks possible without going down to bare hands.