Rapha's Guide to Staying Warm – Women's

Roll up to a ride without enough on, and you’ll soon be turning back home in search of central heating. But get your layers right, and you’ll make the most of your winter miles. Use our guide to learn the principles of staying warm on cold days.

17 February 2020

Key Principles

It’s not too complicated. There are three golden rules for winter riding that should never be broken.

Kit That Fits

Close-fitting layers trap insulating pockets of air near your body. Loose layers act like a bellows, pumping cold air around your body, purging precious heat.

Bring The Heat

Your body is a radiator. Opt for lighter, removable layers on the days you’ll be pedalling hard.

Be Versatile

A packable extra layer, and wearing breathable base and mid-layers, will make all the difference if the weather changes.

What To Wear

Building from the base layer, Rapha’s collection of winter clothing and accessories follow the above principles to keep you riding in warmth, comfort, and style through the colder months. Here are a few key pieces for this season.

Beneath it all

Base layers are the foundation of a winter riding outfit, and they play a far more complicated role in temperature regulation than simply keeping your upper body warm. Base layers sit close to the skin, working to wick away sweat – without one, this sweat can turn to clamminess and chills very quickly.

Rapha’s winter base layers make use of heavier (yet still breathable) fabrics such as merino, and feature higher collars to stop the wind from venturing down your jersey.

Merino Base layers

WOMEN'S MERINO BASE LAYER - SHORT SLEEVE

A supremely comfortable base layer made from highly-breathable merino.

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WOMEN'S MERINO BASE LAYER - LONG SLEEVE

Wicks moisture superbly and is naturally odour resistant.

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Women's Pro Team Base layers

WOMEN'S PRO TEAM MESH BASE LAYER - LONG SLEEVE

A perfect next-to-skin layer for high-tempo riding and racing in cooler conditions.

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WOMEN'S THERMAL BASE LAYER

A high performance layer for training and racing in wintry conditions.

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Don’t Forget The Thermals

There are few more cosy and comfortable cycling garments than thermal bibs and jerseys. Their warmth isn’t just derived from the weight of their fabrics, but from the use of brushed-back linings – the official name of the soft, fluffy interior of thermal clothes. These soft, short loops of fabric hold onto warm air around your body, creating a layer of insulation. Warm legs will work better, but not just that – thermal bibs and tights add warming material around your lower back and torso to keep your core warmer.

Jerseys

WOMEN'S PRO TEAM THERMAL JERSEY - COLOURBURN

A cold weather training jersey for riders and racers looking to stay aero without freezing.

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WOMEN'S CLASSIC LONG SLEEVE JERSEY

Light, soft, breathable and adaptable to a huge range of conditions.

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Bib Shorts & Tights

WOMEN'S CORE WINTER TIGHTS WITH PAD

A pair of tights for winter that combine value with defence from the cold weather.

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WOMEN'S PADDED TIGHTS

A pair of full-length, fleece-lined tights with chamois pad designed for winter riding.

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Block The Wind

A cold breeze can cut through layers but one sure-fire way of staying warm is to wear an outer layer with a windproof finish, keeping cold air away from your core.

For days when a windproof jacket is too much, choose a top with windproof front panels, and breathable rear panels. This will block the wind head-on, while allowing excess heat to escape out of the back, a clever way of staying warm without getting sweaty.

Jerseys

WOMEN'S BREVET LONG SLEEVE WINDBLOCK JERSEY

A versatile, multi-tasking jersey designed to offer wind protection and supreme breathability.

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Jackets

WOMEN'S CLASSIC WIND JACKET II

A windproof, water-resistant and highly breathable cycling jacket for changeable conditions.

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WOMEN'S CORE WINTER JACKET

The Women’s Core Winter Jacket provides defence against cold weather every day.

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Against the elements

The use of insulation in cycling clothing is a fairly recent innovation, but it’s caught on quickly. Down and Polartec® Alpha® insulation hold on to heat like nothing else, and they’re highly compressible when it comes time to put them in a jersey pocket, making them a great ‘just in case’ addition to your outfit.

Gilets

WOMEN'S BREVET INSULATED GILET

An insulating and packable outer layer for cool weather adventures.

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Like a Glove

Your hands and feet are the first things to feel the cold, and the right choice of gloves, socks, and overshoes can keep you riding through the most bitter weather.

Hands and feet are the perfect place to include high visibility detailing – as your feet are almost constantly moving while riding, and hands move while signalling, hi-vis elements are more likely to catch the eye. Rapha’s Pro Team Overshoes, Winter Gloves, and Brevet Reflective Gloves all include hi-vis elements, keeping you seen as well as warm.

Gloves

WINTER GLOVES

An insulating and water-resistant glove for riding in cold weather.

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Socks & Overshoes

WINTER SOCKS

The Rapha Winter Socks have been designed for maximum warmth and comfort on even the coldest days on the bike.

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OVERSHOES

Neoprene overshoes that insulate and protect the feet against the rain and cold.

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Protect Your Neck (And Head)

Flick through photography of cold weather races, and you’ll notice that the majority of the peloton wouldn’t dream of crossing a start line without suitably cosy neck and headwear. This is for a very good reason – not only does a quality Merino Collar or Winter Hat keep you feeling warm, they can also be stashed into a pocket whenever needed.

Hats & Caps

MERINO HAT

Made from luxury merino wool, the Rapha Merino Hat offers much needed comfort in cold riding conditions.

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MERINO HEADBAND

A knitted merino headband that’s less bulky than a winter hat but more insulating than a cotton cap.

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Warmers

MERINO ARM WARMERS

Arm warmers are a vital accessory for riding in changeable conditions.

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