What to wear cycling at every temperature
Dress for the coldest part of your ride. From 15°C a short-sleeve jersey and bib shorts; from 10°C swap to long sleeves; below 10°C add tights, below 8°C gloves, and below 5°C a thermal base layer. Add a waterproof jacket for rain, a windproof vest for strong wind, and sun protection when UV reaches 3.
Updated 2026-10-04 · These are the same rules the VeloWhere app uses for a rider with a neutral temperature preference.
Cycling clothing by temperature
| Coldest on your ride | Top | Legs | Hands | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15°C and warmer59°F+ | Short-sleeve jersey | Bib shorts | — | Classic summer kit. |
| 10–15°C50–59°F | Long-sleeve jersey | Bib shorts | — | Cool starts warm up quickly; sleeves, not tights. |
| 8–10°C46–50°F | Long-sleeve jersey | Cycling tights | — | Cover your knees from here down. |
| 5–8°C41–46°F | Long-sleeve jersey | Cycling tights | Cycling gloves | Hands get cold first at speed. |
| Below 5°Cbelow 41°F | Thermal base layer | Cycling tights | Cycling gloves | Swap the jersey for a thermal base layer. |
Like to feel warmer? Read the table as if it were a few degrees colder. Run hot? Read it a few degrees warmer. In the app, each step of the temperature preference shifts the plan by one degree.
What to add for rain, wind and sun
Rain: Waterproof jacket
More than about 0.5 mm/h anywhere on the route
Strong wind: Windproof vest
Wind above about 36 km/h (10 m/s)
Bright or sunny: Cycling sunglasses
UV index 3 or more, or bright with little cloud
Strong sun: Sun protection
UV 3–5: sunscreen (SPF 30) · UV 6+: UV sleeves and a cap
Common questions
What should I wear cycling at 10°C?
At around 10°C, wear a long-sleeve jersey with bib shorts. If the coldest part of your ride drops below 10°C, switch to cycling tights, and below 8°C add gloves. Add a waterproof jacket if rain is forecast anywhere on the route.
What should I wear cycling at 5°C?
Below 5°C, wear a thermal base layer, cycling tights and cycling gloves. Between 5 and 8°C a long-sleeve jersey, tights and gloves are usually enough.
What should I wear cycling at 15°C?
From 15°C a short-sleeve jersey and bib shorts are usually right. If the morning start is cooler than 15°C, start in a long-sleeve jersey.
What should I wear cycling in the rain?
If more than about 0.5 mm of rain per hour is forecast anywhere along your route, pack or wear a waterproof jacket, on top of the clothing for the temperature.
What should I wear cycling in strong wind?
When wind along the route goes above about 36 km/h (10 m/s), add a windproof vest. Wind also makes it feel colder, so dress for the cooler end of the temperature range.
Should I dress for the temperature at the start of the ride?
Dress for the coldest part of the ride, not the start. On a long ride the temperature can change by several degrees between valleys, climbs and the time of day, which is why VeloWhere checks the forecast at each point of your route for the time you'll be there.
Let VeloWhere do this for your actual route
It checks the forecast at every point of your ride, at the time you'll be there, and gives you the gear plan. Free on iPhone and Android.