What to wear for autumn rides

Autumn is a great time to ride. The roads are quieter and the countryside looks good. But it's also a bit awkward to dress for. You can set off in the cold, be warm by lunchtime and get rained on on the way home.

You likely don't need loads of new kit. A few layers you can add or take off will do for most rides until December.

A few basics

Dress for how you'll feel ten minutes in, not how you feel on the doorstep. You warm up fast once you're moving, so being a bit chilly at the start is normal.

Wear several thin layers rather than one thick one. You can take them off and stuff them in a pocket when the sun comes out.

Keep the wind off your chest. It's what makes descents cold, and a gilet or packable jacket sorts it out.

What to wear at different temperatures

These are rough guides. Some people feel the cold more than others, so change them to suit you.

• 15°C and above: Short-sleeve jersey and bib shorts. Put a gilet or arm warmers in your pocket for early starts and shady descents.
• 10 to 15°C: A long-sleeve jersey, or a short-sleeve one with arm warmers. Add a thin base layer if you feel the cold, and take a gilet. Most people can still wear bib shorts, with leg warmers if your knees get cold.
• 5 to 10°C: Merino base layer, thermal long-sleeve jersey, and bib tights or bib shorts with leg warmers. Add gloves and a neck warmer, and carry a packable jacket in case it turns.
• Below 5°C: Merino base layer, thermal jersey, jacket, bib tights, warm gloves and overshoes. Watch out for ice, especially first thing.

Hands, feet and neck

These get cold first, and once they do the ride isn't much fun.

Thin softshell gloves are fine for most of autumn. Keep the thick pair for winter.

Merino socks stay comfortable even when they get a bit damp.

Overshoes are the easiest way to keep your feet warm and dry, and they take up hardly any space in a pocket.

A neck warmer weighs almost nothing and you can pull it up or down as you warm up.

Wet roads and leaves

The roads can be damp even when it isn't raining, and wet leaves are slippery, so take corners a bit more gently. If you ride most days, mudguards are worth fitting. Otherwise wear something you don't mind getting splashed.

Lights

It gets dark early now, and a ride that starts in daylight can finish after sunset. Keep a front and rear light in your bag from now on, even for short rides.

Before you set off

Check the wind as well as the temperature. Pack a gilet or jacket even if it looks fine outside. Take a spare layer for the way home too, because it's usually colder by then.