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Ask An Expert: What To Wear For Shoulder Season Riding

Last modified: 10/9/24

Gloves and other riding gear a stacked in a pile in the snow

Autumn and spring — also known as the “shoulder seasons” — are notoriously difficult to dress for. As the heat of summer shifts to the cold of winter and vice versa, riders are faced with wild weather patterns that can go from cold to wet to windy to warm all in the same ride. If you want to extend your riding season into these unpredictable months, it’s essential to be prepared.

45NRTH Category Manager Brad Menna is here to help you with that. Read on for his advice on what (and what not) to wear as the weather cools down.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Brad: I am the Category Manager for proprietary brands which includes 45NRTH clothing. Having midwestern roots in Chicago coupled with a desire to ride outside as much as possible, I’ve developed a keen understanding of what’s needed to keep riding through the winter months. Understanding rider’s needs and user experience are my guiding principles in product development. I’m a rider just like our customers and am always looking to improve a ride. 45NRTH keeps you comfortable at lower temperatures than nearly all cycling clothing brands. This is really a game changer when you experience it because it truly lowers your threshold to get outside which I believe is good for your body and soul!

What makes riding in the shoulder seasons so unique?

Brad: Variables such as your location, weather, and type of ride all affect how you dress during this season. The complete range of footwear, apparel, gloves, and headwear allows you to customize your gear for where, what, and how you’re riding. Carefully chosen materials and construction keep you comfortable regardless of conditions. Merino wool, waterproof-construction footwear, and wind-resistant shells are all available for riders to choose based on their personal riding.

Two cyclists stand together with their fat bikes. They bothe wear 45nrth Naughtvind jackets.

Can you tell us a little bit more about your design process? What challenges do you have to consider when designing shoulder-season apparel?

Brad: It all starts with understanding the rider’s need. Do they have a problem we need to solve for that’s not available today or can 45NRTH provide a better solution to what riders are using today? We engage with bike shops, heavy users, and sometimes athletes. There is a heavy user group internally in Minnesota that we survey to identify pain points or confirm trends in riding.

Making sure the pieces compliment one another aesthetically and can be layered throughout the winter season is a challenge. Riders are wanting to maximize their spend on winter clothing and prefer shoulder season items can layer into colder weather. This leads to deliberate and conscious design choices. You must think of how the clothing works together versus independently.

Cyclist zips open a vent in his black Naughtvind cycling pants to release excess heat

What are the benefits of having some shoulder season-specific pieces?

Brad: Extending your riding season! As the days get shorter and morning air begins to crispen, you simply grab the right gear. Season specific pieces reduce bulk through appropriate material choices versus piling on summer layers. These pieces can also support later season riding when Old Man Winter shows up.

Why is layering so important in the shoulder season? What tips do you have for layering?

Brad: Layering is important during the shoulder seasons because they may need to go on and off during a ride. Back to those crisp mornings! Leaving for ride, it might be chilly or even dark. However, once the sun comes out to warm things up, you’re going to want to be able to remove layers. A critical ingredient to nearly all 45NRTH product(s) is Merino wool. Merino is magical natural fiber that regulates temperature, breathes, wicks, and blocks odor.

Be strategic with your layering. Always think about where you’re going to stow the layer you’re going to take off – whether on your body or on your bike. When I go on a long ride during shoulder season, I try to time one of my snack consumptions with when I’m going to remove a layer for a 1:1 swap.

Always check the weather before you ride, and if it’s a long one, I suggest looking at what the temperature is going to do during your ride by the hour. You don’t want to find yourself in the reverse situation like above. Map your route and map your weather!

A cyclist rides her fat bike wearing her 45nrth Naughtvind cycling jacket
Cyclist tucks their gloves into the back pocket of their Naughtvind jacket

What are some headwear features riders should avoid?

Brad: Always make sure your headwear can fit comfortably under your helmet. It’s important to make sure you don’t have any pressure points under your helmet as they tend to get magnified the longer you are on your bike. I’ve found through years of riding there’s a temperature threshold during shoulder season where I must cover my ears. Always err on the side of covering versus not.

How about hands? What are some features that riders should look for in shoulder-season gloves?

Brad: Water/Wind resistance gloves like the Nokken are essential for a comfortable shoulder season. The softshell on the Nokken blocks the cold and wind. An AX Suede palm provides grip and comfort regardless of conditions. Also, if you need to use your phone (you know…..to let someone know you’re riding just a little longer) 45NRTH gloves have connectivity in the fingertips so you don’t have to take your gloves off to connect. Lastly, proper fit, articulation and how they mesh with your long sleeve piece are also important for any full-finger glove. You don’t want a gap from glove to sleeve as this will allow cold air in.

Cyclist grips the handlebars of a fat bike while wearing 45nrth Nokken gloves

Does clothing strategy differ for road/gravel, mountain biking, or commuting?

Brad: Not necessarily but here are a few considerations to keep in mind for all rides during shoulder season. Choose wind-resistant materials to keep the chill away from your skin, whether that is on your hands, ears, or legs. Also important for all types of shoulder-season riding are waterproof footwear and breathable materials.

That said, here are a few tips for clothing comfort on each type of ride:

  • Road and gravel: You want materials that have stretch in them for comfort in your shoulders and long enough arm sleeves to reach your gloves. Road and gravel cyclists typically prefer more fitted clothing and have a more crouched bike position, so our Naughtvind bibs with the Ragnarök or Ragnarök Tall boots are a great fit.
  • Mountain: You want gear that is built tough, with articulated knees/elbows that can handle a mountain bike ride, like our Naughtvind Shell Pants. We also suggest a pair of our comfortable wool socks and Nøkken gloves before getting out there. You’re more likely to get your feet wet on a MTB ride than gravel/road so always wear wool socks.
  • Commuting: Visibility is important when commuting. When the sun rises late and sets early, high-visibility apparel with reflectivity is critical for safety. We incorporate reflectivity into our Naughtvind and footwear pieces. These rides are typically shorter in duration and less effort so it’s even more important to keep the wind off you as you’re not generating the same amount heat as a normal bike ride. You may never get to that wicking stage of your ride. On the footwear side of things, the Oland boot is the perfect commuter boot as it will get the job done on AND off the bike.

Thanks for reading and learning what makes for a comfortable shoulder season. Keep it dry, packable, and breathable when you go out. The 45NRTH team is just like you and wants to be comfortable on every ride!