Dressing for a fat bike ride in the snow comes down to selecting the right accessories and figuring out the right number of layers, with a particular focus on keeping your core and extremities.
Riding at Adams Farm recently, the weather was mild, allowing us to leave some of the layers at home. Here’s what Steve wore:
- On top – Under his “Yeti Hunter” wool sweater, Steve wears 1 or 2 baselayers, depending on the temperature, starting with a long sleeve merino wool baselayer. Mid-to-light weight gloves with Gore-Tex sure fingers stay dry.
- On the bottom – Softshell pants over bib shorts or tights offer some warmth and protection. Shimano MW5 shoes with wool socks keep his feet warm and dry.
What I wore:
- On top – I get colder than Steve, so I usually add one layer to whatever he is planning on wearing, and bring a few extra items just in case. During this ride, I wore a sleeveless baselayer under a long sleeve top and a wool sweater from Oregon Cyclewear. While I was wearing lightweight gloves from Pearl Izumi, I had a heavier pair of Gore gloves in my pack along with a wind-blocking vest (just in case).
- On the bottom – Insulated bib tights, wool socks, and Shimano MW5 shoes keep me warm for most rides. For extreme temperatures, I often add toe warmers and a pair of softshell pants.
For the most extreme rides we break out the ski stuff for maximum warmth including:
