BIKE editors have one thing in common: they are on their bikes all year round. But that's pretty much it. As different as the types of riders are, so are their outfits for autumn.
Type: Marathon / Race
Upper body: With a lightweight functional shirt from Craft, a Pearl Izumi short-sleeved jersey, Santini arm warmers with a brushed interior and the Skins waistcoat with practical openings to the jersey pocket, I'm as flexible as possible and yet weight-optimised.
Legs: Underneath, my classic cycling shorts and leg warmers are enough for me, as I can quickly take them off if I get too hot.
Feet: I put waterproof toe warmers from Mavic over my Shimano racing shoes. Hardly anyone realises how practical these things are. Hürzeler socks are available at the Malle training camp for 10 euros in a pack of 3.
Head: I always wear a racing cap under my helmet. Today it's from Firefly, to match the bike. It also protects me from the wind and absorbs sweat. The same goes for the tube scarf around my neck.
Type: Enduro
Upper body: If only the ground is wet or it's not raining cats and dogs, a breathable wind jacket (Pearl Izumi) is enough for me instead of a rain jacket. If you sweat less, you don't cool down as quickly. Depending on the temperature, the wind jacket can be combined with a short or long jersey plus a functional vest.
Legs: The short rain trousers from Endura keep your bum dry and are also very robust. Knee rings or alternatively lightweight knee pads keep your joints nice and warm.
Feet: Waterproof socks (Sealskinz) protect against water ingress in nasty conditions. Overshoes only get in the way when running and don't work at all in combination with shorts.
Type: All Mountain / Tour
Upper body: On cold days, I combine a light softshell jacket with different vests, short or long sleeves, depending on the temperature.
Legs: Casual and functional, the Endura MT500 softshell trousers can do both and are definitely one of my favourite pieces. They protect against mud and splash water and keep the short or knee-length bib shorts underneath dry.
Feet: I only switch to waterproof winter shoes when it gets really nasty. Otherwise, thick hiking socks are enough for me, even calf-length ones.
Hands: The Minus Glove from Royal is minimally lined with Thinsulate on the upper side, while the grip surface remains unlined. This keeps you warm and still provides plenty of grip.
Head: With clear lenses, I can still see well enough even at dusk. Nevertheless, I always take my helmet lamp with me in autumn - better safe than sorry. I wear a light cap without a wind stopper under my helmet, which reduces annoying noise in my ears.
