I live in Northern Norway inside the arctic circle (in Narvik). I’m on my bike every day all year round, commuting and/or training in ANY weather condition, and done it for 20 years. My take on these advices: Generally very good. Follow them and you’ll probably be ok. A couple of things, though. You’ll never need three inner layers on upper body, not even in deep winter cold. Keeping warm is not about layers, it’s about insulation. Air is the best insulation, so the trick is to trap it. Get a really thick merino shirt where the fabric itself will hold some air. Also look for a winter cycling jacket with a fluffy inside (Rapha has one). Thick merino + warm or fluffy jacket takes you down to five degrees C. For upper body clothes, size up slightly for cold weather cycling. Three in my view, essential items not mentioned in this video: 1) A cycling vest, preferably with light insulation, adds great flexibility and is your best friend for tuning body temp. 2) A simple headband when it’s cold but not that cold. 3) Thick neoprene shoe covers. Layer up as much as you want, nothing else will keep your feet warm for hours in the cold, trust me. I’d recommend SpatzWear covers. Finally, thanks for the video and best of luck with your wonderful Cycle Norway project!
Thanks for sharing your advice. There is a lot of great information from a local who has experienced it all. I will probably add some of this info to the website when I complete the gear and clothing page. I will credit you for anything I use here. Thanks Terje 🙂
Yeah. I ride with a thicker jacket when it gets cold. Base layer tshirt Soft shell or thick thermal And a vest on the out side. The layers cut my blood flow and also cause me to have warm sweaty areas
@@oOoACFREEMANoOo Your recommendation is probably the best option. But I also agree to Matthews approach to have many layers - even if it is not the best solution for very cold scenarios. But you have to keep in mind that as a light traveler you want to be prepared for most conditions with minimum space/weight required. Just from my noobs perspective.
I agree, good advice 👍 But don't stack too many layers. They will trap sweat and won't work properly. Having one good sweater seems to work the best for me. And yes, a west is really good for regulating body temperature
Have you considered a 'Helsetrøye' (fishnet undershirt) It's one of the lesser known Norwegian inventions, and was tested out by the army already in 1932, and is still part of the standard cold weather gear in the armed forces here. It may even be available in Merino wool these days.
As alternatives I recommend: - Merino gloves: they are very thin but working surprisingly well down to 0C. Works much better for me than normal, thicker gloves like soft shell and such and operating shifters with thinner gloves is a big plus! - Winter cycling boots: they are water resistant, well insulated, work well with 1 or 2 layer of merino socks down to 0C. And only above 15C they get too sweaty. So they cover comfortably a pretty good temperature range. But for a bigger temperature range during bikepacking normal cycling shoes with extra layers might make more sense.
Hey Matthew, did you upgrade your video gear? I really liked the production especially on the "balcony" with your bike. Also thank you for all the Information! :)
You can save money and use the equipment you have at home from other sports. In the winter I have all the layers made up from my hiking gear and I also use hiking socks and boots with flat pedals. My gloves are ski gloves. I only had to buy bibs and a skull cap.
Might need to be a bit more careful if it lasts once, but a tip is to purchase merino blend e.g. 50-80% merino the rest synthetic. Keeps the merino characteristics but adds a lot of durability.
An important thing which I found out is...DON'T LAYER YOUR GLOVES. I thought I was clever trying to layer a pair of mid-season long-finger cycling gloves over a thin pair of running gloves because it would be -5 degrees in the morning cycling to work and 10 degrees after work cycling home. But honestly, my fingers have never been in so much pain after the 17 mile ride into work. I even went into some hypothermic mental state where I considered taking the gloves off thinking it might be warmer!
This fellow is very short of actual cold weather riding experience, his gear choices are very limited and inadequate. This is easily recognized if you have the actual extreme cold weather riding experience yourself. 👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾
@@AlexPerat you are going to sweat during your riding efforts, when you stop you need dry warm clothing to dawn. You need to dry your sweat saturated clothing, how are you going to do this? Your hands, depending on many varying factors will need more protection than gloves alone. Pogies? Have you heard of these???
This is about summer months in the Norwegian arctic which is way warmer compared to us/Canada thanks to the Gulf Stream. Many people have traveled there with similar gear.
I disagree. His advices are quite good. He is talking about riding in mild to cold conditions. You refer to deep winter condions, which is something else. I live inside the arctic circle and ride every day all year round, regardless of weather and temp. Done it for many years. So I do feel competent to make this comment.
I live in Northern Norway inside the arctic circle (in Narvik). I’m on my bike every day all year round, commuting and/or training in ANY weather condition, and done it for 20 years. My take on these advices:
Generally very good. Follow them and you’ll probably be ok. A couple of things, though. You’ll never need three inner layers on upper body, not even in deep winter cold. Keeping warm is not about layers, it’s about insulation. Air is the best insulation, so the trick is to trap it. Get a really thick merino shirt where the fabric itself will hold some air. Also look for a winter cycling jacket with a fluffy inside (Rapha has one). Thick merino + warm or fluffy jacket takes you down to five degrees C. For upper body clothes, size up slightly for cold weather cycling.
Three in my view, essential items not mentioned in this video: 1) A cycling vest, preferably with light insulation, adds great flexibility and is your best friend for tuning body temp. 2) A simple headband when it’s cold but not that cold. 3) Thick neoprene shoe covers. Layer up as much as you want, nothing else will keep your feet warm for hours in the cold, trust me. I’d recommend SpatzWear covers.
Finally, thanks for the video and best of luck with your wonderful Cycle Norway project!
Thanks for sharing your advice. There is a lot of great information from a local who has experienced it all. I will probably add some of this info to the website when I complete the gear and clothing page. I will credit you for anything I use here. Thanks Terje 🙂
Yeah. I ride with a thicker jacket when it gets cold.
Base layer tshirt
Soft shell or thick thermal
And a vest on the out side.
The layers cut my blood flow and also cause me to have warm sweaty areas
@@oOoACFREEMANoOo Your recommendation is probably the best option. But I also agree to Matthews approach to have many layers - even if it is not the best solution for very cold scenarios. But you have to keep in mind that as a light traveler you want to be prepared for most conditions with minimum space/weight required. Just from my noobs perspective.
I agree, good advice 👍 But don't stack too many layers. They will trap sweat and won't work properly. Having one good sweater seems to work the best for me. And yes, a west is really good for regulating body temperature
Have you considered a 'Helsetrøye' (fishnet undershirt) It's one of the lesser known Norwegian inventions, and was tested out by the army already in 1932, and is still part of the standard cold weather gear in the armed forces here. It may even be available in Merino wool these days.
I don't know why I see it. But you are amazing!
As alternatives I recommend:
- Merino gloves: they are very thin but working surprisingly well down to 0C. Works much better for me than normal, thicker gloves like soft shell and such and operating shifters with thinner gloves is a big plus!
- Winter cycling boots: they are water resistant, well insulated, work well with 1 or 2 layer of merino socks down to 0C. And only above 15C they get too sweaty. So they cover comfortably a pretty good temperature range. But for a bigger temperature range during bikepacking normal cycling shoes with extra layers might make more sense.
Great video as usual! I was wondering what the make of the Goretex Jacket you are talking about is @7.13?
Keep up the good work! 🙂
Very well done Sir.Matthew 😁🤙☝️
Just book a flight to Italy next time 🇮🇹
Hey Matthew, did you upgrade your video gear? I really liked the production especially on the "balcony" with your bike. Also thank you for all the Information! :)
Very good sound quality :)
I had a professional camera man with me on this one! Unfortunately, not all videos will be of this production quality.
💪
I'd need to wear a centrally heated house!!
remember always..... if you freeze, you cycle too slow 🙂
all season riding requires so much gear!
You can save money and use the equipment you have at home from other sports. In the winter I have all the layers made up from my hiking gear and I also use hiking socks and boots with flat pedals. My gloves are ski gloves. I only had to buy bibs and a skull cap.
Hi Vis would have been useful. Could barely see you when you rode off.🤔🇦🇺
Cycle Norway expedition clothing range specific for norway? Future project?
I'm a huge fan of a hood on my waterproof. 5 or 6 hours in the rain, with it creeping down the back of my neck and back....no thanks.
If you are cold just pedaling harder ;)
That works for an hour very well, but not for a full day of bike packing.
I quit buying merino wool because every piece I've ever purchased somehow got holes in it after the first time wearing it.
Might need to be a bit more careful if it lasts once, but a tip is to purchase merino blend e.g. 50-80% merino the rest synthetic. Keeps the merino characteristics but adds a lot of durability.
An important thing which I found out is...DON'T LAYER YOUR GLOVES.
I thought I was clever trying to layer a pair of mid-season long-finger cycling gloves over a thin pair of running gloves because it would be -5 degrees in the morning cycling to work and 10 degrees after work cycling home. But honestly, my fingers have never been in so much pain after the 17 mile ride into work.
I even went into some hypothermic mental state where I considered taking the gloves off thinking it might be warmer!
I suggest, clothes!
Dress like an Onion basically!
This fellow is very short of actual cold weather riding experience, his gear choices are very limited and inadequate.
This is easily recognized if you have the actual extreme cold weather riding experience yourself.
👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾
You could suggest some more options, sounds like you know more
@@AlexPerat you are going to sweat during your riding efforts, when you stop you need dry warm clothing to dawn.
You need to dry your sweat saturated clothing, how are you going to do this?
Your hands, depending on many varying factors will need more protection than gloves alone. Pogies? Have you heard of these???
This is about summer months in the Norwegian arctic which is way warmer compared to us/Canada thanks to the Gulf Stream. Many people have traveled there with similar gear.
All Scandinavians will be able to tell you that wool will keep you warm even when damp/wet. I suggest you try it!
I disagree. His advices are quite good. He is talking about riding in mild to cold conditions. You refer to deep winter condions, which is something else. I live inside the arctic circle and ride every day all year round, regardless of weather and temp. Done it for many years. So I do feel competent to make this comment.