Highly Recommended Water Resistant Legwarmers

Castelli Nanoflex Legwarmer

These are not cheap. They cost around £44, which is more than double some legwarmers. However, as well as being warm, comfortable and light, they offer excellent water resistance. I like using these on both rainy and dry days. See full review of Castelli Nanoflex I would buy again. Note, may not fit if you have short and powerful legs!

• Castelli Nanoflex legwarmersat Wiggle

A cheaper alternative to the Castelli Nanoflex is the Sportful No-Rain Legwarmers which promise similar product, but at £33.

Specialized Leg Warmers

I have been using specialized leg warmers for 3 years. I bought two pairs. They are very comfortable and fit very nicely. When riding you hardly feel they are there. They are a little on the light side, so excellent for spring weather. For cold conditions you will need something warmer. Will fit the shorter stockier rider, but, also fit well on me. However, I do need to put under cycling shorts to stop them slipping down.

Specialized leg warmers at Evans Cycles – 327.99

For really adverse weather conditions you might like to choose the

Gore Windstopper Soft Shell

Gore Windstopper Soft Shell III Leg Warmers – £34.99. They are fairly waterproof; but beware that goretex is less breathable than lycra.

Assos Roubaix Leg warmers

Quite expensive at £35.99. You are paying a little for the brand name. Although, they are warmer than standard leg warmers.

• Assos Roubaix leg warmers -buy now at Wiggle

Endura Thermalite Leg Warmers

Better value at £19.99. A combination of lycra for warmer temperatures and brushed Roubaix lining for colder conditions

• Endura Thermalite Leg warmers

A good pair of cycling leg warmers is one of the most useful items of cycling clothing. Leg warmers are suitable for anything between 5 degrees and 17 degrees. Most are made out of lycra which is easy to wash, and is quick drying in rain. They can also be useful for early season races, especially if you haven’t got round to shaving your legs yet.

If you are likely to be taking them off an on, look for a leg warmer with zip at bottom, other wise you will have to take off your cycling shoes at the same time. When warming up for a race, it is very useful to have a zipped leg warmer.

Endura Thermal Leg Warmer. A lightweight fleeced lined lycra leg warmer – £19.99

Cheapest Leg Warmers

One of the cheapest leg wamers is the dhb Merston Legwarmer at only £13.99. Ideal for warmer months when you just want a basic layer to keep knees warm. dnb Merston Legwarmers

• Leg warmers category at Wiggle.co.uk
• Best cycling clothes

A time trial skinsuit will definitely be more aerodynamic. However, there can be a significant difference between a cheap time trial skinsuit that ends up being loose fitting and a custom built skinsuit which is absolutley skin tight.

A key element in getting a time trial skinsuit, is not just the make, but also one that fits.

A good time trial suit will be uncomfortable when you’re standing up. It should feel like your shoulders are being pulled down. A time trial skin suit only works when in the time trial position (though that is why you’re buying it, right?)

For races over 2 hours, it is helpful to have a skinsuit with a small zipped pocket. However, an alternative is simply to place food under the time trial suit.

Skinsuits

• Skin Suits at Evans

Impsport Skin Suits

I have had two skinsuits from Impsport (for custom cycling team). The first was a standard Skin Suit, and I was a bit disappointed. The main thing is that it wasn’t particular skin tight or stretchy. Some of the material was flapping in wind which defeats main purpose of a skin suit.

Impsport also do an advanced version of the skin suit. They call this the bodyfit skin suit. It is almost double the price at £120. However, as the name suggests it is better quality and more aerodynamic. Also it feels more like a skin suit and seems to have more of that lycra look and feel. If you are serious about getting best skin suit and your club orders from Impsport I would definitely recommend paying £120 rather than going for cheaper option of £55. However, it still didn’t fit perfectly. My body shape is long and thin and the skin suit is very tight in length meaning that it is actually less aerodynamic (and comfortable) than it could be.

Assos One Piece Skin Suit

At £209, the Assos is not cheap, but, it is excellent fit and really top of the range skinsuit. I have tried one on and it is a good fit. It fits much better when you are actually in your time trial position, so a lot of thought has gone into the anatomical cut. There are little if any dimples of material which helps to improve aerodynamics. Fits bigger riders well too. Padding is good and again designed for time trials where you are often riding on the front of the saddle, which can get difficult over time.

It has two small pockets in back, this is useful for long distance time trialling, but does slightly diminish aero performance. Overall, I would say this is more helpful than unhelpful for amateur cyclist.

The good thing about the Assos is that the styling is plain and simple. You can use it in Cycling Time trials (UK) because it doesn’t have sponsors on.

Assos Skin Suit at Wiggle

Castelli Body Paint 2.0 Speed Suit

A really tight, snug skinsuit. It’s hard to find anything tighter.

• Near seamless construction for unmatched aerodynamics
• New dimpled leg endings to control boundary layer airflow
• New race number flap
• Progetto x2 air seat pad for famous x2 comfort and improved
• Weight: 291 grams (large)
• Castelli Body Paint speed suit at Wiggle

British Cycling Skin Suit

A local tester was so impressed with his British Cycling Skin suit that he got a felt tip pen and crossed out the commercial name (Sky) so that he could ride it in time trials (you aren’t allowed a commercial sponsor unless it is your team). He reckoned the fit was so good it saved a couple of watts. However, this was compared to a mass ordered team kit (from Impsport I think) and not compared to the Assos.

The revolutionary skinsuits are at the cutting edge of cycling technology and have been credited with helping road riders to crucial wins (e.g. Nicole Cooke in 2008 Olympics (CW) British Cycling Skin suits are a little hard to track down, you might find one on ebay or offered on forums, I couldn’t find a supplier.

Others recommended

Pro bike Kit do a good Nalini Skinsuit, though I haven’t tried it myself.

Related

• Time trial skinsuits at Wiggle
• Triathlon skinsuits at Evans

• See also: Easy Ways to improve Aerodynamics

[1] Sheldon Brown’s Aerodynamic savings

A good thermal base layer should also be close fitting, but not excessively tight.

One of the warmest thermal base layers is the Helly Hensen Freeze at £40.99. It combines modern fittings with a warm Merino wool combination. This is one of the best materials for offering warmth and wicking qualities. I really enjoy wearing this as it helps keep dry and is really quite warm. Merino wool is a lovely product to have next to skin. (has an added advantage of somehow not smelling too much)

Helly Hansen offer a good range of other base layers including this

• Helly Hansen stripe crew base layer for £16.49

Made out of Lifa, it is lightweight at 140grams and has some of the following features:

* Eyelet construction
* Longer back
* Close to the body fit
* Excellent moisture transportation
* Lightweight
* high-elasticity fabric allows unrestricted freedom of movement
* Odour resistant
* Rapid drying time

Craft Pro Zero Xtreme

I’ve tested this product and really like them. They are soft, comfortable and snug fit. Very light product. They are very well ergonomically designed and fit very ‘lightly’ on the body. They have excellent wicking properties which is essential for keeping skin dry and warm. You can use these from any time when the temperature drops. Even on a cold summer day, they help regulate body temperature quite well. Little bit more pricey than cheapest base layers, but here you get good quality and won’t regret the investment. Craft Pro Zero review | Craft base layers at Wiggle

 dhb Merino Longsleeve

There are two weights of the dhb merino baselayer – the 150 (grams per sq. metre) and the 180 g per sq. metre)The 180g is more expensive and more suitable for colder weather riding. The main thing is that this baselayer feels very nice to wear. The fine merino wool is very comfortable against the skin. As a base layer it does the job as well as any other. Warm, dry and comfortable. Also nice how it meets the contours of your skin. Merino wool is quite delicate so wash carefully (machine wash at 30 degrees is OK) Somehow doesn’t smell as much as some base layers. Cheap for merino wool.

dhb merino baselayer

Ladies Thermal Base Layers

Endura, based in Scotland claim to be specialists in providing warm thermal under-dress.

This endura ladies support offers good value at £22.49. It is made out of Polytex Lycra with Mesh Lycra inner. Craft ladies Prowarm crewneck also recommended.

Related

• Best winter cycling gear
• Base layers at Wiggle

I have tested the Assos F1 Mile shorts. They are very comfortable and give a unique experience in the saddle. The dimpled ergonomic padding, helps to ease pressure points and the airflow is good for avoiding a build up of sweat. As long as you get the right size, they will fit effortless on the body, without creating any wind resistance.

Assos F1 UNO

The cheapest in the F1 series. This will still set you back £113. But, for the investment you will get a very comfortable ride. Fits very nicely and helps to cushion your ride, with multiple layers of padding designed to Swiss perfection.Once you get into the riding position the carbon fibre mesh insert helps to keep everything in place. Assos F1 UNO at Wiggle

Assos F1 Mille

The mid series short at £150. Featuring the newly developed ASSOS Type A.360 sensitive compression Spandex F1 Mille

The Assos F1 13 S5 Bib Short.

At £215, it’s not entirely clear what you get for the astronomical price tag. The thing is that their (relatively) cheaper F1 series shorts are very comfortable, so it’s pretty hard to improve on them. They even have carbon fibre (3%) in them. They are designed for the serious racer, and they are so clinical that they are not designed to last forever, so it may be worth saving them for when you will really appreciate it.

• Assos F1 13 S5

• Best padded cycling shorts

Related

• Assos Lycra shorts at Wiggle
• Best padded shorts – more on Assos F1 Mille and the optimal short