Unsponsored guide: How to dress for winter e-bike rides

Here are some tips on how to dress for winter e-bike rides so you can stay comfortable even in more extreme conditions. The experience gained over many years of winter mountain rides is now passed on to you. Take advantage!

A simple and obvious answer to this question can be found in a sketch by the Polish comedy group Adi Władysław Sikora (formerly the cult group Potem). A child goes missing and the dialogue with the police goes like this:

– Officer, a child has gone missing
– What was it wearing?
– In layers

And that could be the end of the guide—but that’s not why I’m writing it. Because the devil is in the details. It seems simple and obvious. But then why did it take me so many years to reach the level of comfort I have now? I finally achieved a high level of comfort on winter mountain rides. And the key takeaway for the 2023/24 season is that **comfort is essential**, because if you’re comfortable, you’ll want to go out riding—even in snow. Seriously.

So I’ll share my thoughts and experiences on how to dress (or rather how I currently dress) for winter e-bike rides—so you feel like going out, stay dry and warm. I’ll also show a few specific pieces of clothing worth checking out. Let’s get started.

How to dress for a winter e-bike ride? First of all: in layers.

Layering lets you adjust your clothing to the conditions during the ride. My personal rule is to always wear certain base layers, and I don’t plan to remove them during the trip. Before heading out, I check the forecast: temperature, wind. I account for the fact that days are short, the sun is low (so most of the route will be in the shade), and that the return leg (often downhill for me) requires warmer clothing. I regulate body temperature mainly with outer layers—typically just one waterproof/windproof jacket. I usually carry more layers than I need, but they’ve come in handy more than once. Winter rides demand a backpack, so why not throw in an extra layer.

One benefit of riding an e-bike in winter is a more stable body temperature. You don’t overheat on climbs thanks to the motor, and you don’t get chilled from sweat when descending. So when dressing, also consider how you ride: I use more assist power in winter to avoid sweating. I keep a steady pace, avoiding heavy breathing, which protects the throat.

Now the specifics — how to dress for a winter e-bike ride from head to toe (well, toe to head):

Feet

Socks

My feet (and hands) always used to get cold. I finally discovered warm socks: Deomed SilverWool (many similar options exist). Interestingly, they’re registered as medical products. Made of 40% merino wool. Besides being warm, they’re also:

• non-restrictive
• very elastic
• moisture-wicking
• antibacterial and antifungal

They really work—warm, but breathable. Feet don’t sweat or smell. They don’t compress and sit nicely on the foot. I wear them over thin base socks (not sure if that’s proper, but it works).

Shoes

I use mid-height hiking boots. Snow, off-bike walking—touring-style boots are ideal. I can’t recommend a specific brand, but any winter hiking shoe should do. I personally use Zamberlan with Goretex membrane.

Shoe Covers

A must-have for me. Without them, my feet freeze. I use them for insulation and wind protection. Choose size carefully. I use ROCKBROS LF1081. Kevlar toe reinforcements, side zipper, underfoot velcro strap. They’re stretchy, lightly insulated, waterproof. One issue—they can bunch up at the toe while walking (not during riding). A second toe strap would help. But still—can’t imagine winter rides without them. Great protection from mud, water, wind and cold. I wear them over pants to keep snow out.

Legs and backside

Pants

This brings us to the absolute hit of the 2023/2024 season — at least from my perspective. Previously, I did almost everything wrong when it came to dressing, using whatever I had for regular mountain trips. I used things like thin waterproof pants over hiking trousers with thermal leggings underneath. My thinking was: there’s no such thing as something warm, waterproof, and breathable — so I just layered everything. The outer layer was supposed to protect the rest from wind and water. Especially since cycling requires tapered legs. But it turns out such pants do exist — Haven Trinity. Their features according to shops:

• adjustable waistband, two side pockets plus one with a zipper, no padding, reflective stripes, side zips on the legs
• breathable
• insulated
• water-repellent
• wind-resistant
• season: autumn, winter

In my opinion, these pants are fantastic. Tapered at the ankles with elastic, warm, ventilated via side zippers, and nicely stretchy. Super comfortable for riding. A small downside might be the pockets. I haven’t lost anything yet, but I don’t put anything valuable in them. They could be better shaped or secured. There’s a third zipped pocket for valuables, but it’s small. Why do they only solve *almost* all problems? Because your backside can still get wet — more on that below. On milder winter days, I wear them directly on bare legs, and it’s fine.

Leggings

When it’s truly cold, I always wear thermal leggings underneath — specifically Brugi 4rbe — and I’ve never frozen or overheated. The most important thing is to keep your knees warm. Sure, your butt might feel damp sometimes, but that’s where gear matters more than clothing — winter rides need fenders. Without them, the pressurized wet stream from the tires will soak you completely.

Fenders

On my Felt fatbike I use Simpla IQ FAT fenders (and IQ RACE for the gravel bike). They’re discrete, the only kind I tolerate. Made from flexible 0.8 mm polypropylene plates — two in the rear, one in front. They work great, are lightweight, and even if bent in transport, they bounce back into shape quickly.

Another way to protect your backside is with an extended rain jacket. But I haven’t found the perfect one yet. I have one from Decathlon, but it doesn’t perform well in winter. Let’s move on to torso protection.

Torso

Here’s what works for me: a thin base thermal layer, a well-fitted merino wool T-shirt, then a sweatshirt and a thin softshell. The outermost layer is a rain/windproof jacket. I usually take two: one more rainproof for cold days or descents (as mentioned earlier — descending in shadow, late in the day, cold). This one creates a strong barrier against wind, snow, or even rain. I use the Evadict. Jacket description: Waterproof trail running jacket for rainy, windy, and cold days on any distance. Training or racing. Meets standards for major trail races. Lightweight and waterproof (10,000 mm) with sealed seams. Fits easily into your backpack. And it’s true — takes up little space and is very useful. If needed, it acts like a thermos: insulation that blocks wind and moisture. But it can make you sweat during climbs. That’s why I usually start in the lighter windproof jacket. I also always carry a fleece as backup, worn only in extreme cold.

Hands

That leaves hand protection. I’ve always had cold hands — and still do — but now less frequently and usually only at the end of a ride. I still don’t want to use handlebar pogies, but this season I found some interesting gloves that significantly improved my comfort. I used to wear bulky snowboard gloves, but this almost-miraculous solution is a pair of gloves with fewer fingers than homo sapiens. I currently use three-fingered Shimano Infinium Primaloft 2×2. They’re nicely lined on the inside and have Goretex on the outside. I chose them for two reasons, which might not suit everyone: first, I use two-finger brake levers, and second, I didn’t want my thumb to be left alone 🙂 Alternatively, you can buy gloves with a separate index finger and the remaining three together. On cold days, I wear a second thin pair of “cloth” gloves underneath. A drawback of these Shimano gloves is their poor durability. The reflective patches fray easily, and already after less than one winter season, damage is showing on the outer fabric.

What else besides clothing?

I always bring a thermos with hot tea and at least one energy bar. I can honestly recommend the stainless steel thermos-bottle Elite DeBoyo Race. It keeps drinks hot very well, and if needed, it doubles as a bottle thanks to two interchangeable caps — one regular screw-on and one with a typical spout. Of course, it fits a standard bottle cage. In summer, your drink will stay cold just as well. I also carry an NRC foil blanket just in case.

How to dress for winter e-bike rides – summary

Unfortunately, good clothing isn’t cheap. But the upside is — it does exist. There are clothes that are warm, waterproof, and breathable. I’ve seen the difference myself — especially with pants. It’s not worth cutting corners. Dress warmly and invest in dedicated gear. All of this is about comfort — and once you feel it, you’ll actually want to ride in winter. Because winter is beautiful!