With the end of the pandemic upon us, employees are facing calls to return to working in the office. This presents a great opportunity for workers to transform their lives by ditching the car or public transport in favour of cycling to work. There are so many benefits to cycling to work, for example, it will make you fitter and is more cost-effective than owning/maintaining a car for this purpose alone. Believe it or not, but cycling to work can actually make you happier as shown by this survey of over 18,000 commuters over an 18 year period which revealed that people who walked or cycled to work had a much higher mental well-being score over the period than those who drove. Also, research from the University of Bristol shows that people who exercise before work are more productive, happier and experience less stress. https://youtu.be/pmn6zJqYD6E Of course, cycling to work is not all plain sailing as it can be cold, wet, and miserable during the winter months, but with the right dress and planning, cycling to work can be sustainable and enjoyable all year round, even in the winter. If you have a hilly route commute then you may work up a sweat en route, in which case an onsite shower can be useful, but is, of course, a luxury for many. Alternatively, you could try and plan a less hilly route, or ride more conservatively or join a gym close to your work which you can use to shower and change. A part of your planning for a comfortable ride is based on choosing the correct attire when riding.
What Shoes Should I Wear for the Cycle Commute?
Waterproof Socks
Practicality should reign and while proper cycling shoes and cleats will be overkill for most, flat-soled shoes with rubber soles are best as this will improve your traction and power transfer through the pedal, meaning it will be easier and safer to ride and your feet won’t slip off the pedals. 
In cold and wet weather, you should think about additional protection to keep your feet warm and dry. I’d recommend some waterproof thermal socks: Sealskinz, Otter and Artic Dry all make some excellent, highly-recommended thermal socks at affordable prices ranging from about £15 to £40, depending on your budget. Click to view or buy SEALSKINZ Waterproof Cold Weather Mid Length Sock Now. Click to view or buy Otter Waterproof Cold Weather Mid Length Sock Now.
Cycling Overshoes
The other option to consider is waterproof and windproof cycling overshoes which can be easily fitted over your normal shoes and which can help to keep your feet warm. They are usually made of neoprene, the same stuff that wetsuits are made of which explains how they can keep so warm. Brands such as GIYO and Ruzer make some excellent cycling overshoes, ranging from about £20 to £40, depending on specifications such as reflective stripes for providing enhanced visibility at night. Click to view or buy Giyo Cycling Overshoes now Click to view or buy Ruzer Cycling Overshoes now
How Can I Keep My Head and Ears Warm When Cycling?
Skull Cap
Research in the British Medical Journal shows that 7 to 10% of your body heat is lost through your head and through the cooling vents in your helmet.
I would therefore recommend you wear an under-helmet skull-cap on the coldest days to aid thermoregulation. These skull caps cost around £5 to £15 and promise you the biggest bang for your buck and I think they are a no-brainer in the winter. Brands like GripGrab offer good quality skull caps, however, for a reasonably priced, mid-range option Click here to view or buy a Rockbros Cycling Skull Cap. 
For torrential conditions, a waterproof helmet cover is recommended to help keep you dry and warmer ultimately. These range in price from about £8 to £25 and typically come with reflective strips too and so will enhance your visibility to cars at night, improving your safety. I’d recommend this BTR Waterproof Helmet cover which has received excellent reviews and is well-priced at around £9. 
Far from being a fashion statement, snoods or tubular scarfs are an essential part of the cyclist’s arsenal against cold wet weather. The neck region can often be exposed to the elements allowing the cold air in to chill your core region and allowing that hard-earned heat to escape. It can be worth having pairs of these as they can become unhygienic pretty quickly if you regularly pull it over your nose and mouth. That’s why I’d suggest buying a merino one as they are naturally anti-bacterial and don’t to need be washed as often. Buff and Smartwool make some excellent sports snoods. Click to view or buy Buff Tubular Scarf/Snood now Click to view or buy Smartwool Tubular Scarf/Snood now
What Are Good Trousers for Cycling to Work?
Trousers or leggings are the best options for riding to work, and during wet weather you might want to get some waterproof over-trousers to keep you dry. Mudguards also help in keeping your legs and feet dry by trapping water spray from wheels. These cycling-specific waterproof over trousers from Proviz cost a little more but they have excellent reflective strips on them to enhance your visibility to cars at night. Click to view or buy Proviz Cycling over trousers now.
What should you wear on your body when cycling to work in cold, wet weather?
On the colder days, you might need a thermoregulating merino base layer next which is moisture-wicking for that extra level of insulation. This can be worn underneath your shirt or blouse and a jumper if it’s really cold. Merino wool base layers cost a little more than cotton or synthetic constructions but they tend to be worth the money. Base layers can vary in price from £10 to about £50. Click to view or buy Extreme Essentials Merino Base Layer Now. 
The other obvious garment is a waterproof cycling jacket of which there are many on the market, ranging from £30 to about £300. Choose one with a 10000mm rating. This Nightvison Storm Jacket from the trusted Altura brand comes with 10000 mm waterproof ratings and a reasonable price tag.
| Rating |
Resistance |
Weather |
| 0 – 1,500mm |
Water resistant / Snowproof |
Very light rain |
| 1,500mm – 5,000mm |
Waterproof |
Light to average rain |
| 5,000mm |
Very Waterproof |
Moderate to heavy rain |
| 10,000mm |
Highly Waterproof |
Heavy rain |
With all this kit to carry and your work stuff, you’ll need a lightweight, strong cycling rucksack, (unless you have panniers fitted). Commuting rucksacks will need to be around 30 litres in size, have some reflective strips on them for enhanced visibility, be waterproof, (or at least have a waterproof cover), and have a net to store your helmet at work. Again, there are plenty of rucksack out there, fitting this criterion, but this Tomshoo 30 Litre Waterproof Backpack fits the bill.
What are the best gloves for cycling in cold, wet weather?
Waterproof and windproof ideally with touchscreen sensitivity if you want to use your phone without taking them off, and some reflective wouldn’t go amiss either. Click to view or buy these Boildeg Waterproof Gloves which fits the bill!
If you need to purchase or upgrade your bicycle to do the commute, make sure to take advantage of the government’s cycle-to-work scheme which can save you between 25 and 39% on the price of a bike and accessories.
