When spring arrives, for many it means that the bike is coming out of the attic and that ‘the season’ is about to begin. Spring is lovely, but it can also be treacherous at times. With expressions like ‘March turns its tail’ and ‘April does what it wants’, you can still be treated to a hailstorm or a snowstorm after a beautiful sunny day. When we were in April 2022 in the Wadden area It was cold, the wind was icy (and there was a biting wind). But a few weeks earlier we were in Flanders and it was almost summer. So shorts are back. So it’s not as unpredictable as spring again, certainly not in the low countries. That’s why we’ve created an ultimate spring clothing guide for you. That way you’ll always be well-prepared!
PHOTOS: Tycjan Tzrpiola & Sanne Meurice
Underwear
Base layers are actually necessary in all weather conditions. When it gets towards freezing temperatures, you’ll want a nice warm long-sleeved thermal. But when it’s between 8 and 18 degrees, you’d rather not wear it. Spring is often quite unpredictable, but we like to wear a slightly thicker undershirt, preferably with (short) sleeves. Our favorite brand Etxeondo has come up with something really beautiful for that: the Epela baselayer. It’s perfect for spring. Unisex, short sleeves, thermocool fabric, dries quickly and it’s suitable for temperatures between 5 and about 20 degrees Celsius. Of course, it also depends on how you cope with the cold yourself, but take this as a guideline. If it gets towards 15 or 20 degrees Celsius, you can quickly switch to the ‘mesh baselayer’.’
Underwear
Underwear in spring is always a bit tricky. The motto here is actually ‘layers’. The trick we saw from Etxeondo ambassador Haimer was wearing sleeve pieces UNDER your long sleeves, which is an invention! This way you can even wear, for example, an Alde (m) or Alda (v) wear long-sleeved shirts, but if it’s still a bit chilly, put the sleeves underneath. If you still have trouble with the cold, you can wear a vest (for example, a Arima) About wearing. If the mercury goes towards 15 degrees or higher, then I usually switch to short sleeves, with just a sleeve piece. Those usually come off when the sun is shining brightly. By the way, my weapon of choice is the Alde (Alda for the ladies) summer shirt. Good fit, nice color combinations. No need to change anything else.
Trousers
Long trousers are often too warm in spring because they are lined. A short pair of trousers is often too much of a good thing. Before we go on to the trousers, I would like to give a vote of support for the leg parts first. After all, those are some nice things. Leg parts come in different thicknesses, but I usually just go with the ‘LUZE’s thermal socks, Made of woven fabric. Easy to put on and take off, even during the ride. Not too big or too small. You can also go for the Ibai leg warmers, but they get really warm again. Then I prefer a pair of pants.
So, pants. A short pant with a good bib is worth its weight in gold. The Kom or the Orhi bibshort It’s your choice. For the ladies, you’ll be happy to have the Olaia hanging in your closet. These are the same bib shorts that the professional teams wear (with the top seam, which many pros also like to have sewn into their pants).
Other useful tips
- A tip I often hear is the use of shoecovers. I have overshoes myself, but they are sometimes a bit warm (because they are thermal). A handy hack is to buy a pair of white socks at Hema and cut a hole in the heel and the pedal area. That works like a charm.
- Sometimes a pair of gloves can also come in handy. The thin gloves (Esku or Negu) are perfect for a fresh morning.
- Also handy: a buff. You’re sure to want to have that with you. Also because you can use it to cover your ears on a cool morning!
- It's always handy to have a rain jacket with you when the weather is unpredictable. Especially if you're heading out for a hike or a walk in the rain. Busti (the vest too) is then a good option. This one is also unisex.
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Questions & tips
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