In Norway, you have to be prepared for all kinds of weather. In the summer it can be very warm AND very cold. And when you are cycling in the mountains, the weather can change in no time.
Personal preferences play an essential role. Some swear by merino wool, others prefer Lycra. The most important thing is not to bring any thick clothes. Wearing thin layers on top of each other is far more efficient. It is not advisable to wear cotton clothing. Cotton stays wet which cools you down quickly. Polyester (Lycra) is comfortable to wear and dries quickly. Merino wool clothing is perfect for all kinds of temperature, both while cycling (shirt, fleece vest or jumper, socks) and during the evenings and nights (underclothing). It is smell resistant and dries quickly. A disadvantage of merino wool is the fabric’s delicacy.
An extra jumper or vest can be useful because it gets cold occasionally. In that case, choose a fleece or merino wool jumper or vest.
A Gore-Tex jacket protects against rain, wind, and the cold, but retains enough breathability. A soft shell jacket (windproof, breathable, and water-repellent) in combination with an extra raincoat is also an option.
Cycling pants with padding absorb moisture, prevents friction, and cushions shocks.
(Zip-off) cycling pants made of quick-drying, water-repellent, and breathable material (for instance by Gonso or Vaude) could be worn on top of the padded pants, but also at night in chillier conditions. In case of light rain or an occasional shower it is not always necessary to put on extra rainproof trousers. The cycling will keep you warm, and your cycling pants will dry quickly.
Closed cycling shoes protect your feet against water, dirt, sharp objects, and the cold. If you do not wear cycling shoes or sandals, make sure to use firm soled shoes. These allow you to put more force on the pedals. In rain (or in case of cold weather) you could also put on waterproof overshoes, a must-have in Scandinavia.
Practical accessories
- A safety vest is advisable when cycling on the highway.
- A helmet. Although wearing a helmet is not obligatory in Norway, it is certainly recommended to do so.
- Gloves. With and without fingers. Cycling gloves without fingers are comfortable because they absorb transpiration, but they do not protect against the cold. In Norway cycling gloves with fingers, or even waterproof and insulated mittens, are always useful because in August on the plateaus the temperature can drop below zero.
Tips
- Wash (or rinse) your cycling pants every day. This prevents getting an infection.
- Merino wool clothing only needs to be washed once in a while. Hang it out every day and after several hours outside it will be fresh again.
- In Norway there are hardly any launderettes, but enough accommodations have washing machines that you can use (for a fee).
