De Marchi Contour Plus 3L softshell jacket, Contour jersey, Contour Plus Bib-short, Contour Plus leg-warmer

For deep winter only, but this ensemble kept me warm and toasty through many a cold winter’s ride at the beginning of 2013, and I expect it to do so again as temperatures plummet towards year’s end. The softshell and jersey combination are demanded only by the coldest conditions, but they make great bedfellows when worn together; the jersey slim enough to be worn easily beneath the roomier shell.

The combination of fleece-lined shorts and leg warmers is one I find preferable to bib-knicks or even full tights, offering greater freedom of movement and a more stylish appearance. The Contour Plus bib-shorts are very warm, and keep the nether regions, kidneys and stomach cosy even on the coldest days, a trick repeated by the leg warmers, whose tight ankle cuff provides a more effect seal against drafts than the zipped ankles of bib-tights.