Scotland can offer up some pretty spectacular weather, at both ends of the spectrum. We find out what Steph Mann, our north of the border contributor, dons to keep her comfortable in the saddle.

My outfit is a mix of high-end Rapha with more affordable brands like Muddyfox. From head to toe, I like to be comfortable, and the clothes need to perform well when cycling.

Head

My helmet is a MET crossover that has a rear LED light for extra safety I like being visible to drivers and this helmet really helps. It is unisex, fully adjustable and won’t break the bank. On top of that I always wear at least one Buff. One as a hat and another to stop my face freezing off when it’s icy and windy.

Body

For clothes it depends on the weather. As a base layer I wear a Rapha merino long sleeved top, as it’s one of the few I have tried that doesn’t make me itch. Not to mention it is very warm, even in -2 degrees.

I like to wear Rapha women’s shorts under their winter tights too. The tights are fleece lined and perfect for Scotland in winter. The shorts provide the padding needed and everything just feels good. I can bend, move and my skin gets to breathe.

If it’s really cold I team this up with a cycling tee from Muddy-fox because it gives me an extra layer. If it’s too warm, I can just whip the tee off and fold it away.

And… If it’s raining, as it does so much up here, I throw on a Rapha rain jacket, because it’s simply the best I have come across. In fact find out what I thought about it in the review here.

Feet

On my feet, I go against the grain. I don’t use cleats (yet) and I don’t like a rigid sole. So, I wear running shoes. They are light, breathable and perfect for someone like me who likes to get off my bike and ramble a bit and usually take some photographs.