Q36.5 Winter Cycling Kit Review: What I Actually Ride In

What I Ride In: My Q36.5 Kit for Autumn, Winter and Spring

It's no secret I'm a fan. My relationship with Q36.5 goes way back, and even though I've dabbled with the fashion brands for summer kit, from October to May I'm pretty much exclusively in Q36.5. This post is not just about why, but what I actually choose to ride in.

At first glance the price is on the toppy side. However, when I compare the number of layers I ride in versus friends, the overall cost is generally less, I wear fewer garments, each designed to work across a wider temperature range. Q36.5, for those that don't know, is about maintaining the body's optimal core temperature. The Q stands for the Latin quaerere ("research") and 36.5 refers to 36.5°C, the ideal body temperature during physical activity. The brand focuses on thermoregulation and the use of lightweight proprietary fabrics something that is increasingly rare in a market full of marketing noise.

I've been a fanboy from day one and wrote about why here. Since the addition of the Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team and Tom Pidcock, the noise around the brand and its products has definitely increased. I get more DMs now than ever.

The Problem with Layering

I've spoken before about my dislike of over-layering. Seeing riders in a base layer, long sleeve jersey, insulated gilet and a rain jacket over the top suggests a lack of understanding of how thermoregulation works. The result is overheating, heavy sweating, then shivering when you stop — and struggling for the rest of the ride. There's a better way, and not many brands do a good enough job of explaining when and how to use their products. Most of the year I'm able to ride in just two layers. In autumn and spring I'll pack a lightweight waterproof like the Dottore Light Rain Jacket and that's it.

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Deep Winter: The Gregarius Winter Jacket

For deep winter I've been using the Gregarius Winter Jacket. The outer arms and body are constructed from a UF 2L fabric with a membrane that is lined not bonded using Q36.5's proprietary 3D Air Insulation. The result is a jacket that feels more like a thicker jersey than a traditional winter jacket, yet performs like a softshell or better, with impressive water resistance and windproofing. The warmth-to-weight ratio is genuinely unlike anything else I've worn.

I adapt the base layer underneath depending on temperature the Base Layer 3 or Base Layer 4 for the coldest days but this jacket has carried me through late autumn, the depths of winter and into late spring. Paired with the Dottore Termico Bibs, Termico deep winter gloves and overshoes, I didn't miss many weekend rides. The Termico bib tights use Q36.5's UF Hybrid Shell Plus technology with a second layer of perforated fleece at the front of the legs, working as a system to maintain stable body temperature and protect from the elements augmented with Heat Fiber made from coffee bean processing residue that raises warmth by 1°C. Q36.5

Autumn and Spring: The Dottore Hybrid Range

Autumn and spring are some of my favourite times to ride, and this is where the Q36.5 kit really excels. Rides where the weather is constantly changing, dry and wet, or with massive temperature swings across a single outing. I'm a big fan of lightweight, minimalist clothing no bulk, no stuffed pockets, and most importantly, comfort. For this, the Dottore Hybrid range is an absolute winner.

The Dottore Hybrid Que Long Sleeve Jersey is the third generation of a quintessential Q36.5 icon. It's effective at insulating down to quite low temperatures, yet also impressively breathable successfully bridging the gap between a jersey and a jacket across a wide range of temperatures. Cycling Weekly The body mapping uses three proprietary fabrics: pinstripe material on the back panel for ventilation, the signature UF Hybrid fabric on the chest and outer arms for wind control, and a softer insulating fleece on the inner arms and stomach. This was the first piece of kit Luigi gave me back in 2014/15 and the technology has only improved since.

Road.cc summarised it perfectly: Q36.5 approaches garment design the way Porsche approaches sports cars obsessively, artfully, and with no tolerance for compromise. road.cc

Paired with the Dottore Hybrid Bib Shorts specially requested by the Pro Team for the Northern Classics, featuring the same Lumbar Support Panel as the Dottore Pro bib shorts, coupled with a brushed thermal fabric for the legs to achieve an unrestricted, "not-even-there" feeling Cyclist and a variety of base layers, this combination sees me through the lion's share of the British riding year. I'll add knee or leg warmers depending on temps and conditions.

Value, Durability and an Honest Take

While it seems expensive, Q36.5 kit is also exceptionally durable. I have pieces that are five or six seasons old and you wouldn't know it. I've never had a warranty issue — no threads pulling, no seams splitting. It's packed with impressive fabrics and performs brilliantly across a range of wintery conditions. Cyclist I also love that all the winter apparel carries reflective detailing not fashionable, but essential and rare.

In short, for riders who are serious about lightweight, durable, performance-oriented kit that supports their training rather than hindering it, there are very few brands that can match Q36.5 and Luigi Bergamo's genius.

Finally, this isn't an ad or a paid post. I love the brand, pure and simple.

For independent reviews and further reading:

Shop the full Q36.5 collection HERE.