At HYPT Bike Performance, we're excited to welcome Spatzwear to our growing collection of premium cycling clothing and performance equipment. A British brand born from freezing winter rides in the Yorkshire Dales, Spatzwear has built a reputation for producing some of the most innovative cycling overshoes, winter cycling gloves and aerodynamic cycling accessories on the market.
For cyclists training and racing across the North East of England, it's a brand that makes perfect sense.
Winter Cycling Kit Made for North East Conditions
Anyone who rides through a winter in County Durham knows that the temperature shown on your weather app rarely tells the whole story.
A seemingly manageable morning can quickly become very different once you’re exposed to wind across open roads or descending after a hard climb.
That makes layering incredibly important.
Rather than simply wearing the thickest cycling jacket you can find, an effective winter setup needs to help regulate temperature while protecting exposed areas from the elements.
FROM THE YORKSHIRE DALES TO THE WORLDTOUR PELOTON.
The Spatzwear story began with a simple problem. Cold, wet feet.
Back in 2006, former professional cyclist and NFTO team manager Tom Barras began developing an idea for a cycling overshoe that could genuinely protect riders from the worst of the British winter.
Having spent years training and racing through challenging conditions, Tom understood the frustration of traditional cycling overshoes that simply weren't up to the job. He wanted something different. Something that would allow cyclists to train longer, ride harder and stay comfortable when the roads were soaked and the temperatures dropped.
The idea was there, but the materials available at the time weren't quite right, so the project was put on hold.
Fast forward to the winter of 2016, when a freezing training ride through Wharfedale in Yorkshire helped bring the concept back to life.
Tom headed out for a four-hour ride with an elite triathlete in conditions that most cyclists would have avoided. The roads were flooded, the wind was building and freezing water was spraying from the front wheels.
While his training partner struggled with cold, wet feet, Tom was wearing a pair of prototype overshoes he'd developed himself on his dining room table.
His feet stayed warm and dry.
That ride helped spark a partnership, and after multiple generations of prototypes, countless hours of development and plenty of cold Yorkshire miles, Spatzwear began its journey towards becoming an internationally recognised cycling performance brand.
In 2018, entrepreneur Ivan Eustace joined the business, helping expand its international reach. Today, Spatzwear supplies cyclists in more than 100 countries, while its roots remain firmly connected to the demanding roads and unpredictable weather of northern England.
It's a story we can relate to at HYPT. Real cyclists, solving real problems, with equipment developed through experience rather than marketing promises.
WHY SPATZWEAR MAKES SENSE FOR CYCLING IN THE NORTH EAST.
Anyone who regularly rides in Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear or the North Pennines knows that winter cycling presents its own challenges.
You can leave home on a crisp, dry morning and find yourself battling heavy road spray, freezing crosswinds and rapidly falling temperatures before you've even reached the halfway point.
The exposed roads around the Northumberland coast, the climbs towards Blanchland and Edmundbyers, and the open landscapes of the North Pennines can be particularly unforgiving when the weather changes.
For riders putting in serious winter base miles, preparing for the racing season or simply refusing to let the forecast dictate their training, reliable cold-weather cycling clothing isn't a luxury. It's essential equipment.
Spatzwear has built its reputation around exactly these conditions.
Rather than simply adding more material or insulation, the brand focuses on intelligent design, technical fabrics, close-fitting construction and practical features that help riders maintain warmth, comfort and performance.
From waterproof cycling overshoes designed to protect your feet against cold road spray to thermal cycling gloves with adaptable windproof covers, every product has been developed with the demands of real riding in mind.
Because when you're three hours into a winter training ride and the temperature is barely above freezing, the last thing you want to be thinking about is your kit.
DEVELOPED WITH OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS. PROVEN AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.
What makes Spatzwear particularly interesting is the connection between everyday winter cycling and elite-level racing.
The brand has worked alongside double Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee and developed equipment used by some of the world's leading professional cyclists, including riders from the Alpecin professional cycling team.
Spatzwear products have been worn in some of cycling's biggest events, from the demanding northern European Classics to Grand Tour stages and World Championship racing.
It's an impressive background, but the real benefit comes from how that professional-level development translates into equipment for everyday cyclists.
The same attention to aerodynamic efficiency, fit, durability and weather protection that matters in professional racing can make a genuine difference to riders training through a British winter.
Whether you're chasing marginal gains in a time trial, racing on exposed roads or simply trying to keep your hands and feet comfortable during a four-hour endurance session, the principles remain the same.
Better equipment allows you to concentrate on riding.
SPATZ CYCLING OVERSHOES – WHERE IT ALL BEGAN.
Spatzwear first became known for its distinctive extended cycling overshoes, developed to address one of the biggest frustrations of winter riding: water entering cycling shoes and leaving feet freezing cold.
Traditional overshoes can struggle when rain and road spray run down the legs and find their way into the tops of cycling shoes. Spatz approached the problem differently, developing extended protection, specialist seals and technical materials designed to reduce water ingress and improve warmth.
Today, the range includes overshoes for different riding conditions, from deep winter protection to lightweight aerodynamic options for racing and fast training.
The Spatz FASTA LITE represents the latest evolution in aerodynamic cycling overshoes. Developed for 2026, it combines supple Lycra-covered neoprene, a close-fitting lower-leg construction and a fastening-free design that's remarkably easy to put on and remove.
For North East cyclists looking for a sleek overshoe for racing, fast club rides and training in cooler, wet conditions, the FASTA LITE offers an impressive combination of aerodynamics, comfort and practical protection.
For riders heading out into harsher winter conditions, Spatzwear's more protective overshoe designs provide options specifically developed for extended cold-weather riding.
SPATZ WINTER CYCLING GLOVES – KEEPING NORTHERN RIDERS MOVING.
If there's one thing that can quickly ruin a winter ride, it's freezing hands.
Cold fingers make braking, shifting and controlling your bike uncomfortable, particularly when you're riding into an icy headwind or descending exposed roads in near-freezing temperatures.
Spatzwear has developed a range of performance cycling gloves designed to tackle these problems without sacrificing the dexterity needed for confident bike handling.
The Spatz Glovz2 are designed for temperatures of approximately 1°C to 8°C, combining fleece-lined stretch fabric with an innovative dual fold-out windproof cover system.
This allows riders to deploy additional wind protection when conditions deteriorate, then fold the covers away when they need greater finger freedom.
For colder conditions, the Spatz Thrmoz2 deep winter cycling gloves take insulation a step further.
Designed for temperatures of approximately 5°C down to -3°C, the Thrmoz2 combine thermal fabrics, a waterproof breathable membrane, extended cuffs and dual fold-out windproof covers to provide serious protection for freezing winter rides.
These are exactly the kind of features that make sense when you're heading out across the North Pennines in January, tackling a long winter club run or getting the miles in before work on a freezing morning.
AERODYNAMIC CYCLING ACCESSORIES FOR RIDERS CHASING PERFORMANCE.
Spatzwear isn't just about keeping warm.
The brand has also established a strong reputation for aerodynamic cycling equipment developed with elite athletes and tested in professional racing environments.
The Spatz Aquasokz Hi are a perfect example.
Developed for the Alpecin-Deceuninck Pro Cycling Team, these aerodynamic cycling oversocks were worn by Mathieu van der Poel during his victory on Stage 2 of the 2025 Tour de France.
Wind-tunnel development at the Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub has helped refine their aerodynamic profile, making them a serious option for riders looking to optimise their race-day setup.
For North East time triallists, road racers and performance-focused cyclists, this kind of equipment offers the opportunity to bring WorldTour-level technology into their o
Spatzwear Cycling Apparel
WINTER MILES BUILD SUMMER FITNESS.
At HYPT Bike Performance, we believe the work you put in through the winter lays the foundations for the season ahead.
It's the early morning rides when the roads are empty. The long Sunday endurance sessions when the wind never seems to be behind you. The cold climbs, wet descents and difficult training days that build the consistency needed to perform when racing season arrives.
Across the North East, we have some incredible roads for cycling, but they're not always forgiving.
From the quiet lanes of Northumberland to the challenging terrain of County Durham and the exposed climbs of the North Pennines, our local riding environment rewards preparation, resilience and the right equipment.
That's why bringing Spatzwear to HYPT is about more than adding another cycling clothing brand to our range.
It's about offering carefully selected performance equipment that genuinely suits the conditions our customers ride in.
British-developed products, proven through years of real-world testing and refined with input from some of the best athletes in the world.
Equipment designed to help you keep riding when the weather says otherwise.
SPATZWEAR NOW AT HYPT BIKE PERFORMANCE.
We're proud to welcome Spatzwear to HYPT Bike Performance, bringing premium British cycling innovation to riders across the North East of England and beyond.
Whether you're looking for deep winter cycling gloves, weather-resistant cycling overshoes, aerodynamic oversocks or performance cycling accessories, the Spatzwear range offers technical solutions for riders who take their training seriously.
From freezing winter base miles to fast summer racing, it's equipment designed with one clear purpose: helping cyclists perform at their best, whatever the conditions.
For those of us who ride through northern winters, that philosophy couldn't be more relevant.
Because up here, we don't wait for perfect weather. We get the miles done.
HYPT BIKE PERFORMANCE – NO OFF SEASON.
Built for the miles. Ready for the elements. Proven at the highest level. Made for riders who don't let the weather decide.
