"There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes."

Wet feet. Cold hands. Soaked clothes. Water dripping everywhere. You can see why some people are put off winter cycling. But with a few, well chosen bits of winter cycling gear you can continue to enjoy comfortably cycling
Cycling in autumn and winter can be one of two things. A miserable experience, one which usually ends up with the bike being thrown to the back of the shed until spring, or, a positive experience where you don't let the elements get the better of you. It's up to you how well you prepare for the whims of our winter weather.

So lets look at some ways to make winter cycling easier!

Headgear
You can either wear a helmet to keep the rain out, and also to protect you, or you can go one step futher and wear a skullcap underneath the hemlet, for extra rainproofing.

Lights
Almost as much of a no-brainer as the helmet. In short, if you want to live, get some lights on your bike in the rain, and make sure they’re fully charged before your journey.

Eye protection
Visors stop the roadspray, and debris and a howling wind making your eyes water.

Base layer
This layer is all about thermal insulation (keeping you warm) and wicking (moving your sweat off of you before it gets cold). A bit of choice here, from the polyester microfibre based products that offer good breathability at great value, to the more expensive Merino wool items, that'll keep you comfortable even when wet and (spousal Christmas shoppers note!) don't smell.
Base layers are cut to be close fitting and worn tight to the skin. Don't be tempted to use a tight fitting cotton tee as a base. It'll make you damp, cold and very uncomfortable.

Mid Layer
Customarily the layer you could remove if the weather became a bit friendlier. Warmth without weight is the balance your looking for.
Often a Roubaix type material (a fleecy, comfortable and warm lightweight fabric), or again Merino. Standard cycling jerseys are quite regularly used for this layer, with a zip (or half zip) that'll easily pull down to increase airflow.

Jacket or top layer
Very important. They protect you from the elements. The holy trinity of outdoor activity jackets - waterproof, windproof and breathable is a mantra you'll hear repeatedly from manufacturers. The best of this type will stop the ingress of all rain whilst allowing for a very high level of breathabilty. Some products get their waterproofing from being chemically treated (and may need occasional reproofing), whilst some have 'natural' waterproof qualities. As high breathability is key to remaining comfortable, most cycling jackets will have several vents to allow good airflow.
Being the surface layer, another really important factor is how visible the jacket will make you on the road. Ideally you'd want 360 degrees of reflectivity. Arm warmers, whilst not being appropriate for colder conditions are great at prolonging the usefulness of your summer gear in the interim period.

Lower body-Legs
Doesn't follow the exact same line of thinking as the upper body, chiefly because your legs are the part of you that are doing all the work. Bibs and thermal tights are a very good way to keep comfortable in winter - offering manoeuvrability, high levels of wicking and good levels of warmth. Leg warmers offer good interim protection, a great way to prolong the useful life of your summer gear and very handy to slip on if the weather turns nastier mid-ride.Cycling trousers offer a less cycle specific 'style' (for those with an in built fear of lycra), but offer less wicking.
Cycling overtrousers are a popular option for commuters in particular, fitting over your 'base' layer (or even work trousers), they benefit from their versatility - keeping whatever you've got on underneath from getting muddy/wet/torn and providing an extra layer of warmth.
Good cycling bottoms will provide some vital reflectivity and have a cycle specific fit that'll keep you from getting tangled up with your chain

Layers
Just like your mother used to day, wear lots of layers. They are much better than a single item of clothing for wet weather, and aid proper ventilation.

Footwear
Cold feet can ruin a ride as quickly as cold hands. Thermal insulated and high wicking socks will keep your feet comfortable long after your cotton's are sodden and cold. Shoes fall into two categories. You can either buy a pair of winter specific cycling shoes that will be highly breathable, waterproof and tough enough to shrug off mud and rocks, or, invest in a pair of overshoes. Overshoes generally fit over summer cycling shoes or in some cases ordinary shoes.
A good overshoe should either be waterproof or offer good insulation. Again, some reflectivity is nice as your feet are highly visible if lit up:

Gloves
On a bike it's absolutely crucial that your hands are kept comfortable. Your response time depends on it. As well as the standard reasons for wanting a pair of bike gloves (cut down on blisters, cramps and discomfort), your cold weather gloves are going to need to be full finger, insulated and breathable.
Winter gloves tend to be bulkier, perhaps being made in two parts, inner and outer, so that the inner can be washed. They will tend to have longer cuffs, to tuck into jackets and avoid the wrists being chilled, a waterproof exterior and a layer of insulation between that and the liner or inner glove.

Mud Guards
Mud Guards. Obviously these are something that you can use all year round, but they come into their own when the roads start to get really wet.

Storage
Get a backpack or panniers. This gives you a place to throw all your wet stuff if you’re out and the sun comes out, and also you can keep some dry stuff in a plastic bag. A plastic bag for your saddle is also a good idea.
Add Time
Quite obvious when you think about it, but I don’t think I would have thought about it! All these layers, bags, extra gear means it will take time to take on and off and your bike is going to weigh more, thus the journey may take a little longer. Just bear it in mind.

Plan route
It may be an idea to stick to more main routes, as there are more people about and road surfaces are usually better with better lighting.

Be (extra) alert
Obvious one, really. Drivers stopping distances are worsened, and so is their visibility. This goes for the humble cyclist too, so all in all, everyone should stay alert, and read the road ahead.

Happy cycling!