Cold Weather Cycling Tips

Cold Weather Cycling


Wear layers and protect extremities 

Staying warm is the most important thing you can do in the winter so wear multiple layers because it is easier to shed layers if you overdress It is important to wear breathable clothes so sweat can wick and you don’t feel wet or freeze. A common outfit might include a long sleeve undershirt, jersey, jacket or two, bibs with tights underneath, knickers or full-length bibs, arm warmers, wool socks, and shoe covers. Wearing a hat under your helmet as well as wearing a neck gator are good additions to your winter cycling clothing. Your extremities always get colder faster, so it is important to keep them warm. Wear glove liners and gloves or fleece lined gloves to ensure your hands stay warm. Wearing wool socks and/or shoe covers to keep your feel warm. Wool is also a good sweat-wicking material and will keep you warm. Finally, if you don’t have shoe covers, wrap aluminum foil over the top half of your sock and then put your shoe on. It will keep your foot warmer. 

Clean your bike

Because winter is coming, there will most likely salt on the roads, which can get on and inside your bike. This can be very disastrous to your components and bike. Make sure to give your bike a quick wipe it down after your ride. 

Explore new roads

The roads are usually not as busy in the winter time so go out and explore new areas that you have never been. Just make sure you know your direction and are aware of the amount of daylight left. This is a great way to add on extra mileage and add variation come spring time.

Stay LIT

Due to daylights savings time, it gets darker earlier, so make sure you are riding with lights, so you can be seen.

Be prepared

Bring spare equipment- the last thing you want to do is get a flat tire, in the dead of the winter, and not have equipment to change it. So, make sure you pack a flat kit, so you don’t get stranded in the cold. Food and drink-your body will work even harder to keep itself warm in cold temperatures, so makes sure you are eating extra food to replace calories lost in exercise and to keep your body warm and fueled up.

Keep moving

The more you stop the colder you will become, so make sure you are constantly moving so you can stay warm and ride longer.

To learn more about winter cycling, check out these GCN Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16db6KRBUwg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGyTdklpnVM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBK4ZyYXrw8

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