Getting out on the bike during the winter months can be more challenging because of any one of what I sometimes call the “four factors” (where Factor Four conditions are when all are present and even I think riding outside would be madness…!): rain, wind, cold and darkness.
Whilst it can feel sometimes that these four conditions are present all winter long, it is very rarely the case and so there is a huge amount of pedalling joy that can be found riding all year round. If you get things right (and hopefully these top tips will help you with that) then you can experience the benefits of not leaving the bike in the shed for months in a row.
This will mean that you can enjoy your summer adventures even more with the fitness that riding through the winter can bring. It can also be enjoyable, in its own right – and getting the heart rate up can certainly beat some of those winter blues!
Tip 1 – Layers
Staying warm and dry (but not too warm…) whilst riding in a UK winter can be challenging. Travelling at 10 to 15 miles per hour, or maybe even higher speeds, adds a wind-chill factor that can make it feel several degrees colder than it actually is. With the top half of your body exposed to this moving air, it is important to prioritise keeping as much of the cold air off you as possible.
This can be especially true at the start of a ride or from a café stop but you can actually end up getting quite warm whilst waterproof layers also trap in your sweat once you are up and going, especially if you live somewhere hilly. This can actually lead to you getting quite damp and whilst the thought of being too warm might feel tempting in mid-January it can be nearly as uncomfortable as being too cold.
Layers on, Layers off
Multiple layers, ideally ones that you can take on and off as needed are the answer. You might find that wearing an extra thermal layer under a wind/waterproof jacket is just right as you start out but then taking it off once you have warmed up gives you the best of both worlds. As we all know, the weather can change in an instant and so having something extra you can put on if it gets wetter, windier or colder can save a lot of misery on a winter ride.
Your legs can also do with some layering options. If it is set to be cold all ride then full-length tights can keep lots of cold out and warmth in. I love the flexibility of leg (and arm) warmers – cycling-specific items which act as removable coverings for your legs (or arms, accordingly) which can turn normal shorts into tights and can then be removed and shoved into a pocket when no longer needed. If it’s REALLY cold – they can act as a good extra layer under/over something else without adding too much bulky clothing.
Tip 2 – Look after your extremities
Tip two is also all about staying warm but this time it is a very cycling-specific potential coldness problem. Your hands are not doing that much whilst you ride along and are totally exposed to the air moving over your body. As a result they can become super cold, numb and even painful even if the rest of you is actually quite warm.
Not only is this unpleasant and a sure-fire way to remove the joy of cycling from your ride but it can also be very dangerous. With the feeling in your fingers reduced or even gone completely it can be hard to control the bikes with your braking and gear shifting compromised. If you are in a position where you are having to swing your arms around your body or desperately clenching and unclenching your fist to try and coax some feeling into your fingers then it’s already too late.
The dexterity that you need can mean that bulky gloves can also create their own problems and so a cycling-specific pair of winter gloves are the best. These should ideally be warm and also provide some level of wind and water resistance.
A budget-friendly way to keep the wind and water off your hands when used in conjunction with a standard pair of gloves is to put a pair of nitrile/latex gloves like you would find in a first aid kit underneath. These will do an excellent job of keeping cold out but are a bit too good at keeping moisture in so you will find your hands get sweaty pretty quickly.
It’s not just about your hands
Whilst your feet might be moving a lot more than your hands as you turn the pedals your toes can also end up uncomfortably cold. Overshoes might look a bit unusual but for riding in winter they are a tremendous addition.
Like cold fingers, cold toes can ruin a ride and as long as you don’t walk around in them too much then a pair of overshoes can last many winters and will even help preserve your shoes – protecting them from the muck and spray that flies up from your wheels as you ride.
Tip 3 – Ride with others
You have planned to go for a ride but as your alarm goes off you can hear the rain pattering on the window and you’re warm in the covers. You could put all your cycling gear on and head out but if you didn’t and just stayed in bed for another hour instead – who would even know?
Well, if you had arranged to ride with a buddy or a group of friends – then you would have to let them know you weren’t riding. We all know that being accountable to someone else is a hugely powerful way of getting over the hump of getting started on something and cycling in the winter is no different.
Getting your kit on and out of the door is almost always the hardest part and normally (especially if you follow these tips!) the ride itself is lots of fun and you wonder why on earth you considered not starting. Having people help you avoid the temptation to skip your ride is a powerful tool and riding with others makes the ride itself even better too.
It can make the time go by faster having mates to chat with and I always find that I will ride further in a group than I would on my own. It isn’t always going to be possible on every ride but having a regular time to ride, ideally together, can help build a helpful routine to keep the momentum going through until spring.
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Part 2 coming soon…
