Cycling can be great fun. And just because the weather has turned wet and cold, and the days are shorter, doesn’t mean you have to store your bike away. You just need to swap out a few things and be more careful.
Invest in winter clothing
Now that the temperature has dropped, it is time to ditch the summer cycling gear and bring out the cold weather appropriate clothing. When looking for new winter cycling gear, you should look for pieces that you can easily layer up and made of wicking material to keep you dry. You should also swap out your bib shorts or other cycling bottoms and replace them with bib tights – perfect for keeping your legs warm and provide extra padding.
One of the first things to go cold are your hands and feet, so we highly recommend you also get yourself soft good quality, warm gloves and socks. And if you are cycling on a road or dirt track, you need to get yourself a pair of cycling glasses to protect your eyes from road spray and snow.
Eating and drinking
Just like with any form of exercise, it is important to keep yourself hydrated and full of lots of energy. To do this, you should opt for foods that are high in energy like porridge, dried fruit and nuts. You also need to keep yourself hydrated by drinking at least 2 litres of water whilst on your ride. However, if it is extremely cold, you will need to insulate your water bottle to prevent it from freezing.
Make yourself visible
As it gets darker earlier in winter, you need to make yourself as visible as possible. And to do this, you need bike lights. For full visibility to oncoming traffic and those behind you, you should have both front and rear bike lights fitted as well as one attached to your helmet. If you are mainly cycling on the road, you should also wear hi vis clothing so that other road users can clearly see you.
Safety in numbers
Whilst you may enjoy solo cycling, during the winter it is safer to go cycling in a group. Not only does it give you someone to talk to, but it also means there is someone else there to help in the worse case scenario.
Your bike
Winter and cold weather conditions can be tough on your bike. You may not realise, but the wet, muddy and cold weather can damage your bike – one thing you don’t want to happen to your favourite, expensive bike. To prevent this from happening, you should try to use an old bike you have and aren’t attached to anymore. That way, if it does get damaged, you won’t be that bothered about it. However, you can easily avoid badly damaging your bike by cleaning it after every ride to wash off any grit and road salt that can corrode your bike.
