Dress for Winter Riding
How to dress for cold weather riding
It’s easy to avoid cycling when it starts to get cooler – “it's just too darn cold” we convince ourselves. But if you know how to dress properly winter cycling can produce some of your most invigorating and enjoyable cycling experiences. Learn how to dress for cold weather riding from head to toe…
Your Head
Around 1/3rd to ½ of the body's heat is lost through the head so if you can keep your head warm, your body will retain a good portion of its warmth.
* A head band is a good way to start to keep your ears warm. A thin close fitting beanie of synthetic fabric is a good lightweight remedy. A short brimmed cycling
cap would also do the trick.
* In extreme conditions, a Balaclava pulled down over the head will keep your whole head and neck region nice and snugly.
* Wear protective eyewear such as a good pair of cycling glasses that curve around your face and protect your eyes from wind and other elements.
Your Core (Your Torso)
Layering is critical to keep your core (and all it contains) warm and working well. It provides extra warmth and flexibility. Layering means wearing varying weights of clothing designed to wick moisture (draws it away from the skin), trap heat, and block wind and rain. The overall purpose of this layering process is to trap insulating air between the layers of clothing and hold heat in.
* Wear a lightweight garment consisting of a high-performance polyester based wicking fabric next to the skin like long or short sleeve polyprops or a specifically
designed under layer available from your cycling store.
* Next, wear an intermediate garment containing thermal capabilities (polyester is excellent here as well) which retains warmth while allowing a slow breathing
process of the fabric. A polyester riding jersey is ideal – short or long sleeved depending on preference and if you are wearing arm warmers
(see Your Arms).
* Then, wear an outer garment which serves dual purposes – to hold warmth in while blocking cold air and keeping the wind and rain out. Fabrics such as Nylon serve
this purpose well. Lightweight wind breaker, packable jackets or vests are ideal, as you can remove them and stuff them in your back pocket if you need to.
For more rain protection try a shell jacket or seam sealed jacket.
* Avoid wool and cotton (especially cotton t-shirts against your skin) – once they get wet they stay wet and get cold.
Your Arms
* Arm warmers can be used to keep your arms warm in slightly cold conditions. Arm warmers can be quite useful for days that start out cold and warm up as the sun
gets into gear. Just roll them down or take them off and store in your jersey pocket when you get too warm. We have these in store at Bob's Bikes.
* On cold winter days wear a long-sleeved jersey (either insulated or not depending on the cold) for your intermediate garment as described above.
Your Hands
Your extremities are highly susceptible to cold while cycling but you need them to stay warm and mobile so you can control your bike. Cold hands brake and change gear poorly!
* Wear cycling gloves whenever you ride. They cushion your hands while riding and protect them when (if) you fall off. They can also keep your hands nice and
warm making your riding more enjoyable.
* Gloves with full fingers come in handy in the cold season. In extreme conditions, cycling mittens underneath your gloves save your fingers from feeling like snapping
off where they connect to your palms.
Your Feet
Your feet can be a real challenge in the cold – they pedal in circles generating wind chill but don’t do much else. Numb feet can make a great ride quite unpleasant so they need to be well protected from the cold.
* In cold weather riding, put on heavier thermal cycling socks that wicks moisture and retains heat like socks made from synthetic fabrics. Don't wear cotton socks –
they hold onto moisture and will make your feet cold. Thin polyprop sock liners can also help make cosy toes.
* Cycling booties (or toe covers for only slightly cold days) slipped over your shoe are great in cold weather - the thicker the better. The booties are designed so that
your pedal cleats still connect with your pedal but insulate your foot and ankle as well.
Your Legs
Cold knees are unhappy knees when you’re riding. You need to keep them warm and lubricated as obviously they are essential to an effective pedal stroke. A good rule is keep your knees covered anytime the weather is below 10 degrees.
* In semi-cold weather, ¾ length cycling tights can be worn instead of cycling shorts. These short tights come down the leg just below the knee and serve the purpose
of keeping your knees warm without your body overheating. Alternatively, knee warmers, worn in combination with cycling shorts, can serve the same purpose.
* Use full length cycling tights for colder weather or if you prefer to be on the warm side
Once you’ve got yourself covered for winter riding you can extend your cycling season to be a four season adventure. Also remember the basics like a helmet, padded cycling shorts and proper cycling shoes.
Don’t let a cold day keep you in bed or on the couch again. But here’s one more tip before you get cracking:
If you’re warm before you start cycling you’ve got too much gear on. You should be a little bit cool because after about ten minutes of your body generating heat from pedalling you’ll heat up nicely.
It’s easy to avoid cycling when it starts to get cooler – “it's just too darn cold” we convince ourselves. But if you know how to dress properly winter cycling can produce some of your most invigorating and enjoyable cycling experiences. Learn how to dress for cold weather riding from head to toe…
Your Head
Around 1/3rd to ½ of the body's heat is lost through the head so if you can keep your head warm, your body will retain a good portion of its warmth.
* A head band is a good way to start to keep your ears warm. A thin close fitting beanie of synthetic fabric is a good lightweight remedy. A short brimmed cycling
cap would also do the trick.
* In extreme conditions, a Balaclava pulled down over the head will keep your whole head and neck region nice and snugly.
* Wear protective eyewear such as a good pair of cycling glasses that curve around your face and protect your eyes from wind and other elements.
Your Core (Your Torso)
Layering is critical to keep your core (and all it contains) warm and working well. It provides extra warmth and flexibility. Layering means wearing varying weights of clothing designed to wick moisture (draws it away from the skin), trap heat, and block wind and rain. The overall purpose of this layering process is to trap insulating air between the layers of clothing and hold heat in.
* Wear a lightweight garment consisting of a high-performance polyester based wicking fabric next to the skin like long or short sleeve polyprops or a specifically
designed under layer available from your cycling store.
* Next, wear an intermediate garment containing thermal capabilities (polyester is excellent here as well) which retains warmth while allowing a slow breathing
process of the fabric. A polyester riding jersey is ideal – short or long sleeved depending on preference and if you are wearing arm warmers
(see Your Arms).
* Then, wear an outer garment which serves dual purposes – to hold warmth in while blocking cold air and keeping the wind and rain out. Fabrics such as Nylon serve
this purpose well. Lightweight wind breaker, packable jackets or vests are ideal, as you can remove them and stuff them in your back pocket if you need to.
For more rain protection try a shell jacket or seam sealed jacket.
* Avoid wool and cotton (especially cotton t-shirts against your skin) – once they get wet they stay wet and get cold.
Your Arms
* Arm warmers can be used to keep your arms warm in slightly cold conditions. Arm warmers can be quite useful for days that start out cold and warm up as the sun
gets into gear. Just roll them down or take them off and store in your jersey pocket when you get too warm. We have these in store at Bob's Bikes.
* On cold winter days wear a long-sleeved jersey (either insulated or not depending on the cold) for your intermediate garment as described above.
Your Hands
Your extremities are highly susceptible to cold while cycling but you need them to stay warm and mobile so you can control your bike. Cold hands brake and change gear poorly!
* Wear cycling gloves whenever you ride. They cushion your hands while riding and protect them when (if) you fall off. They can also keep your hands nice and
warm making your riding more enjoyable.
* Gloves with full fingers come in handy in the cold season. In extreme conditions, cycling mittens underneath your gloves save your fingers from feeling like snapping
off where they connect to your palms.
Your Feet
Your feet can be a real challenge in the cold – they pedal in circles generating wind chill but don’t do much else. Numb feet can make a great ride quite unpleasant so they need to be well protected from the cold.
* In cold weather riding, put on heavier thermal cycling socks that wicks moisture and retains heat like socks made from synthetic fabrics. Don't wear cotton socks –
they hold onto moisture and will make your feet cold. Thin polyprop sock liners can also help make cosy toes.
* Cycling booties (or toe covers for only slightly cold days) slipped over your shoe are great in cold weather - the thicker the better. The booties are designed so that
your pedal cleats still connect with your pedal but insulate your foot and ankle as well.
Your Legs
Cold knees are unhappy knees when you’re riding. You need to keep them warm and lubricated as obviously they are essential to an effective pedal stroke. A good rule is keep your knees covered anytime the weather is below 10 degrees.
* In semi-cold weather, ¾ length cycling tights can be worn instead of cycling shorts. These short tights come down the leg just below the knee and serve the purpose
of keeping your knees warm without your body overheating. Alternatively, knee warmers, worn in combination with cycling shorts, can serve the same purpose.
* Use full length cycling tights for colder weather or if you prefer to be on the warm side
Once you’ve got yourself covered for winter riding you can extend your cycling season to be a four season adventure. Also remember the basics like a helmet, padded cycling shorts and proper cycling shoes.
Don’t let a cold day keep you in bed or on the couch again. But here’s one more tip before you get cracking:
If you’re warm before you start cycling you’ve got too much gear on. You should be a little bit cool because after about ten minutes of your body generating heat from pedalling you’ll heat up nicely.
