Cold Weather Bike Riding

Dust off your bike, check your brakes and tires and with these warm clothes you're prepared to ride on the days when mother nature is giving you all the cold weather she has to offer. I ride on days when the temperature is below the freezing point and I'm able to stay plenty warm and I'm confident that with the proper clothes you will too!

Just because the wind is blowing and you'd rather stay inside and keep warm is no excuse to let your bike collect dust all winter long. There are many advantages to riding the trails in the winter time that many mountain bikers haven't realized yet. Once I get my warm clothes on and get on my mountain bike in the winter time, one of the first things that I notice is the cool crisp air along with being able to see my breath every time I exhale. Another great part about mountain biking in the winter time is that the trails are less crowded from other bikers. Depending on where you ride, the trails may even have the snow packed down so it's still somewhat easier to ride on. The fresh blanket of snow makes it a little bit easier to roll over obstacles that may be in your way.

There are many different types of clothing options that you can choose from so that you will be able to enjoy the benefits of cold weather bike riding. When it gets cold enough that just a pair of cycling shorts and jersey isn't enough, I first put on my arm warmers along with my knee warmers and that does the trick. I really like having those two items because it's great to have for days when it's just cold enough that you need a little bit extra clothing, but not freezing outside where you would need very heavy clothes on. The great part about owning something as light as a pair of knee warmers and a pair of arm warmers it that if you get too warm, they are easy to take off and put in your back pocket. If your really good, you'll be able to take off the arm warmers while your riding. When the temperature gets below 50 degrees though, is when I put on my long tights and they keep my legs nice and warn and toasty even when it gets down below 30 degrees.

A few of the more important items to own is a pair of shoe covers. I own a pair of shoe covers for my mountain bike shoes and also another pair for my cycling shoes. They are great to have so that your feet and toes can stay warm on those chilly winter days. Also, one of the most essential winter clothing options is an excellent pair of gloves. I've noticed that my fingers are normally the first thing to get cold while riding. Having a good pair of gloves can either make or break your mountain bike ride. Even though there are many different clothing options to choose from when mountain biking in the winter time, I never head out on my bike without putting on something on my head. You'll be able to find something that fits comfortably on your head as well as underneath your helmet.

So after you are done dusting off your bike, checking your brakes and tires, I am confident that wearing these types of warm clothes, you will be prepared to ride on the days when mother nature is giving you all the cold weather she has to offer.

Cold Weather Riding Tips

Most of us in the northern parts of the country will ride outside as long as we can, before the temperature goes below freezing and the snow arrives. Here are some tips to help make your cold rides more enjoyable. Please note that these riding tips are not for Winter riding. They are meant for temps between 32f - 43f (or 1c - 6c).

Things to consider when biking in the cold:

It is easy to Overdress. Its easy to put on to much gear when heading out for a fall ride. We all do it. Its cold at the beginning, but keep in mind you will soon be burning energy and producing heat. You want to avoid overdressing, because not only will you be sweating and uncomfortable, but once you decrease your intensity or stop for whatever reason, that warm sweat will quickly become bone chilling. If possible, strip off a layer before you sweat, or unzip your top layer.

Wear a good base layer. Unless your just out for an easy spin through the park, sweating is almost unavoidable. You want to wick away as much sweat as possible using a good base layer. Two popular materials used in base layers are polyester and Merino wool. You want to stay away from anything made of cotton, as it DOES NOT do a good job of dealing with sweat.

Leg warmers. In my experience, leg warmers are warm enough when riding in these temps (32f - 43f , or 1c - 6c). If after a ride you notice that your knees are very cold to the touch, you are risking the chance of getting sore knees (in my experience, but this is not scientifically proven). I recommend getting a pair of insulated bike tights to avoid problems.

Make your helmet fit over your hat. Don't try jamming your helmet over your hat. More often then not, you will have to make adjustments to your helmet to fit it over your toque no matter how thin your hat is. Try taking out the helmet padding if it helps. You might also need to adjust the length of Helmet strap.

Cold hands and feet are most easily. Invest in good gloves and a series of thermal boots and / or feet covered. cycling gloves are recommended because they are specific isolation in front to block the wind, and have access to the best links so you do not slip, are suitable. Tip: Wiggle your fingers every few minutes, so go the bloodstream and usually cold as easily.


Experiment until you find and track. Whatscomfortable for you, write down what you wore on each of your rides and what the temperature was. If you were to warm, strip a layer or replace your jacket with a windbreaker and wear a long sleeve jersey or arm warmers underneath. There are many combinations you can experiment with.

These are just a few tips I use to help keep me warm during those chilly rides. For more tips and help on cycling, visit the Cycling Destination page at http://blog.cyclingdestination.com