Cycling in winter brings some new challenges, one of which is keeping warm on the bike.
Riding in cooler conditions is great, because we’re generally less likely to overheat (check out our post Mountain Biking in Scotland for a taste of northern biking). However, mountain bikers, gravel riders and roadies would all agree that temperature regulation can be a challenge. So, to help stay warm on your bike, check out the tips below.
Clothing tips for chilly rides
One minute you’re boiling hot on the ascents and the next, you’re freezing cold, descending through puddles, rain or snow. These extremes make dressing for a winter ride tricky, so follow the layering principle to keep warm and protected on the bike (Endura clothing for example).
Riding tips
- Back off the power so you don’t overheat
- Open clothing vents on a climb, to reduce sweating
- Close cuffs and collars before descending
Biking overtrousers, or even waterproof shorts are great in wet conditions, while all-in-ones are the ultimate for truly awful weather.
When biking, your body burns a lot of energy and feeling cold can be a sign that you are running low on calories. To help stay warm on the bike, refuel with energy gels or electrolyte sachets, which give a quick boost of energy and minerals. Coffee and cake does the job too!
💡 ‘Be bold, start cold’. Start your ride on the cool side. That way, you will reach optimum body temperature and avoid being chilled by sweating.
Mudguards: love ’em or hate ’em, mudguards certainly keep you drier and warmer when riding bikes in the cold and wet (your mates might thank you for fitting a rear mudguard too). But they do add clutter, so you might prefer just decent waterproof trousers/shorts and a minimalist front guard instead.
Good bike jackets may have a helmet-compatible hood and bike-friendly venting to reduce condensation, while keeping out spray, rain and wind
MTB protection such as fullface helmet, elbow/knee pads and an impact tee can keep you really warm when riding your bike on rowdy downhill terrain. For cold weather riding, merino base layers stay warmer and smell fresher than standard riding jerseys (and being wool, merino actually releases a little heat when wet). Gilets and winter-weight leggings are more options for fine-tuning your insulation.
Bike-specific tops have long sleeves and back to give more warmth in cold, wet conditions.
Keeping head, hands and feet warm on the bike
Your extremities need extra protection when on the bike, but there are other factors as well as keeping warm. If your head is too hot, your whole body can overheat and eyewear steam up. Too-thick gloves impair brake and gear control and too-thick socks reduce power transfer.
More finger-warming ideas for bikers:
- Prewarming gloves on a radiator before heading out
- Winter-weight gloves
- Over-the-handlebar pogies
- Disposable, reusable or battery-powered handwarmers
- Arm warmers
- Latex or nitrile gloves under riding gloves
Full-finger gloves are a great option in cooler conditions
A helmet liner or thin headscarf (eg: ‘Buff‘) adds instant cosiness under a helmet, with the option to cover the mouth and nose as well. Winter-spec bike shoes and overboots keep feet much more warm than do summer ones. Check out the post Cold feet cycling? Tips for toasty toes.
Hopefully, these tips for keeping warm when cycling will help (and inspire) you for winter rides.
Leading and coaching near Aviemore and beyond
