With winter approaching, riding outdoors is going to become more challenging, and a higher level of preparation is needed in order for it to be enjoyable, safe, and rewarding. While many use indoor training as a great way of getting through winter, don’t underestimate the value of fresh air, daylight, scenery, company, café stops, and mental fortitude. Riding outdoors can help you to sleep better, ward off coughs and colds, stay in touch with friends, and enjoy your natural environment.
This is a set of suggestions rather than a rulebook for club rides in winter.
Kit suggestions:
– A waterproof layer if it’s wet or there is any chance of rain. Pack-down waterproof jackets that will fit in a jersey pocket are really useful for changeable conditions. Whereas in summer you might get away with getting wet and staying warm, in the colder months wet = cold, so it’s worth trying to stay dry.
– Gloves. If you’re going to ride in cold and wet weather it’s pretty essential to have a pair of waterproof, windproof gloves, as your hands are particularly exposed whilst riding a bike. Numb hands can cause difficulty braking or changing gear, which is both miserable and dangerous.
– Overshoes or oversocks. These are like big, thick socks that go over your cycling shoes, keep your feet dry and your toes toasty. If you’ve been getting cold feet on rides these will probably change your life.
– Head & neck warmth. Headbands, caps, hats and buffs are all useful to have at your disposal for winter riding. Buffs are currently especially useful, doubling as face-masks in most places. Thin hats or caps allow your helmet to fit properly over the top. If you have long hair you might find a headband easier.
– General warm stuff, e.g. base-layers, fleecy jerseys, bib-tights. These are all useful for layering in the colder months. Long sleeve running tops, outdoor fleeces, gym tights (etc.) all work well too. It doesn’t all have to be “cycling” kit to keep you comfy and warm! Lots of thin layers, rather than a few thick ones, are preferable, allowing more adjustment for temperature.
– Remember: keeping core temperature up helps keep peripheral body parts—hands, feet, ears—warm as well. Don’t *just* add more layers to your extremities.
Bike suggestions:
– Mudguards, especially in wet conditions. Most bike shops will fit them for you, and you can add your own reflective Condor mud flaps for extra protection! These keep you dry, your friends dry, and reduce wear on your bike.
– ‘Ass-saver’ style guards—Condors custom style are available!—reduce spray if you’re riding on your own, and are easy to fit and remove. They’re much less suitable when riding in a group, as they deflect water towards the person following.
– Tyres that are designed to cope with winter road debris and rain, to maximise your chances of getting round puncture free. Winter tyres are often like winter bodies: wider, thicker, and slower than in summer.
– Lights. Even in daylight hours, fog/mist/rain/grey-ness are likely to kick in over winter and reduce visibility. Keeping a charged rear light on your bike is a good habit to keep.
– Be self-sufficient for basic mechanicals, e.g. inner tube, pump or gas, levers, multi tool, chain quick link, tyre boot. Learn how to use these at home, when you’re warm and have available time; nobody wants to learn mechanical skills when cold, wet, alone, and far from home.
– Clean and check over your bike more frequently than you would usually. Checking brake pads/blocks, chain condition, tyres, cables, matters much more when you’re going to be riding in mixed conditions.
– Keep your tyres a little softer than you would in summer. As you reduce psi you increase the amount of rubber on the road, and that contact patch matters more when the road is slippery.
General tips / ideas:
– Always take some kind of spare extra layer, e.g. pocket-sized gilet or waterproof jacket, in case you get cold when stopped or the weather turns worse than expected.
– Put your money/phone/mask in a plastic bag or similar to protect them from rain and dirt.
– Plan for the worst-case scenario. If you have to stop by the roadside for a mechanical and/or don’t make it to the café, will you still be warm enough and have enough food?
– Take a spare buff in your pocket or saddle-bag. It’s light, small and versatile – it can cover ears, neck or head for extra warmth mid-ride, and can easily be lent to a friend in need regardless of size!
– If it’s really wet, take spare base layers/socks/gloves in a drybag or plastic bag. Embrace the fact you’re going to get soaked, but also plan how to get dry and warm.
– Don’t be afraid to start your ride *slightly* cold – not shivering, just feeling a bit of a chill – especially on dryer days. Once you get going you will warm up, so if you are roasting before you’ve even taken a pedal stroke you will probably get very sweaty within 5-10 minutes. On a descent or windy section later in the ride, being damp from sweat inside your kit could make you much colder. It’s a balance, and the more you ride the more you will get to know your personal preference for layering in different conditions
– Check the weather forecasts for the places you’re riding to, not just your start point. They will often be quite different out of the city. The Met Office’s Rain Radar is a tool that comes into its own in winter.
– Don’t ride if it could be icy. The city will be a degree or two warmer than the countryside, so be aware that the road outside your house may not reflect the conditions on your route. Miss an outdoor ride and you miss a few extra km; hit some ice and you could miss months of cycling. If the forecast is unclear and you do want to ride, plan your route so that it uses gritted roads.
Oxfordshire (filter by Driver Information > Winter Gritting Routes and zoom in)
Buckinghamshire
West Berkshire
– If you’re riding alone, tell someone where you’re going. You might even to arrange to meet them half-way so you have an escape plan built in!
– Plan conservatively and flexibly. Do you need to stay closer to home than you’d like? Have you checked that the café will be open? Are you sure you can sit indoors?
– Remember to eat and drink regularly. It’s easy to forget these—especially drinking!—because you’re feeling cold and/or going slowly, but you sweat a lot even if you don’t notice it.
– Ride responsibly. Don’t take risks descending or cornering on damp roads.
– When you get home, get out of your damp and cold kit quickly, and warm up thoroughly. If you’re prone to chilblains make sure you keep your feet dry!