How To Get Ready For Winter Cycling |
Posted: June 27, 2017 |
Well like it or not winter is approaching fast and with the wet autumn we’re enduring I’ve already seen a drastic drop in cyclists on the roads. The bike shed at my work place has been emptying steadily week by week until it’s just the hard core riders left with plenty of spaces to choose from. The enthusiasm for commuting to work on a bike soon drops off in the winter but it doesn’t need to. Winter cycling calls for a few adjustments and a change of clothing. I was reading on one forum about a guy who had braved the wind and rain to get to work in shorts and a vest. Was he brave or stupid? I can’t even imagine getting on my bike in a vest and shorts in wind and rain; the mere thought is sending me into spasms of shivering. I thought winter riding would be a good topic to write a post about so here goes. What I consider crucial to winter cycling is staying warm and dry. There’s nothing worse than getting wet and having miles to ride. In the bad old days, when I was a young man and used to cycle in jeans, I can still remember cycling in the rain with my thighs soaking wet and water dripping from the hems of my jeans. Staying comfortable and dry is not only essential to your well being but is crucial to your safety. If you’re freezing and wet you will make mistakes on the road. If you have your head down to protect yourself from a cold wind you’re not looking where you are going and you are reducing your safety awareness. So wearing the right clothing is the first point I would suggest to prevent miserable winter cycling experiences. Another point is if you are going on a decent length ride, say about thirty miles plus, then you may want to take clothes off as you start to heat up, so a good bag on your back is essential. I always carry a string pulled canvass cycle bag. I find it comfortable and more than big enough to carry everything I need. The first parts of clothing I would look at is the base layer. The layer next to the skin. These need to be light and warm and able to pull sweat off the skin. I use training vests, the same ones I use for the gym. Good quality ones which have a thin lining inside to pull the sweat from your body. I find these are more than good enough and are pretty cheap at about 15 quid a vest from most sports shops. I would suggest you avoid cheap vests that don’t take the sweat off your body, you’ll soon start to get cold and uncomfortable with these. I know, I’ve tried them. Your next layer of clothing would be a cycling shirt or thin jacket for insulation. These need to be light and compact because you may take them off and have to put them in your bag. A thin fleece is perfect. The outer jacket needs to be windproof and waterproof. The summer jacket I wear can’t stop a drop of rain so it goes into hibernation for the winter. And a good pair of winter tights make all the difference to your comfort. For a few years I ignored this and continued to cycle through the winter in my normal summer tights. I eventually got sensible and invested in a good pair of winter tights. The change I can tell you, was immense, and my winter cycling experience much more enjoyable. A good pair of warm waterproof gloves are also an essential piece of kit that will make your riding much pleasanter. The cold will get to your hands first and pretty quick, so invest in good quality gloves. You shouldn’t be cold when you’re cycling. If you allow yourself to get cold, not only doesn’t it feel nice, but you are compromising your safety. If you’re thinking about your cold hands or feet you’re not watching what’s going on around you. Lots of guys I know have another bike for winter. Their best bike is put away and their winter bike comes out. This is a good idea if you can afford it. With a winter bike you can get some mud guards on, essential I’d say. I’ve ruined many good jackets through the winter with salt and rain splashes forming a line up my back. The roads are usually wet most of the time and getting blathered with salt and mud is not very nice. I’d consider mud guards essential for winter commuting. With a bike dedicated for winter riding you can go to work on it and prepare it thoroughly. I’d put some heavy duty tyres on it. I’ve spent a few times with my bike upside down in the rain putting a new inner tube in so good puncture resistant tyres are an essential part of getting ready for winter. Winter commuting is not about speed, it’s about comfort, warmth and of course safety. By having a bike solely for winter it will save the wear and tear on your best bike. You can keep that nice and clean, not subjecting it to the rigours of winter. Get it out for a blow out on those nice dry fresh winter days that come now and again, but keep it away from wet salt encrusted roads. Some basic bike maintenance will be more essential in the winter as your bike gets assaulted by salt, water and grit. Pay special attention to your chain and gearing mechanisms. It doesn’t require much. Every week or so clean your chain. Get a piece of rag (Not kitchen towels like I have been known to. It’s not worth the hour’s ear bashing from the wife) and just run it down the chain. Get all the grit off, concentrate on the gears as well. Once you have cleaned the chain, oil it with good gear oil. Oil all the parts that move. This is basic maintenance but very effective to maintaining your bike in good condition. Once you’re happy with that just give your bike a quick once over with a damp towel to get all the grime off it. You don’t need to be a mechanic to keep your bike running well. I always have an extra flashing back light in the winter to give me added visibility. Sometimes it’s just not sensible to go out on your bike if it’s chucking it down with a gale force wind, but in milder winter weather there’s no reason to put your bike away. By wearing the right clothes and staying warm and keeping your bike well maintained you can keep cycling throughout the winter. Winter cycling can even be pleasant. You Might Like To Read: What Kayaks Should You Choose - Inflatable or Rigid
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