Winter Cycling Tips to Avoid Winter Bike Blues and Cycle in the Rain, Wind and Cold

Are you struggling to get motivated for winter cycling? Does winter bike riding in the cold, the rain or a windy day fill you with dread?

These winter cycle tips will help you keep warm, dry and motivated for your century training. At the bottom is a really cool video about a bike messenger doing her job in the winter snow. Check it out!

Winter Cycling Preparation

1. Check the Situation

BEFORE venturing outside, check the conditions, check the forecast. and plan your route with the actual winter weather conditions in mind.


2. Check your bike

Bike mechanical problems are a pain on a summers day. Get them at dusk in mid winter and it’s not funny at all. So before riding in winter check your bike over. I check my winter bicycle tyres really carefully and replace them much earlier than in the summer as I hate changing punctures in the freezing cold.


3. Ride in the warmest part of the day

If you have any flexibility in ride times then there will be significant benefit in comfort and enjoyment if you choose the warmest.


4. Ride with a rucksack

This is useful and valuable at anytime of year but for winter cycling it really comes into it’s own. Giving you the flexibility to carry additional layers allowing you to adjust your clothing as your body temperature dictates.

There is another additional benefit or riding with a rucksack in that it builds your core strength and power as you are carrying extra weight. Then when you ride an event without your rucksack you will feel light and super strong. (I do ALL my training with a rucksack on, summer or winter)

Winter Cycling Training

1. Don’t overdo it!

Winter cycling conditions particularly the cold put our bodies at much greater risk of injury and illness. Be careful in your training through the cold and wet months.


2. Don’t forget to drink fluids

It is really easy to forget to drink when you cycle in cold temperatures. BUT it is vital that you do so. You are still sweating and losing moisture at similar rates to warm conditions. If you forget to drink then your performance will drop rapidly as you become dehydrated.

Winter Cycling Clothing

1. Winter Gloves Cycling

I dispense of all cycling fashion and ride in ski gloves. They are thick, insulated and my hands stay warm. They are a little bit cumbersome to change gear but there is nothing worse than fingers getting cold cycling.


2. Winter Cycling Shoes

I have nightmares with my feet. If they get too cold then I’m finished. they turn into blocks of ice and that’s it. Ride over. I now ride with so many layers on my feet I look like Michelin man but my feet are warm and that is all that counts.

My approach is as follows…1st a pair of normal socks. then my cycling shoes. Then 2 pairs of thick ski socks over the top of my cycling shoes. Each pair has holes cut into the bottom to allow my cleats to connect to the pedals. Then finally neoprene , waterproof booties on the top.


3. Winter Cycling Headgear

I personally don’t ride with a helmet so my options for keeping my head warm are pretty easy. I wear a thermal cycling scull cap that covers my ears and then a baseball cap on top.


4. Winter Cycling Jacket

The main issue here is that what you wear is waterproof and windproof. I never look for warmth from this outer layer. It is easy to control your temperature with more or less layers underneath. I personally don’t use a cycling specific jacket but instead use a berghaus walking jacket. Since this is breathable and more rugged than traditional cycling jackets it suits me better.

This article continues tomorrow with some specific winter cycling tips for coping with rain, fog & mist, snow, ice and wind.

I hope these winter cycling tips will keep your motivation up. If you are tempted by an endurance riding challenge then take a look at the 100 mile bike challenge. Also I work with many amateur bike riders coaching them to realise their fitness potential. To find out more check out Century Training

Winter Cycling Video

This is a new web site and I would really appreciate your help in raising awareness. If you enjoyed this article please take a moment to comment or share it on Facebook or Twitter. I would really appreciate it. Thanks and keep cycling.

Luke Bream

P. S. If you enjoyed the article then please stay in touch. You can do this by joining our email newsletter or become a FAN on Facebook or how about subscribing to the RSS feed.

P. P. S. Are you getting the fitness and weight loss goals you desire? Maybe I can help you. To find out more check out Cycling Training

winter bike, cycling in winter, cycling in rain, winter cycling training, more difficult to cycle in cold conditions, motivation to cycle when it is cold, tip cycling jacket wind rain, tips for cycling in the wind, what to wear for bike riding on a cool windy day, winter cycle race picture, how to chose winter byke clothing, how to avoid cold by wind when cycling, harder to bike in cold, cycling tips wind, cycling tips for racing in rain and cold, cycling over 100 miles advice, cycling in rain/snow, cycle training advice with cold, cycle tips winter, bicycle messenger advice, 100 mile cycle in the rain

Related posts:

1. Winter cycling Video tips for losing weight on your bike
2. cycling training camps – The Top Mistakes People Make When Choosing Cycling Shoes…And How To Avoid Them
3. bicycle tour – Bicycle Touring Equipment: Tips for Choosing a Camping Tent
4. Cool Cycle Touring Club images
5. Bike Holidays – Winter weather no excuse for not exercising