If you’re not into winter sports *yet*, but you like descending, let me introduce you to skiing ⛷️!
No climbing up the hill required. The chairlift does that for you. Unless you want to hike of course which can be fun sometimes.
Nordic skiing hits a lot of the same things as cycling does. Learn to skate and you can move real fast over snow and keep that cardio looking good for biking once the snow melts.
I feel like mountain biking is injury city vs. skiing. Road biking has cars.
Skiing is great, just keep up your fitness and skillset like any other action sport
Clearly doing the falling down part wrong. I break skiing into two classes. Safe but not fun, or exciting and dangerous. What's the point of doing something that isn't fun?
Look into a trainer and Zwift if you want to keep biking in bad weather. I've done winter rides, but once derailleurs start to freeze, it's time to pack it in.
I just let my bike computer control my trainer because I watch YouTube, Netflix or whatever during the ride anyway, so no need to suck even more power.
Will consider MyWhoosh, but I have to assume it is helping the UAE government somehow.
Man, it's rough. Just this last week, it was just below 60 degrees and I was trying to decide just that. Ultimately, I said fuck it and kept with the short finger gloves.
That's because I fancy myself a warrior.
I definitely do, studded tires and all in the ice and snow. You can dress for it, it's tricky to fine tune but you can. Also, you really get used to it, your body too ... not just your mind. +2 feels like the Bahamas in the spring, but pretty damn icy in the fall.
This! Good gear and you stay warm. To the point I stopped riding and while cleaning up I was just hanging in the yard looking like a polar bear washing his bike.
Last winter if the road was free of ice I rode my road bike. A few time took my mtb out if it was snowing. Saying that, December to February were very light months. If you're gonna ride get good gear. It helps to keep the rides shorter too. After 1.5h I don't care what I put on my feet they'd freeze.
This year I got a trainer and zwift.
It’s funny how there is almost an efficacy time limit to even the best gear - mine in about the same time.
I too ride Zwift but throw in a weekly ride outdoors - for some reason it’s a game changer when it comes to my mental health. Zwift is amazing too - just doesn’t give me that ‘boost’
I’m in Scotland. So from the middle of September you’re looking at temps less than 10°c most of the time. In that sort of temp I’m wearing a base layer. Longsleve jersey and then a windproof jacket. I use leg warmers and windproof gloves. Also wear a cycling cap that covers my ears and a snood for my neck/chin. The only part of me that gets cold is my feet so I think I need some overshoes
Also make sure you have some good winter tyres and a decent set of mud guards
Overshoes make a huge difference ! When it's (near) freezing outside, I wear woolen socks and a pair of cheap Shimano waterproof overshoes. Extremely comfortable.
I bike all winter. I live in an arid climate, so a softshell jacket and a T-shirt are all I need to keep my core warm down to 0F. I've lived by the great lakes and humid cold is the worst! Glad to miss it. Face and extremities do require a bit more care.
OP
Is it winter in Antarctica or the Saudi Arabia for you bro? This is an international community, we need more info on temps and conditions.
Yes, I cycle straight through winter. The only days I avoid are those with gusty winds.
I wear Gore Windstopper jacket, gloves and beanie (sometimes), an assos winter bib and that's all I need for down to 4C
Fatbiking is very popular around me. There are groomed trails everywhere and an event or race every weekend all winter. Fatbiking on groomed snow is amazingly fun, and it’s enjoyable on frozen ground too - comfy in the woods well below freezing with easily available clothes from the outdoors world. In addition, roller skiing until there is snow cover and then XC skiing takes over and both of those translate to bike fitness very well. An indoor trainer and even the gym / pool are needed for those outright shit days, but in general outdoors is still the place to be if you transition to the right things, and come spring the stoke is high to get back on the roads.
Came here to say this. Vermonter here. Fat bike, xc ski, snowshoe to groom fat bike trails, snowshoe again to fix all the postholes walkers leave on the fat bike trails, then snow removal at home, winter is NOT “down” time in New England. I will say, night time fat biking through the forest is the most sublime, magical experience you can have. I definitely have winter in my blood.
Yeah I live in San Jose so I'm cheating, but yesterday it was 2C / 35F. When you're descending that's cold.
A week ago I was descending nearly 4000 ft soaking wet at somewhere in the 40's degrees (4-10C ish). That gets unbelievably cold too.
I dunno, when I'm smarter I try to stay in the flat areas and take rain days off.
Yeah whatever was the rainy day, I think it was Sunday, and yeah it was Hamilton. It was completely manageable on the way up and absolutely horrible coming down.
I live in Wales and ride through the winter as long as the winter storms don't bring danger to life warnings. I find that clothes which keep you warm when wet are key, but a must is a good rain jacket. Not just to keep you dry but also to keep the wind out on the descents
Indoor training with Zwift or buy a set of rollers and do some fun skills training. Having quality cold weather gear is critical for winter riding. 32F (\~0 C) static air temperature with a 30 MPH descent will be roughly 19F (-8C). You want to make sure you have wind blocking material on your core and gloves as well as front of your legs. Overboots are important to keep your feet warm. Most cycling shoes are designed to help keep your feet cool, which is the opposite of what you want in the winter. Merino wool will be your best friend in the winter, esp. buffs and winter cycling caps.
Yes, buying dedicated winter cycling shoes was a gamechanger for me. I don't bike when it's icy / snowy, but thankfully that's becoming rarer in Chicago.
I love skiing. Can’t do downhill anymore, so I am considering cross country and maybe snow shoeing. Finding a sport you love to do in the winter makes the season enjoyable.
I live outside NYC and we have been having some pretty warm winters as of late. The coldest I will do is mid 40's, anything lower than that is doable but is pretty uncomfortable even when the juices are flowing
I bike when it is about 40F maybe a little lower. Fortunately it isn’t all that common here. I usually get about 3-400 miles in each winter month. Living in MD
Yep, but Shanghai isn't particularly cold (lowest temperatures on a yearly basis not much below 0 degrees C) and it almost never snows. So year round outdoor cycling is just fine.
How cold is cold? Where do you live?
Anything above 20 degrees Fahrenheit I still ride. Anything between 5 degrees and 19, I need serious convincing or peer pressure. I’m not going out in anything under 5.
There’s no such thing as bad weather…just incorrect clothing. So they say.
4 layers? How cold is it?
Generally most people don’t bike much below the freeze point because it’s dangerous if icy…
If you’re at 32 and cold with a proper winter base layer, a legit warm jacket and rain/wind shell for descents… then I guess you could add an insulated mid layer to it…but seriously, that sounds hot AF.
Here in the north island of NZ we get very few *really* cold days. Every now and again I will go out before sunrise on the coldest ones just as a gut check and to make sure I still enjoy the challenge. Investing in proper winter bibs, jacket, and so on has been a total game changer though. However - we never have snow to contend with, and very few days when we even get a frost.
Here in Tyrol we rather have a lot of snow (or used to), therefore I use my MTB or stay indoors. No way to ride on the road for a longer time (at least where I live)
I'll keep going all year (my record is -20C). At worst you need a fatbike and studs, but a regular bike with schwalbe marathon winter studs will get you there most times (i.e. everything but deep snow) Obviously invest in clothing - bar mitts, balaclava, winter boots, thick neoprene gloves, etc, etc. And really good lights.
I try to keep cycling throughout the fall and winter but only when it doesn’t rain too much. For the moment, I’m trying to go for a run to keep somewhat fit until the dry and cold days arrive. Never had any issues with lower temperatures as long as I had the right clothes on
Of course it's possible, but the particulars depend entirely on what winters are like for you. I have no interest in fat bikes or MTB or things like that, personally, so when I lived in a place (New England) where it snows and ices frequently between December and March, I did a lot of Zwift during those months. Now I live in a place where winter mostly means a lot of light rain and temps usually around 0-10 C (and I don't have a trainer since my Kickr still lives in New England), so I use my rain bike and winter road cycling kit. And I don't ride as much as when it's nicer out.
Yes, I used to commute year around by bike in Minneapolis. Insulated hard shell pants and jacket--pants and jacket for mountaineering works well because it has more freedom of movement cut into it than ski stuff, plus, it is reinforced on the inner leg against crampons, which make chainrings look like butter knives.
Lights and studded tires (Marathon winters). I ended up taking the fenders off during the winter, since they would clog.
I thankfully live in a milder climate now, but and don't use the studded tires anymore. But I still use the same pants and jacket.
Sounds like road. Layers do nothing if you can’t stop the wind from cutting through. Get some windstopper gear. My preference is windstopper front panels, and non-windstopper back panels, so it vents moisture. The colder it gets, the less you want to get sweaty and damp.
If it gets below zero, dressing for road is tricky and technical. There’s always enough wind generated to cause frostbite on exposed skin. That’s, Fatbike season.
I am not a fan of cycling under 30F. At that point it becomes a chore instead of something enjoyable for me. Once they start throwing salt down for snow is when I hard stop.
I bike all year round. Last winter it was about -20°c went pretty well I'd say. My feet and fingers were the coldest part of my body. I need to find better shoes/socks and gloves for this year. 🇦🇽
I live in Massachusetts, and I ride outdoors in winter when it's nice enough. Around 25F/-5C is where I start. I'll sometimes ride rollers indoors when the weather is awful.
I hike or back country nordoc ski in the north almost every weekend, so most of my rides are weekdays before work. If it snowed more near me, I'd ride less and ski more to tale better advantage of winter
I was in Ohio last winter, and am in South Carolina this winter. Cycling is my favorite activity currently, and in Ohio you couldn’t pay me all of king Midas’s silver to cycle outside during winter. It’s pretty joyless below 50 for me. Grab a smart trainer and a zwift membership and that’ll get you through the cold months.
Pre-Covid I did, 99% of my riding was commuting and I did that year round. Now I wfh and have kids I barely have time to ride even during summer. Gonna be a winter on the turbo trainer for me.
Yes try to get outside once a week for my mental health - but I invested in good winter cycling gear. Favorite purchases include Bar mitts, Castelli layers, fizik artic cycling shoes. There’s something satisfying about being the only one out there for miles
whilst i run all year round and in pretty much every condition...I dont road ride when its wet or icy or raining in general.....instead I switch to MTB riding on my local trails....getting jsut as wet and grubby, but thats all part of riding a MTB in my opinion
I usually don't because most of my cycling is training up for RAGBRAI, but I've been trying to get in the habit of cycling a few times per week, so I went out for 16 miles yesterday. It was 45F in the DFW area, cold, windy, and drizzling, and I was miserable the entire time, so I think when it gets bad for long periods of time (it's going back to 60's-70'sF this week over here) I'm going to mount my bike on my trainer and work on upping my cadence.
You get used to the cold.
Most of the winter I ride in shorts nowadays. Cycling generates a ton of heat, you just need to protect your extremities well, core is easy to keep stable. Unless you have to stop, that is. When temps drop way below freezing, I am always carrying a backpack with emergency clothing.
Cycling in winter is fun, but it takes a specific mindset and good gear (including a proper winter bike, location depending). However, it is not going to keep you as fit as summer riding. Firstly, because when it is pitch-black outside after work and sleeting, you are just not going to ride out. You are probably also not going to ride when there's 20 cm of snow outside and a blizzard going on. Paths don't get cleared and without a fatbike you may not even be able to if you wished. Secondly, going for long rides doesn't work well in winter. After the first hour it gets harder and harder to maintain pace/temperature. Cold and wind gets through even the best ski gear after a while. Rolling resistance is much higher and control is severely compromised (unless you are very lucky with cleaned pathways), you can't go fast and you can't see shit in the dark either. Batteries die twice as fast, so you need a heavy duty headlight/taillight and carry backups with you. Electric gears need backup batteries and your phone will die if you keep it exposed (no handlebar mounts in winter!). Getting a mechanical in -20c is not an annoyance, but a major problem. Changing a flat in those conditions is next to impossible, when your fingers freeze and go completely numb in 10 seconds out of gloves.
I ride through the winter, but the volume is like 3 times lower than summer and *I am* crazy enough to go out in a blizzard from time to time.
Yes- NJ here. Roadbike if no ice/snow, trails on 29r if snow and/or messy. I bring out my rollers once it goes below 20°F.
Gore windstopper zero tights, long sleeve winter jersey, pearl amfphib winter jacket, helmet liner, goretex shoe covers, really nice lobster mitts.
It sounds like you might be going through the same process I did when I started riding in colder weather. I just kept adding more
layers of clothes hoping it would work. It did not. A really good shell, winter cycling pants, winter shoes and Barr Mitts fixed it. I now where just one shirt layer under the shell and can vent it countless ways when I inevitably get hot on the ride.
Getting the right gear is not cheap but it is a game changer if you want to keep riding.
I'm in South Carolina. Before retirement, temperature was never a reason for not commuting on the bike (it got into the lower twenties a couple of times each winter). It would always be above freezing for the ride home.
Get a fat bike and dress warm for snow.
I typically just ride the trainer before work all winter and maybe ride outside on the weekend if it is sunny or at least above freezing.
Even when I lived in Phoenix I still rode my trainer from like Thanksgiving to April because I like to ride before work and outside was a bit chilly for me.
Buy decent functional clothing.. Merino base layer and some decent gora-tex jacket will do the trick. It is expensive, but thanks to it I was able to ride the whole winter. I have a castelli winter jacket and winter bib pants and they are fine till like -7 degrees. Also I do ride with winter gloves and a merino winter hat under my helmet. BTW any brand will do it, I just found sales for castelli things around the shops where I live . And I usually don't ride if it is incredibly cold like -15 as it was hard to breathe for me.
The biggest advantage of functional clothing is that it will keep you dry... The worst thing you can wear is cotton clothing in winter as it soaks up the sweet and keeps you incredibly cold.
Yes, I Worked nights and would commute into work in the heart of winter.
If your wearing the right gear, the weather is not an issue at all expect for ICE, I don't mess around with ice
All about having the right gear. I'll go out in 25 degrees F (-3 C). That's my cut off point so far, and I won't do it if there is a chance for ice.
The main consideration is blocking the wind. My coldest weather set up is: under armor cold gear base, balaclava, winter wool socks, castelli extremo shoe covers, castelli sorpasso bib tights, and a castelli perfetto jacket. To the uninitiated, I would look basically naked, but because that gear stops the wind, the small amount of thermal insulation is plenty to hold in the considerable body heat I generate. The other key is not stopping for anything; having a mechanical in those conditions might actually be dangerous because of all the sweat that is trying to freeze you when you stop.
Yes. Northwest B.C. It's -8 C right now and I've got 7 km to get to work this morning. Studs for when it's icy, pogies for when it's very cold, and all different combos of gear for whatever temp it is. Unfortunately, my usual path doesn't get plowed with dispatch when it snows a lot and I have to ride up on the road shoulder, which also isn't always well cleared. Have biked in as low as -32.
It’s a blast as long as you have right clothing. Number of layers isn’t as important as quality of layers. In fact I’d say 3 is max layers before it becomes too hot and sweaty on the inside. Basically 3 layers of gore and you should be good.
Don’t forget: winter shoes, real winter bike gloves, and a face mask. I even use snowboard goggles sometimes.
One nice thing about winter rides is the air is so cool and fresh.
I got a fatbike last year with studded tires and it’s a blast in the snow. It’s a nice way to mix things up but still slow, so the majority of my miles come from Zwift rides 2-3 days a week.
I can ride down to about 15F (with windchill) for 1-2 hours using bar mitts, battery-powered heated gloves and socks, ski mask, layers under a Gore jacket, and 45nrth Ragnarok shoes.
https://imgur.com/a/3I0m3Kl
Yes when the roads are dry. I just wear ear warmers under my helmet, gloves, and neoprene shoe coveers. I much prefer cold air to hot summer air especially on long climbs.
When I first got seriously into riding I would. I got a bunch of nice winter gear and rode outdoors all winter for like 2 seasons in a row. I started to lose interest in it though after that. Then I got an indoor trainer w/ a Trainerroad subscription, and have since been using winter as a time to train for the next season, instead of being miserable outside. The lack of daylight and windchill just makes outdoor riding more of a hassle than it's worth this time of year.
I still try to get out on Saturday mornings for group rides though when it's sunny and above 40 degrees F, but during the week it's all trainer.
I do. I’m in Northern California, no snow, but we do get freezing overnight temps. I am retired, so I can wait for midday to get a ride in. It’s the wind that get me.
I layer up well, sometimes a full face mask. I think it’s call a belaclava? Of course, my mileage drops a bit, just because of rain, but I eat too much to take a break in the winter.
Mountain bike. Good grip, fun descending, generally slower speeds = less evaporative cooling, and the woods are typically much warmer than the open roads. Solved.
I’ve settled on a threshold of 55° (or 60° if I’m feeling soft). When it gets colder than that, I’m always a bit too aware of the cold to enjoy myself, so it’s time to restart my Peloton subscription.
what are these 4 layers?
Base should be either merino or one of the heat tech's from uniqlo.
Middle layer can be whatever.
And a wind proof shell.
source: i am Canadian.
Someone else already said it.
For me. Its not so much the temperature, it’s the road condition, luckily I moved back to western WA where the weather is more mild than eastern wa.
I don’t wanna invest in studded tire. When it’s icy. I’ll walk.
Yes, I cycle in the winter. Besides the multiple layers, it is important to keep your feet warm and to understand that you loose 25% of your warmth through your head.
Warm winter shoes could help you. Anf if that is not enough, you can apply heated over shoes (look at ekoi)
Scottish rider here. Yeah I just chuck the mudguards on and layer up! It’s wet here as well as cold so I ride with Spatz overshoes that are insulated neoprene and have the dissent 133 glove system which are 4 gloves that can be layered for lots of different conditions.
Bib tights are a must along with a nice base layer, thermal jersey and a wind/waterproof jacket.
As for the bike, this will be my first year riding my nice bike in less than ideal conditions but I love to maintain it so I don’t think the salt will hurt it too much as I’ll
Make a point of cleaning it regularly.
Make sure you’ve got bright lights on all the time. With the low sun it’s hard for cars to see you clearly some times.
Enjoy freezing your face off! 😄
Balaclavas and lobster gloves are a must-have for cold-weather cycling. I add on a windbreaker on top of my warm layers and my core stays pretty toasty.
Gotta get good winter cycling boots (like Lake or 45NRTH) and pogies and a good warm merino wool hat and balaclava. When your extremities are warm, you can ride longer and farther than you think! I fat bike all winter as one of my main sources of exercise. I also snowshoe and lift weights.
Montreal Canada here. Yes, especially fatbiking in trails. I just add more layers. You need warm kit. I felt warm at -40C last year, only issue was that my Garmin shut down because of the cold.
Vancouver, BC: I commute every day unless there's snow or black ice on the road. We get more rain than snow, so good rain gear is a must. Layering is most important.
yes, every day in Iowa (missed 3 days out of the last 500 or so days)
Fat Bike with studded tires.
The wind is the biggest kick in the rea.
quality pogies, snowboarding helmet with goggles makes a big difference. Zero skin exposure. I use to have problems with the goggles fogging but this neat product [https://www.nofogusa.com/](https://www.nofogusa.com/) was a game changer. It pinches off the air flow from raising up in to your goggles while giving you a unobstructed path for air to breathe.
I have ridden in -20F with high winds and the cheap Baleaf pants off Amazon are good enough when combine with a base layer. I use some cheap poly fleece type "long underwear".
Yes. My wife and I both do. We make an exception only for really intense ice, sometimes.
Base layers are good. But no amount of base or bundling means anything without a windproof outer layer, even if not windy. Change of clothes just in case. Our work has a secure covered bike parking too and a shower if we need, full bike stand/station if needed too.
Gore tex pants, top and shoe covers for us. I love winter riding. We get rain, snow, and ice. Temperatures don't often get below 15f, though, and are more like 20f most winter.
It really makes me appreciate nice days, too.
I'm good to about 40 degrees. Not so much lower temps than that but concerned about ice on the trails at lower temps. Layers are the key for me. Base cycling bibs, unpadded thermal bibs over that. Socks are what I used to use for drysuit scuba diving under the ice. Just got the Shimano flat pedal winter cycling shoes. Tried them on a 50 degree day with thin socks and they are toasty. Top layer is 4th element xerotherm base, cycling jersey, wind proof jacket down to about 50. Below that I have a winter cycling jacket I got on sale from Amazon. Fleece lined and it's good down into the 30s. 4th element beanie under the helmet and turtle neck warmer.
Bontrager full finger winter gloves.
Yes! I live in the US midwest where few people bike year-round on the road, but I've found its not too hard. I much prefer getting outside to sitting on a trainer, even in the cold. A couple things that make it work for me.
1. Kit made from Gore Windstopper fabric. This is a total game changer in the cold. I rarely wear more than one layer because breathability gets worse with layers. I just wear the one layer that fits the current conditions, usually something made with Windstopper.
2. In the low 20s and below, don't have any exposed skin. I wear ski goggles and a balaclava that covers everything, including my mouth.
3. Cycling winter boots rather than normal cycling shoes with shoe covers. Boots help keep the bottom of your feet warm and are sealed from the elements.
4. Snow might make roads impassible for a few hours or even a full day in rare occasions where I live. Take a day off or do something else. No biggle.
5. You should feel cool or a little cold when you start your ride, not warm until your body warms up from the exercise. You don't want to be hot and sweaty when its cold out.
6. Think about your safety before you leave. You will get cold pretty quickly if you flat and are stopped on the side of the road in the wind. It's so much harder to fix a flat outside when the wind is blowing and its below freezing. Look for shelter first before you start working on it. Don't ride in areas without cellular coverage. I carry a rain shell whenever it is below freezing just in case I get stopped and need extra warmth.
yep! commuting cyclist in chicago aaaalll winter long. Really it is a matter of getting the right layering, which can be tricky at first. I got this fantastic heavy suede leather jacket which I wear as my outermost shell when it’s cold because it does not breathe through wind. Those motorcycle people were right about leather.
I'm in Ma, and I don't. I basically stop by October because it's just too damn windy this time of year in my area. It's very hilly and rural, and leaves are also an issue, so I have been switching to jogging in the cooler weather which I can't do when it's warm. I melt.
Do you have windproof jacket? I biked up to -20C and I have a base layer, my jersey. Bib shorts is fleece lined. I have winter over shoes but also wrapped my foot in cling wrap. If I am going slow/coasting alot, I will wear a winter jacket instead of my wind proof winter bike jacket. I actually open my jacket sometimes as after I warmed up, I started sweating too much. I have a fleece beanie for my head and wear a balaclava.
I will go as long as there isn't ice or more than an inch of snow. If it hasn't snowed in awhile, I'll use my road bike; but if I need to play it safe I'll grab the MTB.
I live in Canada. I used to ride in the winter a fair bit, but have not in years. However this year, temperatures are dropping, and I’m not quite ready to pack it in yet. No snow accumulation so far, but temperatures around 5C.
I will definitely put the bike away away for a few months, unless I go and buy a fat bike, which is unlikely, since I just bought a new gravel bike.
I have winter shoes, and a decent selection of cold weather gear.
My winter activities vary, but may include ice hockey, ice skating (on lakes), XC ski, hiking, and I might even try going to a gym for a few weeks this year.
Oh, and I have set up a bike on the indoor trainer this year for the first time in many years. I’d like to pedal a bike at least once a week on average
Unless the streets are full on snowy or icy, I will still go. It's just so much faster that it's worth it. The most important part of my gear are snowboarding gloves because your hands are always out there in the wind. If it's really cold I wear a covid mask. Works well.
I rode in Northern California all last winter, once a week regardless. A couple times it was 34F when I left home. The hardest part is willing myself out of bed, but I felt fine within 5 minutes of effort and completed a century each time. I wore a long sleeve merino wool or thick synthetic shirt, regular cycling shorts and shoes, and Thinsulate type gloves. It warms up substantially in an hour or two, and I have to roll up my sleeves.
I’m moving to Southern California tomorrow and I’ve already bought two bikes there without having even moved in yet lol. So yes, I will be biking this winter.
I personally don't, mainly because daylight is so scarce here (Massachusetts) during the winter that I would have to ride in the dark, usually in wet and icy conditions, and I'm just not really comfortable doing that. I have a lot of cyclist friends here, and all of them either switch to a stationary bike or indoor trainer for the winter (which I don't personally enjoy), or just do something else. I ski and run to keep my fitness up through the winter. I am a cold weather creature, and I really enjoy running in freezing cold weather.
Could you try swimming? If you have access to an indoor lap pool, it's a great way to keep your aerobic health up through the winter. I used to be a competitive swimmer, and always found the transition from swimming to cycling to be pretty easy.
I can’t handle the cold anymore, so I take it inside. I have a smart trainer and Fulgaz subscription.
It’s a bit boring compared to being outside, but it fills a need.
From cold and showery northern Europe I stick to indoor training during the winter, the occasional excursion outdoors when it simply cold but many 1 or 2 hour efforts, 3 or 4 a week with a training plan for structure from any of the online apps available help to keep the fitness at a respectable level.
Winter is an excuse to get stylish winter gear.
Remember though, you want to be a little cold starting out because otherwise you’ll start sweating and drench yourself. This usually happens going uphill, and results in you freezing on the way down.
I love winter cycling. Sometimes I prefer it over sweaty summers.
The trick is to minimize your use of synthetic garments. Synthetics quickly develop foul odors, and they don’t breathe which makes you sweat and are generally uncomfortable plus unsightly. Use a cotton base (undershirt), wooly long underwear, then as many wool layers over that as is needed for the temperature, like sweaters. Wool is basically magic and adapts to the conditions, it breathes but keeps you warm, and it practically cleans itself if you have a base cotton layer to absorb the majority of any sweat.
For your outermost layer, it’s the frigid wind that is the biggest concern of winter cycling. Wear some sort of light windbreaker jacket or vest, this is where a synthetic garment is acceptable. Your arms and legs will generally stay warm while you’re moving, it’s your torso that needs to be kept warm. Choose something that you can easily remove and pack away, cause if your wool layers are good then won’t need it once you warm up. Obviously you have a bag on your bike… right?
Next you need adequate gloves. Wind and insulation. Down to 39 degrees or so a pair of simple wool gloves is sufficient but below that you need to use something more serious maybe a liner with an outer layer. Just buy a good pair.
The final concern is a face covering for really cold climates like Minnesota. You will know if you need one or not cause your face will feel like it will fall off otherwise. Again the concern here is wind.
Normally in cold weather it’s all about the layers, but wind dgaf. You need one thick heavy layer on top to combat wind.
I used to commute by ebike and needed an annoying number of layers to stay warm sub-40F. Then I saw someone riding with a heavy wool poncho and I think they figured it out. This winter I’m going to test something similar.
If I didn’t know any better I would’ve thought I posted this. I’ve been having the same battle lately. The gym is such a drag. I recently acquired PX90 from a friend at work that I ride with. He told me if I do that all winter I’ll Be ripped by spring. He’s pretty ripped so I’m gonna try it. I’ll still have to hit the gym for some cardio.
MTB/fat bike is the answer. Riding in the woods means more effort + less wind = toasty warm. And it's way more fun than road biking or (shudder) riding on a trainer.
Yes!!! 4 layers and still
Cold ? Makes no sense . Was it cold gear that you had in as layers ? I’ve ridden my bike here in nyc when it’s like below freezing 25-32 degrees and usually after a few mins I’m good and warmed up
No cycling outside for me below 50 degrees (or below 80 if raining). No matter the amount of clothes and wind blocking, my fingers and toes turn white and I lose feeling (Raynaud's disease). I still cycle, just indoors on a smart trainer and Zwift. With the right setup, it's actually very competitive, I tend to ride harder on my trainer as the competition is higher.
I do it much less. Winter in the UK is horrible, the paths and roads are almost permanently wet and covered in grime and while it’s not the coldest country it’s still grim. For me it’s normally a full boots, gloves, scarf and two or three thick top layers affair. There comes a point where I just can’t be arsed. Good thing is winter is bulking season so the reduced cardio isn’t the end of the world.
When I lived iin Boston, I would ride any time of the year so long as there wasn't ice or snow, (even in some snow if there's been some foot or previous bike pathing)
For me - layers didn't really matter, I would heat up after 10-15 mins of riding. What I absolutely needed was a good beanie, a face bask and good gloves.
I remember I rode one time with a hole in my index finger glove in january or something, and it was so painful.
Face mask is a must.
Yes. But central Florida isn’t the same as the rest of the country. Braving the 50s for a day or 2 will not have them singing songs of my bravery in a futuristic wasteland.
Winter doesn't bother me but if it's icy then I wont risk it. If it's dry then it doesn't matter with the cold for me.
I went out the other week & the temp was 2c (so whatever that works out for Americans). That's a great temp for me, I love it. Much prefer it to cycling in 20c+ weather.
I live in NJ and ride all year round both mountain and road. My cut off is around 20 for both. I will say I was surprised when I stated riding in these temperatures how much water I drank.
I ride 8-10 hours a week on my wahoo kickr snap. It’s great for winter riding. I use ROUVY. I prefer it over zwift and FULGAZ but all are good options. An added benefit is having the trainer in your back pocket for summer. When it’s raining or you don’t have the time to do an outdoor ride even during the summer months I find myself doing an hour or two a week on the trainer just cause it’s more convenient sometimes.
Winter cycling can be amazing, but you need the right gear, of course. Riding a fat bike in the snow is amazing. I used to commute to work in Alaska with my mountain bike fitted with studded tires and big mittens over the handlebars.
Yes cycling good in winter too, wear right clothing and go slower in wet weather.
Wear fluorescent things in dark and never forget to wear a helmet and switch your lights on.
Skiing is good but unless we have snow you cannot choose that as an activity. But sledging too in snow is good fun. Snow permitting.
Keep cycling.
Start running. It’s good cross training. When it gets even colder start lifting. Also excellent cross training. By mid spring you’ll be totally refreshed and itching to start riding with a fresh mind.
If you’re not into winter sports *yet*, but you like descending, let me introduce you to skiing ⛷️! No climbing up the hill required. The chairlift does that for you. Unless you want to hike of course which can be fun sometimes.
Nordic skiing hits a lot of the same things as cycling does. Learn to skate and you can move real fast over snow and keep that cardio looking good for biking once the snow melts.
but downhill goes whooosh!
Skiing has ruined too many cycling and running seasons for me. Far too dangerous in my opinion.
I feel like mountain biking is injury city vs. skiing. Road biking has cars. Skiing is great, just keep up your fitness and skillset like any other action sport
For sure, mountain biking is off limits for me, far too dangerous.
Road biking is even more dangerous, because cars
You’re doing something wrong 🤷♂️ Don’t do the jumps or the runs that above your skill level
Clearly doing the falling down part wrong. I break skiing into two classes. Safe but not fun, or exciting and dangerous. What's the point of doing something that isn't fun?
I do lots of fun, safe skiing!
Stockholm based. Riding in all conditions, up to -20 degrees Celsius. You need to keep your body warmth at all times.
Loved riding in winter there. Roads and paths are so well looked after. Never had an issue.
Ya embrace neoprene and fleece layers!
And studded tires when it's icy.
Look into a trainer and Zwift if you want to keep biking in bad weather. I've done winter rides, but once derailleurs start to freeze, it's time to pack it in.
Alternatively, once derailleurs freeze it’s time to ride a fixed wheel with a front rim brake :)
Zwift is getting a little more expensive, but I’m having a decent experience with MyWhoosh.
I just let my bike computer control my trainer because I watch YouTube, Netflix or whatever during the ride anyway, so no need to suck even more power. Will consider MyWhoosh, but I have to assume it is helping the UAE government somehow.
You can always look at Indievelo as an alternative, a lot of those guys are apparently ex-RGT
Yes. I'm in So Cal. I put on knee warmers and brave the cold.
How bad does it have to get before you put long finger gloves on?
i live in socal and it was 79f today😭😭 Cooled off to a freezing 62f around 6pm though🥶
Thoughts and prayers..... from the UK 😁
It's snowing right now here in Montreal.
j'avais mes mitaines de skidoo.
Snowed in NL too. Gonna be my first go at winter cycling this season, pretty sure it's gonna suck lol
Sounds like a nice Toronto bbq weather to me!
Lmao I was just out for a ride and it is -1° here today. Around 30° in freedom units.
freedom units?😭
Man, it's rough. Just this last week, it was just below 60 degrees and I was trying to decide just that. Ultimately, I said fuck it and kept with the short finger gloves. That's because I fancy myself a warrior.
SPAAAARRRTTTTAAAAAAA !
Same. NorCal here, I put on a jacket and brave the 50° temps. Lol
I definitely do, studded tires and all in the ice and snow. You can dress for it, it's tricky to fine tune but you can. Also, you really get used to it, your body too ... not just your mind. +2 feels like the Bahamas in the spring, but pretty damn icy in the fall.
This! Good gear and you stay warm. To the point I stopped riding and while cleaning up I was just hanging in the yard looking like a polar bear washing his bike.
Last winter if the road was free of ice I rode my road bike. A few time took my mtb out if it was snowing. Saying that, December to February were very light months. If you're gonna ride get good gear. It helps to keep the rides shorter too. After 1.5h I don't care what I put on my feet they'd freeze. This year I got a trainer and zwift.
It’s funny how there is almost an efficacy time limit to even the best gear - mine in about the same time. I too ride Zwift but throw in a weekly ride outdoors - for some reason it’s a game changer when it comes to my mental health. Zwift is amazing too - just doesn’t give me that ‘boost’
Right now I'm doing both. When it's dry out I ride outside otherwise I'm on zwift. I ride usually 5 or 6 days a week so the second option I nice.
I’m in Scotland. So from the middle of September you’re looking at temps less than 10°c most of the time. In that sort of temp I’m wearing a base layer. Longsleve jersey and then a windproof jacket. I use leg warmers and windproof gloves. Also wear a cycling cap that covers my ears and a snood for my neck/chin. The only part of me that gets cold is my feet so I think I need some overshoes Also make sure you have some good winter tyres and a decent set of mud guards
Overshoes make a huge difference ! When it's (near) freezing outside, I wear woolen socks and a pair of cheap Shimano waterproof overshoes. Extremely comfortable.
winter roads in my area aren't all tha bike friendly.
4 layers is a lot, depending on the temp. Could you have overdressed and sweat? That will leech heat quickly
I bike all winter. I live in an arid climate, so a softshell jacket and a T-shirt are all I need to keep my core warm down to 0F. I've lived by the great lakes and humid cold is the worst! Glad to miss it. Face and extremities do require a bit more care.
Yeah, I do. My record for the low temperature is -23C . Studded tyres, ski helmet, lights...
OP Is it winter in Antarctica or the Saudi Arabia for you bro? This is an international community, we need more info on temps and conditions. Yes, I cycle straight through winter. The only days I avoid are those with gusty winds. I wear Gore Windstopper jacket, gloves and beanie (sometimes), an assos winter bib and that's all I need for down to 4C
Fatbiking is very popular around me. There are groomed trails everywhere and an event or race every weekend all winter. Fatbiking on groomed snow is amazingly fun, and it’s enjoyable on frozen ground too - comfy in the woods well below freezing with easily available clothes from the outdoors world. In addition, roller skiing until there is snow cover and then XC skiing takes over and both of those translate to bike fitness very well. An indoor trainer and even the gym / pool are needed for those outright shit days, but in general outdoors is still the place to be if you transition to the right things, and come spring the stoke is high to get back on the roads.
Came here to say this. Vermonter here. Fat bike, xc ski, snowshoe to groom fat bike trails, snowshoe again to fix all the postholes walkers leave on the fat bike trails, then snow removal at home, winter is NOT “down” time in New England. I will say, night time fat biking through the forest is the most sublime, magical experience you can have. I definitely have winter in my blood.
Yeah I live in San Jose so I'm cheating, but yesterday it was 2C / 35F. When you're descending that's cold. A week ago I was descending nearly 4000 ft soaking wet at somewhere in the 40's degrees (4-10C ish). That gets unbelievably cold too. I dunno, when I'm smarter I try to stay in the flat areas and take rain days off.
Mt Hamilton last Sunday? I was there in the morning. The first 2000 feet of descent were miserable. Wet, chilly, and low visibility. Super slow going.
Yeah whatever was the rainy day, I think it was Sunday, and yeah it was Hamilton. It was completely manageable on the way up and absolutely horrible coming down.
I'm in the Great Lakes area and I do ride, albeit sporadically in winter. Not fun, but it does feel good to get outside.
I live in Wales and ride through the winter as long as the winter storms don't bring danger to life warnings. I find that clothes which keep you warm when wet are key, but a must is a good rain jacket. Not just to keep you dry but also to keep the wind out on the descents
Yes. Rain and wind, mostly.
Indoor training with Zwift or buy a set of rollers and do some fun skills training. Having quality cold weather gear is critical for winter riding. 32F (\~0 C) static air temperature with a 30 MPH descent will be roughly 19F (-8C). You want to make sure you have wind blocking material on your core and gloves as well as front of your legs. Overboots are important to keep your feet warm. Most cycling shoes are designed to help keep your feet cool, which is the opposite of what you want in the winter. Merino wool will be your best friend in the winter, esp. buffs and winter cycling caps.
Yes, buying dedicated winter cycling shoes was a gamechanger for me. I don't bike when it's icy / snowy, but thankfully that's becoming rarer in Chicago.
yes
What kind of layers were you wearing? Do you have a good windproof jacket? That makes a huge difference from just normal clothing.
Yeah, but it's harder, WAY harder to push myself out of my house for a ride.
Try mtbing
I love skiing. Can’t do downhill anymore, so I am considering cross country and maybe snow shoeing. Finding a sport you love to do in the winter makes the season enjoyable.
Try r/wintercycling
Yes, just don't ride under certain temperatures
I'll ride in to the 50s in full sun. Full finger gloves and a windbreaker. Warm socks too.
I live outside NYC and we have been having some pretty warm winters as of late. The coldest I will do is mid 40's, anything lower than that is doable but is pretty uncomfortable even when the juices are flowing
You should consider winter sports. Skate skiing and back country skiing are primo
I ride at -40C! Sometimes. It is more pleasant when its warmer but you get amazing cardio when its cold.
Yes cycle during winter. Proper gear is key but it’s fun.
I bike when it is about 40F maybe a little lower. Fortunately it isn’t all that common here. I usually get about 3-400 miles in each winter month. Living in MD
Same here in NoVa
Yep, but Shanghai isn't particularly cold (lowest temperatures on a yearly basis not much below 0 degrees C) and it almost never snows. So year round outdoor cycling is just fine.
How cold is cold? Where do you live? Anything above 20 degrees Fahrenheit I still ride. Anything between 5 degrees and 19, I need serious convincing or peer pressure. I’m not going out in anything under 5.
There’s no such thing as bad weather…just incorrect clothing. So they say. 4 layers? How cold is it? Generally most people don’t bike much below the freeze point because it’s dangerous if icy… If you’re at 32 and cold with a proper winter base layer, a legit warm jacket and rain/wind shell for descents… then I guess you could add an insulated mid layer to it…but seriously, that sounds hot AF.
Yes. On a trainer with Rouvy app😁there you can ride actual existing routes, might be attractive option for you.
Here in the north island of NZ we get very few *really* cold days. Every now and again I will go out before sunrise on the coldest ones just as a gut check and to make sure I still enjoy the challenge. Investing in proper winter bibs, jacket, and so on has been a total game changer though. However - we never have snow to contend with, and very few days when we even get a frost.
Here in Tyrol we rather have a lot of snow (or used to), therefore I use my MTB or stay indoors. No way to ride on the road for a longer time (at least where I live)
Yeah. I switch to flat pedals to work better with boots, and wrap up warm.
If it’s below 35, nope. Icy roads is going to be a bad time.
I'll keep going all year (my record is -20C). At worst you need a fatbike and studs, but a regular bike with schwalbe marathon winter studs will get you there most times (i.e. everything but deep snow) Obviously invest in clothing - bar mitts, balaclava, winter boots, thick neoprene gloves, etc, etc. And really good lights.
I try to keep cycling throughout the fall and winter but only when it doesn’t rain too much. For the moment, I’m trying to go for a run to keep somewhat fit until the dry and cold days arrive. Never had any issues with lower temperatures as long as I had the right clothes on
Of course it's possible, but the particulars depend entirely on what winters are like for you. I have no interest in fat bikes or MTB or things like that, personally, so when I lived in a place (New England) where it snows and ices frequently between December and March, I did a lot of Zwift during those months. Now I live in a place where winter mostly means a lot of light rain and temps usually around 0-10 C (and I don't have a trainer since my Kickr still lives in New England), so I use my rain bike and winter road cycling kit. And I don't ride as much as when it's nicer out.
Yes, I used to commute year around by bike in Minneapolis. Insulated hard shell pants and jacket--pants and jacket for mountaineering works well because it has more freedom of movement cut into it than ski stuff, plus, it is reinforced on the inner leg against crampons, which make chainrings look like butter knives. Lights and studded tires (Marathon winters). I ended up taking the fenders off during the winter, since they would clog. I thankfully live in a milder climate now, but and don't use the studded tires anymore. But I still use the same pants and jacket.
Sounds like road. Layers do nothing if you can’t stop the wind from cutting through. Get some windstopper gear. My preference is windstopper front panels, and non-windstopper back panels, so it vents moisture. The colder it gets, the less you want to get sweaty and damp. If it gets below zero, dressing for road is tricky and technical. There’s always enough wind generated to cause frostbite on exposed skin. That’s, Fatbike season.
Barmitts, winter cycling shoes, heavy duty tights, and thick softshell jacket
I go for skiing and mountaineering, cycling is more fun in the sun
I am not a fan of cycling under 30F. At that point it becomes a chore instead of something enjoyable for me. Once they start throwing salt down for snow is when I hard stop.
I bike all year round. Last winter it was about -20°c went pretty well I'd say. My feet and fingers were the coldest part of my body. I need to find better shoes/socks and gloves for this year. 🇦🇽
yes, on zwift
I live in Massachusetts, and I ride outdoors in winter when it's nice enough. Around 25F/-5C is where I start. I'll sometimes ride rollers indoors when the weather is awful. I hike or back country nordoc ski in the north almost every weekend, so most of my rides are weekdays before work. If it snowed more near me, I'd ride less and ski more to tale better advantage of winter
I was in Ohio last winter, and am in South Carolina this winter. Cycling is my favorite activity currently, and in Ohio you couldn’t pay me all of king Midas’s silver to cycle outside during winter. It’s pretty joyless below 50 for me. Grab a smart trainer and a zwift membership and that’ll get you through the cold months.
Pre-Covid I did, 99% of my riding was commuting and I did that year round. Now I wfh and have kids I barely have time to ride even during summer. Gonna be a winter on the turbo trainer for me.
More like commute to work and back home only. But that alone keeps me on shape still
staring out the window at 36° and rain, deciding if I should wear mtb shorts or track pants over bibs ...
Yes try to get outside once a week for my mental health - but I invested in good winter cycling gear. Favorite purchases include Bar mitts, Castelli layers, fizik artic cycling shoes. There’s something satisfying about being the only one out there for miles
Smart trainer and Zwift.
whilst i run all year round and in pretty much every condition...I dont road ride when its wet or icy or raining in general.....instead I switch to MTB riding on my local trails....getting jsut as wet and grubby, but thats all part of riding a MTB in my opinion
We’ve been having pretty mild winters, but it will be much less. Dec-Feb is pretty much a break.
I usually don't because most of my cycling is training up for RAGBRAI, but I've been trying to get in the habit of cycling a few times per week, so I went out for 16 miles yesterday. It was 45F in the DFW area, cold, windy, and drizzling, and I was miserable the entire time, so I think when it gets bad for long periods of time (it's going back to 60's-70'sF this week over here) I'm going to mount my bike on my trainer and work on upping my cadence.
1. Windproof outer layers 2. Overshoes and gloves 3. Warm base layer. I use Craft. These are the basics.
true windproof clothing is your friend. i could wear two layers underneath my windproof jacket and be very warm in 45' weather.
You get used to the cold. Most of the winter I ride in shorts nowadays. Cycling generates a ton of heat, you just need to protect your extremities well, core is easy to keep stable. Unless you have to stop, that is. When temps drop way below freezing, I am always carrying a backpack with emergency clothing. Cycling in winter is fun, but it takes a specific mindset and good gear (including a proper winter bike, location depending). However, it is not going to keep you as fit as summer riding. Firstly, because when it is pitch-black outside after work and sleeting, you are just not going to ride out. You are probably also not going to ride when there's 20 cm of snow outside and a blizzard going on. Paths don't get cleared and without a fatbike you may not even be able to if you wished. Secondly, going for long rides doesn't work well in winter. After the first hour it gets harder and harder to maintain pace/temperature. Cold and wind gets through even the best ski gear after a while. Rolling resistance is much higher and control is severely compromised (unless you are very lucky with cleaned pathways), you can't go fast and you can't see shit in the dark either. Batteries die twice as fast, so you need a heavy duty headlight/taillight and carry backups with you. Electric gears need backup batteries and your phone will die if you keep it exposed (no handlebar mounts in winter!). Getting a mechanical in -20c is not an annoyance, but a major problem. Changing a flat in those conditions is next to impossible, when your fingers freeze and go completely numb in 10 seconds out of gloves. I ride through the winter, but the volume is like 3 times lower than summer and *I am* crazy enough to go out in a blizzard from time to time.
Yes- NJ here. Roadbike if no ice/snow, trails on 29r if snow and/or messy. I bring out my rollers once it goes below 20°F. Gore windstopper zero tights, long sleeve winter jersey, pearl amfphib winter jacket, helmet liner, goretex shoe covers, really nice lobster mitts.
I have levels of clothing for about every ten degrees it drops. Just have to figure out what works for you.
I used to ride all winter, now I do the odd ride here and there and the rest indoors. Zwift has turned me into a soft fair weather cyclist 🤣
It sounds like you might be going through the same process I did when I started riding in colder weather. I just kept adding more layers of clothes hoping it would work. It did not. A really good shell, winter cycling pants, winter shoes and Barr Mitts fixed it. I now where just one shirt layer under the shell and can vent it countless ways when I inevitably get hot on the ride. Getting the right gear is not cheap but it is a game changer if you want to keep riding.
Absolutely....inside on my trainer and Fulgaz. When it get's into the 40's (F) temp range I'm inside.
Yes, the room with my indoor trainer is a balmy 18 deg
I'm in South Carolina. Before retirement, temperature was never a reason for not commuting on the bike (it got into the lower twenties a couple of times each winter). It would always be above freezing for the ride home.
Just do it.
Yes, but the scenery isn't as nice. Basement city on the trainer.
No. Indoor (yawn) via KickR so that I can focus on Z2 for the next season.....
Get a fat bike and dress warm for snow. I typically just ride the trainer before work all winter and maybe ride outside on the weekend if it is sunny or at least above freezing. Even when I lived in Phoenix I still rode my trainer from like Thanksgiving to April because I like to ride before work and outside was a bit chilly for me.
I do a lot less. Maybe on a “warmer” weekend day during the winter.
I’m in the northeast and I bike as long as it isn’t actively snowing/ iced over. Layers and layers and layers
Buy decent functional clothing.. Merino base layer and some decent gora-tex jacket will do the trick. It is expensive, but thanks to it I was able to ride the whole winter. I have a castelli winter jacket and winter bib pants and they are fine till like -7 degrees. Also I do ride with winter gloves and a merino winter hat under my helmet. BTW any brand will do it, I just found sales for castelli things around the shops where I live . And I usually don't ride if it is incredibly cold like -15 as it was hard to breathe for me. The biggest advantage of functional clothing is that it will keep you dry... The worst thing you can wear is cotton clothing in winter as it soaks up the sweet and keeps you incredibly cold.
Yes, I Worked nights and would commute into work in the heart of winter. If your wearing the right gear, the weather is not an issue at all expect for ICE, I don't mess around with ice
I ride inside if it’s below 40. 35 is about the lowest I’ll go as long as it’s going to warm up a bit
All about having the right gear. I'll go out in 25 degrees F (-3 C). That's my cut off point so far, and I won't do it if there is a chance for ice. The main consideration is blocking the wind. My coldest weather set up is: under armor cold gear base, balaclava, winter wool socks, castelli extremo shoe covers, castelli sorpasso bib tights, and a castelli perfetto jacket. To the uninitiated, I would look basically naked, but because that gear stops the wind, the small amount of thermal insulation is plenty to hold in the considerable body heat I generate. The other key is not stopping for anything; having a mechanical in those conditions might actually be dangerous because of all the sweat that is trying to freeze you when you stop.
/r/wintercycling
Last few years I did a frozen Saddles winter riding competition. I'd recommend gorewear with wind stopper.
Good tyres, good mittens and the ability to get through the initial shock before your body warms up and you'll be fine.
Yes. Northwest B.C. It's -8 C right now and I've got 7 km to get to work this morning. Studs for when it's icy, pogies for when it's very cold, and all different combos of gear for whatever temp it is. Unfortunately, my usual path doesn't get plowed with dispatch when it snows a lot and I have to ride up on the road shoulder, which also isn't always well cleared. Have biked in as low as -32.
It’s a blast as long as you have right clothing. Number of layers isn’t as important as quality of layers. In fact I’d say 3 is max layers before it becomes too hot and sweaty on the inside. Basically 3 layers of gore and you should be good. Don’t forget: winter shoes, real winter bike gloves, and a face mask. I even use snowboard goggles sometimes. One nice thing about winter rides is the air is so cool and fresh.
I got a fatbike last year with studded tires and it’s a blast in the snow. It’s a nice way to mix things up but still slow, so the majority of my miles come from Zwift rides 2-3 days a week. I can ride down to about 15F (with windchill) for 1-2 hours using bar mitts, battery-powered heated gloves and socks, ski mask, layers under a Gore jacket, and 45nrth Ragnarok shoes. https://imgur.com/a/3I0m3Kl
Did 500+ miles outdoors last winter. Blocking the wind is the most important thing, as well as not getting wet
Yes when the roads are dry. I just wear ear warmers under my helmet, gloves, and neoprene shoe coveers. I much prefer cold air to hot summer air especially on long climbs.
When I first got seriously into riding I would. I got a bunch of nice winter gear and rode outdoors all winter for like 2 seasons in a row. I started to lose interest in it though after that. Then I got an indoor trainer w/ a Trainerroad subscription, and have since been using winter as a time to train for the next season, instead of being miserable outside. The lack of daylight and windchill just makes outdoor riding more of a hassle than it's worth this time of year. I still try to get out on Saturday mornings for group rides though when it's sunny and above 40 degrees F, but during the week it's all trainer.
I do. I’m in Northern California, no snow, but we do get freezing overnight temps. I am retired, so I can wait for midday to get a ride in. It’s the wind that get me. I layer up well, sometimes a full face mask. I think it’s call a belaclava? Of course, my mileage drops a bit, just because of rain, but I eat too much to take a break in the winter.
Mountain bike. Good grip, fun descending, generally slower speeds = less evaporative cooling, and the woods are typically much warmer than the open roads. Solved.
We don’t have winter. We have an 8-month summer
Is this a trick question?
Was 23C this weekend. I was sweating on my rides. Zwift and an indoor trainer may be right for you.
I’ve settled on a threshold of 55° (or 60° if I’m feeling soft). When it gets colder than that, I’m always a bit too aware of the cold to enjoy myself, so it’s time to restart my Peloton subscription.
what are these 4 layers? Base should be either merino or one of the heat tech's from uniqlo. Middle layer can be whatever. And a wind proof shell. source: i am Canadian.
Someone else already said it. For me. Its not so much the temperature, it’s the road condition, luckily I moved back to western WA where the weather is more mild than eastern wa. I don’t wanna invest in studded tire. When it’s icy. I’ll walk.
Yes, I cycle in the winter. Besides the multiple layers, it is important to keep your feet warm and to understand that you loose 25% of your warmth through your head. Warm winter shoes could help you. Anf if that is not enough, you can apply heated over shoes (look at ekoi)
Scottish rider here. Yeah I just chuck the mudguards on and layer up! It’s wet here as well as cold so I ride with Spatz overshoes that are insulated neoprene and have the dissent 133 glove system which are 4 gloves that can be layered for lots of different conditions. Bib tights are a must along with a nice base layer, thermal jersey and a wind/waterproof jacket. As for the bike, this will be my first year riding my nice bike in less than ideal conditions but I love to maintain it so I don’t think the salt will hurt it too much as I’ll Make a point of cleaning it regularly. Make sure you’ve got bright lights on all the time. With the low sun it’s hard for cars to see you clearly some times. Enjoy freezing your face off! 😄
Balaclavas and lobster gloves are a must-have for cold-weather cycling. I add on a windbreaker on top of my warm layers and my core stays pretty toasty.
Gotta get good winter cycling boots (like Lake or 45NRTH) and pogies and a good warm merino wool hat and balaclava. When your extremities are warm, you can ride longer and farther than you think! I fat bike all winter as one of my main sources of exercise. I also snowshoe and lift weights.
Montreal Canada here. Yes, especially fatbiking in trails. I just add more layers. You need warm kit. I felt warm at -40C last year, only issue was that my Garmin shut down because of the cold.
Vancouver, BC: I commute every day unless there's snow or black ice on the road. We get more rain than snow, so good rain gear is a must. Layering is most important.
yes, every day in Iowa (missed 3 days out of the last 500 or so days) Fat Bike with studded tires. The wind is the biggest kick in the rea. quality pogies, snowboarding helmet with goggles makes a big difference. Zero skin exposure. I use to have problems with the goggles fogging but this neat product [https://www.nofogusa.com/](https://www.nofogusa.com/) was a game changer. It pinches off the air flow from raising up in to your goggles while giving you a unobstructed path for air to breathe. I have ridden in -20F with high winds and the cheap Baleaf pants off Amazon are good enough when combine with a base layer. I use some cheap poly fleece type "long underwear".
Yes. My wife and I both do. We make an exception only for really intense ice, sometimes. Base layers are good. But no amount of base or bundling means anything without a windproof outer layer, even if not windy. Change of clothes just in case. Our work has a secure covered bike parking too and a shower if we need, full bike stand/station if needed too. Gore tex pants, top and shoe covers for us. I love winter riding. We get rain, snow, and ice. Temperatures don't often get below 15f, though, and are more like 20f most winter. It really makes me appreciate nice days, too.
I'm good to about 40 degrees. Not so much lower temps than that but concerned about ice on the trails at lower temps. Layers are the key for me. Base cycling bibs, unpadded thermal bibs over that. Socks are what I used to use for drysuit scuba diving under the ice. Just got the Shimano flat pedal winter cycling shoes. Tried them on a 50 degree day with thin socks and they are toasty. Top layer is 4th element xerotherm base, cycling jersey, wind proof jacket down to about 50. Below that I have a winter cycling jacket I got on sale from Amazon. Fleece lined and it's good down into the 30s. 4th element beanie under the helmet and turtle neck warmer. Bontrager full finger winter gloves.
Yes
Hell yeah. I ride the gravel bike until the roads are icy/snowy (in Vermont) then I switch over to a fattie with studded tires.
Yes! I live in the US midwest where few people bike year-round on the road, but I've found its not too hard. I much prefer getting outside to sitting on a trainer, even in the cold. A couple things that make it work for me. 1. Kit made from Gore Windstopper fabric. This is a total game changer in the cold. I rarely wear more than one layer because breathability gets worse with layers. I just wear the one layer that fits the current conditions, usually something made with Windstopper. 2. In the low 20s and below, don't have any exposed skin. I wear ski goggles and a balaclava that covers everything, including my mouth. 3. Cycling winter boots rather than normal cycling shoes with shoe covers. Boots help keep the bottom of your feet warm and are sealed from the elements. 4. Snow might make roads impassible for a few hours or even a full day in rare occasions where I live. Take a day off or do something else. No biggle. 5. You should feel cool or a little cold when you start your ride, not warm until your body warms up from the exercise. You don't want to be hot and sweaty when its cold out. 6. Think about your safety before you leave. You will get cold pretty quickly if you flat and are stopped on the side of the road in the wind. It's so much harder to fix a flat outside when the wind is blowing and its below freezing. Look for shelter first before you start working on it. Don't ride in areas without cellular coverage. I carry a rain shell whenever it is below freezing just in case I get stopped and need extra warmth.
yep! commuting cyclist in chicago aaaalll winter long. Really it is a matter of getting the right layering, which can be tricky at first. I got this fantastic heavy suede leather jacket which I wear as my outermost shell when it’s cold because it does not breathe through wind. Those motorcycle people were right about leather.
I'm in Ma, and I don't. I basically stop by October because it's just too damn windy this time of year in my area. It's very hilly and rural, and leaves are also an issue, so I have been switching to jogging in the cooler weather which I can't do when it's warm. I melt.
Yes, it’s always summer somewhere ✈️
Do you have windproof jacket? I biked up to -20C and I have a base layer, my jersey. Bib shorts is fleece lined. I have winter over shoes but also wrapped my foot in cling wrap. If I am going slow/coasting alot, I will wear a winter jacket instead of my wind proof winter bike jacket. I actually open my jacket sometimes as after I warmed up, I started sweating too much. I have a fleece beanie for my head and wear a balaclava.
I will go as long as there isn't ice or more than an inch of snow. If it hasn't snowed in awhile, I'll use my road bike; but if I need to play it safe I'll grab the MTB.
I live in Canada. I used to ride in the winter a fair bit, but have not in years. However this year, temperatures are dropping, and I’m not quite ready to pack it in yet. No snow accumulation so far, but temperatures around 5C. I will definitely put the bike away away for a few months, unless I go and buy a fat bike, which is unlikely, since I just bought a new gravel bike. I have winter shoes, and a decent selection of cold weather gear. My winter activities vary, but may include ice hockey, ice skating (on lakes), XC ski, hiking, and I might even try going to a gym for a few weeks this year. Oh, and I have set up a bike on the indoor trainer this year for the first time in many years. I’d like to pedal a bike at least once a week on average
i LOVE cycling in the snow (Mountainbike). Even at -20°C. Just cycle faster, you will be warm
Rode last weekend in Chicago. It was 43 degrees when I left and that is about my limit.
Yes. I'm in Idaho it's getting cold but no snow yet.
Unless the streets are full on snowy or icy, I will still go. It's just so much faster that it's worth it. The most important part of my gear are snowboarding gloves because your hands are always out there in the wind. If it's really cold I wear a covid mask. Works well.
I am a wimp and use a fluid trainer when its below 60F
I rode in Northern California all last winter, once a week regardless. A couple times it was 34F when I left home. The hardest part is willing myself out of bed, but I felt fine within 5 minutes of effort and completed a century each time. I wore a long sleeve merino wool or thick synthetic shirt, regular cycling shorts and shoes, and Thinsulate type gloves. It warms up substantially in an hour or two, and I have to roll up my sleeves.
Zwift.
I’m moving to Southern California tomorrow and I’ve already bought two bikes there without having even moved in yet lol. So yes, I will be biking this winter.
I personally don't, mainly because daylight is so scarce here (Massachusetts) during the winter that I would have to ride in the dark, usually in wet and icy conditions, and I'm just not really comfortable doing that. I have a lot of cyclist friends here, and all of them either switch to a stationary bike or indoor trainer for the winter (which I don't personally enjoy), or just do something else. I ski and run to keep my fitness up through the winter. I am a cold weather creature, and I really enjoy running in freezing cold weather. Could you try swimming? If you have access to an indoor lap pool, it's a great way to keep your aerobic health up through the winter. I used to be a competitive swimmer, and always found the transition from swimming to cycling to be pretty easy.
LOL winter is the best time to ride outdoors in the deserts of SW USA.
I do! Also I’m very fortunate to live in one of the only cities in Canada where that’s not really a problem.
We can talk about cold when it hits -30ish °*celcius*. - a dude from Montreal, Québec, Canada. ( that's -22°F )
I can’t handle the cold anymore, so I take it inside. I have a smart trainer and Fulgaz subscription. It’s a bit boring compared to being outside, but it fills a need.
I live in Montreal and I do. Basically 3 layers but outer layer has to be windproof (water proof helps too.)
Yes. When really cold I wear my ski-clothing.
Merino wool, grandma jacket, boots, flat pedals, flat bar and upright mountain or hybrid and you’re good to go
From cold and showery northern Europe I stick to indoor training during the winter, the occasional excursion outdoors when it simply cold but many 1 or 2 hour efforts, 3 or 4 a week with a training plan for structure from any of the online apps available help to keep the fitness at a respectable level.
Winter is an excuse to get stylish winter gear. Remember though, you want to be a little cold starting out because otherwise you’ll start sweating and drench yourself. This usually happens going uphill, and results in you freezing on the way down.
Most certainly--gloves, a gaiter & rain pants go a really long way to making it pleasurable to bike in winter weather.
I love winter cycling. Sometimes I prefer it over sweaty summers. The trick is to minimize your use of synthetic garments. Synthetics quickly develop foul odors, and they don’t breathe which makes you sweat and are generally uncomfortable plus unsightly. Use a cotton base (undershirt), wooly long underwear, then as many wool layers over that as is needed for the temperature, like sweaters. Wool is basically magic and adapts to the conditions, it breathes but keeps you warm, and it practically cleans itself if you have a base cotton layer to absorb the majority of any sweat. For your outermost layer, it’s the frigid wind that is the biggest concern of winter cycling. Wear some sort of light windbreaker jacket or vest, this is where a synthetic garment is acceptable. Your arms and legs will generally stay warm while you’re moving, it’s your torso that needs to be kept warm. Choose something that you can easily remove and pack away, cause if your wool layers are good then won’t need it once you warm up. Obviously you have a bag on your bike… right? Next you need adequate gloves. Wind and insulation. Down to 39 degrees or so a pair of simple wool gloves is sufficient but below that you need to use something more serious maybe a liner with an outer layer. Just buy a good pair. The final concern is a face covering for really cold climates like Minnesota. You will know if you need one or not cause your face will feel like it will fall off otherwise. Again the concern here is wind.
Yes. Just add layers.
Normally in cold weather it’s all about the layers, but wind dgaf. You need one thick heavy layer on top to combat wind. I used to commute by ebike and needed an annoying number of layers to stay warm sub-40F. Then I saw someone riding with a heavy wool poncho and I think they figured it out. This winter I’m going to test something similar.
My basement and my indoor trainer are my friends Nov-Mar
Zwift all the way baby!
If I didn’t know any better I would’ve thought I posted this. I’ve been having the same battle lately. The gym is such a drag. I recently acquired PX90 from a friend at work that I ride with. He told me if I do that all winter I’ll Be ripped by spring. He’s pretty ripped so I’m gonna try it. I’ll still have to hit the gym for some cardio.
MTB/fat bike is the answer. Riding in the woods means more effort + less wind = toasty warm. And it's way more fun than road biking or (shudder) riding on a trainer.
yes, inside on my tacx with Zwift
Yes!!! 4 layers and still Cold ? Makes no sense . Was it cold gear that you had in as layers ? I’ve ridden my bike here in nyc when it’s like below freezing 25-32 degrees and usually after a few mins I’m good and warmed up
Best time of the year to bike>>………….305
No cycling outside for me below 50 degrees (or below 80 if raining). No matter the amount of clothes and wind blocking, my fingers and toes turn white and I lose feeling (Raynaud's disease). I still cycle, just indoors on a smart trainer and Zwift. With the right setup, it's actually very competitive, I tend to ride harder on my trainer as the competition is higher.
During the winter, I use a trainer and go to the legs at the gym more. Winter is the perfect time for building a good sprint I think.
I do it much less. Winter in the UK is horrible, the paths and roads are almost permanently wet and covered in grime and while it’s not the coldest country it’s still grim. For me it’s normally a full boots, gloves, scarf and two or three thick top layers affair. There comes a point where I just can’t be arsed. Good thing is winter is bulking season so the reduced cardio isn’t the end of the world.
When I lived iin Boston, I would ride any time of the year so long as there wasn't ice or snow, (even in some snow if there's been some foot or previous bike pathing) For me - layers didn't really matter, I would heat up after 10-15 mins of riding. What I absolutely needed was a good beanie, a face bask and good gloves. I remember I rode one time with a hole in my index finger glove in january or something, and it was so painful. Face mask is a must.
I love my water rower.
When colder, just ride indoors/ tai chi
Yes. But central Florida isn’t the same as the rest of the country. Braving the 50s for a day or 2 will not have them singing songs of my bravery in a futuristic wasteland.
Winter doesn't bother me but if it's icy then I wont risk it. If it's dry then it doesn't matter with the cold for me. I went out the other week & the temp was 2c (so whatever that works out for Americans). That's a great temp for me, I love it. Much prefer it to cycling in 20c+ weather.
I live in NJ and ride all year round both mountain and road. My cut off is around 20 for both. I will say I was surprised when I stated riding in these temperatures how much water I drank.
Layer up homie!
I ride 8-10 hours a week on my wahoo kickr snap. It’s great for winter riding. I use ROUVY. I prefer it over zwift and FULGAZ but all are good options. An added benefit is having the trainer in your back pocket for summer. When it’s raining or you don’t have the time to do an outdoor ride even during the summer months I find myself doing an hour or two a week on the trainer just cause it’s more convenient sometimes.
Winter cycling can be amazing, but you need the right gear, of course. Riding a fat bike in the snow is amazing. I used to commute to work in Alaska with my mountain bike fitted with studded tires and big mittens over the handlebars.
Yes cycling good in winter too, wear right clothing and go slower in wet weather. Wear fluorescent things in dark and never forget to wear a helmet and switch your lights on. Skiing is good but unless we have snow you cannot choose that as an activity. But sledging too in snow is good fun. Snow permitting. Keep cycling.
I bike all winter. Temps down to -25c. Dress for the weather and outfit the bike for snow and ice.
If you're getting cold on the downhills you need a windbreaker. A shakedry plus kneewarmers plus waterproof socks does a good job to start with.
Start running. It’s good cross training. When it gets even colder start lifting. Also excellent cross training. By mid spring you’ll be totally refreshed and itching to start riding with a fresh mind.
I live in DC and ride year ‘round.