Cold Weather Cycling Gear Guide
As winter sneaks up on us, many cyclists decide to take a break from the bike and switch to indoor activities for a workout with a stationary bicycle or a treadmill. However, with the right gear, there is no need to put away your wheels once the cold weather sets in. With our tips for cycling in cold weather, you can keep using your bike throughout the season for working out, commuting, or just for fun! Check out our cold-weather cycling gear guide and suggestions today!
1. Ease Into It
Cycling in cold weather is far more challenging for riders than in warmer weather conditions, so you should start with shorter rides to acclimate to the snow, rain, cold, wind, and more. You can start slow, taking public transportation some of the way and ensuring your ride is just the right length. Build your confidence and practice your skills, as the change in weather means your bike rides differently.
You may also want to test out different cold-weather cycling gear in this guide for yourself and your bike. Explore tire options to ensure you have a better grip on icy roads and check out popular cold-weather bike riding gear, like face guards, gloves, and overshoes. For some people, a pair of fleece-lined leggings, like the 40th Anniversary Big and Tall Tights, is enough, but others prefer to bundle up further with another layer of padded pants. If you’re considering an extra layer that’s a little more heavy duty, you may want to check out the Aero Tech TALL Men’s Thermal Windproof Unpadded Pants that are rated for temperatures below freezing, offer triple layer protection, and are made with water-resistant and windproof materials.
2. Don’t Switch Bikes
Many people think that cycling in cold weather involves a winter-specific bike, but that’s not true. You want to ensure you’re as comfortable as possible when riding in more unpredictable conditions, so keep your favorite bike — just add a few components to make it more weather appropriate. Consider using a bike with disc brakes instead of rim brakes, and adding fenders to protect against the muck, water, and snow that sprays as you ride.
3. Flashy Gear
The right bike-riding gear is key when cycling in cold weather. We’re not just talking about layering up and keeping warm! You should also keep visibility in mind, as you have fewer sunlit hours to ensure drivers can see you coming. Prepare yourself to ride after dark with reflective clothing and bike lights, including front lights on the handlebars and flashing rear lights. We recommend a brightness of 500 lumens for the bulb in the front and at least 100 lumens for your rear lights.
Dress appropriately, too! We also recommend exploring highly reflective and brightly colored riding gear. When cycling in cold weather, you want drivers to see you from a mile away ㅡ literally! Not sure what types of colors to look for? Consider something like the Aero Tech Men’s Windproof Packable Safety Jacket. This windbreaker comes in bright yellow with high-visibility trim to ensure that you can be seen. There’s also a chance you’ll be cycling in the rain, so make sure your raincoats are as visible as your windbreakers with the Aero Tech Men’s Aero Reflective Cycling Rain Coat.
4. Adjusting Your Tires
Cycling in cold weather means a lot of changes to your regular maintenance routine. Since air pressure loss occurs much faster in cold weather, you’ll need to check and inflate your tires before every ride. You may also want to consider inflating your tires at the low end of the pressure range to create more surface contact with the road and improve traction.
Keep in mind, this cold-weather cycling gear guide does not require you to purchase tires specifically for winter. However, if you want to swap out your tires for better responsiveness from your winter bicycle gear, look for tires that have wider, knobbier treads for better grip on slushy roads. You may even be able to find studded tires for your bike.
One easy option for safer riding during winter weather is the fat bike. This type of bike has the fattest possible wheels which automatically offer more grip and traction when cycling in cold weather. While we also make custom fat wheels, you may want to just swap over to a custom fat bike because they’re versatile to handle everything from snow and sand to rain and backcountry roads!
5. Winter Riding Tactics
Your gear isn’t the only thing that needs to change during winter. This cold-weather cycling gear guide includes tactics that are a little different than how you ride the rest of the year because the bike lane may be obstructed and visibility might be low. Instead of trying to plow through the snow or muck that’s pushed into the bike lane by snow plows, take up the entire right-hand car lane to ensure you’re as visible as possible and stop drivers from trying to pass you.
You should also try to stay loose and relaxed, as locking your limbs slows your reaction time. Stay alert and ready to dodge around slick surfaces, wet leaves, sharp debris, and mounds of snow.
6. Cleaning & Protection
Ice and grime build up quickly on the road and on your drivetrain, frame, and other bike components. Clean your bike frequently for safer cycling in cold weather and cover your bike when it’s not in use. You’ll need to wipe down the chain and other bike parts at least once a week and right away after a really dirty ride. You should also complete a more thorough clean and coat your drivetrain and chain with lube made for wet climates every few weeks.
Freezing temperatures and rain are especially hard on bike components 一 even winter bicycle gear 一 so the one thing you must remember from this cold-weather cycling gear guide is to store your bike indoors to keep it in good working condition. If that’s not possible, we recommend buying a bike cover or using a tarp to protect it. Bikes that stay outdoors in freezing weather will need to thaw to ensure all the moving parts are functional before riding.
7. Battery Care
If you have an electric bike, your batteries need just as much weather-proofing as the other components on your ride. Below-freezing temperatures can impact your battery when the bike is not in use, so store your bike inside to conserve power, or remove the battery and store it indoors when you’re not riding.
Keep an All-Weather Mindset
At Zinn Cycles, we believe that safe riding is all about preparation. Take charge of your safety and make sure you’re ready for cycling in cold weather with these tips! Ready to upgrade your ride or build the perfect bike for winter? Call to talk to an expert and enjoy your favorite hobby all year long.
