Getting Pumped For Winter Cycling

When you're an outdoor enthusiast it can be quite devastating when you feel the winter chills arriving. Unless you're into winter sports, it's a hard pill to swallow to store your biking gear away and turn your attention to preparing for those cold days squirreled away like you're in hibernation. But maybe you don't have to give up your favorite pastime at all. Getting Pumped For Winter Cycling With a little preparation and willpower you can actually get an even more exhilarating experience by bicycling through those winter chills.

Prepare Your Clothing

One of the first things you must do to prepare for cold-weather riding is get the proper clothing. In the summertime, bikers tend to wear lighter clothing to take into account the perspiration and the rise in body temperature while riding, but in the winter, you must dress for the weather as well. Many bikers often make the mistake of doing the exact opposite. While you do need to compensate for the colder climate, the tendency is to put on too much clothing. You need to take into consideration the amount of heat your body will naturally generate while you're riding so if you are overdressed you might get yourself into hypothermia or dehydration without even realizing it. The best thing to do is to dress in layers and wear just enough so that you're a little chilly when you start out.

Dress in Layers

When you dress in layers, each layer must serve a specific purpose. The first layer, which is the one closest to your skin, is there to keep you dry in case you're riding in inclement weather. Look for fabrics that are made with wicking fiber that can draw the moisture away from the skin. While it may seem practical in the beginning, cotton is not the best choice in the wintertime. It tends to soak up moisture and hold on to it.

The additional layers should be chosen based on the weather conditions you'll be riding in. Make sure that you choose something that can breathe so the air can flow through the material. This way you reduce the risk of your body overheating from the heat you generate while riding. Make sure your head, hands, and feet are adequately covered but not to the point that it interferes with your ability to function well on your bicycle.

Prepare Your Bike

Biking on winter roads puts a lot more stress on your bicycle's drive train. Not only will you be riding through much more debris than you would at other times of the year (sand, salt, mud, snow, and ice), the terrain will be tougher to traverse as well. The debris can easily be caught up in your chain and derailleur, and when the temperature drops below freezing you have a frozen block of muck that you will have to deal with. Your best bet in this area is to switch to a bike that can handle winter stresses much better. Many people prefer to find a single-speed track bike because they tend to perform better in those cold, chilly conditions. If that doesn't work for you, there are now newer designed bikes with internal gears that protect the normally exposed parts of the bicycle from the outside elements.

If you choose to continue to ride your regular bicycle with multiple speeds during the wintertime, be prepared to regularly wash away all of the gunk that gets collected in the drive train and lubricate it often. This will help you to stay ahead of the many challenges and problems that winter biking often brings.

Your Tires and Lighting

You also need to check your tires and the lighting on your bike to make sure that you're riding safely. Your tires should be in good enough condition that they can get a firm grip on those wet and sometimes slippery roads. Lowering the air pressure can help the tire get better traction when you're riding.

In snowy conditions, many people prefer to ride mountain bikes because their fatter tires have plenty of groves give it the traction and leverage they need. This means you'll get a pretty good workout while you're riding. With more traction, naturally comes more work and energy spent.

You also need to prepare for adequate lighting. Days are often shorter in the winter so be prepared to be on the road after the sun goes down. Visibility is one of the most important things for your safety when biking in the wintertime.

Winter biking can literally be another sport in and of itself. Not only does it require someone in pretty good physical condition, it also requires that you have a delicate touch and skill when you're riding on slippery roads. For those who choose to keep their bikes in motion during those cold and difficult months, there is much joy to be had if they take the extra steps to prepare well for the adventures and difficulties that lie ahead.