Winter is Coming
(As a disclaimer, I am not sponsored by any of the companies mentioned in the article below)
You’ve just spent the last thirty minutes chilling yourself to the bone, climbing up the iced over trails, surrounded by everything covered in a thin layer of sparkling snow. You thought you might turn into a popsicle on the way up, but now you’re faced with the ever-growing fear of what will happen on the way down. Something that is usually so enjoyable, but during this time of year can feel like a death sentence when in the wrong clothing. I would be lying if I said I haven’t been faced with a similar situation myself.
How do you ride in the cold conditions? We’ve all seen photos and videos of people sending it this time of year, and yet it seems like an impossible task when facing it yourself. I can promise you that with the right clothes and attitude, you too can be like them!
The first parts that tend to get cold on rides are your hands and feet. My favorite life hack for cold feet is grabbing a plastic bag or tin foil and wrapping it around your toes. That mixed with some thick winter wool socks can keep you toasty all ride long, plus it doesn’t break the bank! If you want to be fancy, you can always pick up some heated insoles and waterproof socks as well. Okay, but what about your hands? I have two different suggestions for this. I love wearing 100% brisker winter gloves on cold days. I can still control my brakes, and grip the bars with them. If you want to do it even cheaper however, you can wear rubber gloves under your normal gloves. It keeps your hands “dry” from outside elements and warm, however you might have some pretty sweaty hands when you take off your gloves!
I have noticed that a lot of people underdress this time of year. If you normally sweat when riding in warmer conditions, then you should also sweat if you're wearing the right clothing in the winter. I know it can be tempting to wear just enough layers not to, but for your overall health it probably isn’t the best idea. You may chill your skin and run the risk of getting sick or messing with your immune system. My go to layers are a Smartwool thermal sometimes paired with a Costco 32 Degree Heat thermal, as well as a long sleeve depending on how chilly it is. And I almost never leave home without a rain jacket. If it’s not currently raining I’ll either grab my Patagonia or Rapha lightweight rain jackets. If it’s dumping you already know I’m grabbing my heavy duty rain coat from REI. Nothing is worse than feeling like a cat in a bathtub 10 minutes into a ride!
I’m not crazy picky when it comes to pants in winter. I find that 99% of the waterproof pants you find out there will still leave you soaked. The only pants I’ve found hold up against the elements are Troy Lee’s Resist pants. The only downside is that they don’t breathe well, so if it isn’t raining, they won’t always be my go to. If it’s 20 degrees or below I’ll probably throw on my Rapha road cycling thermals and put my knee pads over it. Sometimes I’ll just use leggings if it’s not as chilly.
And for goodness sake, drink water this time of year! My general rule is a bottle per hour. I know it’s annoying, but becoming chronically dehydrated is really hard to come back from. This is coming from someone who has made that mistake. I’m no medical professional by any means, but if you’re sweating in your sleep, and or have cottonmouth, it’s probably time to start using electrolytes and liquid mineral mixes.
My last little bit of advice is to bring a light if you live farther north. I have found myself caught out in the dark too many times. Sometimes it’s from getting out the door late, other times I’ve just lost track of time. Not to mention this time of year, the woods get dark so much faster. General rule of thumb is an hour before sunset it will be dark in the forest. I carry at least one high powered bike light with me on most rides. It might look silly while it’s still day out, but you know who will be laughing when the last of the day’s light hides itself beyond the horizon.
I hope you found this advice useful and can apply it to your next Winter ride!
‘Til Next Time
