Cycling in winter? Dress smart, not warm

Cycling in winter can be particularly fun. As long as the temperature is around 0 °C and does not drop below -5 °C, you can safely ride your bike, although enthusiasts ride even in colder temperatures. One problem faced when cycling in winter is how to dress properly. The main thing is that the body's thermodynamics are different when cycling compared to walking; a sweating body is affected by the cold and wind, making some body parts more vulnerable than others. Therefore, it is important to dress not warmly, but smartly.

So, what do you need to know about winter cycling gear, and what should cyclist clothing be like?

Equally Dangerous: Freezing and Overheating

When you start cycling, and the temperature outside is near or below zero, you feel cold. Do not dress too warmly – after starting to ride, you will warm up well in the first 10 minutes. Physical activity causes the body to produce heat and sweat – you warm up, clothes get damp – and this is dangerous. When you stop, the body cools down, and the sweat accumulated in the clothes also cools – imagine, it’s -5 °C outside, the clothes are damp, and you risk getting cold. How to avoid this?

• Choose multi-layered clothing – a light jacket, a sweater, light shirts. The more layers, the more air between them. This means you are better protected from the cold, and sweat accumulating in the clothes is better evaporated.
• Multi-layered clothing made up of thin, light garments is also convenient because – if it unexpectedly warms up, you can take off one layer and put it in a backpack or pocket – the garment will not take up much space.
• Your outfit should consist of three main layers – a base layer that perfectly absorbs and evaporates sweat or so-called thermal clothing, a middle layer that retains heat, and an outer layer that protects against rain and wind.

Cold Feet Won't Get You Far

To make cycling enjoyable and efficient, your feet must be dry and warm. When you need to pedal intensely, having your toes freeze is a poor choice. Cycling shoes must also be properly selected.

• Ensure your feet don’t get cold or wet; as extra protection against cold and moisture, you can wear overshoes.
• When riding in very cold weather, it is recommended to wear winter shoes – the specific construction of these shoes protects against both moisture and cold, and they have good thermal regulation properties, keeping your feet from overheating and sweating too much.
• In all cases, it is recommended to wear merino wool socks – they retain heat exceptionally well.
• If it’s really cold outside, you can use warmers – additional insulations that are placed in shoes or gloves for extra warmth.

Hands – Protected from the Cold, But Not Constrained

When cycling, your hands are exposed to cold, moisture, and wind. Hands should be kept warm, and cycling gloves should be comfortable so you can easily control the bike, for example, shift gears. Ordinary, thick, warm mittens are not suitable for this. Make sure to choose the right gloves.

• The warmest are so-called "lobster" gloves – here, two fingers important for bike control are separated, and the remaining fingers stay together to keep each other warm.
• Experienced cyclists use one trick – in very cold weather, they wear an additional pair of thin, warm gloves, such as Therminal Liner from Specialized or Spring Fall Liner from Assos under their regular gloves – these are intended for spring and autumn but serve as extra protection in winter.
• All winter gloves are warm and windproof, but only some are waterproof – assess your needs and choose the right ones before buying.

Don't Leave Home Without a Hat

You might remember your parents' advice from childhood – don't leave home without a hat. In winter, when preparing to ride a bike, always remember this advice. When you ride, you sweat, you are exposed to not only cold but also wind, so protect your head, ears, and face. There are many and varied headwear for cyclists. How to choose the right one?

• A helmet cover is useful if you ride in rainy weather – cycling helmets are designed to be breathable, so your head doesn’t overheat, but this also means water can easily seep through, and the cover is designed to protect you from the rain.
• Caps worn under helmets are specially designed for cycling, they are very thin yet very warm, and since you are exposed to air resistance and wind while riding, they are windproof in the front.
• Balaclavas are intended for riding in extremely harsh weather, they are very warm, and your head, neck, and face are well protected from the cold, wind, and moisture.
• Multifunctional scarves help protect your neck and face area from the cold, wind, and moisture.

Cycling Glasses – More Than Just Protection from the Sun

When cycling in winter, take care of your eyes. Properly selected cycling glasses protect your eyes from sunlight, which can be very annoying when reflecting off ice or snow, as well as from rain, wind, and can even improve visibility in low light conditions. What glasses to choose if you ride in winter?

The most popular among cyclists in winter are photochromic glasses. They are special because they automatically adjust to the level of light – the brighter it is outside, the stronger the filter, and vice versa, as it gets darker or suddenly clouds over, the lenses let in more light. This is very convenient when the weather is changeable, the sky is cloudy with clear patches, you ride at dawn or dusk, etc.

Nordic Light glasses are special because they improve visibility when riding in fog, rain, or twilight. Thanks to special technology, certain intermediate shades between red and yellow, blue and green are filtered out, making the view sharper.

If you already have favorite sunglasses that you ride with in summer, in winter, you can simply change the lenses to those more suitable for the cold season.

"How Don't They Get Cold?"

Sometimes passersby, dressed in heavy coats or large, warm jackets, see cyclists riding, lightly dressed, with sports glasses, and wonder – how don't they get cold?

When you ride a bike, your body's thermodynamics are entirely different than, for example, when walking. When you ride a bike, your body produces heat, but it also produces sweat. Dress so that the sweat evaporates, the heat is retained, protect the most cold-sensitive areas, and you will be able to enjoy the ride.

Take 37 seconds to listen to our expert Gediminas Kaupas' tips on how to dress in winter.