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EighthInch Winter Cycling Guide: What to Wear

A few weeks back we started our Winter Riding Guide and showed some tips and tricks on how to prepare you

r bike. Today let’s look at how to prepare yourself when it comes to riding in the cold.

Layer Up

The key to riding in cold weather is layers. It’s always nice to have that extra layer to put on if you get chilled or a few layers levitra online pharmacy to shed if you get too warm. A jacket over a shirt may feel good when you step out the door, but if you start getting too hot while riding there’s not much you can do to make incremental changes in your body temperature.

Less is More

If the temperature is at 20 degrees don’t dress like it’s 20 degrees. Once you hop on your bike your body is going to start generating its own heat pretty fast. If you are overdressed and sweating you’ll find yourself uncomfortably cold as your body starts cooling down. Wear a layer or two less than you would if you weren’t riding, once you start spinning and your body

heats up you should become more comfortable.

Layer Types

Good base layers will help keep you warm and dry. Wool or a poly-blend will wick moisture as opposed to cotton which will absorb it. An effective outer layer has both wind resistant panels and waterproofing, without being bulky. Shell jackets will usually do the job. The amount of layers you need between those two will depend on how cold it is. A wool jersey is a great middle layer and won’t add a lot of weight.

Hands and Feet

Your hands and feet will be the first to feel the effects of winter. When the cold sets in try switching to wool socks. They lock in the warmth while still letting your feet breathe to minimize sweating. Shoe covers are a good addition if it is really cold or when riding on wet roads. For your hands a good set of gloves goes a long way. Thin gloves will give your hands good mobility and keep the wind off. Lobster gloves are great when the temperatures really drop. They give you the warmth of mittens with added mobility to reach your brake levers.

Other Protection

Your legs are doing all the work so make sure to keep them warm. Waterproof pants will keep you dry when your tires kick up snow and slush while windproof panels help keep you warm. A beard only provides so much protection so a balaclava is a great choice if you need to keep your face and ears warm. Every rider is different so it may take a few rides to figure out what works best for you.

EighthInch Winter Cycling Guide: Bike Prep

The temperature is dropping, and here in Wisconsin winter will be here before we know it. For

those of us who tr

y to stay in the saddle all year round we have put together a little guide on how to get your bike prepped for these rough winter months.

Don’t Forget the Lube

There isn’t much to a fixed gear drivetrain but that doesn’t mean it won’t need attention. Water, snow, and dirt can dry out your chain pretty fast. Make sure you keep an eye on it and grease it as necessary. If you run brakes then you want to make sure the pivot points are lubed too.

Save your Frame

If you have a steel frame then Frame Saver will help protect it from any internal damage. The paint and clearcoat will help protect the tubing from the outside but once a little moisture and grime makes it into the frame it can start rusting it from the inside out. To apply the Frame Saver you’ll need to take all the parts off your frame and spray it into the tubing. Once you have a good amount in, make sure all the holes in your frame are sealed, then rotate and flip the frame to get the protectant to coat the inside of the tubing. This work is well worth it to extend the life of your frame.

Plug It Up
To ensure your frame stays clean inside and out seal any open holes. That means holes drilled for bottle cages, fenders, or racks. Stainless steel bolts are the best choice but anything that keeps water, salt, and grime from getting into the frame will work.

Wax On, Wax Off

Putting a coat of wax on your frame not only gives an extra layer of protection from the elements, it also keeps snow and dirt from sticking if you are riding in bad weather or through mud.

Get Lit

It gets dark early in winter and most drivers aren’t expecting to see cyclists out in the cold. A good set of lights will help keep you safe when the sun goes down. Some lights are harder than others to turn on and off with gloves, keep this in mind.

Tires

When it comes to tires we are split, in the end it comes down to personal preference. If you run a typical 23c tire it will probably work fine for you. A 23c actually cuts through snow which can be easier than trying to ride on top of it. You do lose a little stability in cornering, slow down and you should be fine. If you can fit a larger tire, then a 28c with a little bit of tread can help

give you more grip. Running at a lower PSI helps give you good stability and more confidence in the corners.

Fenders

Fenders help keep salt and dirt off you and your frame. If your frame doesn’t have fender mounts there are some great alternatives like seatpost mounted fenders or mudflaps that mount to your downtube. Remember, if you can stay dry you can stay warm.

EighthInch Winter Cycling Guide: What to Wear

EighthInch Winter Cycling Guide: Bike Prep

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