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It’s that time again! The daily check of the thermostat ensures cold feet before we even leave the house. The first peaks are covered in slight whiteness, the trails have a leave topping and the supermarket shelves are already stocked with gingerbread and mince pies – winter is coming!
Don’t worry, the cold season doesn’t mean that your bike will form a dusty basement-patina until the coming spring. With the right bike gear and some hands on, winter rides will bring a big smile to your face. From helmets to shoes, from the cockpit to the tires – with this guide we’ll get you ready for any weather!
Index
Trailride-Inside & Winter care
The onion shows how it’s done: Perfectly dressed for freezing temperatures!
Trailride-Inside & Winter care
If low temperatures do not keep you from riding some trails in the winter, make your bike ready for wet, mud, ice, and salt! Simply everything from the headset to the wheels requires significantly more maintenance and care in the fall and winter, compared to the summer dry conditions. Make sure to clean and maintain your bike regularly, or even after each tour. Especially, de-icing salt causes quicker corrosion and should be removed as soon as possible. Components that are more sensitive to corrosion because of their abrasion require constant attention. Keep the drivetrain area like the cassette, chain and chainrings clean and ensure a proper lubrication of your chain. For additional protection of the frame, fork and wheels, sprays with protective characteristics are suitable.
In winter, the fine-tuning takes place on tires and suspension. The tires should be chosen with the coarsest possible profiles with good self-cleaning properties and soft rubber compounds. Due to the low viscosity of the oil caused by the temperature, the damping speed of the suspension can be opened by a few clicks. Mudguards on the suspension fork ensure a clear view and less dirt in your face. You can find a small overview of winter essentials here.
Safe on the commute
Leave the car behind and head to the “office” by bike. A bicycle offers easy and fast mobility in the often jammed traffic. In the ranking, bicycles are far down, due to partly non-existent or bad bike lanes. The potential for danger in road traffic is enormously high and is intensified by poor lighting conditions, especially in winter. To ensure to have a good visibility on the road, a high-quality lighting system and all necessary reflectors are important. In addition, high-contrast clothing with reflective features increases visibility. When buying bicycle lights, you should pay attention to the approval for bicycle lights in your country.
The onion shows how it’s done: Perfectly dressed for freezing temperatures!
With the multi-layer technique or also known as the onion principle, we have a long proven clothing way that keeps warm and dry. Our physical work on the crank releases power and a lot of heat. As we often move from slow challenging climbs, to fast speeds downhill with cooling breezes, proper positioning as well as clothing choice is essential for best temperature regulation.
Does the weather forecast tell you whether you should go for? An insulated jacket or a soft shell? Don’t worry, first you don’t have to rely on forecasts and second, you don’t have to take your entire closet with you. We help you in detail with the optimal parts.
Base layers & Socks
Functional shirts and cycling shorts with padding provide comfort and moisture transport as the first layer of clothing. Avoid wearing additional underwear under padded shorts, as seams can cause additional friction. Seat creams help if you are more sensitive to the sit bones. The material designation of the shirts provides information about the temperature ranges. For winter, many of our manufacturers have the addition “Warm” in the article description. In this case, functional shirts have additional re-warming fabric components, such as merino wool. Pack a second base layer for longer tours, in case one of them is too sweaty.
When choosing socks, pay attention to heat-insulating properties, through a certain wool content. Together with winter bike shoes, you keep your feet pleasantly warm.
Midlayers
Warming long-sleeved jerseys are ideal as a second layer of clothing, especially in the cold half of the year. Climbs, with a lot of altitude, automatically keep the body temperature high. In order to not develop heat accumulation, the insulation, softshell and hardshell jacket is better left in the back- or hip back. In cold wind, cycling vests with windproof fabrics are ideal in combination, as they prevent premature cooling due to the wind. For your visibility, many of these jerseys already have high-contrast colors and features reflectors.
Jackets & Pants
Rain and snow – nothing should stop you? Well, then you are right on! With suitable cycling jackets and pants you can complete your gear. Heat-insulating, windproof and waterproof bike jackets and pants keep you warm, dry and guarantee maximum fun on the bike in all conditions. Hybrid soft shell jackets are the pro-tip! They protect against wind and moisture, wick away moisture and also have insulating material properties. Provided that the temperatures do not drop into the minus range, you are perfectly equipped.
Vests
Especially the time between seasons do not make it easy to choose the right gear. The thick insulation jacket makes you overheat before you have even seen the first climb? The long-sleeved jersey is too thin for temperatures below 20 degrees? Then a cycling vest completes your clothing inventory! Heat-insulating, fast-drying and simply windproof? Different fabric combinations offer you a wide range for your requirements!
Shoes
There is really nothing more unpleasant than wet and cold feet when pedaling. With the right footwear, you are well-equipped for the winter. Gore-Tex and other waterproof membranes make it possible! When buying cycling shoes, pay attention to whether the soles are compatible with clipless pedals or not.
Helmets
No matter if just on the way to the bakery or while riding uphill in a group, a crash is often unpredictable and happens mostly when it seems impossible. In addition, the winter conditions increase the risk of accidents. Please. Wear a helmet when riding your bike. The faster you ride, the colder it gets around your ears. Most bike helmets don’t have warmer padding, so be sure to pack a hat or headband for cold temperatures.
Gloves- & shoes covers
Do you know that, you have to warm up your fingers with a hot cup of coffee after your morning ride to work? Or your feet are wet and frozen through? With heat-insulating, waterproof and windproof cycling gloves and shoe covers you are more comfortable on the road!
Do you have any questions? Click here for everything you need for your bike. You might also be interested in our other blog articles about bicycles:
The great mountain bike buying guide
Mountain bike suspensions: Differences, set-up and maintenance