Winter cycling is an activity quite famous among cycling enthusiasts. The simple reason why winter cycling is loved so much is that during winter, the body tends to spend more energy to stay warm against the freezing temperature of the surrounding. Also, the body learns to use oxygen efficiently to maintain the energy levels. However, most of the riders tend to hang up their cycles with the first sign of snowflakes in the surrounding. In this blog, we have listed out the essential items you need to have a safe and comfortable winter cycling experience even in the colder temperatures. Here is our list of items you should not forget before going winter cycling.

Leg Warmers and Cycling Tights

Many people think that leg warmers are not that helpful during cycling. When the temperatures are freezing outside the leg warmers can provide essential protection to the body. Also, if the temperature increases then you can remove them easily and stuff in the pocket as they don’t take much space. The cycling tights are made of thick breathable material to keep you warm during the activity. Like shorts, you can buy your tights with or without bibs. There is also a choice available in whether you want your tights with a pad or not.

Convertible Jacket

A convertible jacket can function well in the icy cold mornings or in the evening rides. Buy jacket having sleeves that zip off in single piece instead of two. This may make the jacket a bit bulky but it keeps the sleeves together so you can easily tie them around your waist or stuff it the pack easily when not in use. Make sure the convertible jacket you buy is windproof and breathable. If you are not able to find a breathable jacket, then look for the jacket with smart layers to regulate the body temperature.

Headgears for Protection

You might think that the headgears like skullcap are redundant, as a helmet will provide the necessary protection. However, the heat generated during cycling needs to be removed from the helmet and using skullcaps are a great way to do it. The thin material ensures that these caps fit easily on your head and into the helmet. This material easily soaks the excessive sweat produced by the head to keep it cool and dry. The cap also helps in keeping the ears warm and protected from the wind. Thus, skullcap is also a must-have gear for enjoying winter cycling.

 

There are a whole lot of clothing and other gears that you must have for having a comfortable ride in winters. For example, you must have light and insulated windproof glove, shoe covers, and polyester buff to keep the neck area secure from the cold. Buff can also be used for stuffing small gifts when not using for neck protection. The experience of cycling during winter is a great experience all together but it should be avoided if the temperature falls too low. Cycling during temperature that is too freezing could put a lot of stress on the body. Also, cycling when the wind speed is above 15 miles per hour is not recommended as not only it will affect your body but also negatively impact the balancing of your cycle.

 

If you go for winter cycling next time, try keeping the gears we have mentioned above, and you will notice the difference yourself. If you have any additional information on winter cycling, then do share it with us.