Different riding styles to match conditions–Part 2, Winter

If you live in the Pacific NW like me, a typical year contains 5 to 8 months where the weather consists of varying degrees of gross. It’s raining, sleeting, snowing, windy, foggy, wet ground, cold, dark, damp, or some combination of these. For some folks, this means either staying inside or switching to more wintry outdoor activities. Which is totally fine. But if you’re like me (i.e. no spring chicken anymore), if you want to do all the fun and challenging century rides or mountain adventures between May and September, you need to train year round, which unfortunately means riding during the gross part of the year. Here are some tips to make winter (and fall, and spring) riding a little safer and a little less groan-worthy.

1. Visibility, visibility, visibility. This means taking care of your own vision as well as being extra visible to drivers. All of your “winter gear” should be brightly colored and reflective. Even in the daytime of winter, bright colors alone aren’t a safe bet; invest in some lighting, white lights up front (with a powerful headlamp so you can see upcoming hazards) and red lights in the back, the more the better.
2. Traction is your friend; speed is not. When roads or trails are dry, traction is just a given…we can ride as fast as we want, and can (usually) stop or turn on a dime. Anytime snow, ice, or just water are added to the equation, traction (i.e. stopping distance and minimum turning radius) decreases exponentially. And at the same time, the maneuvers you could easily do at high speeds in dry summer weather become possible only at lower speeds in wet weather (without losing control, that is). On top of all this, you lose a lot of body heat traveling at high speeds…which is great during the hot summer, but not so great when you’re trying to conserve it.
3. Cotton kills.  At least as important as having warm winter clothing, is having dry winter clothing. Keeping the cold precipitation or road spray off your skin as much as possible is top priority. At the same time, even if you have the best weather- and water-proof outer gear, you can nullify its benefits by wearing cotton underneath. Most riders tend to sweat and give off body moisture, even in cold conditions…this means you will get wet to some degree, no matter what. Wearing cotton will then make it impossible to maintain your warm body temperature, because cotton pulls heat away from you as soon as it gets damp. Wear synthetics or wool blends instead…they will keep you warm even when wet with sweat or condensation.
4. Know your body’s reactions to cold weather and plan accordingly. Some people need to stretch a little more when it’s cold. Some people need to take more time to warm up before taking on that steep grade or sprint section. Also, many people tend to burn more calories at the same activity level, simply by maintaining their body temperature in the cold. Plan your ride accordingly…for most folks this means shorter rides overall, with shorter but more frequent rest stops. Bring more food with you than you would for a summer ride, or plan a warming/meal stop if you’re in town.
5. You still need to hydrate.  Hydration in wintertime may not be as urgent or desperate as it is in the heat of summer, but it’s still a priority. Your body still loses a lot of water during strenuous activity, whether you’re hot or cold. A lot of folks (like me) can’t stand the thought of downing cold water when they’re already cold. Try putting heated water in your bottles or canteens (or some hot green tea, decaf coffee or other hot beverage, if the thought of drinking warm water makes you gag). Hot water hydrates you the same as cold water, and it has the added bonus of warming you up from the inside. Just make sure your container can handle it…most run-of-the-mill bike bottles cannot.
6. Pay extra attention to bike maintenance. In the wet and cold of winter, bicycle parts undergo extra strain (just like we do). Also, wet roads or trails transfer a lot more dirt (mud), grit and debris to bikes than summertime riders are used to. Spray off your bike with low pressure water after each substantial ride. Clean and lube the drivetrain more frequently than you would for summer riding. Pay special attention to tire pressure, wheels and brakes…traction and control are your friends.
7. If you have the means, invest in a “winter bike” and/or “winter gear”. It’s surprising to me how much more fun (i.e. less miserable) winter riding got when I invested in a road bike that emphasized comfort, durability and traction over light weight and speed. I have a Salsa Vaya with 650b wheels…this means a steel frame and the ability to put fat, low pressure tires on it (I put Schwalbe Racing Ralph tires on it, which have been the perfect mix of comfort and traction). It has wide fenders so I stay (relatively) dry and comfortable in the rain and mud. A lightweight bike it is not, but that’s fine given that my winter riding tends to be slower and more deliberate anyway. For clothing I picked up a synthetic fleece-lined jersey and pants for underclothes, which are very warm even when wet, and a bright, waterproof jacket and rainpants. I also have the yellow neoprene “booties” to go over my cleat shoes, which I typically only need in near-freezing weather.
8. If you have the means, invest in a stationary bike. Finally, no matter what you do or what kind of gear you have, there are just going to be those days (or weeks, or months) where you don’t feel like freezing yourself to death or otherwise punishing yourself out in the winter bleakness. If you can find a spin bike that you can afford (I found a decent one on Amazon for $250), having one available can be the difference between you doing something and you doing nothing over the winter.