It might be seen as a summer sport, but your bike rides don’t have to stop the second the clocks go back. We’ve already covered advice on what to wear to cycle in the winter, and how to stay motivated when it’s cold and bleak outside. You’ve got the gear, you’ve got the get up and go… now we’re going to give you some practical tips to help you stay safe (and have fun) when you’re riding outdoors through the winter months!
Keep reading to unlock all year round cycling adventures…
Prep and planning for winter cycling
Before you head out, take a little bit of time to do some planning. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail and all that… First take a look at the weather forecast and take note of the ‘feels like’ temperature, the wind speed and the direction. This will help you to decide what kit to wear, and you can use this intel to plan your route. Ideally, you want to get the worst of any headwind out of the way at the start of the ride when your energy and enthusiasm levels are at their highest. Headwind out, tailwind home is a good rule of thumb for making winter cycling as enjoyable as possible!
If the weather is looking particularly grim, you might want to plan in a ‘get out of jail free’ card and have a point on your route where you can turn back towards home early if you’re not feeling it. And obviously, if the wind is insane, the rain is going to be of biblical proportions or there’s snow forecast… take a moment to sense check if it’s actually safe and sensible to ride outdoors. No amount of Strava kudos are worth risking your safety for!
Tips for riding safely when there’s been a frost overnight
Icy patches are a road cyclists’ worst enemy. If there’s been a frost overnight, ditch the sunrise start and head out a little later when the roads will have had a chance to thaw out. Consider sticking to some of the ‘bigger’ roads that have been treated. The back lanes might be lovely and peaceful, but chances are they’re also a bit of an ice rink. If you decide it’s safe to head out, just be mindful of shady patches and dips in the roads – ice might be lingering here even if the rest of the road is clear.
If you have one, consider taking your gravel bike or your mountain bike out instead of your road bike so you’ve got some extra traction on any asphalt sections, and the freedom to head off road if it’s looking a bit sketchy.
How to cycle safely in the rain
In wet conditions, think about traction, visibility and hidden obstacles. The roads can get slippery in the rain, so drop your tyre pressure for extra traction or get out on the gravel bike if you have one (and if you haven’t… N+1 excuse, anyone?). Avoid road markings and drain covers as much as you can as these get extra slippery, and make sure you brake smoothly and avoid any sudden changes of direction.
Visibility will be poor when it’s raining, so make sure you’ve got reflective gear and lights on your bike to make sure other road users can see you. And before you go blasting through the middle of any big puddles, remember there could be some front wheel-sized potholes lurking underneath. Slow down and stick to the shallow parts to avoid any unplanned gymnastics.
You can get a full list of dos and don’ts for riding in the rain in our autumn cycling guide.
How to stay warm during winter rides
Staying warm and comfortable on the bike in the winter is mainly about having the right gear – you can head over to our winter cycling gear guide for our tips on the essentials and how to layer up for different conditions. But beyond what you wear, you can also slightly adjust your riding style to help keep yourself warmer in cold conditions.
If you’re getting cold, increase your pedalling cadence. This will help to raise your heart rate and get the blood pumping, keeping you warmer. A higher cadence doesn’t have to mean pushing bigger watts either – it’s not about riding harder or faster (we’ve all made that mistake, blasting out of a café stop to try and get warm only to blow up spectacularly 10 miles down the road!). Instead, shift into an easier gear so you can spin your legs faster without having to go hard.
Don’t neglect your fuelling and hydration
It’s important to fuel your rides properly, even when your attention is taken up by the you versus mother nature battle! Hydration in particular is very easy to accidentally neglect in the winter months. When it’s cold, you won’t feel as thirsty. But you still need to hydrate, so drink up! If you struggle to take on fuel when you’re all wrapped up in your winter gloves, either plan in a quick stop to get at your snacks or add in a mid-ride cafe stop. Nothing makes winter riding feel more worthwhile than a steaming hot cup of coffee and a big slab of freshly baked cake halfway round!
Take a look at our winter gear guide and our tips for staying motivated through the bleak midwinter. If you’re heading out on your adventures, make sure you share your snaps and tell us all about it – you might even get a shout out in our newsletter and/or on the SG Instagram for your winter warrior efforts!