Cycling in colder weather

Sometimes it is difficult to find the motivation to keep cycling in the winter. When temperatures drop, it gets dark earlier and it rains more often. But if it is dry and there is even a sun shining, it is time for a round! There are many advantages to cycling all year round. Such as maintaining your fitness during the off-season and improving your cycling skills. Even when the warm couch beckons inside. Exercising in nature helps improve mental health, including combating depressed mood and reducing anxiety.

To keep your motivation up and increase the fun while cycling in winter, here are 5 tips to continue cycling this season.

1. Work with layers

Working with multiple layers of clothing is a well-known tactic. It starts with a good base layer . Make sure the core of your body is nice and warm. From there you add multiple layers. That you can put on and take off as you get warmer or the ride gets longer. With a good base layer and jacket you can handle almost anything.

Realize that you will be cold at first. After you start exercising, you naturally warm up. When you go out, ready to ride, you really shouldn't be warm. If so, you are wearing too much clothing.

2. Wash your bicycle regularly

The roads are often wetter in autumn and winter. Dirt splashes up and remains on the parts and frame of your bicycle. Brine and wetness affect your bicycle. Wash your bike after every ride, or at least wipe it dry as soon as you have finished cycling. In this blog post you can read how to properly clean the chain of your bicycle.

3. Listen to your body

Your hands and feet usually get cold first because your body focuses on keeping your core warm. Keeping your extremities warm is the key to a pleasant winter ride and that's why it's smart to wear a pair of warm cycling gloves .

4. Wear the right clothes

Wear cycling clothing that keeps you warm and is comfortable. Good cycling pants should be warm but also ventilate. Our long cycling pants are lined with soft fleece and have a water-repellent outer layer.

But also consider taking an extra pair of woolen socks with you in a resealable plastic bag. For example, when you accidentally put your feet in a puddle.