Biking in winter
From the top of the head to the little toe: cycling clothing for cold cats
With the appropriate clothing, biking is fun even when there is a blanket of snow.
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Anyone who feels cold while biking has almost certainly done something wrong. The selection of high-quality and functional cycling clothing is huge (and not necessarily expensive). What cycling clothing must be able to do in winter and what should definitely not be missing.
As cliché as it may sound, there is no such thing as bad weather. There are only bad, or rather unsuitable, clothes. And that also applies to Ride a bike. Apart from the dangerous lightning ice or a knee-high blanket of snow, there are hardly any good reasons to swap your bike for full buses and trains or the car, even in winter. These days you can even reliably protect yourself against icy temperatures without having to cycle to work like the famous Michelin Man. Wind, rain and darkness are also just sparring partners. Provided you dress smartly. In this article we reveal which pieces you can use to give the cold shoulder to winter and keep yourself warm even when there is frost and swirling flakes.
Feet like it hot, hands too
If you were to start a survey to find out which parts of the body cyclists freeze most often in winter, the fingers and toes would probably be at the top. In addition to the nose (which you can only reach with one Multifunctional cloth can protect), the wind automatically cools down the hands and feet first. What makes matters worse is that when temperatures are below zero, the body tends to focus on keeping the internal organs at operating temperature.
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So let’s first focus on protecting your feet from the cold. And that starts with the right ones Cycling socks at. They can be cut a little higher and at least partly made from cozy merino wool. If you use your bike every day to get to work, you should also attach importance to sturdy footwear. Sneakers or sneakers made of light mesh material are certainly more comfortable, but they don’t keep out cold or precipitation permanently. So water-repellent Gore material is the minimum that cycling shoes should have in winter. At the Minaki Mid II STX from Vaude A flexible shaft also protects against splash water. If you want to do a short training session straight away from the office, you can also screw cleats under your shoe and pedal using the STX or SPD system.
If your toes are still cold despite Merino socks and Gore cycling shoes, you can use the third level. So-called Overshoes are – quite surprisingly – placed over the shoes from the toe and protect against wind, cold and moisture. To reach your destination with dry feet, overshoes are always a good choice. A slightly more flexible alternative is this waterproof one Oversocks from Sealskinz, which also has a little extra dose of safety on board thanks to the reflective material. It’s all about protecting your toes from the wind and cold, so-called Toe caps a good option. They are only pulled over the toes of the feet and reach approximately to the instep.
Warm trousers and the onion skin principle
When cycling, your legs are constantly in motion. Nevertheless, they should also be adequately packed in winter. If there is no chance to change at the place of work, there is one lined and waterproof trousers which can be pulled over jeans or trousers. If you want to be a little more sporty and want to incorporate the trip to the office into your day as a little workout and be able to change in the office, it’s better to choose lined cycling shorts with a thin seat padding. Whether with or without straps is a matter of taste. Tip: Short cycling shorts can be transformed into a winter version in no time with leg warmers. These practical overcoats are lined (here Thermal model from Gonso) and unlined (here a Model by Gore).
Of course, it’s not enough to just be wrapped up warm underneath. The body gives off most of its heat through the upper body and especially the head. And that’s exactly what you should limit at least as much as possible in winter. The so-called onion skin principle has proven its worth. This is not only intended to ward off the cold, but also to ensure that excess body heat can be reliably dissipated. The rule of thumb applies: it is better to have a few thin layers on top of each other than one very thick one.
The basis for this is the base layer, i.e. functional underwear that is worn directly on the skin. Their job is to absorb moisture, i.e. sweat. And this is important not only when skiing in the mountains, but also when cycling in winter. Not only, but especially when things get a little quicker. Minor downer: High-quality functional underwear (e.g. from Odlo) doesn’t always look stylish. But she doesn’t have to. Advantage of the base layer: It dries quickly. In our latitudes, a short or long base layer is usually sufficient Long-sleeved shirt (e.g. from Odlo or Gore).
The next layer, the so-called midlayer, is supposed to provide the necessary warmth. For cyclists, this is usually a short or long cycling jersey, depending on the season and temperature. In winter, slightly brushed models or, better yet, cycling jackets are ideal. For everyday rides, it’s best to use a warming fleece jacket as a midlayer (e.g. this one Women’s model from Quechua). If necessary, the winter bike outfit is completed by the Outer Shell. This is intended to ward off wind or moisture so that the midlayer stays cozy and warm and dry. Softshell jackets (like this Qimsa by Vaude) are the classic for the weatherproof third layer of clothing, not just in name.
Cycling clothing in winter: use your brains
Less specific to cycling, but essential for winter cycling are hats, scarves and gloves. The most important requirement for headgear is that it must fit comfortably under a helmet. Bobble hats are therefore rather unsuitable at this point. In order to be able to react to different temperatures, it makes sense to have two types of hats in your closet. For milder winter days around five degrees, a thin, functional hat that is as breathable as possible (like this one) is sufficient Craft model). Alternative is the popular Buff, a multifunctional cloth (here Merino version), which can be transformed from a tube scarf into a practical hat with just a few clever moves.
If you get on your bike in temperatures around or below freezing, your forehead and ears should be protected with a thicker hat, the inside of which is ideally made of fleece. Our tip: that Reflect360 Fleece Beanie from Proviz. Fabric threads were sewn onto the outside, which reflect the light particularly well. This makes you very easy to see, especially for drivers, even in the morning and at dusk. Thanks to its tight fit, the helmet also sits securely on your head.
If you forget your gloves on a Sunday walk, simply put your cold hands in your jacket pocket. When it comes to cycling, it’s not that easy. Cold hands are not only uncomfortable on the bike, they also make it difficult to pull the brake levers in a targeted manner. In winter, gloves are therefore part of every cyclist’s basic equipment. And because the sensation of cold on the fingers is also very subjective, there is no patent recipe for warm hands. However, heated cycling gloves (e.g. from Sealskinz). They are a bit thicker by default. There is also a battery in a small pocket on the wrist that supplies energy to the heating surfaces inside the glove. Most models have three heat settings that can be selected using buttons on the top of the glove.
If high-tech gloves are not a must, you should also go with lightly lined models like these Triban F900 from Decathlon be satisfied. They are supposed to keep your fingers warm even at temperatures around zero degrees. Advantage of the slightly thinner version: Grip and feel on the handlebars and brake levers are usually significantly better. They also save the budget.
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