![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/12\/Winter-I-a2e6f48-e1671116132969.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>First and foremost, there\u2019s nothing like riding on a perfect winter day.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s hard to beat cycling through the countryside with frost coating leaves and trees, your breath clouding the air, and the bright sunshine lighting everything so it looks like it\u2019s in a David Attenborough documentary.<\/p>\n
Unexpected wildlife encounters<\/h2>\n
Since a lot of your riding is likely to occur in the dark over winter, your chances of coming face to face with nocturnal wildlife is all the greater.\u00a0Is that looming dark shape ahead of you a bush or a resting cow?<\/p>\n
Expect to see your lights reflected back in the glinting eyes of various animals, and hear strange noises overhead. It adds a little frisson of danger and excitement to what might otherwise be a fairly tame trail.<\/p>\n
That said, if you do happen to ride regularly where the wildlife is a bit more bite-y than the UK, it\u2019s probably worth exercising a little caution depending on when and where you go out.<\/p>\n
You get REALLY good at washing your bike and kit<\/h2>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> The Worx Hydroshot pressure washer is a portable washer with a rechargeable battery and a range of water-supply options.<\/span><\/figcaption> Russell Burton \/ Immediate Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\nOne of the downsides of winter riding, whatever type of cycling you do, is the wear and tear that quickly builds up when riding on gritty, muddy trails.<\/p>\n
That means it\u2019s important to wash your bike after every ride. Expect to get your post-ride routine down to a fine art \u2013 off the bike, quick hose-down (bike and rider), wet kit in the washing machine while you clean off the bike, lights on charge, oil the chain, and you\u2019re good to go again.<\/p>\n
Of course, if you\u2019re worried about ruining your pride and joy, you can always use your winter riding plans to justify the purchase of a new bike<\/a>, or you could read our guide on how to pressure wash your bike safely<\/a>.<\/p>\nYou\u2019ll need more kit<\/h2>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> No longer the reserve of the domestic domain, onesies provide excellent protection from the elements.<\/span><\/figcaption> Andy Lloyd \/ OurMedia<\/i><\/span><\/div>\nAre you a total kit fiend? Do you like to have the best cycling jacket<\/a>, the best bike lights<\/a> and the right tyres to suit every conceivable weather condition? Well, say hello to winter, your new best friend!<\/p>\nDepending on where you live, you\u2019ll likely need winter clothing<\/a> to suit a variety of conditions.<\/p>\nIt\u2019s oh so quiet<\/h2>\n
Weather can put many people off cycling, so that means you\u2019re likely to have the roads and trails almost to yourself.<\/p>\n
No searching for a parking space at the trail centre, no repeatedly calling \u2018on your right!\u2019 when trying to overtake, no long stream of cyclists on the road and no queues at the usual cafe stop.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll burn extra calories<\/h2>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Winter riding can help you burn extra calories.<\/span><\/figcaption> Snorri Tryggvason \/ Lauf<\/i><\/span><\/div>\nYou may have heard that people burn more calories<\/a> in the cold than in warmer temperatures. Non-shivering thermogenesis (NST) is part of the reason why.<\/p>\nIt\u2019s one of the ways your body works to keep your core temperature at the right operational level through chemical reactions that burn off fat tissue, as opposed to muscle contractions \u2013 shivering \u2013 which is another method.<\/p>\n
This means you burn off more calories if you exercise outdoors in cold weather, especially since the chances are you\u2019ll be exposed to it for longer periods of time.<\/p>\n
This does not mean, however, that you should head out in a skimpy short-sleeved jersey and shorts if you\u2019re trying to shift weight; that way lies hypothermia and injury\u2026<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll get tougher<\/h2>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> With the right mindset, riding in the winter can be rewarding.<\/span><\/figcaption> Luc Claessen\/Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\nRiding in cold, wet weather toughens you up in two ways.<\/p>\n
First, mentally. If you can motivate yourself to get out riding when the weather is bad and ride on through the rain, cold and snow, then any inclement weather come summer or race season will pose no obstacle.<\/p>\n
Second, it toughens you up physically as well. In addition to the calorie-burning advantages mentioned above, some research has shown that people who are regularly exposed to colder temperatures subsequently don\u2019t feel the cold as much and are more comfortable in colder weather.<\/p>\n
They also don\u2019t shiver as much, which is good news for conserving energy.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll appreciate hot food more!<\/h2>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Mid-ride food stops are well-deserved in the winter.<\/span><\/figcaption> Tom Marvin \/ Immediate Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\nNot only is hot food after a cold ride nothing short of perfection (particularly if it\u2019s soup or hot chocolate), it\u2019s also fully justified. After all, as mentioned earlier, you\u2019ll be burning off more calories.<\/p>\n
And while that\u2019s great if you are looking to shift a few extra pounds, you also want to make sure you\u2019re giving your body enough fuel and nutrients to run efficiently and fight off illness.<\/p>\n
So long as you tuck into healthy food (maybe the occasional treat too) and pay attention to how you are feeling, you\u2019ll strike the right balance.<\/p>\n
For inspiration, we have easy recipes on everything from simple soups<\/a> to protein-rich post-ride dinners,<\/a>\u00a0all provided by Olive Magazine<\/em>.<\/p>\nThe joys of the humblebrag<\/h2>\n
\u201cWhat did you do over the weekend?\u201d, \u201cOh, you know, just took myself off for a little ride. Nothing big, just 100km off-road across a snow-covered mountain.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yes, winter provides many opportunities for the humblebrag, whether it\u2019s beating your workmates in by bike when their trains are delayed, or sticking to your training schedule come snow, hail or raining frogs.<\/p>\n
Winter training holidays<\/h2>\n
If it gets too much, you\u2019ll be justified in taking a break from the winter weather and jetting off somewhere to ride in the sun. Because, you know, vitamin D is important for health and performance, right?<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n
","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Aoife Glass Published: Saturday, 31 December 2022 at 12:00 am Frosty mornings, quiet trails and the sheer joy of a hot drink after a cold ride are just three of the simple pleasures to be found when bike riding through the winter months. Here are 10 reasons we love winter cycling. Bright, cold, frosty […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":44983,"template":"","categories":[1,36],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"6"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/12\/10-reasons-to-love-winter-cycling.jpg",532,354,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/12\/10-reasons-to-love-winter-cycling-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/12\/10-reasons-to-love-winter-cycling-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/12\/10-reasons-to-love-winter-cycling.jpg",532,354,false],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/12\/10-reasons-to-love-winter-cycling.jpg",532,354,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/12\/10-reasons-to-love-winter-cycling.jpg",532,354,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/12\/10-reasons-to-love-winter-cycling.jpg",532,354,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Aoife Glass Published: Saturday, 31 December 2022 at 12:00 am Frosty mornings, quiet trails and the sheer joy of a hot drink after a cold ride are just three of the simple pleasures to be found when bike riding through the winter months. Here are 10 reasons we love winter cycling. Bright, cold, frosty…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/44982"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44983"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44982"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44982"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2020\/12\/Worx-Hydroshot-pressure-washer-01-239c7ed.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>One of the downsides of winter riding, whatever type of cycling you do, is the wear and tear that quickly builds up when riding on gritty, muddy trails.<\/p>\n
That means it\u2019s important to wash your bike after every ride. Expect to get your post-ride routine down to a fine art \u2013 off the bike, quick hose-down (bike and rider), wet kit in the washing machine while you clean off the bike, lights on charge, oil the chain, and you\u2019re good to go again.<\/p>\n
Of course, if you\u2019re worried about ruining your pride and joy, you can always use your winter riding plans to justify the purchase of a new bike<\/a>, or you could read our guide on how to pressure wash your bike safely<\/a>.<\/p>\n Are you a total kit fiend? Do you like to have the best cycling jacket<\/a>, the best bike lights<\/a> and the right tyres to suit every conceivable weather condition? Well, say hello to winter, your new best friend!<\/p>\n Depending on where you live, you\u2019ll likely need winter clothing<\/a> to suit a variety of conditions.<\/p>\n Weather can put many people off cycling, so that means you\u2019re likely to have the roads and trails almost to yourself.<\/p>\n No searching for a parking space at the trail centre, no repeatedly calling \u2018on your right!\u2019 when trying to overtake, no long stream of cyclists on the road and no queues at the usual cafe stop.<\/p>\n You may have heard that people burn more calories<\/a> in the cold than in warmer temperatures. Non-shivering thermogenesis (NST) is part of the reason why.<\/p>\n It\u2019s one of the ways your body works to keep your core temperature at the right operational level through chemical reactions that burn off fat tissue, as opposed to muscle contractions \u2013 shivering \u2013 which is another method.<\/p>\n This means you burn off more calories if you exercise outdoors in cold weather, especially since the chances are you\u2019ll be exposed to it for longer periods of time.<\/p>\n This does not mean, however, that you should head out in a skimpy short-sleeved jersey and shorts if you\u2019re trying to shift weight; that way lies hypothermia and injury\u2026<\/p>\n Riding in cold, wet weather toughens you up in two ways.<\/p>\n First, mentally. If you can motivate yourself to get out riding when the weather is bad and ride on through the rain, cold and snow, then any inclement weather come summer or race season will pose no obstacle.<\/p>\n Second, it toughens you up physically as well. In addition to the calorie-burning advantages mentioned above, some research has shown that people who are regularly exposed to colder temperatures subsequently don\u2019t feel the cold as much and are more comfortable in colder weather.<\/p>\n They also don\u2019t shiver as much, which is good news for conserving energy.<\/p>\n Not only is hot food after a cold ride nothing short of perfection (particularly if it\u2019s soup or hot chocolate), it\u2019s also fully justified. After all, as mentioned earlier, you\u2019ll be burning off more calories.<\/p>\n And while that\u2019s great if you are looking to shift a few extra pounds, you also want to make sure you\u2019re giving your body enough fuel and nutrients to run efficiently and fight off illness.<\/p>\n So long as you tuck into healthy food (maybe the occasional treat too) and pay attention to how you are feeling, you\u2019ll strike the right balance.<\/p>\n For inspiration, we have easy recipes on everything from simple soups<\/a> to protein-rich post-ride dinners,<\/a>\u00a0all provided by Olive Magazine<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you do over the weekend?\u201d, \u201cOh, you know, just took myself off for a little ride. Nothing big, just 100km off-road across a snow-covered mountain.\u201d<\/p>\n Yes, winter provides many opportunities for the humblebrag, whether it\u2019s beating your workmates in by bike when their trains are delayed, or sticking to your training schedule come snow, hail or raining frogs.<\/p>\n If it gets too much, you\u2019ll be justified in taking a break from the winter weather and jetting off somewhere to ride in the sun. Because, you know, vitamin D is important for health and performance, right?<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n By Aoife Glass Published: Saturday, 31 December 2022 at 12:00 am Frosty mornings, quiet trails and the sheer joy of a hot drink after a cold ride are just three of the simple pleasures to be found when bike riding through the winter months. Here are 10 reasons we love winter cycling. Bright, cold, frosty […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":44983,"template":"","categories":[1,36],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"6"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/12\/10-reasons-to-love-winter-cycling.jpg",532,354,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/12\/10-reasons-to-love-winter-cycling-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/12\/10-reasons-to-love-winter-cycling-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/12\/10-reasons-to-love-winter-cycling.jpg",532,354,false],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/12\/10-reasons-to-love-winter-cycling.jpg",532,354,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/12\/10-reasons-to-love-winter-cycling.jpg",532,354,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2022\/12\/10-reasons-to-love-winter-cycling.jpg",532,354,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Aoife Glass Published: Saturday, 31 December 2022 at 12:00 am Frosty mornings, quiet trails and the sheer joy of a hot drink after a cold ride are just three of the simple pleasures to be found when bike riding through the winter months. Here are 10 reasons we love winter cycling. Bright, cold, frosty…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/44982"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44983"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44982"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44982"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}You\u2019ll need more kit<\/h2>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/12\/Leatt-MTB-HydraDri-3.0-Mono-Suit-70a197d.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>It\u2019s oh so quiet<\/h2>\n
You\u2019ll burn extra calories<\/h2>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/04\/lauf-seigla-stood-up-sprinting-de29d89-e1671467449383.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>You\u2019ll get tougher<\/h2>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1358601639-8ff343d-1.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>You\u2019ll appreciate hot food more!<\/h2>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2021\/07\/scottish-food-af1c3b0.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>The joys of the humblebrag<\/h2>\n
Winter training holidays<\/h2>\n
","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"