{"id":59434,"date":"2024-02-06T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-06T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/a0cc3da3-6266-4577-a972-d464cd14d6a6"},"modified":"2024-02-06T13:59:43","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T12:59:43","slug":"6-winter-cycling-mistakes-every-road-rider-makes-and-how-to-avoid-them","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/6-winter-cycling-mistakes-every-road-rider-makes-and-how-to-avoid-them\/","title":{"rendered":"6 winter cycling mistakes every road rider makes (and how to avoid them)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Avoid these common pitfalls and winter enlightenment awaits <\/p>

By Jack Luke\n <\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 06 February 2024 at 11:00 AM<\/p>

\n\n

I have grown to love winter road riding, but only after years of making mistakes that soured the experience.<\/p>

I doubt I\u2019m alone. From ride-ruining frozen toes to overdoing it when you really ought to dial it back, I guarantee every rider reading this will make these six mistakes at least once.\u00a0<\/p>

For those yet to be caught out, heed my advice to avoid these mistakes and unlock wonderous winter miles.\u00a0<\/p>

1. Avoid sweat at all costs<\/h2>
BikeRadar’s video manager, Felix Smith, is my main riding buddy \u2013 mostly because we both turn into a sweaty mess no matter the weather, and nobody can bear listening to us moan about it all the time. – Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
I am infamously sweaty. Unfortunately for this prolific perspirer, sweat is the enemy of remaining comfortable in winter.\u00a0<\/p>
While that clammy coating of sweat will do a great job of keeping you cool on the way up a climb, it\u2019ll do an excellent job of freezing you to the core on the way back down.<\/p>
I avoid getting a stink on in winter by tempering my efforts and with careful kit selection.<\/p>
The first point is easy. If you\u2019re out on a longer ride, just keep it tranquilo<\/em>. Unless you have specific training goals<\/a> requiring you to go full beans, cruising easy doesn\u2019t cost you anything.\u00a0<\/p>
$\"Rapha$
Rapha’s Pro Team Insulated Gore-Tex jacket is a great example of kit that may be perfect for riders who run cold, but I steam like boil-in-a-bag rice whenever I wear it. – Jack Luke \/ Immediate Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
For some, kit choice is harder to nail. I know riders who head out adorned in all the kit they own and still end up freezing.<\/p>
But that\u2019s not me, so at the start of this winter, I began taking notes on what I wore, what worked and what didn\u2019t, based on the temperature and type of ride.<\/p>
I am well aware that\u2019s behaviour verging on troublingly dull.\u00a0<\/p>
But, as a fussy man, I have a very narrow band of comfort, so thoughtlessly selecting a different baselayer<\/a> here, or a windproof jacket there leaves me cooked through like a baked spud.<\/p>
The effort has paid off and I\u2019m able to make informed kit choices before heading out. I implore fellow sweaters to do the same.<\/p>
2. Protect your skin<\/h2>
$\"Beautiful$
An artist’s impression of me maintaining my flawless skin. – Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Winter riding<\/a>, particularly in cold and dry conditions, is hard on your skin.<\/p>
My breathtaking, youthful beauty is no accident. I moisturise my face, ears and neck before and after a ride with a basic emollient (I like Cetraben) to trap in moisture.\u00a0<\/p>
Lips are particularly prone to damage in cold weather. I like to use Burt\u2019s Bees SPF lip balm in the summer, but a slathering of Vaseline is the best option for winter riding.<\/p>
A wet and muddy chamois is also a surefire way to cultivate a suppurating saddle sore, so don\u2019t overlook preventive butt care<\/a> too.\u00a0<\/p>
3. Switch up your spares and service your multi-tool<\/h2>
$\"Tool$
Check if you need to switch or add any tools for your winter bike. – Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
If you are lucky enough to own a summer and winter bike<\/a>, audit your roadside toolkit to cover any change in parts or additional accessories.<\/p>
Not that I\u2019m speaking from experience or anything but, for example, ensure you have the tools required to tighten up a loose mudguard<\/a> stay\u2026 (thanks to the kindly bike shop in Builth Wells for loaning your 8mm spanner!).<\/p>
$\"Mucky$
This is the face of a boy who forgot work gloves, fixed a roadside puncture then spent the rest of his ride pushing his spectacles up his nose. Don’t be like me. – Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
I\u2019d also advocate checking your spares when you get your bike winter-ready<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>
I always take work gloves with me on a ride (a must since I have delicate editor\u2019s hands). However, I\u2019m terrible at remembering to replace them after fixing a puncture<\/a>, and invariably trashing them. <\/p>
This is a bad idea in the winter \u2013 eating a sandwich with hands obstinately coated in filth from rim brake pads is quite unappealing.\u00a0<\/p>
It\u2019s no bad idea to check the integrity of spare inner tubes<\/a>. A gloomy rain-soaked layby covered in slush is the worst time to find out a valve has worn a hole in your spare.<\/p>
Get into the habit of regularly cleaning and lubricating your multi-tool<\/a> too. This will help prolong its life and make it easier to use with cold hands.<\/p>
4. Cold feet will ruin any ride<\/h2>
$\"Fizik$
Dedicated riders may wish to invest in proper winter cycling shoes, but they’re not for everyone. – Max Wilman \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
There is no coming back from cold feet.\u00a0<\/p>
Feet have poor blood circulation. Sopping-wet shoes and socks act as a big heatsink, soaking any remaining warmth from your poor wee tootsies.\u00a0<\/p>
Circulation generally worsens as you get older \u2013 my feet have certainly become more susceptible to the cold as I\u2019ve ripened.<\/p>
Pairing winter cycling shoes<\/a> with high-quality socks is generally accepted to be the best solution for cold riding.\u00a0<\/p>
Unfortunately, winter shoes have limited use in most climates, and are a significant investment, ruling them out for many.\u00a0<\/p>
I\u2019ve already revealed too much about my gross old man feet, but I also find the fit of most winter shoes too restrictive.\u00a0<\/p>
$\"Cyclists$
Does this feel weird? Yes. Does it work? Double yes. – Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
As such, I prefer to pair my favourite cycling shoes with two thin pairs of socks with a plastic sandwich bag worn between them.\u00a0<\/p>
This feels super-kinky, but the plastic bag acts as a vapour barrier, keeping warm moisture in (gross) and cold rain out. I then ensconce my power slippers with a pair of heavy overshoes<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>
I also plug any holes in the soles with Blu-tack<\/a>. I\u2019m yet to try them, but some riders also swear by stick-on chemical heat packs.\u00a0<\/p>
No matter what solution is right for you, warm feet are a must.\u00a0<\/p>
5. Don\u2019t overdo it\u00a0<\/h2>
$\"\"$
Long winter rides can be fun, but they require careful planning and shouldn’t be the norm. – Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Riding in the winter is hard work.\u00a0<\/p>
A route ridden with ease in the summer can become an ordeal when it\u2019s cold, windy and dark.\u00a0<\/p>
Heading into winter, you\u2019re also likely to be fatigued from a summer and autumn of harder riding, or under-trained after a holiday break of indulgences.<\/p>
$\"\"$
Long rides in the slush make for great photo opportunities. That’s often motivation enough for this massive attention seeker. – Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
As such, unless your objective is to plan an \u2018epic\u2019, don\u2019t push your luck with overly ambitious routes. We all fancy ourselves as the lead star in a moody Rapha Contentinetal film<\/a>, but, in reality, big days are best saved for fairer climes and fresher legs.\u00a0<\/p>
If you are dead set on a punchy ride, I like to use the MyWindSock cycling app<\/a> to estimate the impact of weather, adjusting start times or routes to suit.\u00a0<\/p>
6. Choose a lube-u-like<\/h2>
$\"Chains$
Your summer drivetrain maintenance routing may not be suitable for winter riding. – Simon von Bromley \/ Immediate Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Choosing the best chain lube<\/a> for winter riding is a tricky balancing act.<\/p>
A tenaciously sticky wet lube will run quietly, but it will be a magnet for dirt.<\/p>
Much-beloved resident chain lube bore, Simon von Bromley advocates immersion waxing a chain<\/a>, even in winter, because\u00a0it keeps your drivetrain so clean. But a few manky puddles will wreak havoc on your waxwork, so unless you\u2019re willing to maintain your drivetrain fastidiously, this option is likely ruled out.<\/p>
$\"Filthy$
I don’t think any amount of lube could have saved my poor drivetrain from three days of grimy Welsh roads in mid-January. – Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
I\u2019m far lazier than Simon, so generally just give my drivetrain a thorough clean at the start of winter and use a lighter wet lube. Washing a bike<\/a> is a must throughout winter anyway, so scrubbing and re-lubing my chain is no big deal.<\/p>
If you’re doing super-long rides in harsh conditions, a top-quality wet lube, such as Silca Synergetic, could prove to be the best choice.\u00a0<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n
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