Here, we\u2019ll run through all the things you need to think about to keep commuting by bike through the winter. We cover the extra items you may need <\/a>and the extra care and maintenance your bike may need to keep it running smoothly through the winter months.<\/p> When cycling in winter<\/a>, you\u2019re likely to encounter rain and cold, sometimes separately but more often together. So you should dress accordingly.<\/p> It\u2019s a good idea to have a high-quality, seam-sealed waterproof jacket<\/a>. Most are made from breathable fabrics, to help keep you less sweaty. A hood can be useful to stop rain from running down your back, although it can interfere with rear vision. One that fits under your helmet<\/a> is better than one that fits over it in this respect.\u00a0<\/p> You\u2019ll want to keep your legs dry too, either with waterproof trousers<\/a> or water-resistant winter bib tights<\/a>.<\/p> Waterproof overshoes<\/a> or winter cycling boots<\/a> will help keep your feet drier, while winter cycling gloves<\/a> will often include a water-resistant coating or membrane. A water-resistant cycling cap<\/a> will help keep your head dry when cycling in the rain<\/a>.<\/p> Cold weather requires enough layers to keep your core warm. A long-sleeved baselayer<\/a> is a great start; then you should add an insulated cycling jacket and maybe a long-sleeved jersey between the two if it\u2019s very cold.<\/p> Fleece-backed winter tights will help keep your legs warm. You can wear your waterproof trousers over these if you want more wind protection.<\/p> Cold and wet commutes can be tackled by combining your wet and cold gear, although a specialist winter cycling jacket<\/a> may be less bulky. In either case, go for a Merino wool or synthetic baselayer to keep you warm even if it gets damp. Avoid cotton, which gets unpleasantly cold and clammy when it\u2019s wet.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p> Keep an eye on the temperature outside. If your commute is short, you may not warm up fully before you arrive, while if it\u2019s longer you may get uncomfortably hot if you\u2019re over-layered.\u00a0<\/p> Multiple layers give you more adaptability than one massive jacket and enable you to unzip or remove a layer if you are too hot. It\u2019s worth carrying an extra layer in case the temperature drops before you head home.<\/p> It\u2019s also possible to kit yourself out to ride your bike in snow and ice<\/a>, although there\u2019s more preparation needed.<\/p> As with commuting by bike in the summer, you can commute during the winter on pretty much any type of bike.<\/p> Many commuters prefer to use a hybrid bike<\/a> for its comfortable, upright position and this is a good choice of winter commuter bike as well as for summer use.<\/p> If you\u2019re going further, a road bike<\/a> may be faster, although bear in mind that the narrower tyres mean that you have less contact with the road and so could skid more easily. A winter road bike<\/a> will be a better option than a performance summer road bike.<\/p> A gravel bike<\/a> is a great choice because you get a fast ride position, plus you can fit wider tyres and can also more easily take to off-road cut-throughs.<\/p> A mountain bike<\/a> may be the slowest option, but it will offer you loads of grip and usually suspension.<\/p> Electric bikes<\/a> are designed to be weatherproof, so even if it\u2019s wet and cold you can still ride them. However, there are a few things to bear in mind, if you\u2019re looking to commute by electric bike in winter.<\/p> As with a non-assisted bike, tyre grip will be lessened on wet roads, so ride cautiously. It takes more force to slow an electric bike down due to its greater mass, so allow plenty of stopping distance to avoid a skid. Some electric bike systems now include anti-lock braking to add an extra measure of safety.<\/p> The cautions above about salt and moisture also apply to electric bikes, so keep your bike clean to avoid corrosion. Keep electrical contacts moisture-free using a water-displacing spray.<\/p> It\u2019s also worth bearing in mind that batteries have lower capacity in cold weather, so your range<\/a> between charges may be reduced, particularly if your bike and battery live outdoors.<\/p> There are a few items that will make winter commuting more enjoyable and less stressful, which we\u2019ll outline below. If you need to cycle in snow or ice to get to work, we\u2019ve more advice on how to prepare your bike and how to ride in these tougher conditions.<\/p> Mudguards are vital if you\u2019re planning to commute through the winter, especially if you cycle in the clothes you plan to wear throughout the day.\u00a0<\/p> Fit a quality set and you\u2019ll keep much drier and more comfortable than if you\u2019re getting spray from the front wheel over your legs and from your back wheel over your tail.\u00a0<\/p> Hybrids and gravel bikes almost always provide bosses to fit full-length mudguards<\/a>. You can fit mudguards to many, but not all, road bikes too. The best mountain bike mudguards<\/a> typically clip on and offer less protection.\u00a0<\/p> It\u2019s worth equipping your bike with winter tyres<\/a> to increase reliability on a winter commute.\u00a0<\/p> There\u2019ll be more debris in the road, but winter tyres are more robust than summer tyres and so likely to fend flats off better. Running tyres tubeless<\/a>, if they and your wheel rims are tubeless-ready, will add some extra protection from a ride-stopping flat.<\/p> Wider tyres run at lower pressure<\/a> will increase grip and braking effectiveness on sometimes slippery road surfaces.<\/p> A winter commute will often mean riding to or from work in the dark, so it\u2019s vital to have a quality set of bike lights<\/a>. \u2018Be seen\u2019 lights for commuting on lit roads are inexpensive and even a light set for darker commutes can be very affordable.\u00a0<\/p> After dark, you\u2019ll need to use them by law<\/a> in most countries and it would be foolhardy to ride without lights, but it\u2019s worth using your lights even during the day to up your visibility. In the winter, the low sun can blind drivers and not everyone is careful to fully demist their windscreen, even though it\u2019s the law.\u00a0<\/p> A blinking light setting is usually easier for other road users to spot than a continuous light, but it can be worth using two lights, one blinking and one on a continuous setting, for extra safety at night.<\/p> Some road bike helmets<\/a> can be fitted with a rear light, while commuter bike helmets often feature in-built lights at the rear, front and sometimes the sides too.<\/p> Adding reflectors is useful. Pedal reflectors help draw attention to you as you ride. Spoke reflectors increase your side-on visibility, while some winter bike tyres include a reflective strip in their sidewalls. You can also get reflective strips to stick to your frame and reflective trouser clips.<\/p> Lubricate your chain<\/a> with wet lube or wax lube, which will stay on the chain better than a summer dry lube if you need to ride in the rain. It may attract dirt more easily than a dry lube, and so require more frequent cleaning of your chain though.<\/p> Make sure your bearings are well lubed too, to help prevent corrosion.<\/p> You will probably need to carry more with you to commute in the winter than in the summer. As well as a change of clothes, you may need spare footwear, waterproofs, extra layers, spare lights or batteries and a more comprehensive tool kit. If you\u2019re carrying electronics, you need to make sure they stay dry.<\/p> Although you can carry all this in a cycling backpack<\/a>, it might quickly become burdensome and uncomfortable and it can make it more difficult to look behind you. Thus a rack and panniers<\/a> or other type of cycling luggage<\/a> can be a better choice to carry your load.\u00a0<\/p> Winter is tough on bikes. Not only is your bike more likely to get wet when commuting in winter, it\u2019s less likely to dry out by itself. Drivetrains and chains in particular can rust, as can any ferrous metal parts, and alloy components can corrode.\u00a0<\/p> Plus, there\u2019s more gunk on the road to clog up derailleur gears and cables. The roads may be gritted if it\u2019s cold and the salt is very corrosive to bike parts. Both dirt and salt will accelerate wear on your gears and can damage bearings.<\/p>How should I dress for winter bike commuting?<\/h2>
Wet-weather kit<\/h3>
Cold-weather kit<\/h3>
![\"Castelli](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/11\/AM9A0833-2fce7e5.jpg\")
What type of bike is best for commuting in winter?<\/h2>
![\"Pack](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/12\/Trek-Dual-Sport-2-Equipped-Gen-5-01-a790ca6-1.png\")
Can I use an electric bike in winter?<\/h3>
![\"Electric](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2021\/06\/Electric-bike-20-85a3783.jpg\")
How do I winter-proof my bike?<\/h2>
Fit mudguards<\/h3>
![\"Brompton](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/10\/12-21-30SNY0024-ff13b10.jpg\")
Use robust tyres<\/h3>
![\"Vittoria](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/01\/Vittoria-Zaffiro-Pro-V-G2.0-01-2d27a83.jpg\")
Be seen<\/h3>
![\"Exposure](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/11\/Exposure-Lights-Boost-and-Boost-R-08-66c67fa.jpg\")
![\"Giro](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2022\/07\/Giroethosmipswr003-43811e6.jpg\")
Keep lubricated<\/h3>
![\"Applying](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2022\/08\/Chain-lube-on-bike-chain-5078259.jpg\")
Fit a rack<\/h3>
![\"Tailfin](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2023\/06\/DSC00527-20acfe0.jpg\")
How do I maintain my bike in winter?<\/h2>
![\"How](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2021\/10\/How_To_Jet_Wash-1-2eee601.jpg\")