- How to wear a bicycle in winter?
- Cycling - why is it worth riding a two-wheeler?
- Winter cycling tires
- Cycling technique in winter
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Cycling in winter is an activity that a few decide to do - most of them, fearing too low temperatures and unfavorable road conditions, give up cycling in winter. However, all you need is the right tires, warm outfit and knowledge of snow riding techniques to reap the benefits of cycling on colder days. Read on for tips on how to prepare for winter cycling.
Is cycling in winter he althy? Yes, but there are some important rules to follow. Cycling in winter does not have to be a challenge - you just need to prepare for it properly. You will need appropriate clothing, tires and knowledge of a few basic technical rules.
Contents:
- How to wear a bicycle in winter?
- Winter cycling tires
- Cycling technique in winter
How to wear a bicycle in winter?
An important factor in stopping cyclists from continuing their bike ride on colder days is the fear of being cold. However, properly selected winter cycling outfit will significantly improve its comfort. What do you need to remember when completing it?
1. Put on the onion skin:thanks to several layers of clothes you won't be too cold or too warm; if you get hot - you can quickly and easily remove the outer - protective layer.
2. The number of layers of clothing depends on the weather and how cold you feel:
- base layer - adheres to the skin, should be breathable and wick away moisture;
- insulating layer - apart from breathability, it also insulates;
- protective layer - breathes and protects against unfavorable weather conditions: rain, snow, wind.
If the winter is mild and the temperature remains above zero - the first two layers are enough. Usually, however, this time of year requires all three layers of clothes to be put on.
3. Choose clothes made of breathable materials:if one of the layers does not have quick-drying and breathable properties, the whole idea of wearing layered clothes will be wasted, because we will be soaked and cold. When cycling in winter, it is better to avoid clothes made of natural materials, e.g. cotton, because they dry slowly and this way you can chillyour body. However, the following synthetics will work: polyester, elastin, polyethylene and polypropylene.
4. In a winter outfit from the waist down, thermo-active underwear is the basis.As for the pants, they should be windproof and waterproof. It is also good to have a high waist that will protect us when we lean forward more. You can use different combinations: choose thermo-active leggings and put on pants or just one pair of thermal pants, narrowed at the bottom.
5. Remember to protect your head from the cold -a hat is a must! It's good if we choose not an ordinary hat, but a balaclava, or a cap with a buff scarf or mask. In this way, we will also cover the face. The headgear materials should be synthetic. A practical solution is a waterproof membrane.
6. Choose the right gloves:should be long so that they can easily fit under the jacket, the waterproof and impermeable function will also be useful. Thanks to the gel inserts, it will be more comfortable to hold the steering wheel, we will relieve our hands and protect them from numbness.
7. An important element of the outfit for winter cycling are shoeswith a waterproof and windproof membrane on a high upper. If you plan to buy shoes especially for this time of year, choose larger ones than usual - a thick sock must fit them easily, otherwise there may be problems with the free flow of blood, which will make you even colder. The socks should be longer to protect the leg also above the ankle, but the foot should feel comfortable in them. Choose a model that wicks sweat away, e.g. made of Coolmax material.
Cycling - why is it worth riding a two-wheeler?
Winter cycling tires
When we think about winter driving, one of the first things that comes to our mind is tire replacement. And how is it with bicycles: will I have to buy winter tires?
It seems that most people, even in winter, usesemi-slick tires , which they use at every other time of the year. It does not have to mean a bad decision, because winter in Poland usually attacks most strongly within a dozen or so days a year, and a large part of us live in places where roads and pavements are cleared of snow and sprinkled with s alt. On the other hand, snow does not always have to mean a big danger - stuck to the tire will increase friction and, at the same time, adhesion to the ground.
To improve the grip of normal tires, pleaselower the pressure in them. On the other hand, be careful that the pressure is not too little, because then their rolling resistance will increase.
However, if we are going to move in fossil snow, not packed snow (such as can be found in the city), it is worth investing inoff-road tireswider than semi-slicks, and thus - better adhesion to the substrate. Thanks to them, it is easier to pass through a thick layer of snow.
Thestudded tiresare also very popular among winter cyclists and perform well even in the toughest driving conditions. Since they offer more resistance than regular tires, they significantly improve traction on ice and on solid snow. Studded tires are more expensive than regular tires (they cost from PLN 100), and the most popular manufacturers are the German brand Schwalbe and the Finnish company Nokian.
This will be useful to you
What is worth remembering when cycling in winter?
- before each trip, put a thick layer of greasy cream on your face, e.g. with vitamin A;
- invest in fenders, thanks to which you will protect your clothes from getting wet;
- take care of proper lighting and remember about the front or rear lamp;
- if you store your bike in an unheated room, remove the meter and the lamp at night to save batteries that have a shorter life in winter;
- lubricate the bicycle chain more often than on warmer days and with thicker lubricants;
- s alt that is sprinkled on the streets has a destructive effect on bicycle components, so after a winter ride it is good to wash the bike with warm water and leave it in a heated room until it dries up.
Cycling technique in winter
1.The first rule of cycling in winter is obvious - you need: high concentration, reflexes and balance, as overcoming snow-covered, and even more icy routes is more difficult than traversing dry asph alt roads every day. Always use higher gears each time you start and accelerate to minimize the risk of losing traction.
6 balance exercises
2.A very difficult situation is the skidding of the front wheel, which (almost) every time in winter conditions ends in a more or less spectacular fall. However, if the skid affects the rear wheel, it is worth supporting yourself on one - preferably straightened - leg. This additional point of attachment can prevent us from tipping over. Lowering the saddle can protect us from falling over on the bike - thanks to this, the middleThe weight of the bike is also lowered, and we maintain greater stability on ice.
3.Cycling in winter is troublesome, especially in the context of braking. Suddenly pressing the brake and locking the wheel can cause you to fall faster. Brakes in winter are much worse than in other seasons, so instead of braking, it is better to slow down, and if you brake - it is safer with the rear brake or the rear and front brake. Using only the front one can bring us closer to the "soil" faster.
Read also: Exercises for the feeling of heavy legs: winter training
4.Few of us drive on ice in winter, but if we find ourselves on an icy street or a puddle, the safest way is to go straight through it, without turning. On the other hand, crossing curbs and various types of ruts should take place at an angle close to 90 ° - an acute angle increases the likelihood of skidding.
5.The bends are a big challenge on a snowy or icy surface - we enter them slowly (in winter we go slower at all, even if we do not want to, it is forced on us by the conditions), without tilting the bike and making the largest possible arc, slightly turning the steering wheel.
6.Raising the steering wheel to the maximum height will allow you to maintain an upright posture, making it easier to balance.
