Dressing for Winter Riding

Dressing for Winter Riding

by Twisted Spoke and Jacob Yetiman

Publication Date: January 1999

Well trail heads, winter is upon us and with winter comes cold weather riding. Mountain biking in the cold and snow can be fun with the right clothing and preparation. We as riders or racers should remember the most important thing is to dress appropriately.

Clothing such as Polypropylene, Thermax, Fleece, Goretex, capilene or plain old nylon, wool, lycra and polyester (stay away from cotton) work very well in cool to cold weather. These fabrics retain warmth even when wet and the higher tech ones will wick away perspiration.

Remember, cotton kills! It is not the fabric of our mountain biking lives. When wet, it is useless. Cotton does not allow your skin to breathe and it holds perspiration. Always look for clothing that states on the tag -Wicks Away Perspiration.

Along with your local bike shop, any outdoor store will carry a wide range of winter outdoor clothing. You can always find bargains at discount stores on cheaper man-made fabrics that will keep you warm. Also dress in layers! Start with a base layer like polypropylene. You will want this layer to fit tight. Next you can go with tights (lycra) for your lower body. Next you will want a long sleeve jersey for your upper body (medium weight). You may then want to add a fleece vest, as your chest will get colder than your arms. A vest allows better air circulation after you have two layers of sleeves.

Cold feet? Install a shoe liner - neoprene or Goretex socks inside your shoes. Multi layers of socks are fine so long as they are not too tight and allow plenty of circulation. However, never try to wear two or three pairs of socks and try to cram them into shoes that only fit with one pair of socks. This will actually hurt rather than help. Your feet need to be able to move around in your shoes in order to stay warm. Keep a pair of standard platform pedals in your vehicle in case you forget your cleated shoes or when you find clipless pedals freezing up.

Use chap stick for lips and petroleum jelly for cheeks and nose. This helps prevent dried, chapped skin and heat loss. Wear helmet liners, balaclava, ear bands, neck gaiters, or ski masks to insulate your head and neck. A cheap dust mask can cut the wind to your nose. Bring a hand warmer, either the chemical type that can last up to two hours, or the lighter fluid type that can last for over twelve hours. These are nice to have to warm your hands up after a winter mechanical.

For your hands, there are many styles of gloves. It's hard to layer your hands, so I suggest a light to medium weight pair of gloves from October to November. The remainder of the season you may want to use a heavy pair of gloves made with Goretex, fleece lining or neoprene. Take a look at your local bike shop. They have a variety of styles and can make suggestions beneficial to your local area.

Be prepared for the wrath of Mother Nature. Avoid trails with long road rides to the next trailhead. Normal minor problems become big ones in wintertime conditions. Check weather reports, radar, and watch the sky closely. Tell someone where you are going and your anticipated time of return. Your vehicle should contain all those items you cannot carry with you conveniently: blanket or sleeping bag, extra water, medical kit, food/snacks, change of clothes and cellular phone if possible.

Winter riding can be fun - it is a different experience. Remember to be safe and dress in layers. One other tip...try putting warm water in your water bottle. This will help keep you warm as your day of riding gets long.

Ride on in spite of Mother Nature and have fun this winter!