Bike Archives - Page 2 of 2

Cycling in the winter is very challenging, especially for riders who are riding in winter for the first time. In fact, there are a lot of benefits of riding in winter such as, it helps you improve your physical fitness and also helps alleviate bad emotions and depression. It can also help you increase your motivation. However, there are some things you need to know before you start and so I have written you this guide that shows you step by step all the things you need to know and do before you start to ride in winter. In this guide I address the following… Is cycling in winter dangerous? What are the risks of cycling in winter? What should you wear for cycling in the winter? How to prepare your bike for the winter season Tips for bike winter riding (that help you stay safe) Is cycling in winter dangerous? Cycling in winter can certainly be dangerous and it all depends on how cold and rainy the weather is. For example, if it is a bit chilly and rainy it’s not as dangerous for you however, riding in very wet and cold weather can be very dangerous because you can get frostbite or get ill. It all depends on the weather and how you feel. If you think the weather is not dangerous and it’s safe to ride then no problem. Even I personally keep riding in rainy weather and nothing happens to me. For you to know if it is safe to ride outside in the winter there are a few risks and things you need to know, so keep reading to know them. What are the risks of cycling in winter? Frostbite – Riding bicycles in very cold weather can cause very severe cold burns. I personally will not forget the first time I went out to ride in cold weather without suitable clothes and how cold it was for me. Therefore, it is very important that you wear clothes that are designed for cold weather such as a coat, water-resistant socks, gloves and other equipment that I show you later in this post. Wet and slippery roads – Riding in the winter is more dangerous than riding in the summer because the roads are very slippery therefore, you have to be very careful and not ride at high speed. Also, I highly recommend that you replace the tires of your bike with a pair of Gator skins, which will help you get more control of your bike and also lower your chances of slipping on a wet road. Rust – Rust is another risk that can destroy the metal parts in your bike and so I highly recommend you smear Prevents rust on the metal parts so that they won’t become rusty. I personally use this Prevents rust which is, in my opinion, the best there is. I was in shocked to see the cheap price that it is sold for on Amazon - click here to view. Mud – Mud is what I think is most annoying when riding in the winter and the problem with mud is that it sticks to the wheels which can slow you down, even to the point where you won’t be able to ride. Therefore, it is best that you try to avoid riding through any mud if possible. What should you wear for cycling in the winter? Gloves Coat (layers) Waterproof socks Glasses Pants Helmet Neck cap cover Shoes You will have to be dressed appropriately for the cold weather or when it rains so that you do not suffer from frostbite or the cold while riding and believe me, you don’t want this, and I’m saying that from personal experience. Dressing suitably for winter riding should involve clothing that covers you from head to foot. Here are all the things you need to wear before every winter ride Gloves You need to make sure that the gloves you buy are thick enough to keep your hands warm, especially your fingers. The materials recommended for gloves are cotton or thick fabric but I think that thermal gloves are the best you can get. I personally use these gloves that are extremely warm and perfectly designed for cold weather. They are now sold on Amazon for a very cheap price. Click here to view. Also, I recommend you read the complete guide I wrote in which I show you more details about which gloves are the best you can find - click here to view. Coat (layers) Wearing a good coat is certainly a very important thing to ensure you don’t get cold when riding. It is important to make sure that the jacket is durable and keeps you warm. I personally would highly recommend getting a jacket that has cotton on the inside and to make sure that it is waterproof. However, just a coat will not be enough in very cold weather and because of this you will need to wear between 3 and 4 layers to ensure that you do not get cold. Waterproof socks Make sure that your socks are waterproof and are made of warm materials like wool or Merino wool. It’s very important to make sure your socks are made of good materials because your feet are very sensitive to cold. If you want to see good socks I highly recommend you check out the guide I have on the site that shows you what to look for in a good sock and the best socks you can find on the market - click here to view. Glasses The role of your glasses is to protect your eyes from rain and mud and also to allow you to better see the way you’re going. I personally recommend you use sunglasses or sports glasses to protect your eyes. It’s also important to ensure that the outer layer of the glasses is waterproof so that the water does not disturb you while riding and also make sure there are ventilation vents so that the lenses don’t steam up. Pants Pants are a very important thing that a lot of riders don’t think about. In general, you can wear regular pants if you ride for short distances and the weather is not too cold but on the other hand, if you ride long distances and in very cold weather you will definitely need good pants that are water and cold resistant. I personally use these pants and I highly recommend you check them out on Amazon. Click here to view. Helmet In most cases, the helmet that you use in summer will not be suitable enough for cold and rainy weather therefore, it is important that you buy a helmet that is water and cold resistant because your head is the fastest way you lose heat. I highly recommend you go check out the guide I wrote that will show you the best helmets on the market - click here to view. Also, if you don’t want to buy a new helmet you can put a sock cap on or anything else to warm your head. Neck cap cover The neck cap cover has 2 main roles: The first is to protect and keep your neck warm from the coldThe second role of the neck cover is to protect your throat so that if you are a singer you don’t hurt your voice It is very important to make sure that your neck cap is made from warm fabrics or cotton so that it will warm your neck perfectly. A neck cover can cost a few dollars and you can find lots on Amazon at a good price. Shoes I do not recommend you ride with your regular shoes when it’s raining because it is very uncomfortable and makes your feet slip off the pedals very easily which is very annoying. Instead, I recommend you buy rain-adapted shoes such as rain boots which will help you. On the other hand, if you do not want to buy new boots you can put on your regular sports shoes with a special cloth that will protect them from water. A lot of riders don’t know if they’re going to want to invest the money in dressing for biking in the winter so it all depends where you live. For example, if you live in a country where there is no rain for most of the year I would recommend that you spend less money on clothing for the winter, however, if you live in a country that has a lot of rain and proper winters I highly recommend that you invest in winter gear. Clothing for winter cycling will cost you between $150 to $1,000, it all depends on your budget. How to prepare your bike for the winter season https://youtu.be/16db6KRBUwg You will have to make your bike suitable for winter riding so as not to damage them and there are 8 things you need to do: 1 Lubricate your bike – Oiling the parts on your bike is certainly a very important thing to help save them. To properly lubricate your bike you should first remove the clamps, after that you can start spraying the oil on the parts of the bike you wish to. I personally recommend you to oil the bicycle with WD40 and Frame Saver that works excellently. 2 Add mud guards - Mud guards are in my opinion the most important thing you need to put on your bike, especially if you know you are going to ride in a place that has mud. Believe me, it is so worth it because not only will it prevent mud from sticking to your bike, it will also extend your bike life and your chain. I would also highly recommend you put mud guards on your shoes so that you avoid getting mud stuck to them, which also will improve your comfort when riding. 3 Protect leather parts - Protecting any leather on your bike is super important and it surprised me how many riders don’t do this. In fact, the leather parts of your bike are super-sensitive to water and because of this you need to take precautions. First of all, clean the leather parts, especially if you have a leather saddle. To clean them is not complicated; just use a brush, rag, and detergent. When the leather parts on your bike are perfectly clean you can start applying a substantial coating to protect them. if you want to use materials that help you protect the leather, there are many great materials that you can buy on Amazon at very cheap prices. 4 Sealed cables – Sealing the cabling of your bike is something that I think you should do all the time however, sealing your cabling during the winter months is even more important to keep your shifting smooth. To seal the capacitors is very easy, just seal them with the end caps and make sure they fit the length of the cables. 5 Use wax – The role of waxing is to protect your bike and also make it look bright. I personally always use wax on my bike. I personally recommend you use car wax because it repels mud perfectly and also makes your bike shiny. 6 Use stainless steel – Using stainless steel is definitely very effective in winter and the best thing is that it is perfectly resistant to rust however, it is a little expensive, so it’s only suitable for those who have the budget but believe me, it’s worth it. If you don’t have the budget for stainless steel you can simply spray rust prevents on the bike which is also very effective against rust. 7 Clean your bike – Cleaning your bike is much more important in the winter months than in the summer months because your bike gets far dirtier, especially when you ride on mud. Cleaning your bike is not a tricky thing and I personally clean my bike after each ride. To clean them all you need is a bucket of water and cleaning supplies and you are ready to go. 8 Buy winter bikes– The difference between winter bikes and regular bikes is that winter bikes are designed for winter riding, which means most of their parts are rust-resistant and therefore suitable for riding in rain or even mud. Winter bikes are not something that everyone needs, it all depends on your personal needs and your budget. If you live in a country that has a lot of rain and you have the budget, then buying winter bikes can be a great option for you. However, I do not recommend you buy a winter bike if you live in a country that does not have much rain and especially if you do not have the budget to invest. Tips for winter riding to help you stay safe Be visible It’s super important to make sure that you are highly visible to other drivers while riding, especially in winter. In fact, drivers do not expect to see cyclists on the roads which makes them much less alert and more of a danger to you therefore, you will have to make sure that you’re visible by wearing light-colored clothing and making sure that they reflect light, especially in the dark. Also, make sure the headlights work well so that there aren’t any problems because flashlight riding can be very dangerous at night. Ride with friends The biggest advantage of riding with friends in winter is if someone is not wearing suitable clothes that are fit for winter riding then their friends can help them. Another advantage is that it is much easier to see several riders in a group, which makes you more visible to other road users. Also, riding with friends is much more fun in my opinion and I highly recommend it to anyone who has not tried it yet. Make sure your water is warm Leaving your water bottle for a few minutes in cold weather can make it very cold which is not good for drinking because drinking cold water lowers your body temperature. Therefore, keeping your bottle in a warm place like in your back pocket or bag can be a great option to keep the water warm. Also, I highly recommend bringing a hot drink like coffee or even hot soup to help you warm up. Try not to do stunts with your bike I am not against bike stunts because it is very fun, but in winter it is very dangerous because your body gets cold which makes it harder for you to do stunts. The more moisture on your hands, the more dangerous it becomes. And I speak from experience. Even you will feel that in winter it is harder to do stunts and that they endanger you more. However, if you are wearing very high-quality equipment and you feel that you are warm enough to try doing stunts then go ahead. To allow you to do stunts you have to consider that you will need a lot of money for winter equipment. Slow down Riding at slower speeds will undoubtedly help you because in the winter the roads are very wet and smooth, which increases your chances of having an accident and slipping off your bike. It is very important that you do not cut corners too sharply or quickly so that you don’t fall. On the other hand, if it does not rain and the roads are not wet, then it is okay to ride a little faster. Do a winter riding course If you are a professional rider who competes in competitions, doing a winter riding course will definitely be a great option because riding varies greatly in summer and winter. If you are a professional rider I would even recommend you train with a private trainer to help you ride better and more safely in the winter. https://youtu.be/IDsqSzzdLwQ Summary To summarize, in this guide I showed you all the steps you need to follow to get ready for winter riding. It is also very important to know that this guide can be used for all types of mountain bikes and road bikes. Thanks for your riding. Until next time.