Cold Weather Cycling

I mentioned in my last post that the weather was too cold for doing much cycling. Actually, by this I meant that it was too cold to cycle more than about 20 miles or so. It is actually very enjoyable to cycle in 30 and 40 degree weather as long as certain conditions are met. In fact, I "enjoyed" 10 miles on the MoPac last Sunday afternoon in 37 degree temperatures. Here are some suggestions to help you enjoy cold weather cycling.

1. Temperature vs. time. Most of us can cycle a couple hours or more in 60 and 70 degree weather. When the temperature dips down in the 30's and 40's, the longer you stay out, the more you get chilled. Limit the time duration of your trip based on how cold it is. My rule of thumb is 30-45 minutes for the 30's, 45-60 minutes for the 40's, and 60-90 minutes for the 50's.

2. Wind chill. We all know what wind chill is. If the wind is 10 mph or less, no problem. For winds of 10-15 mph and temps below 50, cut the times above in half. With winds 20 mph or more and temps below 50, stay home or go to the gym.

3. Dress to stay warm and dry. Here is an excellent web site that talks about what clothing to wear for cold weather cycling: http://www.toronto.ca/bug/cwc_warmdry.htm For temps in the 30's and 40's, I usually wear both cycling shorts with cycling tights on top. This gives you an extra layer of protection plus it keeps your lower back warm if the tights slip down when riding. You could also wear tights plus wind/rain pants for similar protection. I would also recommend 2 layers of socks. Remove the shoe insole or loosen the laces or velcro if too tight. For 30 degree temps or long rides, place a small plastic bag over your toes before placing them in your shoe. Protection of extremities is very important. For your upper body, I would recommend a long-sleeved T-shirt or 2 under a good windbreaker or nylon cycling jacket. The important thing here is to keep the wind from penetrating. Full-fingered gloves are a must for 30's and 40's. For lower 30 degree temps, I would even recommend heavier insulated gloves. Behind the head earmuffs are good for 30's and 40's. A nice wool cap under the helmet is also good for the 30's. A balaclava or something to cover your nose and chin is also recommended for the 30's.

4. Avoid riding in deep snow or exposed ice. Unless you have a big-tired bike like a Pugsley, I would avoid riding in snow or on ice unless this is your normal commute to work. You don't know what obstacles are under the snow. The only good thing about snow is that it is usually soft to fall on.

Anyway, have fun cycling this winter!