Conquer the cold on your bicycle
It’s going to take a while before winter is here, but you can never be early enough with preparations! We would love to help you with a complete list with necessities to survive the winter on your bike, because the real bike lovers endure the cold and keep going all year.
See and be seen
The days are getting shorter and that means there is less time to ride in daylight. Even throughout the day it can be dark outside. Make sure to always use the lights on your bike during those days! Apart from good lighting we recommend wearing reflective clothing. This way people can easily see you and make sure you can enjoy a safe bike trip!
Key components for your bicycle
Except for good clothing, there are components you can install on your bike to make your trip a bit more comfortable. An example of this is a slashback. D=The roads are often wet and muddy in the winter, and the splashback makes sure that your clothes don’t get dirty and wet fro the spray that comes off your wheels. The wetness of the road often makes it slippery as well. A good solution to this is studded tires or 4-season tires to give you grip!
Layers are your best friend
Being over or underheated on your bike is the last thing you want. The solution: layers! Un the winter it can rain, there can be strong wind, or it can be very cold. For every weather condition, there are different types of clothes to keep you warm. If its pouring rain, you will need waterproof clothes. When it’s snowing it’s better to grab your winter clothing out of your closet, and it’s important that your limbs get properly warmed by using extra arm warmers, gloves and ‘socks’ for over your shoes. If the winter wind has arrived, grab your windproof biking clothes to prevent undercooling.
Upkeep of your bike
During the winter days there’s lots of salt being spread on the roads. This can end up in your bike parts. Your bike also must deal with more water which can cause sped up rusting and damage. Don’t be afraid, a full cleansing isn’t necessary! Make sure that you rinse your bicycle after every ride. The golden tip: WD-40 on your frame before every ride assures that caked on mud and dirt is easier to remove after!
Last resort
If the weather conditions simply don’t allow you to take a trip, but you’re dedicated, there is a last resort: an indoor cycle! By purchasing a cycle trainer, you can go for a ride any time you want. To make it extra fun: attach your bike to your television and have a visually sunny ride.
Biking in the winter with pleasure
SunRace helps you get the best parts for your bike to get through the winter. For questions about there parts or advice, don’t hesitate to contact us. Get SunRace!
