6 rules for winter cycling - how to ride in winter?

How to ride a bicycle in winter? What are the precautions to take? What skills can be learned?

Answered by the winner of the longest modern road cycling race.

With the arrival of winter, many summer activities become unavailable and it is common to put them off until warmer times. This is certainly true, but let’s not jump to conclusions. The life of big cities is developing so rapidly that it is impossible to keep up with it.

The authorities of megacities are trying to make it so that residents can get to work, places of social necessity and entertainment without much difficulty. For this there are many solutions, and one of them is a bicycle.

Зміст

What do you need to know before riding in the winter?

You’re going to say, “Nah, you guys are jokers. Have you seen Europe? And winter there? And ours? Well, that’s it. Use your head when you write.” Yes, you are absolutely right. But let me tell you that in Russia it is not all that bad. In winter you can roll your iron pony out of the stall and take it on the road, but of course there are nuances. We tell you.

cycling coach, 5-time Russian Champion, winner of the Red Bull Trans Siberian Extreme Race.

Tells how to ride a bike in the cold.

To begin with, it is necessary to ride in comfortable conditions. This can be up to -5 degrees. If the temperatures are lower, it is better to find an alternative to the street and use a bike trainer or visit a track.

The main thing is to learn how to feel the bike and try not to lose this skill. As a rule, riding on snow-covered and slippery paths, you start to train coordination and balance, you train muscle groups that in summer you use the least. This will allow you to control your bike better in the summer and use less energy.

There are not as many difficulties in winter riding as it may seem. The main thing is that you need to understand first of all, what kind of route. If you get on a heavily snowed or icy route, then you will simply have to walk.

Dedicated bike or Stork from the balcony?

For a beginner, a mountain bike with wide tires with spikes is ideal. Gradually improving your skills, you can use tires without spikes or so-called gravel/cyclocross bikes. Road bikes should be excluded, as the thin tires will not allow you to ride on snow or ice.

Where to ride in winter?

The park. This is an ideal place. Firstly, the paths are cleaned, secondly, they are little blown and it is comfortable to ride on them.

You can also go to the city in winter, but in this case you will definitely need a helmet, flashing lights and reflective elements on your clothes (ed.).

What to wear?

Clothing should be chosen in such a way that, as I call it, “you don’t sweat and you don’t freeze”. There are specialized stores that can pick up everything you need. In any case, it should be breathable clothing, so that there is no greenhouse effect inside. If there are forced stops, you will not freeze.

Problems can arise if you do not calculate your strength and capabilities correctly. Exercising too long in winter can lead to frostbite, dehydration and exhaustion. So start small, with short training sessions where you can decide on clothing, load and your riding level.