Keeping Warm in Winter

When fall turns to winter, many cyclists, not wanting to cycle in the cold, put their bikes in the garage until spring. But cycling need not be just a seasonal activity. Here are a few tips on how to keep warm.



First off, remember that you will generate a fair amount of heat by exercising. When I was a kid, I had a morning paper route that I had to start before sunrise. I remember the chill I felt on winter mornings as I left the warmth of my house to walk in the cold, often the kind of cold that made the snow crunch and my nostrils stick together. But despite the cold, by the time I had finished my route, I often found myself undoing my coat to cool down. The same effect will occur when you cycle in the winter. Provided you are properly dressed and are exerting yourself, you will soon be warm enough.



On really cold days I make sure that under everything, I am wearing a T-shirt and long johns. You might not think that a mere T-shirt would make much of a difference, but having one more layer between you and the frigid air really helps to keep you warm. Above the T-shirt, wear a thicker shirt (made of flannel, say), a warm sweater and a winter coat. This should see you through even the coldest trip.



Wear thick socks. Winter-weight wool socks are a good option. With the wool socks, lightweight winter boots or even just hiking shoes should be enough to keep your feet warm. I definitely wouldn't recommend wearing large, heavy-duty winter boots, though. These boots make it very awkward to pedal.



Warm gloves are a must. Make sure the gloves you buy are wind-resistant and are rated for at least -10 degrees Celsius. You need not purchase expensive bike gloves, however. For years I wore a pair of thin gloves inside a larger pair of regular winter gloves. Even on a -15 degree day, my hands remained toasty warm. (Unfortunately, I lost those gloves on the subway...) And make sure your gloves aren't too snug; the air around your hands acts as insulation and will warm up.



(If your are biking year-round, you will probably also want a second, lighter-weight pair of gloves; I find that my hands get uncomfortably hot if I am wearing my heavy-duty gloves on days that aren't at least 5 degrees or colder.)



I wear a scarf, but in addition, I wear a thin Lycra tube around my neck. You will be able to find these tubes in most bike shops. They are great at keeping your neck warm and at keeping the wind from going down your coat. On colder days you can pull the tube up over your chin to keep the lower part of your head warm. And during cool fall days, it can be worn over your head to keep the wind from your ears.



Wear a toque! I find that a bike helmet provides a measure of warmth, and the combination of helmet and toque is usually enough to keep your head quite warm. Make sure the toque covers your ears.



All of this still leaves your face uncovered, but I find that having my face get a bit cold generally isn't a problem if the rest of my body is warm. Some cyclists wear a balaclava, though.