9 Tips for Winter Cycling

"It's too cold", "It's too dark". We're all guilty of finding excuses to store the bike away for the entirety of winter! Then, come Feb/March, we regret the excessive Christmas indulgence and our newfound lack of fitness!

We'd be lying if we said it was easy to keep riding through winter. It isn't. But, we can assure you, it'll pay dividends when it comes to your performance in races and sportives come the start of the season!

Motivation and some extra layers definitely tend to help, but we've pulled together nine top winter cycling tips to help bring some enjoyment to your rides through those cold winter months.

It probably goes without saying, but riding your best bike through the winter months probably isn't the best idea. Riding a dedicated winter bike will not only protect your Sunday best bike from the wintry road conditions (think salt, water and grime), but also keeps you comfortable and allows you to achieve a set up that's tailored to the winter conditions.

It might just be the North Western weather, but Ribble has established a reputation for producing the perfect winter bike. The ubiquitous 7005 Audax, seen in cycling clubs up and down the country during winter social rides, is proof of this. We've continued to build on that tradition, ensuring that almost every model in our current bike range offers all-weather versatility, whether this is integrated mudguard mounts or adaptors.

CGR Bikes for All-Round Performance

The Ribble CGR (cross, gravel, road) range's generous 45 mm tyre clearance, mudguard, pannier mounts and disc brakes make them the ideal sure-footed winter workhorse. Whether you're using your bike to commute or hitting the gravel, as our ultimate all-rounder - the CGR range has you covered. CGR models are also available in a choice of frame materials, each offering something a little different in terms of speed, agility, weight and ride quality.

Endurance Bikes for Winter Training

The Ribble Endurance AL is probably the natural successor to our iconic Winter Audax. With trickle-down aero features from the Ribble Endurance SL, the AL features all the latest tech of our top-tier carbon road bikes in an entry-level alloy package. With an all-day endurance geometry, disc brakes and increased 32 mm tyre clearance (dependent upon tyre manufacturer, tread and profile), it's versatility extends to a comfortable race bike, winter trainer or daily commuter.

Ribble Endurance 725 for Retro Style, But Modern Performance

Or there's the Endurance 725 Disc steel road bike, which blends the traditional looks of a Reynolds steel frame with contemporary geometry and design features. Featuring up to 32mm tyre clearance, disc braking and mudguard compatibility, it's the ideal all-season road bike for riders seeking retro styling combined with contemporary performance and versatility.

All-Season Capable Allroad Bikes

The Allroad SL delivers all of the benefits of carbon fibre performance, making it more accessible than ever. Its full carbon frame is lightweight and rides comfortably and quickly. Additional clearance for 35 mm tyres and mudguard compatibility ensure this bike is perfect for winter training or cycle commuting.

It's all well and good having the right bike, but that means little when you’re slipping and sliding about on slick racing tyres. Having the right winter tyres on your bike means improved grip on slippery surfaces and fewer chances of having to repair a puncture in the cold and wet weather. Outfit your bike with puncture-resistant tyres and run them at lower than normal pressures in winter to generate more traction on greasy roads.

In the UK, we rarely see dry weather, especially during winter. Mudguards make rides in wet and muddy conditions pleasurable rather than painful. They help you stay cleaner and drier while preventing surface water and debris from collecting on you and your bike, clogging your components, and weighing you down.

Should your frame have adequate clearance and mounting points, full wrap-around mudguards can be used. Whereas, if you own a race bike that lacks these features, clip-on mudguards can be used.

When the temperature drops close to freezing, consider changing up your training plan to accommodate harder rides. Cycling workouts like tempo, threshold and interval rides are great for increasing the intensity of your sessions.

One of the by-products of physical exertion is heat, so increasing the intensity of your ride will increase your core body temperature and make the ride more bearable. It will also reduce the overall time spent on the bike, but you’ll get in a fantastic workout.

A heart rate monitor and cycling computer are a great way to track the effort you’re putting into the ride. We have a great range of cycling computers and accessories that can make all the difference when getting your winter training right.

One of the girls in the office lives at the top of a hill, and her ride always starts with a short but sharp descent. “You’re freezing before you have even started,” she remarks.

Still, it raises an interesting point—when it’s already cold outside, the last thing you want to do is get even colder by rolling down the road without exerting any effort into a cold, bone-chilling wind, especially after a hot and sweaty five-minute climb.

Mapping your ride out and uploading it to a good cycling GPS will help you plan rides that stick to flat roads. Also, consider riding local loops closer to home in case the weather does turn and you end up needing to quit the ride earlier than anticipated.

You rarely see serious cyclists wearing bulky jackets while riding their bikes. Instead, they prefer to layer up using various clothing such as arm/knee/leg warmers, gilets, lightweight waterproof capes, etc.

The overall goal of layering is to trap a pocket of air (insulation) between each layer of clothing before finalising your fetching ensemble with either a windproof or waterproof layer to regulate your body temperature whilst keeping you dry at the same time.

Base layers (vests) are designed to start this process. A base layer is designed to sit against the skin. It must trap a small pocket of air between your skin and the garment to keep you warm while wicking away moisture to prevent you from getting cold and damp.

Mid-layers are worn over the top of the vest. They trap an additional layer of warm air between the base and mid layers and must be breathable. Sometimes, a good mid-layer, like a soft shell or thermal jersey, will be your final outer layer, especially in milder conditions.

Outer layers in cycling are usually windproof and/or waterproof. A good waterproof jacket must be breathable, waterproof and windproof, protecting you from the rain and wind and keeping you warm and dry.

Cold hands and feet are probably the most frustrating part of being cold. Nothing feels quite as bad as the extemities, when they are so cold they hurt. However, with the right gloves, overshoes, shoes, and socks, it can be quite easy to overcome.

Gloves - As with clothing, warm hands rely on a combination of technical features. A good winter glove must keep the wind out and have a thermal inner to retain the heat.

Overshoes - An item of clothing limited to the cycling fraternity, the overshoe or over sock is an additional layer of fabric that sits over your cycling shoes. Put simply, they are ana absolute necessity for winter cycling comfort.

Cyclists and coffee go together like wine and cheese or chips and gravy (we're northern, so gravy is a staple!). We can't help but naturally migrate to a good coffee shop during long and lonely winter rides. Sometimes, the only way to stay upright and #keeppedalling is to stop and warm up with a hot drink and a slice of cake (the latter is non-negotiable - cyclists love cake!). However, it's essential you stay warm, so consider taking an extra base layer in a waterproof bag stashed in a jersey pocket to change into.

Above Image: Ok, so it turns out we don't have any shots of cyclists reviving themselves in a coffee shop. So, you'll just have use your imagination and pretend this Allroad SL R bike is pictured in a British winter, not an Andorran summer! 😁

Winter is dark. The clocks have gone back, and having bike lights to see and be seen is absolutely essential.

There is also a legal requirement to ride with both a white front light and a red rear light. Always ride with lights and have a spare with you, just in case.

Want more of the same? Ribble head of design and ex-professional racer Jamie Burrow shares his top winter riding hacks.

Are you looking for a new bike but unsure what you need? Our ultimate bike-buying guide (https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/blog/the-ultimate-bike-buying-guide/ ) will help you find your perfect bike. Whether you want a gravel bike for rugged getaways or an electric bike to help you maintain fitness or extend your rides, we have what you need.