Winter Cycling Guide
General Bike Tips
- Got a fancy road or mountain bike? Consider a dedicated winter bike as the elements can be hard on your bike.
- Switch to a wet or winter lube to protect your chain.
- Add some fenders to protect you from snow or salt spray.
- Lights front and back for visibility and safety.
Fat Bikes
A fat bike is not necessary to winter riding but it is often the best option. The wide tires can run very low pressures for maximum traction and stability on snow and ice.
Studded Tires
Knobby tires work well in moderate conditions, but as it gets icy nothing beats a good pair of studded tires. You can get studded tires for fatbikes, mountain, hybrid, gravel, and even smaller 24" inch wheeled bikes.
Bar Mitts and Gloves
When the weather turns cold, insulated gloves with split finger or lobster design keep the hands warm.
The ultimate cold weather hand accessory for your bike are Bar Mitts which act as sleeping bags for your hands. They allow you to wear a lighter glove with more dexterity for the controls.
Lights and Fenders
Winter is dark so lights are a must. We recommend going with a higher power (500+ lumen) light that you run on a lower setting because batteries don't last as long in the cold.
Clip-on fenders or full coverage fenders are great for winter to keep you clean of snow or spray.
Headwear
Head gear progresses from headbands to keep the ears warm in mild weather, a beanie under the helmet for warmth and ear protection, to a balaclava for the coldest conditions to protect neck face and ears.
Our Youtube Channel
We are on Youtube and have a variety of bike product, maintenance and knowledge videos posted. It is a great mix of knowledge and fun. We think it is definitely worth a little of your time to join our legions of subscribers. If we get enough, we can quit the day job!