Winter Training

Two simple methods to make cold weather winter training easy

What do you do to cope with the cold weather for your winter training rides if you live in the UK or Ireland? Which cycling clothing should you wear and is it enough? How do you plan for your long rides?

The key answer to all of these questions is to keep it very simple and be prepared from the night before.

Bike kit for winter training

Shoes, socks, overshoes, good quality bib shorts, leggings or tights, one or two base layers, jersey, jacket, gloves, hat, helmet, plus have mudguards and lights. Last piece of the winter cycling kit is your rain cape. Never leave home without one during the winter months. They protect you from the rain but also if the temperature drops can be used as an extra layer to keep warm.

Planning for winter training

The night before your weekly long ride you should check the weather forecast online or on an app. First check is the temperature to help guide you with the number of layers you will need to wear. Next and the most important is to check the wind speed and calculate the wind chill factor, as the cold winter wind drives down the temperature. If the numbers don’t add up safely and are too cold, then stay safe and do a turbo session.

Everyone has heard the saying, “its better to be safe than sorry”, and these words should be remembered by all sportive riders. Consider, are you are paid to ride your bike? Are you under time pressure to be fit for the start of the racing season? Do you have a family to look after? Do you have a job to go to on Monday morning? Broken bones and hospital trips following meeting a car head on over a patch of black ice is not an experience you want to go through. Trust me…………..

Winter training cycling accident

Car 1, Bike 0, Rider -1

Stay safe. Stay warm out there this winter season and enjoy the winter miles. They can be the most fun when done with groups of equal ability.

Peter James Tompkins
Cycling Page
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