Cold Weather riding Tips

Clothing
- dress in layers that you can add and remove as needed

suggested layers & options
- base layer tech tee shirt & jersey
- shorts with enough frontal protection from the cold
- arm warmers, leg warmers
- head band, also bring skull cap that covers ears as option
- base layer thin socks, smart wool type outer socks
- winter cycling shoes, or neoprene outer shoe booties
- glove liners, spring gloves (thicker than summer, but not as thick as winter)
- bring winter gloves as option if below 35
- wind breaker jacket
- vest with vented back

- use clear lenses on your riding glasses, tinted lenses tend make the trail harder to see because everything is already leafy brown

1 pair toe warmers that don't require air to activate (toastie toes brand...)
- these can be a real ride saver, I place on top of toes over base sock and under thick sock
1 pair of hand warmers
- place these on top of hand over base layer glove liner and under gloves

CamelBack or equivalent
- great to stow the gear you are not wearing
- does not freeze as quickly as bottles, but you need to drink often to keep hose from freezing, if it does stick it under you jersy and it will thaw

Bike and Gear
- now more than ever, keep your bike in good working order
- cary at least 1 tube, tire lever, patch kit, and a pump
(recently in the mountains I double pinch flatted and had 1 extra tube and had to patch the other, otherwise it would have been a cold 3 mile hike out)
- chain tool and quick link
- multi tool
- bring your cell phone, but dont count on it in the mountains (tell someone the route you are riding and when you should return)

Tips
- make sure to keep your core and your knees warm
- heavy gloves will soak quickly with sweat unless its real cold (~below 35) , instead, layer glove liners and spring gloves instead
- get dressed in your bike clothes before you leave the house
- vest and arm warmers give you a lot more options than a winbreaker over just a jersey
- you should be a little chilly just standing around, if you are warm standing around you will likely overheat on the bike
- shoes should not constrict your feet, this limits blood flow and may reduce air trapped by socks decreasing insulation
- don't forget to hydrate, you can get fooled into not drinking enough because it's cold
- if you are stopping for any lenght of time, throw on your windbreaker
- cary a emergency foil blanket, espcially if in the mountains
- be carefull not to get caught out in the cold at night, especially in the mountains
- do not ride alone in the mountains in the winter, and don't ride when hunters are hunting (Walnut Creek and Douthat don't usually allow hunting)
- road riding is typically a lot colder than trail riding in the same temps
- pay special attention to have the right layer options when it's going to be less than 35