Community: Mid-Ohio Valley

As fall turns into winter, don’t put your bicycle into hibernation. With the season changing, you should brave a bit of cold weather to discover the beauty of winter sights and sounds. This is the time of year you get to see all the trees changing color, all the leaves on the trails, even some snow to leave tracks in. And you don't have the bugs, poison ivy or mosquitoes to deal with. There will be many times you can have the whole North Bend Rail Trail to yourself on a winter’s day.

Don't dress too warmly

You'll heat up naturally after 10-15 minutes of riding, so you should be slightly chilly when you start out. If you're warm when you start, then you'll be hot in 10-15 minutes and soak your clothes with sweat. Once you clothing close to the skin gets wet you are going to feel cold.

Wear a cloth hat

A lot of your body heat escapes through your head. Wearing a cloth hat will help you retain heat and keep your ears warm too. If a hat interferes with your helmet, you can wear an ear warmer headband instead. I use a sweat cap year round. It keeps sweat from rolling down into my eyes during warm weather and helps keep my balding head warm when it gets cool. I also found a light weight toboggan for colder times. It fits well under my helmet and even comes down on my ears. For seriously cold days opt for a balaclava (a one-piece head and neck gaiter). Just remember to stay from the local 7-elevens and banks when you wear one of these.

Other alternatives include a cycling hat with a bill, which will keep rain sprinkles and mist out of our eyes. Wear it under your helmet. You can also get weatherproof covers for your helmet that will help keep your head warm and dry.

Don't wear cotton.

Cotton retains and holds moisture against your skin, which will chill you to the bone. Hi-tech fabrics, on the other hand, wick the moisture away from your skin and disperse it, allowing you to stay warm and dry.

Dress in Layers

Use layers that you can easily remove in case you overheat. Usually three layers will work but you may find you need a fourth if it is really cold. You'll want a wicking bottom layer, a warm fleece type middle layer to trap your body heat and a windproof outer layer.

Inner layers

The best clothing to use against the skin would be wicking layers, designed to transport sweat away from your skin, keeping you drier. Wool and quick drying high-tech sports materials made from polyester or polypropylene are best. They come under several brand names including Merino Wool, Lycra, Polypropylene, Thermax, or Drylete. Avoid T-shirts or anything made of cotton. When cotton gets wet, it stays damp and sucks the heat right out of you. A long sleeved polypropylene under shirt or cycling jersey would be a good base layer for any cold weather riding. You can also find sets of long johns made of merino wool.

Middle (or insulation) layers

Wear clothing designed to provide insulation in cold weather and basic protection when worn alone in warmer conditions. When riding you don't want to be bogged down in lots of heavy clothing. Modern lightweight synthetic fleece layers or wool provide lots of warmth without a lot of bulk or weight. There are some really nice long sleeved Merino Wool bike jerseys available that work well as a middle layer in cold weather or alone in cool weather. I have found a couple last year. They are really nice when used as middle layer of clothing.

Outer layers

Select clothing to protect you from the elements -- wind, rain, snow. A bright color is important for greater visibility. The key is to find outer layers that stop the wind from stealing warmth, while still providing enough ventilation to keep from overheating while pedaling hard. Make sure the outer layers you use for cold weather riding are roomy enough to be comfortable with lots of other layers on underneath. Wind vests are a good choice as they tend to keep your core warm thanks to technical wind-proof material that blocks cold blasts and allows for ventilation. Carry a lightweight waterproof rain shell that rolls up tightly in case you get caught in a sudden rain or wet snow storm. It will block rain and hold in body heat in a pinch. Some riders carry arm and leg warmers that can be added or removed as needed during a ride. They are small enough to carry in the rear pocket of your bike jersey

For Warm Feet

Use Polypropylene socks as a liner under wool socks to help keep your feet warm. Wool socks are available in several different weights. Be careful not to wear socks that are too heavy and pinch your feet in your shoes. Gortex socks are available but very expensive. They will help keep feet warm and dry. You can also find chemical foot warmers in some bike shops. Another option would shoe covers that are waterproof and help keep your feet warm. They can make it awkward to use shoes that clip to your pedals.

Wear gloves

There are many choices in materials and styles, but anything is better than nothing. I found lobster gloves work well. I have a light weight pair that work well for temperatures in the range of 30-40 degrees. They were advertised as windproof. I also have a heavier pair that work well down to about 25 degrees….my personal temperature limit. Both work well on the shifters and brake levers of both my mountain and road bikes.

Wear a windbreaker

You can get them in bright red, yellow or orange so you'll increase your visibility as well. Polartec material breathes well but also lets air through as you ride along allowing you to get cold. Last year I found a nice bright red Polartec jacket with a wind and waterproof nylon inner liner in the front of the jacket only. It works very well as a wind breaker for me in cold weather. It was only about $30 from an outfit called Duluth Trading Company: http://www.duluthtrading.com/ Unfortunately, I do not find it listed on their web page at this time. Maybe they will have it again later this fall. Another way to windproof Polartec jacket would be to wear a lightweight nylon vest underneath.

Details for Dressing

For the absolutely best details on dressing for any temperature or any weather go to the Civia Cycles web page and do some research. They have a detailed show and tell for dressing for any temperature or weather condition.

http://www.civiacycles.com/civiaweather.php

Two more web pages with information on winter cycling are www.icebike.org and http://www.bicyclinglife.com/Recreation/wintercycling.htm

Quick Winter TIP on Hydration

You still need to drink when riding at lower temperatures. It’s easy to remember to drink when it is hot outside as it’s a no-brainer. But it is very important to drink plenty of fluids while riding or engaging in physical activity outside during the winter. You still work up a sweat but the humidity is much lower most of the time during the winter making the evaporation of sweat much faster. You may not even notice you have been sweating and may not realize you are losing so much body fluid. Fill your bottle with your favorite flavor of energy drink or put in a warm drink in an insulated bottle to help you stay hydrated and beat the chill when you stop for a break.