• 13 October 2024

• Active Travel tags
• Cycling tags
• Outdoor Activities tags
• Winter tags

Pedal through the puddles: A guide to winter cycling

Cycling through our winters can be challenging, but with the right preparation and mindset, it can be fun and rewarding too.  We’ve pulled together some tips from experienced winter cyclists to keep you pedalling comfortably through the colder and wetter months.

As you can see in the accompanying video of our colleague Josie – dressing properly for the weather is really important and can have a huge impact on how you feel about riding in the wet and cold.

Waterproof jackets and tights/warmers

Let’s cut to the chase, the single most crucial piece of gear for shielding yourself from rainfall is none other than a waterproof jacket. You don’t need to splash a ton of money on a decent waterproof coat nowadays, and you don’t necessarily need one specifically designed for cycling, although these are often cut a bit better for the purpose.

You should also look at things like the seams on jackets – higher quality jackets will have the seams taped, which helps keep the rain seeping through the joins in the fabric. Ideally you want the zips to be waterproof too. Panels that zip open can also help cool you as you cycle, because a rain jacket will often trap the seat and heat in as often as keep the rain out.

Another good option instead of a rain jacket is a a poncho or rain cape. These are a bit more bulky, but keep the rain off far more of your body, and often cover the handlebars too. Their main disadvantage is that they don’t protect you as well from water splashing up from the road, but if you have good mudguards, this shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

Happy hands

“Cold hands, cold heart”, my grandmother used to say. I’m not sure how accurate that is, but cold hands definitely make the rest of you feel cold too. Not only will gloves help protect your hands from the rain and cold, but they offer some extra grip on wet handlebars. Here a pair of windproof – and preferably waterproof – dedicated cycle gloves will make the world of difference. These will usually have a padded palm and often have grippers on the palm to help maintain grip. Try and find a pair in a bright colour or with reflective elements to help being visible out on the roads.

Dry feet are happy feet.

Now that you’ve kept your upper body dry, you can start looking at some of the details that make for a happier trip. As anyone that’s stepped in a puddle knows, squelching your way through the day is miserable.

The first step (see what we did there) is to avoid trainers or canvas shoes that absorb water or let it through. Leather or similar water repellent fabrics are your friend here, as they delay the onset of water getting through.

If you really want the ultimate in all weather foot comfort, a pair of overshoes is an absolute winner. These are usually made of neoprene or silicone and slip on over your shoes and keep the water out.

Mudguards

There are a lot of things that will make your bike a bit more winter friendly, like wider tyres or running a lower tyre pressure, but the single biggest thing you can do to improve your winter ride is fit mudguards. They do a great job of keeping water from spraying up onto your legs and back, while helping keep your bike cleaner too. Not all bikes have mounting points for them, but there are a range of clip on options out there too.

See and be seen

Rainy conditions can significantly hamper your ability to see other road users. This isn’t just due to the overcast skies and reduced daylight – the rain itself can obstruct your view through vehicle windows, adding an extra layer of difficulty to safe driving.

Boost your visibility on the road by keeping your bike lights on, even when the sun’s up. If you don’t need your front light to navigate, switch both front and rear lights to flashing mode. This eye-catching display should help other road users spot you more easily. You don’t need to spend a fortune, although good lights can’t be underestimated, but even a compact pair of twinkling lights – one up front and one at the back – can work wonders. They’ll not only make you more noticeable to fellow road users but also help you dodge those sneaky puddles lying in wait.