Winter riding can be done comfortably and safely if you know how to approach it. We are lucky enough to live in an area where we can ride all year. It's all about being prepared, physically, mentally and mechanically.
We'll start with the physical stuff. There are a number of things that happen to the body when it's cold. OK, the first thing to know is that when the body starts getting cold, it goes into a survival mode. The colder you get, the more intensely the body responds. Your body, in order to maintain an operational temperature for your critical organs, will reduce the amount of blood flow to your extremities; hands, feet etc. It's important to keep your extremities warm of course but keeping your core temperature up is the key. We've all heard it before, layers! Be strategic about what you wear, moisture management and warmth are not always that easy to manage together. Make sure when climbing, you can stay cool enough to stay as dry as possible because when you come back down, you'll be cold. The best approach is to use a mid to heavy weight base layer, a jersey with a full length zipper and a shell (vest or jacket). If it's raining, use a lightweight breathable waterproof shell. Insulated bib shorts, knickers or full length tights are nice as well. We all have different metabolisms and we all run at different temperatures so it's good to try a few things and have an arsenal of gear for different types of weather. In our area, I personally can get away with a base layer, a jersey, arm warmers and a windproof vest (dryish days) or a rain shell (rainy days) and my insulated knickers. Another tip is to warm up for 10 minutes or so before you go outdoors. That way you get your core temperature up and you're not freezing for the first half hour of your ride. You can usually start with slightly less gear on that way and your muscles warm up quicker and much more comfortably. Be careful about stopping mid ride for too long. You cool down pretty quick and when you start back up again, all that sweat is going to make you pretty chilly. Keep your joints warm! Along with reduced blood flow to your extremities, your knees and hips are at risk too. Your joints require blood flow and good hydration in order to work well. Think of this as a type of lubrication. When we're very cold, we tend to be slightly less perceptive of a problem. If you don't feel something early, you may not react early enough to avoid an overuse injury. When it's cold, we tend not to drink as much water either. When we're cold, we're burning a lot of calories just staying warm, remember to fuel up, it's just as important at 40 degrees as it is at 90.
Mental challenges! Yes, looking outside at drizzle and fog doesn't inspire too many of us to jump on our bikes. The truth is, riding in bad weather makes us better riders, it keeps us on top of our handling skills and it can actually be a blast. Once you know what gear works for you, and you go out prepared, you're fine. The best way to look at it is as a challenge. Riding through Marin or down on the peninsula on a rainy day is nothing short of beautiful. Things look different, there are less people out and it can be quite peaceful. It can also be epic and glorious and full of suffering...in the best possible ways of course. All in all, the first pedal stroke is the hardest even on nicer days, give it a go and you'll most likely be glad you did...safely!
Mechanically, rain riding just means more upkeep and a little preventative care. Everything will take a bit more of a beating in the rain but if you know that going in, you're that much better off. Your drivetrain will need some extra love. Use a thicker chain lube, there are plenty of "wet" lubes out there, we like Dumonde Tech lubricants and they make a great one for our winters. It's important to have the thicker lube so that water doesn't wash it out as quickly. Putting a small amount of lubricant at the pivot points of your derailleurs will help long term too. It serves as a water displacer and helps keep those parts moving more freely, don't over do it though (personally, I overdo it and Stef reminds me about it all the time). Brakes are good, keep them working! Make sure your pads have plenty of life in them, they wear twice as fast or faster in the rain. If they wear to the metal, you'll ruin your rims real quick. It's a good idea to keep the pads clean and free of little chunks of debris, this also preserves rim life. Your cables will need a little extra attention too. It's a good habit to keep them lubed, water creeps in there and can wash out any grease that's there. This also avoids actual rust building up. After a ride, you'll want to relube your chain and wipe it down well. This will keep it clean and keep it from rusting. You should also drain your frame, especially if you ride a steel bike. Mark your saddle height and remove your seatpost, then just flip your bike upside down and watch the water come right out.
At the end of the day, go ride your bike! If you hate the rain and cold, that's normal but if you're dying to get out and away from the indoor bike, we can help. It's a lot of fun getting to the top of Tam and there's snow up there!
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