Winter cycling can be among the most challenging outdoor pursuits available in the Midwest.
many levels of protection and cost, from simple toe covers that clip over the end of your shoes, to full shoe covers made of water- and wind-resistant products like neoprene. OTHER STRATEGIES Depending on your priorities, buying all of this up front can be daunting. Even serious cyclists may want to space out their purchases as they learn what they need most. Not everything needs to be expensive, either. That old polyester turtleneck sweater hanging in the back of your closet can serve well as a mid-layer. The biggest mistake many new cyclists make is starting with too much clothing. They’ve not yet learned an important rule: you should be cool or even cold while waiting for the ride to start or pedaling the first few blocks. “If you’re comfortable when you start, you’re probably wearing too much,” said rider Vincent Valentino, who also serves as treasurer for the Cycling Kansas City club.
Others agreed. “It really isn’t that cold once you get going,” added Greg Goat of Epic Bike and Sport, Kansas City, North. “If you wear something that’s too heavy, you’ll overheat and that’s bad because later you’ll get chilled.” This is also why winter cycling can be tricky: it’s often a series of hard efforts uphill, followed by windswept rides down. Or you’ll face an extended push into a headwind that at first is bitter, but soon generates surprising heat from the steady effort. Veteran rider Dave Mathews enjoys rides of several hundred miles at a clip. He recommends a surprising piece of equipment that can help. “When it starts looking cold or rainy, I put a big
saddle bag on my bike to have room for extra clothing,” he explains. “You don’t want to get overheated.” Other simple tricks can help. Even top racers are known to stick a sheet of newspaper under their jersey or jacket for extra chest insulation. Another sheet of newspaper inside your helmet to block air vents is another easy fix. Cheap shoe covers can be fashioned from old socks with a slot cut to accommodate cleats. Wool or synthetic works best—and never use cotton. In fact, cotton is something winter cyclists should avoid everywhere because it easily becomes wet and holds moisture. Special bike clothing is hard to beat for other reasons. One example involves
Liv TransTextura Cycling Cap $20
Giant Superlight Wind Jacket $94
Giant Team Bib Short $85
Liv Neptuna Short Sleeve Jersey $130
Liv Zorya Arm Cover $37
Kinda cold—When temperatures hover around 50°F, start with a short-sleeve jersey and bibs. Arm and leg warmers are easily pushed down if you get too warm.
13 REC-MIDWEST.COM
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