Winter may not be the most popular time to ride, but many cyclists rely on their bikes for transportation, exercise, recreation, and socialization year-round. As the old saying goes, there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear—so when there’s a will, there’s a way.

While you may not want to bike through a proper snowstorm, winter riding can be safe, fun, and even comfortable if you are properly prepared. Plus, with fewer cyclists on the trails, and holiday decorations and snow-coated trees providing a scenic backdrop, winter just might be your new favorite time to ride. 

Here’s what you need to know about biking in the winter.

Ease into winter riding

Experienced all-season riders may struggle when temperatures immediately plummet overnight, so even if you’ve been riding all year, you still may want to ease your way into winter riding. For instance, start with short rides before jumping into a long-distance morning routine. Winter riding is not an all-or-nothing proposition, and it may take some time to acclimate to the cold and to learn which and how much gear is comfortable at different temperatures.

Ben Varick, with the Wisconsin Bike Federation, emphasizes that you don’t have to ride every day and says he relies on public transit after a big storm until the streets are cleared. In Madison, Wisconsin—which is such a serious cycling city that it is famous for plowing its bike lanes in winter—Varick says that half of the 140 high school students he works with ride year-round. And if high school kids can bike through cold, snowy winter weather, it kind of gives a bit of hope for the rest of us, doesn’t it?

Get proper bike gear for winter cycling

Bike Lights: Varick emphasizes the importance of having good front and rear bike lights. Shorter days mean that it’s often dark at the beginning and end of the work/school day. Strong front and rear lights are essential during both the evening and the day to improve visibility. Personally, I always use two bike lights in front, one that has a strong beam to illuminate the road ahead and another with a funky flash pattern to alert drivers to my presence.

Studded Tires: Varick also suggests using studded tires (even just on the front wheel) for a bit of extra traction. Just like snow tires on a car, studded winter bike tires are better equipped to ride through snow, slush, and ice.

Fenders: Fenders are helpful when it comes to keeping dirt and water off your bum, but come winter, they’re even more important, as they can prevent snow, slush, and salt from kicking back up. Not only can a dirty bike be annoying, but a wet, salty bike will also corrode more quickly.

Photo courtesy of Destination Madison

Winter gear recommendations

Varick encourages riders to think through their setup in order to minimize exposing skin to the cold. This is especially true when it comes to hands, as removing gloves to use a phone or fuss with a difficult zipper can expose sensitive fingers to extreme cold. For instance, Varick asks riders to consider if they can put their bike lock key in a pocket that can be easily accessed without having to remove gloves.

Layering is also key, as you want to ensure you’re warm enough. But if you overheat, you’ll begin to sweat, which can be dangerous in the cold. Just like with winter hiking or any other cold-weather activities, you’ll want to pack layers that can be easily added and removed; for instance, a long-sleeve wool shirt or cycling jersey as the bottom layer, a fleece for the mid-layer, and a waterproof jacket as an outer shell. 

Varick suggests starting with your jackets/layers all zipped up and then unzipping them a bit as you warm up to prevent overheating. “Plan what you wear so that you can easily vent heat from your core,” he advises.

Here are other key essentials:

Gloves: Winter cycling gloves range from thin liners and thick five-finger gloves to enormous mittens and lobster-claw-like setups that allow fingers to create their own natural heat inside. Varick explains why he typically rides with a pair of thin liner gloves underneath big mittens. “I can remove the mittens when I need more dexterity, but I still have liner gloves on for warmth.”

Reflective clothing: Reflective cycling clothing—from helmets and jackets to bike tights and gloves—are available at all different price points and they are an important part of being seen on the road. You can also buy reflective tape and stickers that can be easily affixed to clothing, helmets, and even your bike for added visibility.

Waterproof layers: If it’s just a light sprinkle, a water-resistant shell may do the trick, but if it really starts coming down, you’ll want to have a fully waterproof jacket and pants. Wet bodies are extremely dangerous in cold temperatures, so even if it’s not cold or windy enough to justify wearing waterproof outer layers, if there’s any chance it will rain or snow during your ride, pack them in your panniers or backpack just in case. Many waterproof jackets and pants also come with vents that can be unzipped to prevent overheating.

Accessories: Because temperatures can change so dramatically in the winter if the wind suddenly picks up or when the sun drops down in the sky, stashing some cold weather accessories in your bag or panniers can be the difference between a warm, comfortable ride, and an unpleasant, dangerous one. Warm socks, hand/foot warmers, detachable arm and leg sleeves, neck buffs, insulated shoe covers, and cycling caps all fall into this category and take up very little space.

Before buying new gear, consider if you actually need it, as our wasteful consumer culture is both bad for the environment and for your pocketbook. Carol Busch, of ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours, says clothes that you might use for skiing and winter hiking work equally well for biking so you may not need to buy an entire set of new gear. 

Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, which holds a Winter Bike to Work Day to encourage commuting during inclement weather, Busch has plenty of experience repurposing winter clothing. “My skate ski pants become my biking pants when it’s super cold and snowing and I need to protect my legs; my backcountry ski jacket serves as an excellent wind barrier; and the long merino wool buff I use for other winter sports can cover the top of my head, ears, and neck while biking.”

Riding responsibly in winter

Cory Kaufman is a trip leader for The Cycling House tour company in Missoula, Montana, which averages nearly 40 inches of snow in the winter. While he admits to spending more time on his bike trainer when the snow gets too deep for mountain biking, he emphasizes the importance of taking additional precautions when biking in the winter.

Choose your route carefully: Kaufman suggests riding routes that are cleared of snow more frequently and that have a wider shoulder in the winter. “Snow will be pushed to the side of the road, so you’ll find that shoulders will be narrower.” He also suggests opting for routes that receive more daylight, which will be warmer and may also have less snow and ice accumulation.

Be cautious: Surfaces will be slick and can change quickly when riding in the winter, and Kaufman always assumes that the road will be slippery and that there may be black ice. “Brake early, accelerate slowly and take extra caution when turning.” He also suggests trying to do all the braking before a turn because “braking through a turn in snowy or icy conditions can decrease your traction.”

Keep it short, hilly, and more intense: If you’re up for an intense ride, Kaufman suggests putting in some extra effort to ride hills. Not only will you get a better workout, but the intensity will help keep you warm and, because you’ll be going slower, there will be less windchill than when whipping around a downhill curve. What goes up must come down, so Kaufman notes the need to be extra careful on descents and to go much slower than you normally would.

Protecting your bike in winter

If it’s been a while since you last rode, you may want to stop by your local bike shop for a tune-up. While you’re there, you could also pick up some winter cycling gear and ask for tips on where to ride. Bike shops are usually staffed with mechanics and sales associates who also love to ride, so they’re a great source of information.

Chain maintenance: Winter riding can be especially hard on your chain and drivetrain since you’ll be encountering more precipitation. You may also be riding on roads that were treated with salt or sand, which can collect on your chain and cause premature wear. Kaufman suggests wiping your chain, jockey wheels, and chainrings after each ride, and ensuring your chain is lubed only when needed. “The chain will sound squeaky or metallic when it needs to be lubed, and excessive lubing will only give the sand more reason to collect on your chain.” If you ride through sloppy or wet conditions, Kaufman says it’s best to use warm water and a degreaser to wash off the salt, sand and grime before drying off the drivetrain well, and then reapplying chain lube. 

Proper storage: It’s best to store your bike inside, out of the elements since the cold and moisture can be tough on components. A heated garage or inside your house is best, but Kaufman says a shed will do. “If you’re storing your bike somewhere not heated, make sure you put it away dry with a properly lubed chain. Otherwise, you might find yourself with a rusted drivetrain.”

Caring for e-bike batteries: Like other batteries, e-bike batteries drain more quickly in cold temperatures, so even if you don’t have the capacity to store your bike indoors (or you store it in an unheated garage or shed), you’ll want to at least bring your bike battery indoors.