For those of us who live in a climate that is cold and snowy during the winter season, we often give up on mountain biking until the warm weather returns, but with the right mountain bike clothing, we can stay warm and comfortable during the cold and snowy season, making winter mountain biking an enjoyable experience.
Tips to stay warm from head to toe:
Head: We lose the majority of our body heat through our head. A helmet liner will keep your head warm and help retain body heat.
Neck: Make sure your neck is able to be covered. Most mountain bike jackets have zip-up collars, often with a fleece lining for comfort and to wick sweat. You can also get a neck warmer for more heavy duty protection.
Torso and Arms: Layering is the key! Layers can be adjusted as you are riding to maintain a comfortable body temperature. If you are warm before you even start riding, you will be too hot once you start riding, especially if you are climbing. If you are uncomfortably cold before you start to ride, you may need another layer. It is OK to be a little chilly because you will warm up when you start riding. The inside layer should be made of a moisture-wicking material. This is important because the moisture from sweat will cause you to get cold if it does not dry quickly. The middle layer can be one or more layers that should also having wicking properties and be insulating to help maintain warmth. Examples include wool or synthetic materials. Cotton is not a good choice because it does not wick moisture. The outer layer should be wind and water resistant, yet breathable.
Hands: Fingers are often the first body part to get cold. It is essential to keep your hands and fingers comfortable and functional since they are controlling the brakes and shifters. Ski gloves can be used to keep your hands and fingers warm, but they are bulky and it can be hard to shift and brake. Insulated gloves made for biking are better because they are less bulky and it is easier to move your fingers to shift and brake. The lobster claw style is a good option because it keeps your first two and last two fingers next to each other, which helps them stay warmer.
Legs: To keep your legs warm, try Lycra biking shorts with fleece-lined tights over them. Other options are to either wear cycling tights or combine leg warmers with regular bike shorts.
Feet: You can buy winter mountain bike shoes that are made for riding in cold conditions, but they tend to be pricey. If you do not want to fork out that much cash, you can get booties that slip over your bike shoes that have a little hole for the cleat to be exposed. Wool socks are great for keeping your feet and toes warm and dry because they have natural wicking properties that will help your feet stay dry when they sweat.
Don’t let winter stop you from enjoying the singletrack. Stay warm with the right type of mountain bike clothing and enjoy the ride all year long. See you on the trail!
Mary Blomquist is a mountain biking enthusiast who lives in Colorado and is the founder of http://www.mountain-bike-buzz.com/ a site that is full of information and tips for mountain bikers.
For more information on mountain bike clothing, including tips on choosing a cycling jacket, shorts, jerseys, and more, please visit http://www.mountain-bike-buzz.com/mountain-bike-clothing.html
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