COOL COMFORT

Tips to Help Extend Your Season

By Dave Kraus

Fall is here, and it’s my favorite cycling season. I’m in great shape, the weather is cooler, and the fall colors are stunning. BUT... sooner or later I always hear The Voice whispering in my ear. “Enjoy it while you can! In no time at all it’s gonna be dark at 5pm, colder, and it’s back to the basement trainer or spin classes.”

Well, not quite. With a little ingenuity, you can extend your cycling season deep into winter, and even ride straight through till spring. It’s all a matter of making sure your bike, body and mind are ready for the challenge.

Your Body – Cold and wind are your enemies, and you have to attack both of them. Add a 15mph wind to 40 degrees outside and it’s suddenly the windchill effect of freezing. Couple that with gloomy weather, and the mental temperature is even lower.

Layering is the key to keeping warm and getting rid of the sweat. The ideal for cold weather (below 50 degrees) is a wicking base layer to draw moisture away from your skin, then an insulating layer, or two. For your lower body, a pair of midweight tights can get you through in warmer temps, but there’s nothing like a good heavy pair for the really cold days.

Make sure to top it all off with a really good wind and waterproof jacket. That’s the most important item in his cold weather wardrobe, according to John Ceceri, owner of Adirondack Ultra Cycling Shop in Schuylerville. His shop also stages organized century and half-century rides, including fall and winter rides.

“My go-to top layer is the Proviz Reflect 360 cycling jacket, which we sell at the store,” he says. It keeps in the heat, even when you are dripping with sweat, has a back vent, underarm zippered vents, Velcro cuffs for climate control, and has the added benefit of being 100% reflective. Helpful Hack: If you get caught out with too little clothing, items such as plastic bags or newspapers stuffed inside your jacket or shoes can get you by. Hey, it works for Tour de France riders!

Next, it’s time to tackle your extremities, and this is where I’ve learned my lesson. I can still enjoy a ride if I’ve miscalculated on the core layering. But if my head, hands or feet get cold, I’m going to be miserable!

For Your Head – A good insulating, wind resistant beanie is invaluable under your helmet, plus a neck gaiter that will keep your neck warm and can be pulled up over your mouth and nose in extreme cold – or for mask situations. You can also get a cycling specific balaclava that does the job of both. Helpful Hack: Use clear packing tape to cover the vent holes in your helmet. It makes an amazing difference in cutting wind.

For Your Hands – Good gloves are a must, either five-fingered or lobster claws for extreme cold. Kenny Boettger, co-owner of Placid Planet Bicycles in Lake Placid, uses the Specialized Element 2.0 gloves that his store sells. “It’s a warm glove that still has some dexterity so you can operate the controls. There are other tricks to get you by, but you can’t fake it with your hands!” Helpful Hacks: Carry an extra pair of thin glove liners – or even a pair of disposable surgical gloves – in your pocket to go under the heavier gloves if needed. You can also use air-activated heat packs for long lasting warmth.

For Your Feet – You can buy one of the many specifically designed cold weather shoes, or use toe or shoe covers that attach over your regular warm weather shoes. All of them will cut the wind, and most are also insulated and have some sort of reflective logos. If you are going to invest in some winter shoes, make sure you get a half- to full-size larger so there’s room inside for multiple sock layers. Helpful Hack: Steve Fairchild, general manager at Grey Ghost Bicycles in Glens Falls and Saratoga Springs, usually puts a layer of newspaper or other paper over his toes and under his shoe covers. “I’ve always found this adds an extra 5-10 degrees of comfort to the ride,” he says.

No matter what you need to keep you warm, check with your local bike shop and don’t hesitate to ask for advice. They know what they’re doing and will have the right cycling specific items available.

Your Bike – Whether you have a dedicated “beater” that you use in the winter, or you’re going to use your regular bike, make sure to get it tuned up and prepared by a reputable mechanic before winter arrives. The problem that’s an inconvenience in warm weather can be life-threatening if it leaves you stranded at 30 degrees! Have all the bearings checked and repacked (or replaced) if necessary. Also remember that gritty, sandy, and salty conditions can be hard on your rim brake pads (if you don’t have disk brakes), so make sure yours are in good condition.

Salt eats bikes. My own personal hack is to make sure I rinse off my bike after every dirty ride. Just don’t directly spray jets of water on your wheel, headset, or bottom brackets where it can get inside the bearings. I also dry off the chain with an old towel and then lube it immediately, so it won’t rust. Then bring it inside where it can dry off without the water freezing in the crevices.

Buy some winter-specific tires with more tread or even metal studs. Also, remember to use slightly lower air pressure, as cold air contracts. 

Doug Haney, owner of event company Bike Adirondacks and Saranac Lake resident, doesn’t mess around so he always runs studded tires in the winter. “Studs run on everything and the extra grip always comes in handy. If I’m slushing through town on my beater bike, I still err on the side of extra tread and am happy to trade speed for stability.”

Unless you want to get covered with salty spray in bad weather (or cover your riding buddies with it), it’s also a good idea to get some fenders for both wheels. You can buy clip-on fenders and mud guards if your bike doesn’t have specific mounting points for regular ones. No, they don’t look “pro,” but they do a great job keeping you clean.

Last – but most important – get good quality front and rear lights and make sure you use them on every ride! It’s dark out there in fall and winter. Drivers may not be expecting to see you biking, and their own windows may be covered with muck and grime. Do whatever it takes to be seen including steady and flashing lights, plus reflective tape on your bike, and reflective clothing wherever possible. If it makes you look like a UFO, so what? You want them to see you!

Your Mind – Simply getting out the door to do it can be the hardest part of winter cycling. It’s cold out there, it takes a long time to get ready, and sometimes longer to get cleaned up after. But with the right equipment and frame of mind, you can ride outdoors right up to Thanksgiving and even Christmas.

One of the best motivations is to give yourself a goal to work toward. Only get 1,900 miles in this season? Make that extra 100 your goal before New Year’s Day. Work to stay in shape for an early season event next spring you’re planning to do. Pick something you’ve never done while cycling in fall and winter and work towards it. 

Decide to explore some new routes and then go find them. The Greater Capital Region and Hudson Valley have many new multiuse trails. The Empire State and Erie Canalway trails, Ashokan Rail Trail near Kingston, and expanded Zim Smith and Helderberg-Hudson and expanding Harlem Valley rail trails are good places to start. Plus, the opening this fall Albany-Hudson Electric Trail – and don’t forget the classic Mohawk Hudson and Warren County trails. Talk with other local cyclists to learn which bike trails are plowed when it snows, or fat bike on the snow for a great, fun workout!

You can also draw inspiration from other cyclists who already ride in cold weather – and go ride with them. The Mohawk Hudson Cycling Club (mohawkhudsoncyclingclub.org) is sponsoring the Gravel Goblin ride in Old Chatham on Oct. 30 to benefit the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. Find more info in the Calendar and on the MHCC website.

Even if not riding, you can still meet fellow cyclists and give back to the cycling community by volunteering to help with a local cycling event, participating in an organized trail day, or volunteering to lead a ride for MHCC.

Even after it gets cold, the world is still out there, and with the right preparation and motivation, you can defeat Old Man Winter and keep riding!

Dave Kraus (dbkraus@earthlink.net) is a longtime area cyclist, photographer, and writer who is always looking for new, interesting routes to experience the outdoors in upstate New York. Visit his website at krausgrafik.com.