Cycling in Winter: Gobik clothing and advice guide

Ciclismo en Invierno: guía de consejos y prendas Gobik

If bicycles have had a repeated saying, it is the one that concludes that "they are only for summer". But things have changed, that was before, today cycling does not understand seasons. Clothing and material have undergone a great evolution and allow us to go out and enjoy days with a climate that, in the past, would have left us at home.

In this article we are going to give you a series of tips to make the most of the coldest months of the year. How to orient your workouts, what kind of outings to do, how to eat and, of course, how to dress and what clothes to choose depending on the temperature.

Still on the bike?

We have to start from the premise that, in winter, many cyclists take the opportunity to do other types of training beyond cycling, for example, weight training in the gym, cross-country skiing, running or hiking in the mountains.

It is very positive to stimulate our body in a different way, but remember that you can also take advantage of the winter to check your posture by doing a biomechanical study, or to reinforce certain habits that are more difficult to train during the year, such as working on your cadence and improving your position on the bike.

Shorter and easier rides

It is not the best time to attack big climbs, but rather to prioritize flat rides. On the one hand, you can improve those aspects we have mentioned (cadence and position), but also perform low-intensity work, which will serve as a basis for next year's spring. In addition, climbing mountains involves sweating and that, with the subsequent descent, is not the best option for very cold days.

We are talking about shorter trips, so it is interesting to evaluate, for example, the change to some other modality. If going out on the road on a cold and windy day can be uncomfortable, you can try a mountain bike or gravel route, through more sheltered areas and with less speed.

winter cycling ciclismo en invierno

Leaving very early in the morning is not an option in these months, as temperatures early in the day will be freezing, with the possibility of icy curves and fog.

How to feed yourself in winter?

At this time of year, group rides are best done in one go. It is better to take a break for a coffee or a snack at other times of the year, as the body will be cold and getting back on the bike will be an ordeal.

A complete breakfast at home is a must, with the idea of lasting the whole ride without stopping. Include everything you need, so that if the route is less than 2 hours, we have almost enough with it.

winter cycling winter cycling

If the route is going to have a medium or long duration, we have to take into account how to feed ourselves during it. If the energy bar or gels have been the basis of food during the outings in warmer months, in winter there are other very valid options, such as a good bag of dried fruits with dates, raisins and figs.

Keeping warm with balance

Both for thermal sensation and for the possibility of getting sick, there are three parts that the cyclist must have well protected: ears, hands and feet. In cold weather, these areas of our body are very prone to getting sick. It is very easy to catch a cold or have very unpleasant sensations on the bicycle, such as hypothermia.

Given the aggressiveness of the cold towards our body and certain very exposed parts, such as the knees, it is important that, when we get home, we spend some time stretching gently, so that the muscle tone returns to normal. In addition to the knees, there are areas such as the hamstrings in the legs or the patellar tendon of the knee that suffer greatly from the rigors of the cold.

If you want to compete, for example, in a cyclocross race, it is essential to warm up a lot and well, half an hour is not unreasonable, the same as using warm-up creams, of those mentholated creams that activate you in a minute, or use heaters that you can take off just before leaving. By the way, competing with a can of hot tea is even advisable, because we can not only expect to eat something hot when we are back at home...

Recommended combinations for winter

Looking in the winter closet of Gobik, our Brand tester, Jose Llargo, gives us some clues for three cold weather scenarios in the coming months:

Mediterranean or Temperate Winter

We start with a cool and wet winter in the early morning, but with noticeable temperature recovery as the morning progresses: "Here we need good breathability and to be able to add or remove layers if the temperature varies. The inner layer will wick moisture away from our skin to the outside and keep us drier than if we just wear the long jersey. The vest is an irreplaceable garment here, where the weather can change a lot throughout the day. It will keep the wind out on the descents and give us more thermal range in general. The bandana and leggings, the same. All these garments can be stored in the jersey pockets when not needed. As for the bibs, Artic Stride will give us great versatility. It is a short model but with winter lycra, with an extended length that covers the knees and sealed seams, to combat the occasional rain. The combination with leggings is ideal".

Cold Continental Winter

This is a scenario with cold but not extreme temperatures. Llargo recommends "the Limber base layer, which will give us more temperature and we have sleeveless and short-sleeved versions available, to suit our tastes. There will be people who prefer a combination of winter jersey and vest, and others who prefer a jersey with a membrane or a jacket. Here we opt for a bib tights, select the Absolute if you need protection against wind and light rain. As complements are essential thermal gloves and merino garments, such as socks and bandana, socks and socks, which will provide dry warmth. Neoprene toe caps provide a lot of comfort and we can remove them if the temperature improves".

Extreme Continental Winter

"Here you have to pull out all the stops with the most winter-protective garments. If we go by layers, the best base layer is merino wool, available in short sleeves or sleeveless. Then in the middle layer, consider using a jersey and for the outer layer a thermal jacket such as Skimo Pro, for routes at a slower pace, or Armour, when we need maximum breathability, on more intense rides, where we need to expel all the moisture and residual heat to keep us dry and warm. The Subzero bib tights provide maximum thermal protection and resistance to wind and light rain. In the hands, thermal gloves for very low temperatures and for the feet a complete overshoes, looking for maximum protection. As in the previous option, socks and merino bandanas are essential.

Extreme Situations

For elements that may surprise us on the road, rain and snow, among other things, our expert recommends carrying "the Pluvia raincoat, it does not take up space and will protect us from the rain, if we do not have a rain jacket such as EXO”.

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