Hello all,

I really enjoy cycling and would rather not stop when the winter comes.

Just about the only thing I mind is feeling cold :-) I don't care about getting wet, wind, etc, as long as I am not shivering and my eyes are protected...

Therefore I was wondering if you could give some advice on what kind of clothing I could wear during the winter to make cycling as enjoyable as possible. And any other related advice!

The first thing I would need is probably waterproof shoes. Is there such a thing? And then I would also need some kind of giant condom to keep the rest of my body warm?

Are you thinking hardcore...?



http://www.silentsports.net/stud_you...ike_tires.html

I would rather avoid slippery conditions :-)

That however, reminds another question. I was thinking about training rides. What about commuting around Zurich? Any easy solutions?

Well, in 2006 I used my bike almost every single day - pulling a bike trailer with two little children in it too (very good exercise and since I stopped doing this I've piled on the pounds a bit - see my thread on losing weight ).

One tip if you're looking for cheap but reasonable quality bike gear - Aldi. They have a range of stuff from "Crane Sports" which is quite good enough for normal use, I bought most of my clothing from them. They have some pretty good winter / cold weather gear which has good insulation but breathes so you don't end up sweating like a pig when wearing it. This range isn't always available at Aldi, look out for their special offers.
Personally I don't bother with the waterproof stuff since let's face it, if you're on a bike in the rain you will probably get wet, as long as you have enough clothes on and you're working at it on the bike you'll be warm enough. I wouldn't worry about getting wet but keeping warm is important.
As for commuting around Zürich, it depends a bit on where you are, living in Adliswil meant that it didn't make any difference which way I chose to ride, getting into Zürich meant going up a hill or two but you soon get used to that. There are plenty of bike lanes around but be aware that if you have a high quality road bike you'll probably prefer to use the road since some of the paths have poorer quality surfaces.

Have fun

This place has quite a bit of stuff. Veloplus They have a shop right beside the station in Wetzikon.
Keep your feet dry.

I cycled most of the year, even after dark sometimes in the winter....good lights and warm jackets go along wy

Ok, my husband bikes to and from work everyday, even in the winter. It saves a load of money on transportation, and helps him stay fit and feeling well. One area of our expences we never scrimp on is his biking gear. He suggests that you wear several layers when biking. Wearing a few different shirts will help with the sweating, keeping it away from your body, but also allow you the option to take some off. Undershirts from the brand Odlo are really good. He also suggests a Gore Tex Jacket. He stopped wearing his ski jacket when riding after he got the Gore Tex, so just to show you it helps with the chills. As far as eye gear goes, he says its helpful expecially if its stormey or windy. He suggested from adidas, or oklay, but he uses just normal sports sunglasses.

You can always message me if you want more info, but thats what he suggests.

I asked my husband about it, and he said that if you take care of your waterproof gear, it does work, but at the same time, if your haveing a good ride, your gonna get wet anyways from the sweat. if you use a backpack, i would suggest that you get a rain jacket for it, it seems to work longer with keeping the rain out.

and etc, dont worry, just make a list of what you want, then prioritise what is most important and so on... it will help with not feeling overwhelmed with the costs. Dont go to Manor and buy it all 75 percent off and get stuff taht will only last 3 months, try to get good quality. Go to any big name sports shop and ask questions before buying. Oh, and if you have problems with getting your pants dirty on the bike chain, consider a "hosenband". It helps keep the pants from rubbing against it.

Good luck

A couple more tips on equipment. I use a very thin hat designed for cross country skiing that fits easily under my helmet and keeps my head warm in the coldest weather. Also, if you get some glasses with interchangeable lenses then you can use the same ones year-round if you get some clear lenses (good for night riding).

A lot of cycling magazines discuss this kind of thing, normally in the fall or early winter. You can get an international subscription to the US-based Bicycling magazine for just US$40, and I also like the Cycling Plus magazine from the UK, the international subscription is a bit expensive for that so I just pick up a copy whenever I'm there or ask visitors to bring one with them from there.

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Cycling in Switzerland | Photo blog (mostly travel pics from Switzerland)

Make sure you get some warmer gloves too. Most cycling gloves are designed to keep your hands as cool as possible. But riding in winter your hands can get painfully cold.

As already mentioned, cold feet can be uncomfortable, a cold head can give you an unpleasant headache and cold dry air blowing on your eyes in unpleasant. I find that generally I don't have to worry as much about keeping my body warm as the physical activity helps a lot there. It is extremities I have to concentrate on.

My cheapo discovery this winter was switching to woollen socks. Kind of the same thickness as cotton sport socks. CHF8- from Migros clothing section. Made a huge difference cycling in 2C to 5C weather. Could actually feel my toes after an hours ride Wool is great in that it still warms even if it gets a little damp from sweat.

I use a light polar fleece beanie/mutze with ear flaps under my helmet and gloves with "windstopper" material are excellent.

As for the hands, you can get some winter cycling gloves, but I again use cross-country ski gear for that purpose, I have a pair that work great for cycling and skiing.

No kidding. I recall you wearing a long-sleeved jersey to climb the Klausen pass in 30+ degree weather!

I know you've received lots of advice already, but I'll add this just because I can (and to be honest, it's a bit slow at work this morning.)

For serious rides in the winter (i.e. a long ride on my road bike, with clear roads but temperatures between 0 and 10 degrees) I wear (from top to bottom):

1. Hat under helmet.
2. Sunglasses, even if just with clear lenses.
3. Kerchief, balaclava or similar to keep the wind off my neck.
4. Windproof jacket over a long-sleeved jersey. (note: preferably wear a jacket with a mesh back and/or pit zips so you can regulate your temperature a bit and not overheat. The last thing you want to do is sweat too much.)
4b. If it's really cold I'll wear an extra layer on my core, such as a vest made of Lifa or equivalent.
5. Long-fingered insulated gloves.
5. Insulated cycling trousers. (Thick lining on the front but breathable on the back: protects from windchill without being too warm.)
6. Merino wool socks.
7. Normal cycling shoes with booties over the top.

If you're dressed appropriately, you'll feel a bit chilly for the first few km, but this is okay. You'll warm up soon enough. Also, if you're doing a slightly hilly route, it's pretty much par for the course that you'll feel a bit chilly on the descents, but there's not much you can do to remedy this. Just think of putting up with the cold as a character-building exercise.

Heather

You can also get lots of tips from www.bikeradar.com which has a very good forum too

Plus, there is a special section devoted to "Winter Cycling" over at BikeForums.net.

Hm most people here seem to have a different approach from me. I take the usual Dutch approach which meaning I have non of that expensive 'special' cycling or sports gear.

What works best for me in winter is a cheap windproof fleece winterjacket which I bought at vogele. Under this I wear a simple T-shirt and that's it. It is cold the first km but after that I am fine. Considering trousers, I wear normal jeans when cycling. This stuff works for me also below 0, I've gone on cycling trips during which the water in my bidon frooze . My cold spots are toes and fingers...

My only consession to winter is that I ride around on spiked tires (bought from veloplus) which work great. My cycling to work route takes me through the forest, the dirt roads don't get salted or anything so the tires
are really necessary. I wiped out a few times every winter before I had these tires, never since.

Just keep on cycling and change your clothing as the temperatures get lower and lower. This allows you to slowly adapt your clothing and it gives you a good idea of what you need to stay warm.