Winter poses all kinds of obstacles and sometimes excuses for staying off the bike. However, braving it during the winter will make you a stronger rider in the spring. Here are tips for winter cycling from a few HRBike members:

Andy Nelius­ – If you are comfortable when you start your ride, you’ll be too hot later on. Don’t overdress. Take enough to drink…you will sweat even though it’s cold, so you’ll have to replenish lost fluids. Hands, head, toes, and neck need to be high priorities in keeping warm. Might need spare sweatband or gloves to change to later…amazing how even a little sweat makes your extremities really cold.
I have found that just the right amount of head insulation is a cut-off sleeve of a short-sleeved t-shirt: you pull it onto your head like a do-rag, except the top part lines up with the crown of your head so it lets your excess heat vent off.

Also, another cutoff sleeve pulled over your head onto your neck provides a light layer to make a turtleneck out of any jersey you have.If it’s too much you can pull it off and stuff it away or blow your nose on it. I call it the Andy Nelius Disposable Neck Gaiter.

Jill Albro – Dress in layers so you can remove clothing as you get too warm. ChapStick is good so your lips don’t get chapped from the wind. Warm socks are good too. Don’t forget SPF face lotion.

Hunter Norris – Take shorter more frequent trips wearing a full kit: long-sleeve insulated top, tight fitting cycle jacket, and a long pant for full skin coverage. Hand warmers in the gloves are a must. A ski mask that covers head, ears, and neck is useful on really cold days.

Jessie Schwer – My best advice is to dress your core a little cooler than you think you need to, and to focus on your extremities like hands and feet. I also like to wear something around my neck to trap the heat that escapes from the neck of my jersey, like a muff or a bandana if I’m feeling like a hipster that day.

Joe Capezza – I wear a balaclava when it gets below the mid-40s; when it’s real cold you can pull it over your chin. I’ve tried helmet covers but prefer a balaclava. When it’s below freezing I wear motorcycle gloves and carry a pair of lighter weight gloves in case it warms up. One of the biggest dangers of winter riding is crossing railroad tracks. Even when it’s dry out they can be icy. One of my pastimes in Antwerp was to watch the cyclists go down while attempting to cross the tram tracks.

What fantastic ideas! I hope these great tips help you to continue riding this winter.