To celebrate the impending arrival of winter, some tips on how to keep riding through the cold and wet.

After years of winter riding, I’ve found that the obstacles were as much emotional as physical, that if I invested more in personal infrastructure, I could handle the weather.

Starting from the Top
I have several helmet covers. Some riders wear a hat under their helmet, but cold rain and snow still get through. A helmet cover keeps both cold air and rain/snow off your head.

Around the Head
Cold air hitting my eyes and face made me feel vulnerable — one of those obstacles that’s both emotional and physical. Solutions: Wind-proof ear band, neoprene face mask, ski goggles. I wear these when the temp drops below 40 degrees F. In recent years, I almost always use a full-face helmet.

Bod Squad
GoreTex© or similar jacket. There are a lot of waterproof-breathable products out there. Real GoreTex© costs more, but I think it’s worth it for a jacket/parka. I bought an unlined shell and wear a fleece jacket when it’s near/below freezing.

Jacket Hint: If you can, try a jacket with snaps instead of “hook and loop” fabric, aka Velcro©. In garments, grabby-sticky fabric causes as many problems as it solves. It’ll wreck a tie or sweater.

40s or above, any glove will do. In the 30s, thin-ish gloves (i.e., a non-puffy glove) under windproof shell mittens. In the 20s, thin-ish gloves under insulated mittens. (Remember that compressing insulation reduces its effectiveness.) In the teens or below, gloves and insulated mittens with handwarmers. For a half-hour commute, I like the reusable “HotSnapz.” However, if you’re riding all day, the single-use chemical warmers used by hunters are better. I place the warmers above the hand, in between the gloves and the mitten.

Leg Up
Wind pants and rain pants. I use both, depending on the weather. I use regular nylon wind pants for dry weather below 40. The rain pants with a waterproof-breathable layer, such as GoreTex©, work very well, but the waterproof-breathable layer can abrade, and will wear out faster if used every day.

Pants Hint: Get full side zips; they’re much easier to get on and off.

Bottom line on pants: I tried and did not like long underwear. I wanted to arrive at work and immediately pull off the outer pants… not find a bathroom and undress to remove long underwear. The blood vessels in your legs are huge; block the wind and once legs get moving, they warm up quickly.

De Feet Defense
Boots. In snow, I use Tingley© rubber pull-ons, bought at a local farm supply store. If you are expeditioneering, go ahead and buy special winter boots. But with the pull-on boots, you keep your regular shoes.

Winter Bike: Lights, fenders, tires
LED lights and rechargeable batteries have gotten a lot better. And lights are essential/required by law, front and rear. If possible, I get lights powered by AA batteries, rather than AAA. I know that non-replaceable USB rechargeables are taking over. But I hate to have a device where the life of the device is determined by the life of the battery.

Light hint: Get lights that are hard to remove. That way, you won’t have to take them off when you park. When was the last time you had to remove your car headlights, to keep them being stolen? Can’t bikers also have nice things?

I bought plastic fenders for all of my commuter bikes. Winter, spring, summer, fall, fenders are essential.

Last but definitely not least, I bought carbide studded snow tires. I rode for years without them, but in retrospect, I have no idea how I survived. More than anything, they have made it possible to ride through anything. Leave the tires on a set of wheels and change when needed. Or get a second bike just for snow-ice commuting. Good stuff isn’t cheap, but if you’re not paying for a car…