If you have never cycled in cold weather before, you will be surprised at how warm you will be! Cycling is an aerobic activity, which means that your body will produce heat-more than walking. Most first-time cold weather cyclists find that they have overdressed and are too hot.

It's more than likely that you already have clothes that will work for your legs and torso. Your extremities are the most challenging to keep warm - hands, feet, and head/face-and may require something extra.

Head

• Cover your head to conserve the most heat.

• Choose thin, lightweight and wind resistant materials.

• Toques and balaclavas work well

• Leave a few extra minutes to adjust your helmet to fit over your hat/hood. You may need to remove some of the helmet's padding. Check that your helmet sits in the proper position by placing two fingers above an eyebrow. The bottom of the helmet should touch the top finger.

• Remember to cover your ears! Try an earband.

• A helmet cover will reduce wind and protect from rain and snow. It may be all you need for 0^oC and above.

• Cycle specific hats--helmet liners-fit snugly under the helmet.

• If you wear a hood, do a shoulder check on each side to before you ride to make sure your vision is not compromised. You may need to tuck your hood under the sides of your helmet.

There are a number of options for keeping your face warm. You may want to experiment to see what works the best for you.

• Try tying a scarf so that it covers from your nose down over your neck. You can add velcro to an existing scarf to help keep it in place, or buy one at an outdoor/bicycle store.

• Balaclava - covers the neck, face and head. There are very lightweight ones on the market, including silk. Cyclists with long hair may prefer another option.

• Facemask - these have an opening for the bottom of the nose and tiny holes over the mouth, making it easier to breathe; some also cover the neck.

• Eye protection-prescription glasses, sun glasses, clear or yellow lenses, or ski goggles.

• Anti-fogging spray will keep your glasses from fogging up.

Hands

Hands are in a stationary position so are more subject to cold than the rest of your body.

• Try wiggling your fingers when stopped.

• Gloves/mits you already own (wool, fleece, work/gardening gloves) may work fine.

• Mits will keep your fingers warmer than gloves because the fingers are touching; some cyclists find gloves easier for shifting and braking.

• For 0^oC and below add a liner if your hands aren't warm enough, or add an outer shell made of water/windproof material

• Have a waterproof option available for rain and snow-if your gloves aren't waterproof try a shell.

• Ski gloves are particularly good for temperatures below freezing.

• Wool or fleece gloves will keep hands warm even when wet. If your hands sweat consider a wicking liner

• Cycling lobster gloves are now on the market; these are a combo mitt/glove: two fingers per segment and a separate one for the thumb.

• Bike pogies are oversized mitts that fit over the handlebar ends, making it easy to operate the brakes and shifters; you may not need gloves under the pogies until it's 0^oC or below. Make sure that it is easy to take your hands off the bars to signal.

Feet

• Waterproof hiking boots work well for cold/wet weather.

• Cover your shoes with cycling overbooties or put a plastic bag over your socks.

• There are a few winter cycling shoes/boots on market but they can be expensive.

• Clip pedal cycling shoes can conduct heat away from your feet; try another system or simply cycle without.

• Wool or fleece socks are good. If your feet sweat avoid using cotton liners.

• Avoid too many sock layers because that can cut off circulation, and bring an extra pair of socks in case the first pair get wet.

Layering
Dressing for cold weather cycling uses the same layering principles as other cold weather activities. Layering allows you to add and subtract layers according to how warm/cool you are. There's no need to buy cycle-specific clothes (unless you really want to). Function over fashion rules.

• It's more than likely that you already have clothes that will work for your legs and torso.

• It is important to use thin/lightweight materials do reduce bulk and maintain manoeuvrability.

• How many layers to wear depends on the individual and the length of the commute. Shorter commutes may require warmer clothing since the body has less time to heat up. Many cyclists recommend that you start off feeling a little cool because you will quickly warm up. If you overdress you will become sweaty in no time.

• Experiment with different combinations and see what works for you. Consider marking down the daily temperature, what you wore that day, and what worked well.

• Before changing layers, try working harder (cycling faster) if you are too cold and cycling slower if you are too warm.

• Remember that once you stop cycling you will cool down quickly - so carry an extra layer if you plan on stopping or walking-or just in case the temperature drops for the ride back.

Torso

• A thin water/windproof jacket is a must. There are many cycling-specific jackets on the market. Jackets should be long so they don't ride up and expose you to cold air, and large enough for layers underneath. If you can afford it, invest in a gore-tex jacket. Breathable materials will make your trip more enjoyable.

• For longer commutes (more than twenty minutes), start with a wicking base layer next to the skin made of polyester/microfibre-synthetic fabrics to keep sweat/moisture away from the skin; silk and wool are natural fabric choices. Stay away from cotton as the base layer-it will absorb sweat and keep it next to your skin, making you wet and cold.

• Add layers over the wicking layer, with layers getting progressively warmer. In Toronto one warm fleece/lightweight wool sweater is often enough over the base layer. You might want to add one or two thin layers in between.

• If your commute is relatively short, you may not need the wicking layer-so long as you have a good breathable jacket-because you won't have enough time to build up a sweat.

• Jackets, fleeces and tops with full front zips and underarm zips increase your options for moderating temperature.

Legs
Many cyclists are comfortable wearing their usual winter wear, particularly for shorter commutes. Stretchy, roomy clothing with some wind resistance will be the most comfortable.

• Consider wearing tights/long underwear with another layer over them to protect from wind.

• You can also invest in a variety of cycle-specific clothing (such as waterproof cycling pants) to reduce windchill and protect you from snow and rain.

• Rain pants are an option for snow, wind, and rain-get them long so they account for bent knees. You can pull them up over your regular pants, thermal/long underwear, or cycling tights.

• A reflective band around your right pant leg will prevent it from catching in the chain and increase visibility.

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• Keeping warm and dry
• Riding tips
• Visibility
• Bicycle choice and equipment
• Maintenance
• Wet weather
• Snow and ice
• Download the Cold weather cycling brochure (PDF 110 Kb)