We all know that cycling is good for you. However, unless you have the right protection and cycle clothes, cycling can sometimes actually be bad for you too, especially in the winter when there are more potential dangers and far more weather issues to take into consideration.
Not only does winter bring a greater need for reflective gear and cycle lights with far less daylight to keep one visible, but it is also far more likely that you will need to have very specific clothing at your disposal to keep you comfortable and to ensure that cycling doesn’t lead to you getting colds or worse.
Over the winter it is very easy to let our exercise regimes slip as the cold weather and darkness make it far less appealing for us to head out on our bikes or for runs. However, with the right approach, you should be able to stay as comfortable in the winter as you are in the summer, and in some ways it may actually be easier to wrap up warm in the winter than cool down in the summer.
First, make sure you are warm before you leave the house. By putting on gloves or socks when you are already cold, you are unlikely to feel the benefit. Instead, be sure that you get your extremities nice and warm first, then get all wrapped up before you head out.
It is also important that you choose to wrap up in genuine cycle clothes that will be designed to not only keep you warm, but also to let your skin breath as you exercise. Being too hot and sweaty is also not going to be great for your comfort or health and therefore always look for specialised mountain bike gear above ordinary gloves, beanies or thermal socks.