14.02.2025 | Reading time - 5 min(s)

Winter Cycling Tips UK

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Posted in: Safety

When winter and the cold weather rolls around, it can be tempting to leave the bike in the shed. If you persevere though, winter rides can be some of the best you can do - the clear crisp mornings will always surprise you with a stunning sunrise or some unexpected wildlife. Once you are out there, you will love it. But of course, if you would prefer to stay indoors and wait out the bad weather, then you could always have a look at turbo trainers.

Whether braving the winter ride or opting to train indoors, we have put together this handy guide to cycling in winter to explore some of the main topics, such as: the best clothes to wear, the extra maintenance required on your bike, general safety tips and the benefits of a turbo trainer if you prefer to stay indoors.

Contents and quick links

Choose The Correct Clothing
Make Yourself More Visible
Choose The Correct Bike Lights
Pick The Right Bike
Change Your Bike Setup
Move Your Training Indoors
Safety Tips For Cycling In Winter
Frequently Asked Questions

There are a few considerations that can make winter cycling much more enjoyable, and in some cases, even safer. Here are our top winter cycling tips to stay comfortable and safe. For comfort, the right clothing goes a long way towards keeping you warm and happy while some changes to your bike setup and some extra accessories can make you a bit safer. Let's start with the clothing.

Choose the right clothing

One of the main factors to contend with in winter, particularly in Britain, is the cold and wet weather. It is vitally important to choose the right winter cycling clothing (see all Endura cycling clothing and other top brands) to keep you warm and comfortable on your ride whether you are commuting or maintaining training for the new cycling season. A great option is to buy multiple layers so you have versatility in your winter cycling gear. Adding extra layers when it gets really cold or removing them when you get some unseasonable higher temperatures (another feature of UK cycling).

How To Manage Sweat And Moisture During Winter Rides

Being warm in winter is of paramount importance but of equal importance is to stay comfortable as well. This means managing moisture and sweat as you ride and this can be done by choosing the right clothing that offers thermal qualities but also breathability.

Breathability is the feature that allows sweat and moisture to escape the skin, leaving you both dry and warm. The simplest way to allow this moisture management is to invest in a good base layer to wear under your midlayer, soft shell or winter cycing jacket but the breathability of the other items definitely matters too.

Invest In A Good Pair Of Gloves

Breathability is equally important in gloves too along with thermal insulation for those cold winter days. A good pair of gloves will offer both of these qualities so you get to your destination with warm and dry hands. You want your hands to be warm but also for the moisture and sweat to be wicked away from the skin. Having cold hands is not pleasant but neither is getting to your destination with soaking wet hands. A good pair of gloves will both keep your hands warm but also keep them incredibly comfortable.

Look After Your Feet

There are quite a number of ways to protect your feet in winter and this depends on personal choice. The choices you have are overshoes, winter cycling shoes and/or socks. We will look at each and advise how to build in versatility.

Overshoes

Overshoes can be a great choice for wearing over your regular cycling shoes and you have options of thin and waterproof overshoes or full on winter thermal overshoes for the combination of warmth and waterproofing.

Waterproof Overshoes - Great for keeping your feet dry all year round. Wear in winter paired with some thermal socks to keep warm and dry in winter or wear on a warm and wet day in summer to keep dry and comfortable.
Thermal Overshoes - Thermal overshoes give the warmth required in winter and depending on your personal preferences, you can wear these with thermal or regular cycling socks.

Winter cycling shoes

If you don't fancy the extra work of pulling on your overshoes every day, a great way to prevent cold feet in winter are dedicated winter shoes. Winter cycling shoes will have the thermal and waterproofing built in so there is usually no need for thermal socks or overshoes (but, of course, if you get excessively cold feet, add in some thermal socks). Due to how warm these are, they can only really be used in winter or the chillier spring and autumn days. They are excellent but they do cost a pretty penny for something for only one season.

Sock Choice

You wouldn't think the humble cycling sock would have such an effect on your cold weather cycling but they really do. A cycling sock generally will offer much better sweat wicking technology than non cycling socks to keep your feet dry and comfortable. Here is a rough guide but the great thing about this is the flexibility - if you get colder feet on a cycle, opt for a warmer sock if you need to.

Regular Cycling Socks - Opt for a thin cycling sock when wearing specific winter cycling shoes or thermal overshoe. This is to regulate the temperature of your feet and remove moisture from against your skin.
Thermal Cycling Sock - Great for keeping your feet warm if you opt for your regular cycling shoes and a thinner, waterproof overshoe. Merino wool is often used in thermal socks as they offer great warmth and breathability to keep your feet comfortable.
Waterproof Socks - A warmer sock for winter that is also waterproof. Great to be worn under cycling shoes if you are not opting for winter cycling shoes or waterproof or thermal overshoes. In our experience, though, the breathabilithy of these socks is compromised for the waterproofing and thermal qualities. We usually only recommend these for people whose feet get really cold in winter.

Protect Your Eyes Against The Elements

An often forgotten about piece of winter cycling gear is a good set of cycling sunglasses. This is not to protect from the sun necessarily, but to protect from rain, cold wind, snow and road spray. We usually advise going for a pair of glasses that offers a large lens for excellent visibility and you will forget you are even wearing them.

Make Yourself Visible

When choosing your winter clothing, it is worth thinking about being visible and choosing bright colours or high-visibility items due to the dark and low light conditions. Many top brands will have relective details on their winter cycling clothing to help increase this visibility.

Top Tip: The jackets you see that are fully reflective are often low on the breathability scale - this is due to the fact that this reflective material cannot be made to be breathable. This is why the top brands only place this material strategically on their clothing.

Another way to be visible is to run front and rear lights and, aside from running these between dusk and dawn, as is the legal requirement, we would also recommend running lights any time you are cycling in winter. (Writer's note: I run lights every single time I cycle, day or night, rain or shine).

Choose The Correct Bicycle Lights

Lights are an essential investment for winter cycling due to the early evenings and, let's be honest, it's usually pretty low light during the day too. That is why it is so important to get your lighting game sorted. If you cycle around town, you should look for the best front and rear light that will make you as visible to other road users as possible. We even recommend more than one set of lights placed on different places on your bike and your body as then, if one set of lights runs out of batteries, you will have back up lights. Please note: to conform to British cycling legislation, one front and one rear light MUST be attached to your bicycle.

If you are a mountain biker or a commuter cyclist who cycles along unlit roads and tracks - you will likely need more powerful lights (we recommend a minimum of 800 lumens for commuters and at least 1000 lumens for mountain bikers) in order to light up the road or trail so you can see where you are going. That is why choosing the right lights for your circumstances is incredibly important.

We have an ultimate light guide here

Pick the Correct Bike

The conditions of roads and paths in the UK is another factor that has to be considered - they are usually wet, covered in leaves and occasionally ice. Choosing a bike with wider tyres will give you more grip and will result in a more comfortable ride. While you are fitting wider tyres, consider a puncture resistant set as punctures are more common in winter time and it is much worse to have to change these at the side of the road in freezing conditions.

Make Tweaks to Your Current Setup

If a seperate bike is not an option then you can make changes to your current bike to make it more winter friendly. Due to all the salt and grime on the roads, a set of mudguards can be indispensable to protect you and your bike from the worst of it. Opt for full wraparound mudguards if your bike has the mounts or a clip on set if you cycle a road bike that has neither the mounts or the clearance.

Talking of clearance; if you have the space then a set of wider and more puncture resistant tyres are an excellent choice for increasing wet weather grip and reducing punctures.

Hopefully all of this talk of the cold weather is not putting you off the idea of cycling outside in the cold but if it has, you can consider moving your training indoors.

Move it indoors

If you do not feel comfortable cycling in the winter or just don't want to, you have the option of continuing your training indoors on a turbo trainer where the cold can't get you - in fact, you will likely need a fan or two to keep you cool.

Turbo trainers range from the simple trainers that you mount your bike to and start pedalling against an adjustable resistance to a full on smart trainer that can be linked to any number of training apps where you can cycle on fictional or real routes or set up a targeted training plan.

Safety Tips For Cycling In Icy or Snowy Conditions

If you opt to continue cycling outdoors, here are some of our favourite pieces of advice to riding through a UK winter.

Spiked Tyres - Not something you see a lot in the UK but spiked tyres offer enhanced grip on ice and hard-packed snow. Just be warned though, they are heavy and offer poor rolling resistance but on ice, they are great.
Braking - If you find yourself unexpectedly on ice or even wet leaves, use your back brake more and try not to pull on it too firmly. We use the back brake as we do not want to slide out with the front wheel on slippery surfaces.
Route Choice - Staying to busier roads and paths is usually safer, as well used routes will be less likely to have ice. Busier roads will usually also be the first to be gritted.
Lower Your Pressure - Reducing the pressure of your tyres adds grip, particularly on wet ground. Just be careful not to reduce the pressure too much to risk pinch flats.
Go Tubeless - The next level is to set up your bike tubeless as the benefits of this are twofold - one: you can run the tyres at a lower pressure and not have to worry about getting pinch flats and two: most punctures will seal themselves meaning not having to change tubes at the side of the road when it's cold. Converting your wheels to tubeless in winter has many benefits such as sealing small punctures before they deflate your tyre but more importantly, tubeless tyres can be run at lower pressures without the risk of pinch flats.
Maintenance - We all know bike maintenance is important but when the winter weather hits, it becomes vital to keep your bike in tip top condition. Particular attention should be paid to your chain and cassette as salt will rust a chain and cassette quicker than you would think possible. If you are cycling every day - it would be worth cleaning and lubricating every 2 to 3 days.

If you decide to cycle without mudguards, it is important to check your headset bearings as they are in a prime spot for the road spray to get in under your headset and rust the bearings (if you are being extra vigilant, it would be worth checking that your bearings are well greased before winter rolls around).

Another handy tip is to keep an eye on your brake pads as these will generally wear out quicker in low temperatures and the wet.

See our blog on how to winter-proof your bike
Mudguards - As soon as the gritters come out to treat the roads for winter, you should really think about fitting a pair of mudguards as these will keep the worst of the salt water off of your bike and, more importantly, keep the salt away from your precious groupset - we have literally seen a chain rust overnight after wet winter riding.

Genesis Flyer Rider.jpg

Frequently Asked Questions About Cycling in Winter

Following our top tips, we move on to the top winter cycling questions as suggested by search engines. The frequently asked question section has become a fast favourite in our blogs of late. And that's just for us when we see the questions that the search engines fire out. Here are the top qustions from the internet and our answers for these.

What are the essential items to wear for cycling in the UK during winter?

We convered this in the above clothing section but we believe the essentials are - a good waterproof and thermal jacket, thermal tights or trousers, gloves, hat and foot protection. Over time you can increase the number of items you have to increase the versatility of your winter outfit but to start, those pieces should get you started.

What are the best bikes for winter cycling?

The best bikes for cycling in winter months tend to be simple bikes. A single speed such as the Genesis Flyer is incredibly popular with its one speed and mechanical disc brakes or if you are going electric, any bike with belt drive and internal gears would be an excellent choice.

More generally, bikes with wider tyres or with the ability to take wider tyres are a good shout. Anything with disc brakes is a bonus for better stopping in adverse conditions.

How do I keep my hands and feet warm while cycling in cold UK weather?

For the hands question; a good set of thermal and breathable gloves would be the recommendation and for feet; it is any number of options - thermal socks, winter cycling shoes or thermal overshoes and multiple combinations of these depending on personal preference. Our section above covers this is greater detail.

What type of bike tyres are best for winter conditions in the UK?

There are plenty of choices here but we generally recommend wider tyres in winter for more grip on wet roads and paths. There are a number of other options available, depoending on your preferences.

Tubeless tyres - tubeless tyres can be run at lower pressures for more grip and comfort without the increased risk of pinch flats. Tubeless tyres will also seal up any small punctures as you ride.
Puncture resistant tyres - If you run tubeless, you can (and should) run a puncture resistant tyre to reduce the chances of punctures even further. If you still run tubes then a puncture resistant tyre is a must. Noone wants to have to change a tyre at the roadside in winter.

How should I maintain my bike after riding in winter weather?

Due to all the salt and crud on the roads in winter, it is really important to look after your bike, especially the chain, cassette and moving parts. We would recommend cleaning and lubricating your chain and cassette every two to three days (if you can). Any longer and the rust can start to set in because of the salt. We would also recommend checking your brake pads more often as these will also wear out quicker in deep winter.

Can I use a road bike for winter cycling in the UK, and what modifications are necessary?

Technically, yes, but one of the characteristics of road bikes is the skinny tyres and lack of clearance for wider ones. If you are perservering then we would recommend fitting a set of full mudguards if you can or even clip-on ones to offer you and your bike some protection from the conditions. Another change to make would be to set your tyres tubeless if you can or change them out for some winter, puncture resistant, tyres.

What lighting should I use for safe cycling on dark winter mornings in the UK?

The sort of lighting you need will depend on where you are cycling. If you are cycling in the city with street lights then we would recommend lights that make you more visible to other road users. If you are cycling on unlit roads and paths, you will need a more powerful light to allow you to see where you are going - usually 800 lumens or above.

You can use more powerful lights in the city but please be courteous or other road and path users and dip these before dazzling people. Some of the top bright lights have functions that allow you to switch between modes at the push of a button.

How do I prevent my bike's gears from freezing in UK winter conditions?

It would usually take much colder conditions than a UK winter to freeze your gears but if you are concerned by this then there are arctic chain lubes available to cater for this. But we don't think we have heard any stories of gears freezing.

On the other hand, fresh snow can clog up your gears if you are on cycling over it and the only way to counter this is through bike choice - a single speed bike should cancel this out or an internal hub geared bike.

It is worth noting that wax-based lubricants can be affected by really cold conditions but we are unlikely to see the types of temperatures in the UK that will majorly affect these. In these low temperatures, the wax might just stiffen up making you less efficient.

If you keep your chain clean and lubricated through winter then you are unlikely to ever see a situation that your gears freeze. A bike chain in winter is more likely to be affected by the salt and grime on the roads at this time of year.

What are the best strategies for cycling safely on icy UK roads?

We find the best strategy is to avoid the ice altogether by sticking to bigger and busier roads as these are the ones most likely to be gritted. If you would rather stay away from busy roads in winter (understandable) then fitting a set of spiked tyres is the only real way to safely cycle over ice - please note: you still have to be careful, even when running spiked tyres.

How can I adjust my cycling clothing layers for varying winter temperatures in the UK?

This usually involves owning a number of different clothing options. Having a good base layer, mid layer and jacket goes a long way to being able to deal with lots of different weather and temperatures. If it's a relatively warm day, go for the base layer and mid layer and on a really cold day, wear all of them. There are many levels in between these two examples which is where the versatility comes in.

For your bottow half, owning some winter tights or trousers is a must but for the versatility you may consider leg warmers as these can be removed if you get too warm or worn under cycling trousers. Pairing these up with a thermal short can give you some flexibility to cycle in different conditions.

What are some tips for staying hydrated and fueled during long winter rides?

Very similar to fuelling at other times of the year aside from the cold weather meaning you will burn more calories. You will likely have to eat a bit more. From a hydration side, having an insulated bottle can be a real help as your water or drink will not get too cold. Drinking colder liquids take more energy to process and we don't want to be wasting any energy on longer rides.

Conclusion

We hoped this blog has helped you choose your winter cycling outfit and that it encourages you to enjpy cycling through the cold weather. As we say, winter cycles can be some of the most enjoyable you can take part in.

Clothing

One of the most important aspects of winter cycling is to stay warm and comfortable in the wet weather or when cycling in very cold conditions. If you make sure you have a good waterproofs for cycling, you will keep toasty in the poor weather, there is no reason you can't enjoy winter riding.

We will have a look at some of the common clothing choices, including some handy tips as well as a few good options of each clothing type.

We have a blog on how to dress for cycling in the cold

Contents and Quick Links

Cycling Jackets

What you decide to wear cycling will dictate how warm, dry and comfortable you are. One of the staples of your winter wardrobe is a winter cycling jacket that will keep your body heat in and will keep the worst of the rain off of you if the heavens open. Not all cycling garments are made equal and there is a great deal of technology in cycling clothing and with winter cycling jackets - the more you invest, the more windproof, waterproof and breathable these jackets are and the more comfortable you will be. A thermal cycling jersey can provide excellent warmth when the temperature drops and provide great breathability due to being water resistant and not a full waterproof jacket.

Breathability is a huge factor in these winter cycling jackets as this prevents you being drenched in sweat after your ride. The best winter cycling jackets will generally also last a lot longer than the cheaper counterparts saving money and waste in the long run.

Base Layer

A fast-wicking first layer is essential for making the most of your breathable top layer when cycling. The right base layer will help keep you warm and dry in winter, and cool and dry in summer. Made from advanced and lightweight fabrics, our base layers will keep you well ventilated while protecting you from the cold weather.

A good base layer can be absolutely vital in winter cycling (or most other cycling for that matter) as they are incredible at wicking the sweat away from your body and the best ones will either keep you warm when it's cold or, amazingly, keep you cool when it heats up. You can view all our base layers here but we really feel that winter riding can be drastically improved by investing in a good quality base layer to go under your mid layer or top layer.

Legwear

The question of what to wear on your legs depends on the type of bike you have and personal preference. For example, if you ride an electric bike, you may just want to invest in a pair of waterproof trousers to wear over your regular clothing but if you commute or ride on cyclocross bikes or a road bike, you will likely want some winter bib tights, bib-longs or leg warmers with thermal qualities. If you are mountain biking, you may want to opt for a pair of bib tights under your regular shorts. There are so many options to keep you warm during winter, you will definitely find something to suit you.

Gloves

This one probably goes without saying but we will cover it anyway. There is nothing worse than having cold hands on a ride and if you were to lose feeling in them it makes operating the brakes and gears harder to operate and could make you less safe on the bike. Waterproof gloves are a wise investment also to keep your hands dry and comfortable in the cold temperatures.

If you have ever tried to change a puncture with freezing cold hands, you would never leave your winter gloves at home ever again. Here are some of the best winter gloves.

A cyclist needs gloves to ward off wind chill - even on temperate days when you could comfortably stroll around glove-less. As well as protecting your hands from the elements, today's cycling gloves improve grip, absorb road shock and help cushion the ulnar nerves to help prevent your hands going numb.

Footwear

Another one that needs no introduction - keeping your feet warm in winter is as important as keeping your hands warm. Cold and wet feet are just plain painful but there are a number of options to take care of your tootsies from a good pair of socks to some substantial winter boots with cleats (if you prefer).

Headwear

Another important factor when winter cycling is to keep your head and neck warm in cold weather. Buffs can be an excellent, versatile choice as these can be worn under your cycling helmet or neck and in summer buffs can be used to keep the bugs out of your mouth.

We hope you have enjoyed our section on clothing but there is much more to winter cycling than just what you wear. How you set up and maintain your bike is essential in keeping you happy and safe in winter. Talking of safety, being visible and seeing where you are going are vitally important.

Author

Ross Howieson

Content Creator

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Winter Cycling Tips UK

Choose the right clothing

How To Manage Sweat And Moisture During Winter Rides

Invest In A Good Pair Of Gloves

Look After Your Feet

Overshoes

Winter cycling shoes

Sock Choice

Protect Your Eyes Against The Elements

Make Yourself Visible

Choose The Correct Bicycle Lights

Pick the Correct Bike

Make Tweaks to Your Current Setup

Move it indoors

Safety Tips For Cycling In Icy or Snowy Conditions

Frequently Asked Questions About Cycling in Winter

What are the essential items to wear for cycling in the UK during winter?

What are the best bikes for winter cycling?

How do I keep my hands and feet warm while cycling in cold UK weather?

What type of bike tyres are best for winter conditions in the UK?

How should I maintain my bike after riding in winter weather?

Can I use a road bike for winter cycling in the UK, and what modifications are necessary?

What lighting should I use for safe cycling on dark winter mornings in the UK?

How do I prevent my bike's gears from freezing in UK winter conditions?

What are the best strategies for cycling safely on icy UK roads?

How can I adjust my cycling clothing layers for varying winter temperatures in the UK?

What are some tips for staying hydrated and fueled during long winter rides?

Conclusion

Clothing

Cycling Jackets

Base Layer

Legwear

Gloves