Winter brings off-puttingly wet weather, grimly gloomy hilltops, treacherous trails, the necessity of night riding, tediously time-consuming post-ride clean-ups and more.
But none of this should be a barrier to your year-round enjoyment of cycling – with appropriate preparation and kit, inclement conditions offer new challenges, intrigue and purpose to your riding.
With that in mind, this week we’re celebrating all things off-season with Winter Cycling Week on BikeRadar.
Over the next seven days, we’ll bring you practical advice on making winter riding fun, training tips to make the most of your time on the bike, winter cycling hacks and upgrades, and buying advice for the best cycling kit for foul weather.
While winter officially ends on 20 March in the Northern Hemisphere, at least here in the UK, winter-like conditions continue well into the spring (and into the summer if we’re unlucky…).
As such, much of the advice can be applied to your year-round cycling. Who knows when you’ll be glad to have learned sandwich bags are a life-saver if you suffer from cold feet?
Winter Cycling Week on BikeRadar
Features and opinion
- 6 winter cycling mistakes every road rider makes
- The winter bike is dead – and Zwift is to blame
- Expensive bib tights aren't always the best choice
- Could snow bike racing be cycling's latest Olympic sport?
- Why cycling in winter unlocks amazing health benefits
- The worst waterproof is one you don't want to wear
Advice and explainers
- What impact does exercise have on your immune system?
- How to cycle in snow and ice
- Complete guide to winter mountain biking
- How to get your road bike winter-ready
- Winter gravel bike riding: Get your gravel bike ready for winter
- Base training for cyclists: myth or must-do?
- The complete guide to winter road cycling
- Can I commute by bike in winter? Our guide to cycling to work in cold and wet weather
