Fall and Winter Cycling in Beijing

Summer is definitely over, if you have been outside in the past couple of days you will have noticed this as well. Mornings are now calling for jackets and you have traded your sandals for your sneakers again. Maybe even packed your summer clothes away and gotten your sweaters, hats, gloves, warm socks and flannel PJ’s out. And you might be thinking that your cycling days for 2023 are over and your bike will collect dust until April 2024. Well, it does not have to be that way.
The good news is that you can cycle throughout the winter in Beijing.

Personally, I am not a huge fan of cycling in the cold, especially in the mornings. As much as I love to get on my bike, early in the morning, when I can see my own breath in the air, it is challenging! Yet, if I get on my bike, dressed warmly and comfortably, then, after 5km of cycling I realize that I am overheating, and I start to sweat. Now the warm clothes I thought I needed feel too warm, and I am taking off one layer after the other. I am sweaty and now the windchill feels uncomfortably cool and the next day I find myself with a sore throat, sniffles or getting a cold. Therefore, my bike stays put till the following springtime.

That’s how my winter cycling experiences had been most of the time. Until last year, when my husband and I did some research on how to dress for cycling during winter without getting sick.
Here is what we found and what worked for us.

Layers

– The secret to keeping your body in the right temperature range is wearing multiple, thin layers. Keep in mind that your body will warm up during physical activity. Therefore, it is OK to feel a little cold when you start riding.
– Add Merino Wool underwear to a winter cycling set of jacket and long cycling pants. That should be enough. Try and adjust according to your personal preferences and needs. You can also add an additional layer if necessary. The sweat inside is brought to the outer layers of your clothes, so you stay warm and mostly dry.
– An extra recommendation we give you is to let your cycling clothes air out before your next ride. Merino wool products specially, do not need to be washed after every single use.

Head and neck covering

– Wear a thin hat under the helmet. Thicker hats might keep you warm, but you will eventually feel uncomfortably hot.
– My husband enjoys having his earmuffs which he prefers to hats.
– For rainy and snowy days, there are waterproof helmet covers available.
They keep your head under the helmet dry and usually come in bright colors to be more visible.
– Wearing a thin woolen scarf or a bandana will also protect your neck.

Hands

– Remember to wear gloves to keep your hands warm. We had Heat-tech gloves, but my husband still gets cold hands. Then, a friend suggested double layered gloves instead. We are looking forward to try them out this winter.

Shoes

– Wearing normal Tennis shoes with thick socks is one way to go, but the wind does get cold and so do our toes. Overshoes may work for cleats or tennis shoes. Another option are normal winter shoes, or boots for daily commute. However, for cycling long distances on a road bike it might be good to invest in winter cycling shoes.

Water

– Carry a thermos with warm water instead of the usual cycling water bottles. Cycling in winter may not leave you as thirsty as it does in summer. However, your body will still lose fluids, and therefore you need to refill. Warm water will not shock your system as much as cold water and will be easier on your stomach. Also, you will feel warm from the inside. (Tip: do not put boiling hot water in the thermos right before you leave… the water might be too hot when you want to drink)

We hope that these few tips will equip you better if you want to keep active by riding your bicycle throughout the winter. Please, let us know if there are other winter cycling tips you find helpful.
If you have any additional cycling-related questions, feel free to ask and we will try to give you a suitable answer.