Cycling in rain, snow and cold - Practical tips

Expected Reading Time: 19 Minutes

The cold season is just around the corner and the hardy among us who have to go to the office by bike in bad weather or to school by bike in the rain, or even have planned a bike ride in the rain , should prepare now for cycling in the rain, snow & Co.

With our practical "Cycling in the rain tips" you can confidently ride a bike in any weather. No matter what unexpected weather surprises befall you.

Let's go!

Dry from head to toe with waterproof bike rainwear

There are certainly some bad-weather situations in which you should rather leave the bike.

Wet and cold, however, are not among them.

Because with proper clothing you can ride a bike in the rain without getting wet.
For this your rainwear should

• Be breathable so you don't sweat too much,
• water repellent or waterproof
• and in the best case also be windproof.

That's why we are now taking a close look at suitable rainwear from head to toe.

Your head needs special protection from cold and moisture

And we don't just mean wearing a bike helmet.

Most body heat is lost through your head, so be sure to wear a hat when cycling on cold days. Ideal are windproof helmet hats.

The cap is in no way intended to replace the bicycle helmet. Rather, you can use the helmet for even more visibility in the dark. For example, with a reflective and waterproof helmet cover.

If your helmet cover is not reflective, you can always readjust with reflective stickers.
More about this below.

Apart from the cap, a bicycle balaclava or a face hood for cycling should also be part of your rain gear. Because if the rain whips you in the face or you already freeze the nose hairs, it can be quite uncomfortable. In this overview for different bike masks you will learn what you should look for when buying.

A bike rain jacket, rain cape or bike rain poncho

A high-quality rain jacket for cyclists is breathable and waterproof. For cycling and hiking in the rain, a 10,000 mm water column is a good benchmark.

Ventilation zippers under the arms are also useful so that the moisture in the air caused by sweating does not accumulate under the jacket and can be transported to the outside.

Equally practical is a hood with rain shield, so that the rain does not drip directly on your nose or glasses, as well as an openable collar and adjustable cuffs on the arms and hips.

Rain capes and rain ponchos protect you further than the waist. These can usually be folded easily and have a small pack size for easy transport. In most cases, however, the necessary flexibility comes at the expense of functionality.

Dry legs while cycling with rain pants

Even a large rain poncho for the bike does not completely protect your legs from rain. Only a good pair of rain pants can do that. So that, as with the rain jacket, heat and sweat do not accumulate underneath, the rain pants should also be breathable.

To protect you reliably from moisture, they should have a water column (WS) of at least 3,000 mm to 4,000 mm. If you want to be on the road in heavy rain, a bike rain pants with 10,000 mm WS or more is advisable.

You should also make sure you have enough room to move.

Rain cover for shoes against wet and cold feet when cycling

With our 100% water repellent and windproof bicycle Rain Overshoes you do not have to worry about what shoes you can wear in the rain. 

Because thanks to elastic drawstring and one-size they are made as rain protection for normal shoes, which you can simply Drüberziehen.

The high shaft with elastic ensures that no water can penetrate from above and the reinforced sole toe and heel offer you an additional non-slip step.

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If you often cycle in the dark, it is also good for increased visibility in traffic to have additional reflective elements on your cycling overshoes. Our rain overshoes are already equipped with reflectors.

In particularly icy temperatures, however, you could get cold feet with these rain protection shoes while cycling. Because they are not lined from the inside.

For warm feet while cycling, you should use waterproof overshoes with thermal function.

Bicycle gloves for warm and dry hands

So that you do not slip off the handlebars because of wet hands or get cracked hands due to the cold, you should rely on cycling gloves for the winter at this time. Because summer gloves made of thin Lycra protect your hands at most from some splashing water, but not enough from the cold.

Thermal cycling gloves with a cozy inner lining are ideal for cycling tours in icy cold. However, they are relatively thick and therefore somewhat more rigid than other gloves. You should therefore definitely check before the ride whether you can brake and shift well with it. 

Soft winter gloves are more flexible than thermal cycling gloves. Their water- and wind-repellent outer material does not protect your hands from freezing cold, but from light rain and snowfall as well as from wind. 

To increase your safety on the road in the cold season, reflective elements on the gloves are advisable.

Practical for temperature fluctuations: The onion look

Especially in autumn, it is often much colder in the morning and evening than during the day.

Quickly you are then sweating in the afternoon when you wear your warm rainwear, which has kept you warm early in the morning. So that you are neither too warm nor too cold at any time on such days, the good old Zwiebellook or layered look will benefit you. 

The different layers keep you warm in cold temperatures and can be stowed in the pocket when it gets warmer. This is not only practical, but also important for your health. Because if you start to sweat and the air around you is cool, you quickly catch a cold.

For such cases, it is also advisable to always have a change of shirt with you, which you can put on when yours is soaked with sweat, so that you don't cool down and catch something in the process.

The right cycling equipment for cycling in the rain

In addition to wearing the right rain gear while cycling, you can increase your riding comfort and safety even more with the right cycling gear for rain.

Ensure increased visibility with reflective stickers on your bike

In poor visibility conditions, e.g. at dusk, in fog or drizzle, and even more so in the dark, it is extremely important to be recognized early by other road users in order to avoid accidents.

In order to be perceived from even the smallest angle, bicycle lights are sometimes not enough.

Bicycle reflectors for sticking are suitable for this. Many such reflective stickers blend inconspicuously into your bike design during the day and shine all the more effectively in the dark. With the reflective stickers "Chevron you have 20 green or black stickers in different shapes and sizes that stick to smooth surfaces.

As bike frame stickers, you can even arrange the geometric shapes into small works of art and add a personal touch to your bike gear. The round tex–lock stickers are instead well suited as emoji stickers for bicycle helmets and will surely make some people smile. 

Please note that reflector stickers do not replace the legally required bicycle light! They are rather a useful addition to maximize your visibility and safety on the road.

A bike splash guard keeps your clothes clean and dry

A mudguard on the bike is an absolute must-have for cycling in rain and snow.

It keeps your clothes clean and protects your bike from dirt and damage. Because stones swirled up and hiding in the mud or road salt can cause paint scratches on your bike, for example.

So that this does not happen to you, there is the right mudguard for every bike:

• Plug-in mudguards are easy to attach and remove and are ideal for riders who only occasionally need protection from splashing water and mud.
  
• Fixed mudguards are permanently mounted on the bike and provide protection from moisture and dirt at all times. They are therefore suitable, for example, for commuters and frequent riders who cycle to work in the rain.
  
• Road bike mudguards are specifically designed for road bikes and improve riding comfort in bad weather, without compromising the weight and speed in the process.
  
• MTB mudguards are robust and wide to meet the demands of mountain biking. They protect not only from water and mud, but also from stones and dirt on rough trails.
  
• Folding mudguards can be unfolded if necessary and can otherwise be folded to save space. They are well suited for cyclists who want to resort to the splash guard only when necessary.

Our mobile mudguard for bicycle "ASS SAVER" is a combination of bicycle plug-in mudguard and folding mudguard, which is suitable for all tire widths between 23 - 35 mm. It does not require a special mudguard holder on the bike for mounting, but can be easily plugged into the saddle stays in seconds and folded away under the saddle if necessary. It is super light, flexible and yet robust enough so that you are always optimally protected from rain.

Choose tires with good grip to drive safely on wet roads

For cycling in rainy weather, snow and ice you should think about winter tires for your bike. Because the tires that roll well over the asphalt in summer may not be the right ones to roll safely over wet or even icy ground in winter.

We recommend a siped tread with good grip, which provides secure footing on mud and snow. You can reduce the air pressure to the minimum specified by the manufacturer. The resulting larger contact area hugs the road surface better than when the tire is fully inflated and thus gives you better grip on the surface.

Regularly test the braking effect and readjust your brakes if necessary

No matter which tires you use for cycling in rain and ice, the braking distance will increase even with good winter tires and slipping can usually not be completely avoided.

Therefore, test the functionality of your brakes regularly and adjust them if necessary. How, you see in this video about strengthening the braking force:

Adjust your riding style to avoid falls on slippery surfaces.

Even the best riding skills, the strongest brakes and the best cycling equipment for bad weather won't save you from an accident if you don't adapt your riding style to the conditions.

On wet, muddy and icy roads you should always drive more carefully and a little slower.

Watch out for other road users who may be less visible.

Even if you have little or no difficulty biking in the rain and snow, you should be considerate of other road users. Others may have more difficulty than you in moving forward on slippery paths or may even be less visible in the dark.

To avoid being surprised by other road users and skidding in poor visibility conditions, drive with extra attention.

Take care of your rain gear for your bike when it is exposed to bad weather

The cold and wet weather usually gnaws at materials. Like your tex–lock. Icy cold or when you stir up dirt on wet roads while riding, which sticks to your lock, can cause the bike lock to jam. You should therefore regularly clean the textile clean and maintain and maintain it.

The same applies to your clothing, which must withstand the wet. Therefore, impregnate your bike rain equipment at regular intervals with waterproofing spray. Then you will be all autumn and winter cycling in the rain without getting wet.

Make your life more colorful with colorful bike gear in the rain

The cold and dark season is already dreary enough. There is no need for even more dreary clothing or equipment. Therefore, provide a bit of good humor with colorful rain gear for the bike.

For this, there are not only bike rainwear in all kinds of beautiful colors, but also your tex–lock bike lock in acid orange.

With the luminous lock wrapped around your bike or your body you shine even in cold and wet weather and in the dark. Find out what our popular standard color acid orange is all about in the story about the orange bike lock.

Important questions about cycling in any weather

What to do if the bike lock is iced up?

The lock cylinder of your bike lock can also freeze up in the frosty season and therefore stubbornly resist opening. A bicycle lock de-icer is the best way to open the frozen lock - a few sprays and the lock thaws. But what if you don't have any de-icer to hand? Alternatively, you can also use a conventional door lock de-icer or WD-40. If that's not to hand either, here are three quick solutions that are at least worth trying 😉 :

1. Lighter: Heat carefully (!) without melting plastic parts.
2. Warm breathing air: Breathe patiently on the cylinder to thaw the lock.
3. Body heat: Warm up the key with your hands.

To prevent this from happening in the first place, we recommend that you regularly maintain the lock with care spray from a specialist retailer. The spray prevents moisture in the lock cylinder so that it cannot freeze.

Does rain damage the bike?

Rain can actually harm your bike. But only if you don't look after it properly .
Moisture can cause rust, especially on metal parts such as the bicycle chain or sprocket.

Therefore, you should dry your bike thoroughly after a bike ride in the rain and remove any dirt. You should then re-grease the chain if necessary. This is simple, fast and sustainable:

So that you can safely leave your bike in the rain, you should throw a rain cover for the bike over it. It would be even better if you can park it indoors during the cold and wet season. Because not only the wet, but also icy cold do your bike no good.

What helps when riding a bike in the rain with glasses?

Goggles don't have to be a challenge when cycling in the rain. Because they can also protect your eyes from raindrops whipping into your face.
These tips ensure clear vision in any weather: 

• Detergent & Soap: After cleaning your glasses with a microfiber cloth suitable for glasses, apply a small amount of detergent or pure liquid soap to the lenses and spread it evenly. Then polish the lenses with a microfiber cloth for eyeglasses.
• Saliva: The enzymes in saliva form a protective film on the glasses and make water drops roll off them. A quick and easy option if you suddenly get caught in the rain while out and about.
• Water-repellent coating: If you wear your glasses a lot, it may be worthwhile to use lenses with a water-repellent coating. Depending on the type of lens and your care, the so-called lotus effect for glasses lasts 4-5 years.
• Anti-fog treatment: The products specially developed to combat fogging of glasses are available in many variations, from anti-fog spray and foam to anti-fog cloth and pen. The anti-fog effect lasts for different lengths of time.
• Bicycle goggles with ventilation: For frequent riders, special bicycle goggles with ventilation channels or vents are worthwhile. Due to the improved air circulation, fogging of these glasses is automatically minimized.
• Helmet visor: A bicycle helmet with a visor keeps the rain away from the lenses to a large extent. However, helmet visors are often controversial because, for example, the scratches on them reflect light and blind you and because, of course, the visor itself is not immune to rain. 
• Rain jacket with hood or protective cap: With a waterproof protective cap under your helmet or a rain jacket with hood, you keep the rain off from above and prevent raindrops from falling directly onto your glasses from above. 
• Switch to contact lenses: If you wear glasses with vision aids, contact lenses might be better for cycling in the rain. For some, the view is clearer and for others it's blurry. The only thing that helps is trial and error.

Is cycling in the rain harmful to health?

On the contrary, cycling in winter actually strengthens your immune system through exercise in the fresh air and makes you less susceptible to colds. But only if you take proper precautions. Otherwise, cycling in bad weather does pose some health risks.

For example, if you don't dress warmly enough or even too warmly, you can catch a cold from hypothermia or from sweating. Also, if your clothes are soaked and you don't have a change of clothes with you.

In addition, you risk an increased risk of falling if you do not adapt your driving style to the slippery surface or the poor visibility conditions. But: We have given you enough tips against all that here.

And we'll summarize those again now.

Conclusion: With these tips cycling in the rain and cold weather succeeds

You shouldn't let bad weather spoil your enjoyment of cycling. With the right equipment and preparation, you can ride your bike safely and comfortably even in the rain and cold.

• A windproof cap and a bicycle balaclava protect your head and face from rain
• A combination of rain jacket and rain pants gives you the most rain protection while cycling
• Rain capes and rain ponchos may offer you more flexibility and a smaller pack size.
• Your rainwear for cycling should be breathable, waterproof and at best windproof
• With a (lined) rain cover for shoes you have dry and even warm feet while cycling
• Soft winter gloves and thermal cycling gloves protect your hands from cold and moisture
• Wear the Zwiebellook in case of temperature fluctuations, so that you are never dressed too warm or too cold
• In the best case you have a dry change of clothes with you, in case your clothes are soaked through.
• A splash guard for the bike keeps your butt and back dry
• Care for your bike rain gear so that the wet and cold weather can't harm it
• Colorful cycling gear will put you in a good mood when cycling in bad weather
• Reflective stickers on your clothes and all your gadgets increase your visibility in low light and dark conditions
• If you use a rain cover for the bike, the wet can not harm your bike
• There are many ways to avoid fogging up lenses when cycling in the rain
• Cycling in bad weather can even boost your immune system if you take proper precautions

The right equipment for cycling rain & Co. you will find in our bike accessories for safety.

Have a good trip, in rain, snow and ice!

Your tex–lock Team