A group Simcoe County Mountain Bike Club (SCMBC) riders enjoying a trail near Horseshoe Valley Resort.

Frosty Freedom

by Robin Todd | photography by Jody Wilson

Stay warm, ride safely, and embrace the beauty of winter cycling with these expert tips and inspiring adventures.

When cycling in the fall, you relished each golden hour and the freedom you felt on your bicycle. You swore that this winter you would maintain that joyous feeling. You conjured an image of yourself out on your bike, with the autumnal backdrop replaced by a winter wonderland: the snow lying heavily on the trees and the icicles glittering in the morning sun. But as the days have grown shorter and the temperature has dropped, your resolve has wavered as you consider the challenges of winter riding. What will you wear to stay warm enough without feeling weighed down by endless layers? How will you cope with snow-covered roads? And where will you find the time to ride now that daylight has dwindled? Before you become overwhelmed by such concerns and resign yourself to cycling indoors—or to not cycling at all—consider the following strategies to make winter riding safe, enjoyable, and even uplifting.

Apparel for Winter Riding 

When dressing for a winter ride, there is potential to underdress and freeze or to overdress, sweat, and then freeze, leading to the same outcome: misery. However, understanding the basic principles of layering and learning about the different materials available will help when choosing what to wear. Understanding how your body reacts to exertion in cold weather is also key. Cycling takes constant effort; your body is always moving, and as you create heat, you also produce sweat as a cooling mechanism. 

Base Layer – Many cyclists choose merino wool as a base layer because it wicks away moisture and actually creates heat as it dries. (As water gets trapped in the wool’s porous fibres, the hydrogen bonds in the water break down, in turn generating heat.) Another plus is that wool doesn›t feel wet against the skin even when it is soaked. However, if you produce a great deal of sweat, a blend of polyester and merino might prove more effective than 100% wool because polyester is a plastic fibre that breathes well but does not absorb moisture. Therefore, with a merino/polyester blend, you get a base layer that breathes effectively, wicks away sweat, and dries more easily than pure wool.

Neil Gold braves the snowy trails on his eye-catching pink bike, a standout against the winter white. His cold weather riding gear helps him stay warm.

Mid Layer – The objective of the mid layer is to create a pocket of warm air, which can be achieved by choosing a range of materials depending on the weather conditions. Fleece, down, synthetic down, or synthetic fleece (e.g., Polartec®) are all porous enough to breathe yet fibrous enough to hold warm air. The warm air also helps to dry the base layer.

Outer Layer – The outer layer should protect the base and mid layers from external elements. This shell layer can be made from materials like Polartec’s Power Shield Pro, eVent BIO, or GORE-TEX® ePE, all of which are PFA-free. The external layer keeps out the wind, rain, and snow while trapping in warm air. Depending on the weather and temperature, this outer layer might consist of a vest, jacket, or hooded jacket.

Accessories

To keep their feet warm, many riders use a combination of merino wool or merino/poly blend socks, cycling shoes, and shoe covers made from neoprene-like materials, or cycling boots (e.g., 45NRTH).

For winter gloves, there is a wide range of waterproof and wind-resistant options. When temperatures really dip, some riders opt for lobster gloves, such as Pearl Izumi’s AmFib, which pair the first two and the last two fingers together for added warmth while still allowing ample dexterity.

Riders who battle cold feet and hands often use chemical warmers, such as Hot Hands, which can be slipped into gloves, between socks and shoes, or between shoes and shoe covers. Others invest in gloves and socks heated by rechargeable lithium batteries. Keep in mind that if your core temperature begins to drop, blood flow is restricted to the extremities, such as the fingers and toes, so keeping your core warm is vital to keeping your hands and feet warm.

Johnny Yeaman grooms the trails at at Mansfield Outdoor Centre with his handy Snowdog® groomer.

When first exploring winter riding, it is a good idea to keep a journal of what you wear in different conditions: what works and what doesn’t. Ultimately, your journal may save you time and energy in deciding what to wear for each ride.

Safety Tips

Neil Gold, a national sales manager for Cannondale, knows all about the challenges of cycling through the depths of winter and urges riders to focus on safety: “Drivers are not expecting cyclists on the road in the colder months, and daylight is limited, leading riders to start, finish, or potentially complete their entire ride in the dark if trying to fit rides in during the week. It’s imperative that riders use a quality set of front and rear lights and, ideally, a radar to warn of what is approaching from behind.” Gold also suggests avoiding the “all-black stealth outfit.” Instead, add some reflectivity and colour. Finally, Gold emphasizes the need to be prepared for the inevitable: “Bring an extra layer and spare set of gloves, along with your basic tools, pump, and tube. When you stop to fix even the simplest thing, the cold sets in quickly!” To combat the potential dangers of icy roads, you might consider studded tires, such as Schwalbe’s Marathon Winter Plus or Continental’s Contact Spike, both of which have carbide-tipped studs embedded in the tire for maximum traction on a mixture of snow and ice.

Fat Biking

If you are looking for a change from your riding routine, consider the adventures that await you on a fat bike. Imagine starting out early in the morning: the world is silent, and before you lies a perfectly groomed trail winding through kilometres of pristine forest. At Mansfield Outdoor Centre (MOC), there are 18 km of single-track trails specifically for fat bikes and another 18 km of trails in Dufferin County Forest. From mid-December until mid-March, MOC grooms all 36 kilometres of trails and uses its Instagram account (@moctrails) to provide riders with detailed updates on trail conditions. The centre also grooms 17 km of double-track trail, with a multi-use trail running alongside it that can be used for running, riding, or hiking. Johnny Yeaman, the trail manager at MOC, explained that at Mansfield, the focus is on building community as much as it is on building trails, and that the key objective is to make everyone feel welcome. The centre now boasts a café, open seven days a week, where riders and skiers can relax around a wood-burning stove. It also has hot showers and heated cabins available, as well as several bikes for rent, making it a perfect destination for a midwinter adventure. 

Peter Glassford riding the George Christie trails in Collingwood on a rental bike from Kamikaze Bikes.

Peter Glassford encounters Nordic skiers on the George Christie trails in Collingwood, riding a rental bike from Kamikaze Bikes.

You might also consider venturing to Hardwood Hills or Horseshoe Resort, both of which offer bike rentals, or to one of Simcoe County Mountain Bike Club’s networks of trails. For example, the Oro Trail Network has approximately 30 km of groomed trails, including the very popular “Creeks” trail, which has a dozen bridges crossing over creeks and wetlands. The Severn and Midland trail networks also have sections groomed for fat biking. Blake Fick, the President of SCMBC, spoke of the incredible group of volunteers who groom the trails throughout the winter. They are passionate about their work and, in truth, they love flying along on the “snow dogs,” which create the trails. If you want to ride closer to home, consider renting or buying a fat bike from Kamikaze Bikes or Little Ed’s, and trying the Collingwood and Georgian trail systems, as well as the Blueberry Trail and Pretty River Provincial Park trails. 

One rider who has explored many trails is Nancy Newman, one of the first cyclists in Collingwood to own a fat bike. For Newman, fat bike riding is a way of connecting with the natural world: “One of my biggest joys is waking up to see snow falling on the weekend and knowing that I can bundle up, hop on my fat bike, and go for a long adventure. It brings me back to my childhood when I would play outside in my yard for hours, either during or after a big snowfall, stopping only to get a pair of dry mittens.” Fat biking also offers Newman ways of challenging herself in the winter: “I have great memories from one December when I rode 40 km to Thornbury and back every single Saturday on my fat bike. Each week the snow on the trail got deeper and deeper. My final Thornbury ride that December took me over five hours, but I did it. That incredible sense of accomplishment has always stuck with me.” When it comes to dressing for a ride, Newman keeps it simple: “I have a good base layer, and a jacket and pants that I can also wear when I am cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. I wear a cap under my helmet, a neck warmer, some toasty warm ski mitts, and winter boots. On days when it’s around -20C, I wear my downhill ski jacket and snow pants.” What inspires her to ride, even on the coldest days, is the chance to enjoy “the peaceful beauty that surrounds [her].” 

We may rail against winter and its chilly demeanour, but if we challenge ourselves to get outside and ride—be it on trails or roads—we can all discover the “peaceful beauty” of which Nancy Newman speaks. E 

A group Simcoe County Mountain Bike Club (SCMBC) riders enjoying a trail near Horseshoe Valley Resort.