How to ride through winter: what to wear and how to train
Jan 27, 2026
How to ride through winter: what to wear and how to train
Jan 27, 2026
How to ride through winter: what to wear and how to train
Jan 27, 2026
Winter riding can feel demotivating, but it doesn’t have to mean lost fitness or skipped sessions. With the right clothing and a smarter training approach, winter becomes one of the best times to build a strong base, stay consistent, and arrive at spring ready, not rusty.
What to wear in winter
The secret to comfort isn’t one “super warm” item. It’s layering. Layers keep you warm, protect you from wind and rain, and help you regulate temperature as your effort changes. The goal is simple: stay warm enough to ride well, but dry enough to avoid getting cold.
When it’s below freezing (under 0°C/32°F), your priorities are insulation and protection. Start with a thermal, moisture-wicking base layer (merino wool or quality synthetic), add an insulating mid-layer like a fleece or thick long-sleeve jersey, and finish with a windproof, waterproof outer layer to block windchill and keep you dry in sleet or snow. For your legs, thermal bib tights make a big difference. But the real winter game-changer is protecting your extremities: warm gloves, overshoes or winter boots with wool socks, plus a thermal skull cap or balaclava for your head, ears, and neck. Clear or yellow-tinted glasses are also a smart addition in cold wind and low light.
In the 0–10°C (32–50°F) range, the challenge is staying warm without overheating. A lighter thermal base layer combined with a windproof jacket or vest works well, especially because descents can feel much colder than climbs. Thermal tights (or tights with leg warmers) usually hit the sweet spot, and small accessories like a neck gaiter and shoe covers keep comfort high without adding bulk.
For 10–20°C (50–68°F), flexibility matters most. A lightweight base layer and long-sleeve jersey are often enough, with arm warmers or a windproof vest as easy “on/off” options. Bib shorts usually work, but closer to 10°C you may prefer light tights. A thin cap or headband keeps your ears comfortable in the wind, and sunglasses protect your eyes from both glare and cold air.
Winter riding can feel demotivating, but it doesn’t have to mean lost fitness or skipped sessions. With the right clothing and a smarter training approach, winter becomes one of the best times to build a strong base, stay consistent, and arrive at spring ready, not rusty.
What to wear in winter
The secret to comfort isn’t one “super warm” item. It’s layering. Layers keep you warm, protect you from wind and rain, and help you regulate temperature as your effort changes. The goal is simple: stay warm enough to ride well, but dry enough to avoid getting cold.
When it’s below freezing (under 0°C/32°F), your priorities are insulation and protection. Start with a thermal, moisture-wicking base layer (merino wool or quality synthetic), add an insulating mid-layer like a fleece or thick long-sleeve jersey, and finish with a windproof, waterproof outer layer to block windchill and keep you dry in sleet or snow. For your legs, thermal bib tights make a big difference. But the real winter game-changer is protecting your extremities: warm gloves, overshoes or winter boots with wool socks, plus a thermal skull cap or balaclava for your head, ears, and neck. Clear or yellow-tinted glasses are also a smart addition in cold wind and low light.
In the 0–10°C (32–50°F) range, the challenge is staying warm without overheating. A lighter thermal base layer combined with a windproof jacket or vest works well, especially because descents can feel much colder than climbs. Thermal tights (or tights with leg warmers) usually hit the sweet spot, and small accessories like a neck gaiter and shoe covers keep comfort high without adding bulk.
For 10–20°C (50–68°F), flexibility matters most. A lightweight base layer and long-sleeve jersey are often enough, with arm warmers or a windproof vest as easy “on/off” options. Bib shorts usually work, but closer to 10°C you may prefer light tights. A thin cap or headband keeps your ears comfortable in the wind, and sunglasses protect your eyes from both glare and cold air.
Winter riding can feel demotivating, but it doesn’t have to mean lost fitness or skipped sessions. With the right clothing and a smarter training approach, winter becomes one of the best times to build a strong base, stay consistent, and arrive at spring ready, not rusty.
What to wear in winter
The secret to comfort isn’t one “super warm” item. It’s layering. Layers keep you warm, protect you from wind and rain, and help you regulate temperature as your effort changes. The goal is simple: stay warm enough to ride well, but dry enough to avoid getting cold.
When it’s below freezing (under 0°C/32°F), your priorities are insulation and protection. Start with a thermal, moisture-wicking base layer (merino wool or quality synthetic), add an insulating mid-layer like a fleece or thick long-sleeve jersey, and finish with a windproof, waterproof outer layer to block windchill and keep you dry in sleet or snow. For your legs, thermal bib tights make a big difference. But the real winter game-changer is protecting your extremities: warm gloves, overshoes or winter boots with wool socks, plus a thermal skull cap or balaclava for your head, ears, and neck. Clear or yellow-tinted glasses are also a smart addition in cold wind and low light.
In the 0–10°C (32–50°F) range, the challenge is staying warm without overheating. A lighter thermal base layer combined with a windproof jacket or vest works well, especially because descents can feel much colder than climbs. Thermal tights (or tights with leg warmers) usually hit the sweet spot, and small accessories like a neck gaiter and shoe covers keep comfort high without adding bulk.
For 10–20°C (50–68°F), flexibility matters most. A lightweight base layer and long-sleeve jersey are often enough, with arm warmers or a windproof vest as easy “on/off” options. Bib shorts usually work, but closer to 10°C you may prefer light tights. A thin cap or headband keeps your ears comfortable in the wind, and sunglasses protect your eyes from both glare and cold air.
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Du willst smarter trainieren? JOIN erstellt personalisierte Radfahr-Trainingspläne basierend auf deinem Ziel und Fortschritt.
JOIN bringt dein Radtraining weiter
Du willst smarter trainieren? JOIN erstellt personalisierte Radfahr-Trainingspläne basierend auf deinem Ziel und Fortschritt.
How to train through winter
Winter is often associated with long endurance riding, and that’s partly true: steady rides are great for building stamina and your aerobic base. But endurance alone isn’t enough if you want to be ready for the demands of real riding - climbs, accelerations, sprints, and the surges that happen in group rides or events. A strong winter plan balances endurance with a small dose of intensity.
The first rule is to start gradually. After a rest period or after easier training, it’s tempting to jump straight into high volume. That’s when fatigue piles up and motivation drops. Build your training load week by week, increasing duration and intensity slowly, and keep it aligned with your energy and schedule.
To maintain the fitness you’ve built, focus on a steady, gradual build through winter. A polarised approach works best: keep most of your rides at a low, sustainable intensity to develop your aerobic base, while leaving room for occasional harder efforts when the time is right. As you move deeper into winter and closer to your racing or event season, you can transition into more structured training. This is where a Stamina builder in JOIN is perfect, it helps you progress from base building into targeted fitness without overloading your system. The point is to stay consistent, build endurance intelligently, and let intensity come naturally as your training evolves.
As winter moves on, you can get more specific. Identify what you want to improve: strength, short climbs, sprint power, or endurance under fatigue, and shift into focused blocks. Highly trained cyclists often need this kind of targeted work to keep progressing. A structured approach (for example, using a polarised balance of easy rides and one hard session) helps you improve without turning winter into a constant grind.
Varied training or specific repetition
Research has also shown that high level athletes need to train specifically on a certain aspect if they still want to make progress. Simply put, a highly trained athlete will not improve with a weekly program with many different training stimuli. This way, every element is trained a little bit but these stimuli are too weak to provoke improvements. That’s why it is wise, after a number of varied weeks and depending on your level, to shift the emphasis a bit and focus on those elements that need improving towards the target race or event.
A proper build-up
For highly trained riders, after a (short) rest period we start with a number of varied weeks in which the size and intensity slowly build up. Depending on what we want to improve over the winter, a number of weeks will follow with a focus on, for example, maximum strength training without a lot of endurance work. With good planning we try to take a step forward in the winter so that all physical requirements coincide exactly like pieces of a puzzle when the season starts.
Conclusion
Winter cycling doesn’t require perfect conditions, it requires smart decisions. Dress in layers, prioritise wind protection, and take care of your hands, feet, head, and neck. Then train with intention: build endurance, add a weekly hit of intensity, progress gradually, and focus on weaknesses as the season moves forward. Done well, winter becomes your advantage. It’s the season where consistency is built, foundations are laid, and spring speed is earned.
How to train through winter
Winter is often associated with long endurance riding, and that’s partly true: steady rides are great for building stamina and your aerobic base. But endurance alone isn’t enough if you want to be ready for the demands of real riding - climbs, accelerations, sprints, and the surges that happen in group rides or events. A strong winter plan balances endurance with a small dose of intensity.
The first rule is to start gradually. After a rest period or after easier training, it’s tempting to jump straight into high volume. That’s when fatigue piles up and motivation drops. Build your training load week by week, increasing duration and intensity slowly, and keep it aligned with your energy and schedule.
To maintain the fitness you’ve built, focus on a steady, gradual build through winter. A polarised approach works best: keep most of your rides at a low, sustainable intensity to develop your aerobic base, while leaving room for occasional harder efforts when the time is right. As you move deeper into winter and closer to your racing or event season, you can transition into more structured training. This is where a Stamina builder in JOIN is perfect, it helps you progress from base building into targeted fitness without overloading your system. The point is to stay consistent, build endurance intelligently, and let intensity come naturally as your training evolves.
As winter moves on, you can get more specific. Identify what you want to improve: strength, short climbs, sprint power, or endurance under fatigue, and shift into focused blocks. Highly trained cyclists often need this kind of targeted work to keep progressing. A structured approach (for example, using a polarised balance of easy rides and one hard session) helps you improve without turning winter into a constant grind.
Varied training or specific repetition
Research has also shown that high level athletes need to train specifically on a certain aspect if they still want to make progress. Simply put, a highly trained athlete will not improve with a weekly program with many different training stimuli. This way, every element is trained a little bit but these stimuli are too weak to provoke improvements. That’s why it is wise, after a number of varied weeks and depending on your level, to shift the emphasis a bit and focus on those elements that need improving towards the target race or event.
A proper build-up
For highly trained riders, after a (short) rest period we start with a number of varied weeks in which the size and intensity slowly build up. Depending on what we want to improve over the winter, a number of weeks will follow with a focus on, for example, maximum strength training without a lot of endurance work. With good planning we try to take a step forward in the winter so that all physical requirements coincide exactly like pieces of a puzzle when the season starts.
Conclusion
Winter cycling doesn’t require perfect conditions, it requires smart decisions. Dress in layers, prioritise wind protection, and take care of your hands, feet, head, and neck. Then train with intention: build endurance, add a weekly hit of intensity, progress gradually, and focus on weaknesses as the season moves forward. Done well, winter becomes your advantage. It’s the season where consistency is built, foundations are laid, and spring speed is earned.
How to train through winter
Winter is often associated with long endurance riding, and that’s partly true: steady rides are great for building stamina and your aerobic base. But endurance alone isn’t enough if you want to be ready for the demands of real riding - climbs, accelerations, sprints, and the surges that happen in group rides or events. A strong winter plan balances endurance with a small dose of intensity.
The first rule is to start gradually. After a rest period or after easier training, it’s tempting to jump straight into high volume. That’s when fatigue piles up and motivation drops. Build your training load week by week, increasing duration and intensity slowly, and keep it aligned with your energy and schedule.
To maintain the fitness you’ve built, focus on a steady, gradual build through winter. A polarised approach works best: keep most of your rides at a low, sustainable intensity to develop your aerobic base, while leaving room for occasional harder efforts when the time is right. As you move deeper into winter and closer to your racing or event season, you can transition into more structured training. This is where a Stamina builder in JOIN is perfect, it helps you progress from base building into targeted fitness without overloading your system. The point is to stay consistent, build endurance intelligently, and let intensity come naturally as your training evolves.
As winter moves on, you can get more specific. Identify what you want to improve: strength, short climbs, sprint power, or endurance under fatigue, and shift into focused blocks. Highly trained cyclists often need this kind of targeted work to keep progressing. A structured approach (for example, using a polarised balance of easy rides and one hard session) helps you improve without turning winter into a constant grind.
Varied training or specific repetition
Research has also shown that high level athletes need to train specifically on a certain aspect if they still want to make progress. Simply put, a highly trained athlete will not improve with a weekly program with many different training stimuli. This way, every element is trained a little bit but these stimuli are too weak to provoke improvements. That’s why it is wise, after a number of varied weeks and depending on your level, to shift the emphasis a bit and focus on those elements that need improving towards the target race or event.
A proper build-up
For highly trained riders, after a (short) rest period we start with a number of varied weeks in which the size and intensity slowly build up. Depending on what we want to improve over the winter, a number of weeks will follow with a focus on, for example, maximum strength training without a lot of endurance work. With good planning we try to take a step forward in the winter so that all physical requirements coincide exactly like pieces of a puzzle when the season starts.
Conclusion
Winter cycling doesn’t require perfect conditions, it requires smart decisions. Dress in layers, prioritise wind protection, and take care of your hands, feet, head, and neck. Then train with intention: build endurance, add a weekly hit of intensity, progress gradually, and focus on weaknesses as the season moves forward. Done well, winter becomes your advantage. It’s the season where consistency is built, foundations are laid, and spring speed is earned.
More Relevant Articles
Discover valuable training tips to enhance your cycling performance.
More Relevant Articles
Discover valuable training tips to enhance your cycling performance.
More Relevant Articles
Discover valuable training tips to enhance your cycling performance.
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Join thousands of cyclists who have improved their performance with JOIN's training plans.
By joining, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and our Privacy Policy.