Winter biking presents many challenges to dressing right and keeping warm for the temperatures and weather conditions. In this post I will concentrate on gear worn above the shoulders for a variety of conditions which will not only keep your head, face and neck warm, but also help regulate core body temperature.
Balaclava
I have been using a balaclava for many winters now and it is my go-to piece of apparel for very cold temperatures and windy conditions. There are many brands out there but my balaclava of choice is the
Gore Bike Wear Windstopper Balaclava because of its thin breathable fabric that completely cuts biting wind on those days and nights when the windchill factor dips to sub-zero. A balaclava will help protect your skin from wind burn, frost nip and in extreme cold, frostbite.
ColdAvenger
Another product I have used for several winters is the
ColdAvenger Pro Softshell face mask. I break this out when temperatures dip below zero because the ventilator on this mask warms and humidifies the cold, dry winter air making it much easier to breathe. The ventilator does not restrict my breathing, even during times of rigorous activity. The wind and water resistant softshell fleece material wraps around my face and neck keeping me warm during the coldest rides.
Helmet
If you have ever ridden in the cold with a regular bike helmet and a snow/snowboard helmet you'll notice the difference immediately. Last winter I got a
Smith Vantage MIPS helmet and never wore my regular mountain bike helmet again for winter riding. One of the major differences was the snow helmet had vents that could be opened and closed to regulate heat so I would get too hot or cold. The other feature I liked a lot was the insulated coverage over the ears.
This snow helmet allows me to add the extra protection needed such as a beanie, balaclava or neck gaiter to adjust for a variety of freezing temperatures I'll be riding in. Most of the time, unless it's really cold, I wear just the helmet without anything else to insulate my head. It's that warm and if I start to heat up, I'll open the vents on the top of the helmet to let some of the heat out and cool off. If you ride a lot in the winter, it is definitely worth upgrading to a snow helmet.
Goggles
A good pair of goggles can make seeing the trail easier during snowy and windy conditions and protects eyes from watering. During previous winters I had a cheap pair of goggles and I tended not to wear them because they would fog up quickly from breathing or sweating. I decided to give goggles another try, only this time I would spend a little more and get a pair that had plenty of ventilation to prevent fogging. I opted for pair of
Smith Knowledge OTG goggles that fit perfectly with my Smith Vantage MIPS helmet. They had adjustable lens vents and a foam membrane with plenty of ventilation all the way around the lens. Because they were an OTG goggle, I could also wear them with my prescription glasses.
To further prevent my new goggles from fogging, I treated the inside of the lens with
Fogtech DX Instant Anti-Fog wipes. The extra ventilation these goggles provide and the anti-fog treatment did not disappoint. I have ridden in a wide variety of conditions and temperatures and have not had a problem with my goggles fogging up. I now wear them regularly to protect my eyes from the wind and cold. It's true what they say, you get what you pay for so spend a little more on a good pair of goggles for better performance in the cold.
Neck Gaiters
A new addition to my winter riding apparel is a neck gaiter. I added this for those days when it was a little warmer out and I didn't need a balaclava or my ColdAvenger. I tried on several neck gaiters at my local bike shop and chose the
Bontrager Convertible Neck Gaiter because of its fit and next to the skin feel. This versatile piece of apparel can be used a multitude of different ways to keep your head, chin, cheeks and neck warm. When my extreme cold gear isn't needed, I opt for the neck gaiter because of many ways it can be worn as I heat up or cool off while riding. It tucks into to a jacket or baselayer top to keep the cold out around the neck area. A neck gaiter is an inexpensive way to protect from the shoulders up.
Beards
Beards have long been worn by winter cyclists to protect their faces from the elements. The bigger the beard the better the coverage. They allow a rider to bear the cold and wind without the use of facemasks or neck gaiters. You've all seen many photos of ice beards from fatbikers riding in extreme cold conditions and they must work or these hearty riders wouldn't continue to grow them out winter after winter.
The Arrowhead 135
is a human powered ultra-endurance marathon that takes place every year
during the coldest part of Winter. Participants have 60 hours to
complete the 135 mile trek from
International Falls to Fortune Bay Casino in Tower on the Arrowhead
State Trail. Racers are required to stop at three checkpoints (unless racing unsupported, new this year) that are
spaced about 35 miles apart, where race officials can pull a racer due
to frostbite or other medical concerns.
Participants must run, ski or bike the distance with their sub-zero
survival gear, no outside help except from other racers or race
officials and they must follow a strict set of race rules out on the course.
