As later mornings and earlier nights arrive, it can be tricky to find the motivation or time to cycle around your daily schedule. However, with the right cycling clothing and proper inspiration, winter cycling can be just as enjoyable as during the warmer months. There’s no risk of sunburn or bug bites, and cycling can fit around your back-to-work routine easier than you realise!
Take a look at some of our top reasons to keep on (or start) cycling, even as autumn and winter roll around.
Spending time outdoors
One of the most obvious benefits of outdoor cycling is in the name – spending more time in the great outdoors! The proven benefits of being outside are clear. In the UK, getting enough vitamin D during the winter months is difficult, so being in daylight as much as possible is really beneficial for your immune system, bones and teeth, and muscles.
Exercising outdoors, as opposed to using an indoor exercise bike, is also an easy way of making your workout more challenging and can promote higher calorie burning. As you tackle different terrains and inclines, you’ll feel greater resistance and intensity than you would do using exercise equipment.
Spending more time outside is also one of the easiest ways to feel a mood boost. In the winter, many people suffer from seasonal depression as they spend too much time isolated inside and in darkness. Maximising the few hours of sunlight that we get during the British winter can help to reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression, and boost mood-lifting hormones like dopamine and serotonin. Exposing your body to natural light also regulates your internal clock and circadian rhythm, allowing you to sleep more easily and deeply.
A great way of commuting
Another benefit of cycling throughout the winter is the impact it can have on your daily commute to work. Riding your bike is more environmentally friendly than getting the train or bus, and even more so than driving. By limiting your reliance on vehicles that release carbon emissions, you’re promoting sustainable travel, which benefits your local environment and the rest of the planet!
Cycling to work is also much cheaper, after the initial cost of buying a bike. Once you have all of your essential safety gear, you’ll no longer need to constantly drain your bank account by topping up your car’s fuel, buy train tickets, or order expensive taxis. You’ll feel the benefit of cycling even more so if you live in urban areas where the cost of living is often higher.
Finally, riding your bike to work means that you get to skip the 5pm busy gym session! By commuting by bike, you’re training your muscles and getting some major cardio in before you even get to work. Something especially important if you spend a lot of your working day sat down at a desk.
Enjoy the winter scenes
As the colder season arrives, it also brings some stunning scenes and natural phenomena to look out for on your next cycle route. Winter solstice provides the perfect opportunity for stargazing, and the cold, dark winter sky is always willing to provide. Soon, look at the sky during your bike ride to catch the Geminids meteor shower, which is most prominent in early-mid December, where hundreds of meteors are produced per hour. Similarly, the stunning Quadrantids meteor shower peaks in early January so be sure not to miss it. Winter cycling offers the perfect opportunity to spend more time outside and look for stars, without getting too cold.
Sunrises and early morning frost are a great combination for creating a scenic bike ride as snow reflects the sun into lovely, sparkling lights. Just be careful not to slip on those icy roads.
It’s still plenty cold in early autumn and spring that you may struggle to cycle outside. But don’t be put off as these seasons are the perfect time to catch British wildlife at its most active. Whether it’s deer, rabbits, hedgehogs, or foxes, they’re often more active during autumn due to their mating season and in spring as some emerge from hibernation and their offspring are born.
One thing’s for sure – you won’t spot a hedgehog or asteroid as easily if you’re always travelling by car!
Community bonding
We know that none of our reasons are motivating enough for winter cycling if you don’t feel safe while doing so. Being outside in the dark and alone can be daunting, but there is a solution. Many areas, from the biggest cities to the smallest of villages, offer local cycling groups that are easy and fun to get involved with. Cycle groups are extremely varied – you can find women-only groups, hardcore training programs, or join one that goes for a simple and informal ride among friends!
Cycling in an official (or unofficial) group can help motivate you as start times and routes are pre-determined, plus you’re all in it together which promotes consistent attendance. Groups led by experienced cyclists can be great for building your confidence as you pick up tips, tricks and trails, and you’re bound to build new connections and make new friends. Most importantly, there is safety in numbers so there’s no need to feel intimidated or anxious when cycling in the dark.
For additional safety, be sure to ride with a high-standard helmet and consider upgrading your road safety with bike lights so that you’re more visible to vehicles.
New Year’s resolutions
If you need some New Year’s resolution inspiration, how about getting out on your bike a little more? For all of the points that we’ve explored, increasing your fitness through outdoor cycling is the ultimate challenge for your January health kick! Plus, add all of your cycling essentials to your Christmas wish list and you’ll be even more excited to pick up your new favourite hobby.
At Halfords, we carry everything you could need for winter cycling and from industry-leading brands. Explore our cycling shoes, cycling gloves, and hi vis, waterproof layers designed to keep you protected during the harsher seasons today. Visit our cycling clothing buyer’s guide for more expert tips on the right kit for your journey and make sure that your bike is prepared for wintery adventures.
While you’re busy getting ready, why not bring your bike down to your local Halfords store for a FREE health assessment? We’ll make sure your bike is up to speed for frost and hard terrain, and you may receive a no obligation quote for any recommended safety repairs or servicing. Beat the winter blues this year and keep moving with Halfords!
Health information found at: verywellhealth.
