Ride Year 'Round: Top 10 Tips for Year-Round Pedaling from Seasoned Cyclists

Jay Suburb says, "Never let a little snow keep you from riding."

Autumn typically ushers in a transitional season for cyclists with cooler temps, stiffer winds, additional layers, hunting for the trail under fallen leaves (while trying to recall where the singletrack USED to be), group rides planned around fresh donuts and hot apple cider rather than ice cream, and/or racing 'cross.

While diminishing daylight and distinct chill in the air has some hanging up their bikes for the winter or heading indoors for a spin class, other riders remain resolute in their determination to ride year-round and are stocking up on warm layers, rain gear and good lights to see and be seen.

Here are our Top 10 Tips for Year-Round Riding, courtesy of your fellow cyclists and BicyclingHub fans.

10. Move to California!!!! ~Angie Achen

Castelli's Wool Cycling Cap in Grey Plaid keeps 
your head warm--and hides helmet hair nicely.

9. Ride all winter in Charlotte, North Carolina...Embrace the cold and wear layers, particularly a cap...you need to wear just enough clothes so that you are chilly the first 10-15 minutes. ~Jr DelVasto

8. Dress for the weather.. might be slow riding in the winter with snow but get in your base miles. If it is really cold make sure to not have straight water it freezes faster, mix in an electrolyte. And put your Camelbak under your jacket so it doesn't freeze. ~Kristhal Portugal

7. Don't decide whether to ride in the morning - commit every day before you commute - prep everything the night before and it's always time to ride. ~Max Slade

Winter events like Portland's annual Worst Day of the Year Ride are a great way to stay motivated and have fun with friends.

6. I take my bike to work and get a ride in during my lunch break. A short ride is better than an hour on the trainer! ~Scott Trombley

5. Petition your city, county, boro to install MORE bike lanes, especially in the busy central district. It can encourage more road-sharing and actually saves lives. ~Mark Flanigan

Would you ride your bike in THIS? Photo courtesy of MSN.com

4. For up north, studded tires take the worry out of wiping out in the snow and ice. Dress up warm and go out in a snow storm, no cars on the roads and enjoy the beauty of the stillness in the snow, except you pedaling! ~Mary Connor, Marquette, MI

3. What about cake? Cake's got layers. The keys for me are my head for overall comfort, and good stuff for my hands and feet. Best hand comfort comes from a good-fitting bike (which will help you keep blood flowing to your fingers). The rest of my body is easy to manage with layering. ~Roger Barr

2. I figure it's as cold out here whether I ride, walk or take the bus. Where I live, in Philadelphia, it's far easier and quicker for me to ride to work on my 2 mile commute to the office. It takes tops, 15 minutes. But if I walk or take the bus, it's much longer and I'm out in the elements getting colder or wetter. I wear thinner layers so I'm not bundled up like the little brother in A Christmas Story. I don a beanie cap under my helmet and an earband over my helmet. I save at least 4 bucks a day, save time and aggravation and I get some exercise while logging about 20 miles a week that I otherwise wouldn't have. All by allowing me a fancier coffee and/or a pastry treat once in a while with the bucks I save and the calories I burn. ~The Bicycle Chef


1. Fenders, a good hose and lots of chain lube! ~Scott Sherman

Wind tunnel testing? A tried-and-true review of Castelli's new Pazzo Jacket

We at BicyclingHub.com don't just take the manufacturers' word for it; staffed by a cadre of riders passionate about cycling, individuals here are committed to riding in and testing the products we sell.  Our own Kevin Langton reports back on Castelli's new Pazzo Cycling Jacket (available in 3 color choices:  red/white, white/black, and black).

Castelli Pazzo Cycling Jacket Red/White

The Pazzo jacket is the upgrade of the Leggerezza jacket that I bought last Winter. I love that jacket and strongly recommend it in this, its new form, the Pazzo. It has all the same great features, high quality fabrics and performance – with a new look and styling for the 2011 version. Having very much enjoyed our Summer here in Oregon (we have been very fortunate compared to some other areas in the country), I will be sad to see the Summer end. Of course, I shall not complain - instead I am looking forward to my Fall and Winter riding and doing so in good quality riding gear such as the Pazzo. There’s nothing better than having something that works for you and that you can get plenty of use out of – makes one feel good about one’s shopping choices. It is also nice to feel better out there on the bike, in the Winter, than you think you are going to when you look out the window on a cold, drizzly morning – good riding gear will do that for you.

Castelli Pazzo Cycling Jacket Black

It’s typical to get quite a mixed bag of weather throughout our rides here at this time of year, and this Pazzo jacket provides versatility and the ability to keep pace with whatever the weather may be doing. The new SG0.6 Windproof fabric has a little more stretch, and provides plenty of protection from windchill on the front of the jacket and on the sleeves, with a little rain resistance as well. The back of the jacket uses Castelli’s Warmer fleecy backed fabric – I like this fabric a lot – it feels great, breathes, wicks away sweat, is warm and stretchy so the garment fits really nicely and doesn’t feel bulky at all. Perfect paired with a baselayer in the morning, I feel the chill at first when I leave the house for work, but once I start pedaling it is not long before I am plenty warm, without being overdressed and sweaty.

I love the versatility that this jacket allows -the sleeves zip off and make this into a vest, which has been perfect for the warmer afternoon/evening riding right now. The sleeve removal is not something you would do on the move, but it is easy to stop and do it on those Winter endurance-paced rides, or at a re-group point on your faster rides. When it does get colder I can get a warmer jersey on underneath. Add a rain cape over the top, as and when necessary, and you are pretty much set for most eventualities. It's the perfect layering piece as well as a stand alone for when it's not quite arctic out there! This for me gives great value because a number of pieces combined will always get used throughout Fall, Winter and Spring - whereas if I had one garment that really was for just the nastiest of weather, here in Portland I would not need it for probably 11 months of the year so I'd be paying the money to leave it hanging in the closet. Layering is good - whether biking, hiking or making lasagna - we all know that, right?!

Castelli Pazzo Cycling Jacket White/Black

The new look for this year is really nice and has some continuity, design-wise, with some of Castelli’s other pieces this year. It has a retro-modern classic look and really does look even better on and in real life than in the picture. I like the new raglan sleeve diagonal zipper update on the Pazzo too. My personal favorite Pazzo jacket is the red color option.

FYI - at 6'4" and 185lbs I found the size XXL best for me.