SLU Cycling

When cycling in cold weather conditions, all your body’s extremities are at risk of getting cold. Feet in particular tend to feel the chill more than most other parts, because, as you pedal, they’re spinning around, which only increases the wind chill factor.

One of the best ways to keep your feet warm is to wear overshoes. Overshoes are booties that are made of Gore-Tex, neoprene or nylon, which are designed to be pulled on over shoes. Overshoes are firmly attached to your feet using velcro, and often have little reflective strips on the back, which is of course a helpful safety measure that increases your visibility. Furthermore, you won’t lose any of your grip on the pedal, as they even have a cut-out window in the sole.

Besides keeping your feet warm when cycling, overshoes also will help keep your shoes dry – essential if you plan to walk around in your shoes all day! If you ride a road bike with no front mudguard, you’ve probably noticed water being dumped on top of your feet, so in the case you’re sure to find overshoes especially helpful.

Overshoes are long-lasting (provided you remember to take them off as soon as you get off your bike), but some people just consider them to embarrassing to wear. If you don’t want to wear overshoes, another alternative that you can look at is water-proof socks. Water-proof socks can do a great job of keeping your feet warm and dry, but you should be aware that they are thicker than normal socks, so you need to wear your largest shoes with them.

By: Sunil Tanna

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If you’re new to cycling, or are thinking of taking it up as a hobby then you have to start by choosing yourself a bike. If you’ve gone as far as researching the sort of bike you need then you’re likely to have encountered a lot of jargon and a lot of types of bikes and might feel quite daunted. A good place to start is with road bikes, particularly if you live in a town or city.

For the true amateurs, road bikes are simply racing bikes known by another name. They’re the type that generally has low handle bars and multiple gears, as well as narrow, high-pressured tyres and they are lighter than many types of bike. They are, as the name so conveniently suggests, are primarily meant to be used on paved roads rather than on mountains like off-road bikes.

Even amongst road bikes, there are a few different types. For example, touring bikes are designed for just that: road touring. They are robust and can carry heavier loads than average road bikes, they are also comfortable, as would be expected of a bike meant for long periods of usage.

Utility bikes also fall into the road bikes category. These are what most people would call a standard bicycle, meant for commuting, shopping, generally getting about in a town or city. An amateur cyclist might wish to begin with one of these if planning on using the bicycle for day to day tasks.

Finally, another great suggestion for the beginner cyclist is a hybrid bike. They are designed to be used for both recreation and utility purposes. This means that they are great on the roads, for popping to the shops or even for riding to work but that they will also handle well on more basic off road routes. They certainly aren’t the type of bike to be conquering mountains with, but they will manage fine on smoother off road tracks in your local park or countryside.

By: Jessica L Moss

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