In the latest in his Don’t Hold Back series, former professional cyclist Tom Stewart reveals his best advice that will have you winning at winter.

Comfort is an often-overlooked concept in cycling. The sport isn’t exactly synonymous with the idea but staying comfortable is key to enjoying your riding through winter. For cyclists it is the season of hardship after all.

Now various things impact how comfortable we might feel on a bike but generally (assuming your bike fits correctly) it’s your ability to stay warm and dry that matters most.

So here are a few simple tips to help find that comfort that will keep you enjoying your riding in the bleaker months.

1. Fit mudguards

These tips are ranked in order of priority and fitting mudguards is without a doubt the single biggest thing you can do to improve your riding experience in winter.

I know how boring that sounds and I’m well aware of how much of a faff this can be. And yes, they look rubbish and add weight etc. But if you think they’re not worth it, you’re wrong.

So much discomfort on the bike comes from feeling cold and wet and a large portion of that moisture is brought from the road up to the rider by the tyres. This applies to MTB, road, gravel and commuter bikes.

A rear mudguard shields your bum and the backs of your legs from a huge amount of spray. Keeping your chamois dry for as long as possible is of upmost importance.

The front mudguard protects your feet, chest and face from all the filthy road gunk. It’s remarkable how much drier you stay when using mudguards.

I’m going to calmly pass on the opportunity here to lambast people not using mudguards on group road rides, though. That might be a post for another time!

2. service your bike

For decades it’s been the done-thing in cycling clubs to train on a winter bike that looks like it’s made from scaffolding pieced together with parts ready for the bin. The idea is to protect your best bike from the harsh winter environment and get by with minimum spend from October through to April.

My issue here is that winter is precisely the time of year when I want my bike to work flawlessly. Experiencing mechanical problems on a cold, wet and dark ride is horrendous.

Spend good money on tyres and brakes and regularly service your bike through winter. Whether you’re commuting, exploring or training, a bike that works like a Swiss watch will go a long way to improving your winter riding experience.

As a little extra tip here, always wash your bike immediately after a ride no matter how cold and wet you are. Get some soup on the hob and while that’s going give your bike a quick clean, dry and re-oil.

Because once you do go inside and get warm and comfortable, going back out into the cold to clean your bike will be impossible.

As a little extra tip here, always wash your bike immediately after a ride no matter how cold and wet you are. Get some soup on the hob and while that’s going give your bike a quick clean, dry and re-oil.

Because once you do go inside and get warm and comfortable, going back out into the cold to clean your bike will be impossible.

3. heroes do wear capes!

Make this part of your routine. In the same way you’d never set off on a ride without a spare tube and a pump, never be tempted to leave the cape behind through the winter.

There have been countless times I have gone out thinking I won’t need a jacket and later that day it has saved me. This applies from roughly October to May.

I have a bright orange dhb Aeron Tempo FLT Waterproof Jacket that goes in my back pocket every single ride through the winter.

As well as keeping you dry in the rain, a good jacket like this will keep you warm in the event of a mechanical or if you end up getting cold on a ride. I normally put it on as I leave the cafe most rides to take the chill off. It’s got me out of trouble countless times.

4. pack spare kit

Another simple one here. And again not very exciting but let me tell you, when you’re cold and wet but have a dry merino base layer and a fresh pair of gloves to put on at the cafe you’ll feel exhilarated.

Through most of the winter I use a dhb Merino Short Sleeve Base Layer (M150), switching to a long sleeve for the coldest conditions. Merino wool is a wonderful material and worth trying if you haven’t already.

This tip is more for longer rides but even on a short ride a fresh pair of dry gloves will be a real boost for morale. Make sure you wrap them in a zip lock bag to keep them dry and if you have space put them in your back pocket to warm them up a little.

If not just pop them in your saddle or frame bag and treat yourself when the time is right. You’ll be grateful to your earlier self for making the effort.

5. tape up your vents

Cold feet have plagued cyclists since the beginning. Overshoes are fantastic these days, but the weather still sometimes finds a way in.

Connor Swift came up with this one on a miserable cold wet training ride one winter and I laughed at him at first.

Most shoes are designed to keep feet ventilated in hot weather which can lead to a very unpleasant experience in winter. To combat this, use a small piece of Gorilla Tape (or similar) to cover the vents on the soles of your shoes.

It’s a small tip but Connor was onto something here and it is now a job I do every October in preparation for the winter months ahead.