6 tips for cycling with kids in winter
Keep reading for our top tips on planning your winter cycling adventures with your child and handy pointers for when you're out and about.
Winter is known for being cold, wet, dark and gloomy. Now, those conditions might not exactly sound ideal for fun adventures on two wheels. But if you're properly equipped and have taken a few simple precautions, winter bike rides can still be a fantastic opportunity to get outside and keep moving with your child during the colder months of the year. (Be warned, though, that we would recommend leaving your bike at home if there's black ice on the roads.)
1. Kit out your child's bike for winter
Your child is going to need a few extra layers (more on that later) and their woom bike is going to need a few additions to make sure it's winter-ready.
Add these accessories before heading out on your winter adventures:
Bike lights boost your child's visibility
A legal requirement in most countries, powerful bike lights ensure that your child is more visible to other road users. Fortunately, our rechargeable CYCLOPE Bike Lights step up to save the day.
Protect your child and their bike from rain and dirt
Cycling through rain and slush can get a bit messy – for your child and their bike. On a wet weather day, we recommend fitting mudguards to keep your child (and their trousers) clean and dry. Mudguards come in all shapes and sizes for different occasions:
- Our practical SNAP Click-On Mudguards (compatible with our woom EXPLORE, woom GO and woom ORIGINAL bikes with 14″ to 26″ wheels) cover all the main parts of the tire, with the aim of helping your child to arrive at their destination as clean and dry as possible.
- If your child is hoping to avoid getting a face full of mud on a full-on mountain biking adventure, our MUDBLOCKA Mudguards (compatible with our woom OFF, woom OFF AIR and woom UP mountain bikes) could be just what you're looking for.
When you order one of our bikes in any size from our online shop, you can add accessories to match in just one click. Or maybe you'd prefer to explore the full range and check out our special bundles?
2. Dress your child in lots of layers
Dress your child up nice and warm but make sure they're not going to overheat. Your child will be moving when they're cycling. If their winter wear is too thick, they'll be restricted and may end up sweating before too long.
If you want your child to be prepared whatever the weather, it's best to take an onion as your inspiration and go for several thin layers. That way, they won't ever be stuck sweating or freezing.
- The first layer is called the base layer. This warm and cozy functional layer should fit tightly and be designed to wick away moisture to stop your child cooling down.
- The second layer, or the mid layer, can vary depending on the temperature and may even be made up of several layers itself. Suitable options include a light long-sleeved top like our OFF Longsleeve Jersey, a warm fleece or even a down jacket if the temperature has really plummeted.
- The third layer is known as the shell layer. Given that this layer is worn on the outside, a functional jacket that provides your child with protection against the wind, snow and rain is the way forward. Considering that your child can never be too visible on a gloomy winter's day, we would recommend tops and bottoms with reflective prints like our FLARE vest.
Don't just assume that your child is as warm or cold as you are and always check the temperature quickly before setting off because it can vary hugely throughout the winter. Your child's clothing will depend on whether it's 2 °C or 10 °C outside.
Protect any exposed parts of your child's body like their hands, ears and feet against the cold and windy conditions. Our WARM TENS Bike Gloves, for example, have been designed specifically for colder temperatures and have a silicone printed pattern to ensure a firm grip on the handlebars.
Keep headgear nice and thin like our FLARE Reflective Cap to avoid your child's helmet being pushed too high or digging into their neck. Remember that a helmet with the perfect fit is the only way to be confident that your child will get the best possible protection if they crash.
Decent winter shoes are a must if your child's feet are to stay warm and dry. They need sturdy footwear that is waterproof and fully insulated. Thermal insoles are also a good shout for the very coldest days. And don't forget to check that the soles grip nicely on the ground and pedals.
You will never go wrong with a spare pair of cycling socks for your child. Remember that puddles have something of an irresistible allure when you’re young!
3. Adapt your route to the time of year
When you're planning a bike ride in winter, make sure your route is as sunny as possible and keep it on the shorter side. It's best if you go for a route you're familiar with, so you know you're well prepared and your child is as safe as can be.
Think about planning a route with somewhere to stop off to warm up along the way. If you do intend to stop somewhere, just make sure you check the opening times before you set off to avoid disappointment.
Don't forget that the days are shorter at this time of year, so you won't want to be setting off too late in the day. If the weather's on your side, try to leave home at around noon, when the sun is at its highest position in the sky. You'll get a nice boost of good old vitamin D from the sunlight as you cycle that way.
We asked general practitioner Katrin Kollegger why cycling is just as much fun in the winter as it is in the summer and why it's good for you too. >> See what she said in this article.
4. Adapt your cycling style to the conditions
With a higher chance of ice, frost, sleet and snow, the winter weather makes it much more likely that your child will fall off their bike.
- Leaves, road markings, tracks and cobblestones can get really slippery on a wet day.
- Sometimes, roads and cycle paths will be covered in grit and cyclists need to slow down accordingly.
- Pay attention to where the sun is shining and, more importantly, where it isn't shining. Areas in the shade tend to be colder and may still have icy patches.
- Tight corners need to be approached with care, as they can soon turn nasty if your child starts pedaling or steers suddenly.
- Allow for a longer braking distance when the ground is wet too.
Make sure that you warn your child about these dangers before and during a bike ride and teach them how best to react to avoid falling off their bike:
- As a general rule of thumb, slow down and adapt your cycling style to the weather and road conditions.
- If the ground is wet, icy or covered in grit, brake as gently as possible and slow down in plenty of time before going around corners to keep cycling smoothly and at a steady pace.
- Use momentum to head up slopes with your weight pushed further back and pedal carefully and evenly to avoid the rear wheel spinning.
Give your child a quick winter briefing to improve their cycling technique and safety awareness overall.
Start by spending a few minutes explaining to your child what changes when cycling on slippery surfaces and going around corners in these conditions. Then find a safe space so they can practice riding in wet weather – a park or courtyard would be ideal.
- Go around obstacles like leaves and little piles of snow where possible and slow down if they can't be avoided. Cross tracks at a 45-degree angle at least.
- Compensate for the longer braking distance by anticipating what lies ahead and leaving plenty of distance between yourself and other road users.
- If your bike ride takes you on the road, choose a safe route that your child can handle with confidence.
- If your local cycling infrastructure isn't suitable for children or if the cycle paths are not cleared properly during winter, you should get in touch with the relevant authorities to flag this up.
5. Know what to pack in your child's bike basket or backpack
Backpacks and bike bags shouldn't be too heavy but should have plenty of space for all the equipment and clothing your child needs. The best backpacks have a built-in protective cover to keep out water and dirt.
An even handier option for your child? A bike basket they can pop straight onto their handlebars like our POP Kids' Bike Basket. That way, they can transport their own essentials and grab whatever they need when they need it.
The versatile, lightweight bike basket made from BPA-free, flexible material easily slots onto the handlebars and fits the woom ORIGINAL/GO 2, 3 and 3 AUTOMAGIC and the woom GO 4.
Set consisting of 4 charms that your child can use to personalize their POP Kid's Bike Basket - for even more fun on the bike.
Multi-purpose bag that can be fixed to the handlebars or worn as a bum bag to provide plenty of space for keys, snacks, cash and other bits and pieces.
We recommend that you add these items to your winter bike ride checklist:
- Take a vacuum flask filled with a hot drink like unsweetened tea as a way of warming your child up on the inside and keeping them hydrated.
- Little snacks are always a welcome addition to any longer bike ride. After all, everyone needs to keep their energy levels topped up when it's cold to help with temperature regulation.
- Keep a small bottle of sun cream and a lip salve handy so you can apply them as required along the way. Go for creams with a greasy finish to stop your child's delicate skin from drying out and being damaged by the cold.
- Sunglasses will provide all-important UV protection when the sun is out – just make sure they fit your child properly.
Speaking of the sun, you may be tempted to tidy away the sun cream and sunglasses along with your swimming stuff once summer has been and gone. And yet the risk of getting sunburnt in winter is surprisingly high. Snow and ice reflect around 80 to 90% of UV radiation emitted by the sun and the amount of radiation increases with altitude.
So if you strike it lucky with the weather for your winter ride, apply sun cream with a high SPF (SPF 50) generously to any of your child's body parts that aren't covered up by clothing half an hour before heading out.
6. Take good care of your bikes
Bike maintenance needs to be ongoing. Just think about all the challenges your bikes are faced with during the winter months – rain, snow, mud and grit can really take a toll. That's why it's so important that you treat them to a thorough clean and plenty of TLC on the regular.
Ideally, you should use warm water to remove any dirt straight after your ride and dry with a cloth. Your chain needs to be oiled every so often – especially if it develops a rusty coating. When this happens, just wipe the rust off with a cloth, apply a thin layer of oil and… you're ready for your next adventure!
Check out our video if you'd like to learn how to keep your bike clean and find out which components you'll want to take extra-good care of (you can also read the >>article to match right here if you'd rather):
As a matter of fact, you should perform a quick safety check before every bike ride – no matter what season it is. After all, your child will be safer and have more fun if their bike is well looked after. >> Check out our top tips right here.