Many cyclists prefer a wool base layer, says Michael Esmonde, director of customer relations for CycleLife, an upscale bike shop in Georgetown. Wool sheds moisture but retains heat even better than synthetics, he says.
A mid-layer is typically thicker and often zips halfway down in case you need to cool off a bit. Cyclists will often wear jerseys and arm warmers instead of long-sleeve mid-layers, according to Esmonde.
(Marvin Joseph/WASHINGTON POST) - Michael Esmonde is dressed following the first rule of outdoor exercise apparel: Layer, layer, layer.
Your outer layer is critical for two reasons: It must block the wind and make you visible to drivers. In all likelihood, you’ll be exercising early in the morning or after work, when temperatures are lowest and visibility poorest.
“Typically, when you get cold, you get cold because it’s windy,” says Gault.
That goes double for cyclists, whose gloves, shoes and cycling pants require extra wind-stopping material. Cycling shoes can be covered by booties. Wool socks are better than synthetics because, again, they retain heat, Esmonde says.
“If it’s stupid cold out, I’ll wear a balaclava” head covering, which exposes only the eyes, says Esmonde, who rides his bike eight miles to work regardless of temperature and conditions.
Outer shells for runners come in bright colors with reflective tabs. “Safety is reflectivity,” says Gault. Other options: A reflective vest or blinking lights. Cyclists typically mount a blinking red light on the rear of their helmets and a blinking white one on the front.
What else do you need?
It almost goes without saying, but hats and gloves are essential. Easily removed if you become too warm, they are critical to retaining heat, Matthews says.
Don’t forget your sunblock just because it’s winter, and load up on the lip balm. You will undoubtedly chafe in other areas, and there are several products to choose from, including the ever-popular Bodyglide, a protective skin balm applied before working out.
It may be 30 degrees outside, but you’ll still be sweating. That means you have to hydrate. ACE guidelines call for you to drink 17 to 20 ounces of water two to three hours before you head out, and to sip seven to 10 ounces every 15 minutes if you’re doing a moderately intense workout.
Other options
The streets are not your only choice for outdoor workouts. At least two outdoor pools, at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase and Silver Spring YMCA branches, are heated and remain open all winter, as long as the temperature is above 32 degrees and the wind chill stays above 25. On average, the pools, which are open seven days a week, close only 10 to 20 days between December and April, according to Jackie Dilworth, director of communications for the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington.
You must be a member to use either pool. About 100 to 150 people swim laps at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase pool each day, Dilworth said.
“A lot of people like to work out outside and can’t go running,” she said. “Some people prefer to be in the sun rather than smelling the chlorine” of indoor pools, she added. Triathletes also use the pool to acclimate to colder weather.
Some boot camps and fitness programs continue outdoors throughout the winter months. If planks in a cold parking lot before dawn are your cup of tea, a number of groups are available to accommodate you.
“There is no bad weather, only bad clothing,” Ginny Wright, who conducts her 13 weekly Body by Ginny classes outdoors in Arlington all winter, told me in an e-mail. When it rains or snows, her 200 students work out in covered areas. “It is unbelievably invigorating to jump around outside in the cold and get all pumped up for the day ahead.”
Do you exercise outdoors all winter?
Tell us about your routine and pass on tips to others who want to get started. Tell us in the comments.
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