- If you live in the Northern Hemisphere,
then winter is here.
And it can feel like a time to hibernate
but it's also a great time to get out and ride.
Whilst there is no replacement for a proper kit,
it can be quite expensive, so this the way
to get in the cold and wet on a budget.
(upbeat music)
Wow!
Waterproof socks can make life worth living
when it comes to smashing through puddles
but they come at a price.
What doesn't come at a price are,
super simple plastic bags.
Now, the way to do this is double up on your sock
just go one layer, then the plastic bags,
and then another layer of sock over the top
so you're not slipping around inside your shoes.
Yes, it's totally waterproof, no it's not breathable,
so only do this if you're not going to get super sweaty,
otherwise, you're feet are going to get cold and wet
just through sweat.
Whilst their not as cheap as plastic bags,
my wind hack is to get you're self TK Maxx, route around
and find some thick Merino Wool socks,
hopefully they won't cost you too much
and or though you will still get wet feet in winter
they should stay warm.
Just like you're feet, you're hands
are really sept towards the cold, so a nice little hack,
better than plastic bags, is get some Nitrile Gloves.
These are super thin so, they really won't make
a massive difference you'll feel of the bar,
also they will fit under any pair of gloves,
so slide them on.
And then underneath you're normal gloves,
completely waterproof and windproof
which is a big thing in winter,
especially, if you'll be riding fast.
Also the great thing about this is you're hands
are much less likely to be sweaty like you're feet,
so, the sweat from the inside out
is going to be much less of a problem.
When fingers get wet, they get slippery.
So that includes all you're controls
and contact points on the bike.
So if you're really ride a lot in the winter,
it might be good to think about
what you can do to those,
see there's a little bit of grip tape like a sort
of skateboard grip tape I've got on my shifter,
it's very nice in wet conditions.
You can also do the same to you're brake levers
and drop post, crank bow has actually made
their own little ones to fit nicely on
that dropper post lever or you can use something like
this self-multiplying silicone tape.
So, this basically sticks to itself
so you can wrap it around your lever
and it will stick nicely, so it'll give you more grip.
But also, a massive bonus
if you're riding in really cold conditions,
it will give you a bit of insolation away from the metal
of your brake levers.
Layering is really important in winter months
as I find today as the rain comes down.
I've got waterproof layer on top
and then I've got my normal riding jersey
but also underneath I've got Merino Base Layer.
So the great thing with layering is
if you get too hot you can take one off.
So, just like adding a waterproof shell to an insulation
on a normal riding top is super useful.
Also, you're going to have to put your jacket somewhere
so you might need to have a riding backpack with you
but the great thing of layering is you can
sort of really make it four seasons of clothing.
So I can wear this jersey in summer,
in autumn I can just add that base layer to it,
and then in winter I've got my jacket on top.
So although that does mean I'm having a bit more equipment
you can use it all year around.
You get much more enjoyment out of that post rope beer
if you're not soaking cold and wet
as we've found out loads of times.
So what I learned through winter is
get changed into a riding kit at home
and then take a spare set of clothes
in whatever vehicle I'm going in.
Plus always, in the side of my car
I've got that emergency set of spare socks,
just in case I ever forget,
so nice to have that in there already.
This is a bit of a techy one I'm stealing from Doddy
but using Moto foam to stop mud sticking to your bike
is a really good idea.
So it's called Moto foam
'cause it's from Motocross, basically this is
a sump foam so it's to go underneath you're sump guard,
basically motocross mechanics use this
to stop mud getting stuck into these places
and adding loads of weight to the bike.
With a mountain bike, you can cut this up
and just stick it to the bike where mud might accumulate
but also it can cause some extra wear and tear to the bike.
So places like this where you've got a bit
of space right inside sort of between that seat juve
and the linkage or between the chain stays.
You can add a bit of foam there to stop mud
getting shoved down in there.
So you going to have to try
and find this at you're local motocross dealership.
Silicone spray or what I like to call BS spray,
because you put this all over you're bike when you're about
to sell it makes it look nice and shiny and new.
Basically, this is the slipperiest of stuff,
so this is another moto hack
that spray underneath the bike, especially,
on the plastic underneath the mudguards.
So the mud shouldn't stick to it quite as much,
you'll hit it and hopefully slide off.
The thing about this stuff is if you get a drop of this
on you're brakes, it's going to ruin them.
So, use this sparingly underneath you're mudguards,
or on the bottom of you're bike, even on you're shoes
to try and stop mud sticking to it quite as much.
I've shown you a couple of motocross inspired hacks,
now, time for a golf inspired hack.
Yes, that's right.
They love these things.
These are chemical hand warmers, so you can click these,
stick them in the back of you're glove,
and they're great for warming up you're hands
on the coldest of days or even after a ride.
If you want an instant morale boost,
keep some of these in the car.
Cold hands are miserable, so these definitely will help.
Now, I've left this one for the very end
'cause it might be slightly controversial,
but when it's really cold and wet I like to wear one
of those little rowdy hats, so they made out
of really thick material.
So basically, the water just run straight off it.
Also when it's windy, I always wear my vented helmet
so it just stops that wind getting through
and it keeps my head nice and warm.
I know I wasn't going to like the way I look,
but I love it when it's cold and wet.
Now if you want to see another video from Jam Bam
where Me and Doddy talk
about the merits of wearing winter boots down in that one.
Do you really need 'em?
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