In winter, it only takes a few metres on the bike for the body to feel that its ideal operating temperature is under threat. "Cooling down due to the ambient temperature triggers an automatic mechanism designed to protect vital organs," says sports scientist and cycling expert Matthias Laar from Bad Tölz. The blood vessels in the hands and feet constrict, while at the same time the flow of warm blood in the centre of the body is increased. In this way, the body draws heat away from the extremities and brings it inwards.
"Our hands and feet have little protective fatty tissue and only very small muscles that produce heat through their work," explains Laar. That's why they cool down particularly quickly. The cold wind on the bike and the cold material of the handlebars or (clipless) pedals intensify this effect. Effective protection is provided by functional equipment that takes the following points into account: 1. keeps out the wind, 2. insulates or produces heat, 3. transports moisture to the outside. The last point is not only important for outerwear. It is also important to prevent moisture and thus evaporative cooling on the hands and feet, which always occurs when the skin releases heat into the environment.
To prevent cold feet, Matthias Laar advises wearing (warm) shoes that fit well on the foot. "Please don't lace them up too tightly," he warns. Tight shoes cause cold feet as they squeeze blood vessels and therefore make it difficult for heat to circulate. For the hands, the sports scientist recommends doing finger exercises before setting off or during a warm-up break to promote blood circulation. In the long term, the blood vessels can also be trained by taking alternating baths.
