With the longer daylight hours and intense sunshine, the spring melt is proceeding quickly. Reluctantly, it's time to put away the cross-country skis and crack out the bicycles. Mornings will still be crisp but the mid-day sun is hot enough to melt most of the snow from the valley bottoms exposing the roadways and bike paths.
Surprisingly winter gear can also be used during the spring for similar activities. Let's get into how you can utilize some of the gear you already have at home to make your next spring biking trip as enjoyable and affordable as possible.
Jackets & Leggings
Clothing for spring cycling and cross-country skiing serve similar purposes and can often be used interchangeably.  Skiers and cyclists create their own windchill – but only to the front of the body (no one cross-country skis or cycles backwards) appropriate clothing for both activities will be designed to block wind in the front and vent perspiration off the back. Â
To enjoy the cool mornings, you probably don’t need any extra insulation just a layer of tight woven material to block the wind and reduce drag. Lightweight ski tights and jackets are well suited for this use – and they pack away quite small when they are no longer needed by mid-day. Â
Gloves:
Lighter cross-country ski gloves are well suited for cycling. They provide just enough insulation and wind resistance to keep your hands warm and functional – plus they have good grip to help you hang onto your handlebars firmly allowing you to operate gears and brakes efficiently. If it’s raining really hard a good pair of oversized RubberMaid rubber gloves overtop make any gloves you have completely waterproof (for added waterproofing - tape the wrists closed with Gorilla tape).
Beanies & Buffs:
Cycling helmets are designed for enhanced airflow and venting – which makes them quite cold on crisp mornings. A thin cross-country ski beanie can easily fit under your cycling helmet to keep your head nice and warm. When it’s no longer needed it packs up very small for storage. Many modern climbing helmets are designed and function in similar ways to cycling helmets – you can use your climbing helmet as a cycling helmet – but you definitely cannot use your cycling helmet as a climbing helmet. A Buff is very useful to keep road dust, poplar fluff, pollen, insects, etc. much more manageable.
Bear Spray:
Wildlife concentrates in the valley bottoms during the early snow melt so the chance of a bear encounter increases. Carry bear spray and have it easily accessible. A special belt that allows you to carry bear spray on your lower back is ideal; but you can also purchase - or craft - a device to allow you to carry bear spray in your bike water bottle holder or on the handlebars (example above: cut on old water bottle and it makes for the perfect bear spray holder.)
*Do not try to outrun a bear on your bike – they are faster than you. Cycle away calmly or if a bear is approaching aggressively get off your bike and hold your bike between you and the bear while you get ready to deploy your bear spray.
Rain Gear:
Cycling in the rain is very unpleasant and should be avoided. Generally, rain events in the local Rockies are short lived – wait it out if you can. If you have to cycle in the rain a set of lightweight waterproof pants & jacket are best. Gaiters can also help keep much of the mud off your pants. Carry two bread bags to wear over your socks to keep your feet relatively warm & dry. A jacket with a helmet compatible hood is best to keep rain off your cycling helmet – but you can also use a disposable shower cap over your cycling helmet. In addition to the pouring rain, you will have to endure lots of spray from the road - or trail - and this spray inevitably contains a lot of grit which will foul your rain gear significantly. Select rain gear that can be easily washed and will pack away small when it is no longer needed. Delicate ultralight rain gear works very well for cycling and packs away extremely tiny.
Food & Water:
Pack some high-energy snacks and bring a small water filter or purification tabs in case your outing is longer or harder than originally anticipated.
All of these tips & tricks will help you avoid buying new gear just for spring cycling. May as well use what you've got if it will work! Happy trails!