5 Reasons to go winter cycle-touring (& 5 reasons not to)

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The weather’s taken on an autumnal nip here in the U.K., sparking dreams of future snowy adventures. Cycling Scandinavia at the start of this year was an intensely memorable experience, ticking all the right boxes at that time in my adventure-cycling journey.

Photo by Tom Allen

Here are five reasons I’d urge all experienced (or budding) cycle-tourists to give it a shot:

1. Challenge: Winter cycle touring throws a lot of new considerations into the mix. After 18 months on the road in more temperate climes, I needed to push myself, broaden my experience and learn some new skills.
2. Beauty: The ethereal sunlight and snow-clad lands of the far north might be as familiar to locals as grey skies and patchwork fields are back home, but for me this harsh spectacle was rarely short of breathtaking.
3. Solitude: This region is sparsely populated, and the back country is all but deserted during winter, save for a few skiers and skidoo enthusiasts. Need a place to unwind and reflect? Head for the Arctic.
4. Hospitality: “We’re as cold as the weather”, said one Norwegian lady. But, although a world away from the hospitality of the Middle East, I was often taken in from the bitter cold for food and a place to sleep.
5. Safety: If you do get into a pickle, the fact is that you’re still on the road, probably in range of mobile phone signal, and therefore never far from help. You’re not so far from home. It’s not a polar expedition, even though your clothing, camping setup and ice-beard might have a lot in common with one.

Not convinced? Excellent! Here are some handy reasons why it’s a really silly idea…

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