Padded gloves and handlebar tape help, but the best solution is to move your hands frequently on the bars. Grasp the drops, the brake hoods or on the tops of the bars near the stem and alternate these positions every couple of minutes. Hot Feet Nothing makes a bike ride more miserable than cold feet. And because your dogs get compressed slightly on each pedal stroke, cutting circulation, they often get cold faster than other body parts do. Keep those tootsies toasty with neoprene shoe covers.
Many riders buy winter cycling shoes a size larger so they can wear heavy socks.
To build cycling power, roll along slowly at about five miles per hour in a big gear. Stay seated and accelerate as hard as you can for 10 to 15 seconds letting your quads, hamstrings, and low back do the work. Roll easily in a low gear for five minutes, then repeat. Start with two power starts and work up to five. On curvy roads, look ahead and visualize the route where you want your bike to go.