CHICAGO • Winter biking’s biggest secret is that the chilly air is usually a non-issue.

“I hate being cold,” said Gin Kilgore, 36, a four-season cyclist. “But if you know how to protect yourself from the wind, cold and wet, the physical exertion of biking takes care of the rest.”

With proper dress, lights for visibility and an adventurous spirit, rolling through winter on two wheels will be a breeze. .

Nose

Noses will run even if they’re covered. Don’t try blowing your nose with one finger; it’s gross and a hazard to others. “I keep a soft paper towel folded up my sleeve so I can give a good blow and wipe while stopped at lights,” said Mark Beard-Witherup, 55, who is starting his third winter as a Chicago bike commuter.

Tip: Try a fleece “Snot Spot” (www.snotspotgear.com).

Torso

Use the three-step layering system. Start with the base layer (polypropylene, capilene or even Merino wool), to absorb or wick away moisture, said Joe Abbatacola, who runs winter-biking workshops at REI in Lincoln Park, Ill. Next comes the insulating layer (down, primaloft, fleece, poly-fill). And if you need it, add an outer layer or “shell” to protect against wind, rain and cold. Avoid cotton, which sucks up sweat and freezes once you stop.

Tip: Try Sierra Trading Post (1-800-713-4534, sierratradingpost.com) and Campmore (1-888-226-7667, campmore.com) for undergarments.

Legs

Sweat pants or running or cycling tights work fine. When the temperature drops below 25 degrees, Beard-Witherup adds long-john bottoms of the same light wicking fabric as the base layer on top. He also wears over-the-calf socks with waterproof hiking boots.

Women might like silk long underwear, but men often find it too hot.

Tip: Jeans work unless it’s snowing or raining – then they get stiff and uncomfortable.

Head

You can’t go wrong with a balaclava, a full head covering that leaves only the eyes exposed, under your helmet. Find one with synthetic material so it wicks some of the sweat. Anything with “Windstopper” fabric does a great job of blocking the wind but might hamper your ability to hear. If it’s below 20 degrees, try ski goggles, which can be found for less than $40, suggests Martin Hazard, 31, of bikewinter.org.

Tip: Try Conney Safety (1-800-356-9100, www.conney.com) for cheap protective eyewear and safety clothing.

Hands

Cold fingers make it hard to brake and hold onto the handlebars.

Kilgore likes a windproof glove-mitten combination – the mitten folds down to a glove – so if you need to lock your bike, your fingers are still protected.

Some swear by two pairs of gloves: a thin, silk glove underneath a thicker “lobster” glove that has two fingers plus a thumb.Petite women may have trouble finding performance gloves in their sizes (try terrybicycles.com). If you ride with a child who hates gloves, put wool socks on his hands followed by a coat and then mittens, Kilgore suggests.

Tip: If your gloves get wet, stop at a convenience store and throw them in a microwave for 30 seconds, cyclist Alex Stieda suggested in Bicycling Magazine.

Feet

Put away your bike shoes until spring and get a pair of all-weather boots a half-size bigger than your usual size and layer socks, making sure the footwear isn’t so tight it’s restricting your blood flow. A silk sock liner with a wool sock over it works well if it’s about zero degrees, said Kilgore.

“But no cotton socks; nothing that makes your feet sweat,” she said. Low-tech alternative: “Put sandwich bags over your stocking feet to block wind,” said Stieda in Bicycling. If your toes freeze, wiggle them, or get off your bike and run with it.

Tip: Get eight hours of portable heat by stashing those small warming packets in your boots or gloves, suggested Rob Sadowsky, executive director of the Chicagoland Bike Federation. A pack of 10 costs $14.99 at Sports Authority.

Prepare your bike, too

Properly inflated tires are your best protection against flats, more common when the ground is wet.

“I try to clean the chain with a chain cleaning machine once a week after they start putting down salt and sand. I’ll wipe the wheels down” at home, says Beard-Witherup.

Erika Cherry (left) along with fiancee Tyler Nash share the same birthday with their newborn daughter Faith Nash, December 23rd. Faith was born at Penrose-Saint Francis Hospital North. Photo by Kirk Speer, The Gazette

KIRK SPEER