Tips for Winter Cycling
With the advent of fall and the impending cold of winter, many cyclists hang up their bicycles for the period of cold weather that makes riding unbearable for some. But for those of us who are relying upon our bikes as our sole means of transportation, (or just love biking that much) retiring our bikes to the stable just simply isn’t an option. So for those who are on the fence about biking in the winter time, or those who wish to but do not possess the knowledge or material to embark on such an undertaking, I have tried to compile a helpful list of ways to defend against the cold and inclement weather.
Knowing what to wear:
For me personally, determining what clothes to wear when embarking upon a ride in the frigid winter air proved to be the most difficult component of winter biking. At first, I overdressed and wore solely heavy winter jackets which left me drenched in sweat by the time I finished my commute. Then I made the mistake of under-dressing, sporting merely a fleece jacket in winter temperatures, not anticipate the bone-chilling effect that a cold, winter wind would have upon me. After repeated treks experimenting with different clothing combinations, I arrived to a few fundamental conclusions regarding what garb would be appropriate. The first, most important article of clothing to have would be a loose-fitting water/windproof shell. This serves as a great basic article of clothing that can repel water in event of cold rain or snow, and can negate the cold-intensifying effects of a strong wind.
Underneath my waterproof jacket, I prefer to have a layer of thick, insulating material. Normally a fleece or wool sweater will suffice in terms of a sub-surface layer that can effectively insulate your body from the cold. I find wool to be particularly suitable, because unlike most fabrics, wool maintains its insulating properties even when it’s saturated with water. This ensures that no matter how much I sweat when I am riding my bicycle, if I ever have to dismount in the winter air, the moisture produced by my body during its exertion will not immediately turn to a sheet of ice. Underneath this ideally I like to have another long-sleeved shirt that reaches the whole way down to my wrists. The best way for you to find the right combination however will be through trial and error. Ideally you will want to wear a combination of clothing that you feel slightly cold in at first, but eventually allow you to reach a sustained comfortable temperature several minutes into your commute. Just make sure to wear layers of clothing that can easily subtracted or added to in the event that your clothing combination needs adjusting to higher or lower temperatures.
Along with the jacket in terms of importance is having a good pair of socks and gloves. Again, I find wool to be ideal here because of its insulating properties. Considering that these extremities are the furthest away from your heart and require the most effort to circulate blood to, it is important that you keep your hands and feet as warm as possible with the proper attire. Another helpful tip would be to wear a balaclava, or a bandana to cover your face, which takes a disproportionate amount of beating compared to the rest of your body when biking in a cold wind. One way to protect your rear-end from the water that your back tire spits up at you when biking on wet roads would be to invest in a fender. These fenders range from 20-60 dollars and are normally either attached to the frame of your bicycle or clip on to your seatpost.
How to prepare your bike for winter:
Much like your own body, your bicycle will require a greater amount of care and protection to ensure that it is capable of functioning in a harsher climate. You’ll want to invest in a bottle of chain lube for when you’re forced to ride in wet conditions. When your chain is being exposed moisture more frequently, the higher probability it has of developing rust. To avoid this, you should take the precaution of re-lubing your bike chain every time your bike is exposed to rain, snow, or any other kind of precipitation.
For those of you expressing incredulity at the prospect of biking around in snow, I can assure you it is not nearly as miserable or dangerous as you may imagine. Biking in the snow is just like driving, you have to exercise a substantially larger amount of caution, but it is still very safe if you aren’t reckless. Assuming that you have invested in a pair of decently treaded(though studded tires are ideal) tires cycling during ice and snowy conditions should by no means be an insurmountable task. One way in which you should alter your riding style should be in the way you execute turns in snowy conditions. Whereas when biking on dry roads, you tend to lean into your turns to minimalizing your turning radius, you should try to remain upright as much as possible and take your turns at a much slower speed. It is also recommended that when attempting to perform a stop, you braking more slowly and attempt to use your back brake as much as possible, to eliminate the possibility of losing control of your back tire in an uncontrolled skid.
If you keep these general rules in mind when biking in during the winter, your troubles may be sufficiently curtailed and you may find yourself enjoying the exhilarating feeling of biking in cold weather to be a supreme pleasure.
-Prepared by Luke Witek, Bike Temple Messenger
