Comments on: Winter biking 101: How to cycle through sleet and snow

By: Ron Gurth

Ron Gurth — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 14:59:42 +0000

Good write up. And the clothing recommendations are good, but if folks think they have to buy a lot of expensive gear they may not take up winter riding. I’m big fan of thrift stores where you can find lots of wool sweaters, nylon windbreakers, insulated jackets and vests, and nylon cover pants all at a cheap price. And a lot of people have ski gear that will work pretty well. Snow packs/Sorel boots work great with platform pedals. Just get out and ride. Buy kit as you need it.

By: Sven M Schindler

Sven M Schindler — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 19:25:54 +0000

Hi from Germany. I bike commute all year. True we don’t get blizzards but if it doesn’t get colder than -10C (around 15F) all you need is two briefs and two woolen sweaters under your jacket, and a bit of old newspaper in your boots (fold the old newspaper, stand on it, outline your feet with a felt marker, and cut the shapes out, put that in your boots or shoes. Wonderfully warm). Not everyone wants or needs to invest in a lot of kit. The other suggestion I have is change your tyres to CX tyres or 28″ tyres with a knobby tread (I run Schwalbe Smart Sams in 40-622 in the snow, they’re all I need and they are cheap). The one type of kit I really suggest is an unlined reflective jacket such as runners use. It will normally be dark when you ride to or from work so having a lot of reflective surface on your body is a great improvement in your safety. These jackets are also cheap (I got mine at around 30USD on amazon). Buy them one size up so you can wear your favourite puffer jacket under it. And for your head, I suggest you ride with a full face (downhill) helmet. It keeps you warm enough without a balaclava, remember that your head will be covered in styrofoam. If you do slip, you’re also safer. Add a thick scarf knitted by mum or grandma and you’re all set! Happy cycling and stay safe.

By: Amanda Rychel

Amanda Rychel — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 20:37:44 +0000

For me studded tires were one of the first pieces of equipment I purchased to bike through New England winter. Otherwise, clothing is pretty easy – a heavy wool jacket with wool sweater layering underneath, a Buff face/neck warmer, wool lined boots and down ski mittens are all I need. I also use a helmet with a winter liner that also doubles as a ski helmet. I much prefer winter biking to riding public transit or driving. I love the quiet and solitude but would not mind a little more company.

By: Steve Shikaze

Steve Shikaze — Sat, 26 Nov 2016 20:49:50 +0000

Great write-up! I found $20 heavy duty snowmobiling gloves from Costco work great. Long cuff and flexible enough for shifting and braking. And affordable! My tips are here: https://ridecyclespin.com/2016/10/28/winter-is-coming/

By: Bruce

Bruce — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 02:47:39 +0000

This is my fifth year riding through the New England winter. Road crews here in Maine do a good job clearing snow. But we get hard pack and ice, especially on the bike-only trails, so studded tires are almost a necessity. I say ‘almost’ because I do see some other cyclists getting along on just rubber. But when I splurged for the studs a few years ago my cycling life changed forever. I’d never go back. Deep snow and slush are still a problem — just like riding a mountain bike in deep mud, but I actually feel very stable on glare ice with the studs. Riding on ice is more fun than pavement, especially on a steep incline when I can amaze the slipping pedestrians.

I’ve found that winter cycling is really hard on the bike. It’s easy to say that you should do weekly cleaning and maintenance, but much harder to do in the real world of cold winter weather. I can wipe off some of the grit with a rag and squirt some lubricant on the chain, but that’s about it. Every April I find myself replacing at least something in my drivetrain — a chainwheel, cogs or even a whole cassette. The derailleurs have lasted pretty well. However, a new chain is a given every spring.

I wear mittens. Shifting gears and braking with even thick mittens aren’t a problem for me maybe because I’m always going so slow I have lots of reaction time. I wear long johns and layers all winter anyway, starting about mid-November, so it’s not like I get kitted out in some special cycling outfit. My winter cycling is mostly what I’d call utility cycling — errands, commuting, going to the library — so I want to be dressed sort of normally when I get off the bike. But warm.

I love cycling and simply can’t give it up for even a few months. Indoor riding is too boring for words, so I bundle up and hit the road. Every year I find myself looking forward to riding in the snow and ice.

By: Candace

Candace — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 19:56:48 +0000

I live in Montana and its pretty cold lately. About 0 degrees F. Goggles are a must. I’m used to them though because I ride downhill with them in the summer so the lack of peripheral vision is ok. I really want some bar mitts but have just been trying to eek through this really cold spell with mittens. They just don’t offer enough dexterity though, especially for braking on the fly. I find to lure new winter riders we need to maintain (snow removal) our roads better and make routes to schools and work a priority in at least two n-s and e-w directions in our town.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 03:29:17 +0000

When it is below zero I wear a snowmobile suit and snowmobile boots and take my time. Bar mitts are a must have as are wide studded tires. It can get very icy here in southern Wisconsin.

By: Erica

Erica — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 17:05:41 +0000

Bar Mitts, they’re a game changer! Neoprene pockets that fit over your handlebars that trap in the heat. I still wear my “summertime” fingerless gloves with them and have ample agility with my gear shifting and braking.

By: Jean

Jean — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 04:10:52 +0000

Admittedly tend to winter cycle when the pavement is dry. I haven’t yet invested in studded tires. Calgary does do a reasonable job of snow-clearing the park pathway system, at least the major pathway arteries. You would be amazed to see what is done for its first separated bike lane on 7th St. for snowclearing. We can hear snowclearing machines…@night.

I cycle down to -24 degrees C (and if pavement is dry) for short cycle commutes. Purely functional ride. It’s tough to take off my cycling lobster claw gloves in order to lock up my bike outdoors. But gotta do it. That’s when I realize my fingers can only tolerate certain winter cold.

But most definitely even a small amount of winter cycling can keep you minimally fit for other activities outdoors. Not kiddin’. I’m grateful when snowshoeing in the mountains to have abit of cycling fitness.

By: notlance

notlance — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 13:22:26 +0000

I’ve been riding all winter for over 10 years now, and here’s what I have found works well:

Wool. Nothing is better in the winter. There are several brands of wool clothing that work well. I look for garments that are at least 50% merino. They don’t have to be cycling specific since in the winter you are not going to be using the rear pockets anyway.

Shearling wool mittens. Yes, you can operate a bicycle just fine with mittens, and they are warmer than gloves. Shearling works much, much better than any synthetic; it’s warmer, it breathes, and it doesn’t stink if your hands sweat. I get them XL so I can wear a liner glove on really cold (< -12C) days. Shearling wool mittens are kinda hard to find, but are totally worth it.

Fat tires. The fatter the better. The problem with winter riding is not riding on smooth ice or packed snow, it's riding on rutted ice or slushy snow. If you get your front wheel caught it a rut, or if it starts sliding sideways in slushy snow, you're probably going down. The fat tires roll over the ruts and slush. My winter bike is now a fat bike with 4" tires and it works so much better than my city bike with 35mm (1.4") tires. Forget the studded tires, they don't help in the ruts and slush. Fat is where it's at.