Winter Bicycle Commuting

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Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on October 11, 2010 at 11:30am

There's a wealth of information on these and other topics in the Bike Winter Group.

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Permalink Reply by Joe Willis on October 11, 2010 at 1:19pm

A few of my must;
1) Mittens - I use a thin glove that fits in weatherproof mittens
2) Goggles - ski/snowboard goggles with anti-fog work great (keeps your eyes from tearing up in the cold)
3) Gortex head cover (looks like a ninja mask) - thin, effective, and fits easily under a helmet.
4) hand/foot warmers - a MUST - if you get a flat on an ice cold doy you will know why. They are only about a dollar at any outdoor shop.

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Permalink Reply by Glenn on October 11, 2010 at 6:13pm

Wool. It looks better, keeps you warm even when wet, less to no chemicals involved in making it (if you are an "eco minded" person).

I use my road bike year round with a simple pair of 27x1-1/4 road tires with a very simple tread design. as long as i treat it with love during the hard months by cleaning and storing inside while at home, it causes me no issues and stays free of rust.

On those mega snowy days I either walk or use my beach cruiser with low psi. For either bike though I would really like to try those studded tires. Then again, "its not winter riding unless you fall on your... seat." Just by looking online at places like icebike, bike winter or your LBS you should be able to get all the info you need plus some. Did you join the bike winter group?

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Permalink Reply by Andy Matthews on October 11, 2010 at 8:54pm

Clothing is obviously key - mittens rather than gloves when it gets really cold, ski goggles rather than glasses (they work well in low light and protect your face), thin hat to go under your helmet, Col'd Lizard pants (the best!), layers of clothes (I use 3 layers of varying thickness - one undershirt, one mid weight fleece and a softshell) a neck gator, I use boots with SPD clips but I have heard that it is better to use regular pedals and a pair of waterproof ankle boots as if you do skid then it is easier to put your feet down.
I ride a cyclo cross bike with winter tires (with ice studs) but unless you are on ice you can use a heavy treaded tire and be fine for most weather.
Your biggest danger isn't the weather it is the cars. Lights are key. I have 3 front lights, one on my handlebars, a flasher on my front fork low down pointing slightly up, and one on my helmet. Sounds like overkill but I had plenty of close calls with cars that didn't see me even then. In my opinion the most important light is the helmet mounted light as you can use it to attract attention of cars who may not be looking for you but will defintely notice a bright light being shone at them. I would spend the money on at least one quality front lamp that is really bright. For rear lights don't waste your money on the tiny ones with the single LED - you can't see them if the weather is bad - I use two rear lights, one with 8 LED's behind my seat and a smaller one on my backpack as high up as I can get it.
Enjoy the winter.

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Permalink Reply by Ann M. Erickson on October 12, 2010 at 7:19pm

Thanks! I didn't find it before this.

Kevin Conway said:

There's a wealth of information on these and other topics in the Bike Winter Group.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on October 12, 2010 at 7:43pm

Happy to help. It has been said by someone that Chicago is a great place to ride a bike 3 seasons out of the year, and summer isn't one of them. I tend to agree. Riding in the winter's a blast!


Ann M. Erickson said:

Thanks! I didn't find it before this.

Kevin Conway said:

There's a wealth of information on these and other topics in the Bike Winter Group.

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on October 12, 2010 at 8:51pm

On bike choice:
Thin tires cut through slush but don't do as well on ice, and a road bike typically puts you in a difficult position for a 3-pt. landing if you do slide out. Still, many people swear by road bikes with thin tires in the winter.
Personally, I prefer a mountain bike with a "flat" profile tire on the back, i.e. tread on the sides and relatively smooth in the middle, and a rounded/road type tire on the front. The rear tracks in snow and the front cuts a path.
Studded tires may help on ice but only hurt in all other conditions, and would wear you out for any commute over 2-3 miles.

I think the main points I'd want to get across are:

-Mountain bikes put the top tube far away from the rider doe to the likelihood of having to bail while mountain biking-- I find this very useful for snow riding
-your biggest enemy in the winter months may be the combination of wet tires and excessive debris.
I would avoid any tire with recessed groove patterns of any sort, as the grooves help give purchase to glass or metal shards so they can grind into the tire with each revolution (the wetness initially helps them stick).
-during a typical winter in Chicago the times when there is actually snow or slush in the street are relatively few and far between-- most of your attention would be best placed on dressing properly.

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Permalink Reply by Ann M. Erickson on October 13, 2010 at 6:15pm

As far as the cold air / breathing goes, I sometimes have the same problem with my sinuses. Other than wearing a balaclava and a scarf, did you find anything more necessary?

I'm checking out the winter bike group for more tips, thanks :)

Adriana said:

I love winter riding! The city does a decent job of clearing snow (Try riding in the suburbs on the first day of a snow fall), so you won't have too much of an issue as far as riding in actual snow. I opt for stability/security versus efficiency, which is why I ride wider tires. That's just because I am a cluts and the wider tires with knobby tread help the weebles wobbles on slushy wet snow/ice. I'd wait a couple of days after the first snow of the season for safety, just because it seems people forget how to drive. My biggest issue with bitter cold was figuring out how to protect my face, cold air hitting my lungs is bad for my asthma, but I get claustrophobic. You will find plenty of good advice in bike winter. Have fun, stay safe and well lit. I just may get some of those neon glowing lights just to make sure I can be seen from space this year.

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Permalink Reply by Ann M. Erickson on October 13, 2010 at 6:17pm

Yes I did join :)

I'm glad using a road bike has been okay for you thus far... I do keep my bike inside anyways, so maybe I can manage to use this one year round! I'll give it a shot at the very least.


I use my road bike year round with a simple pair of 27x1-1/4 road tires with a very simple tread design. as long as i treat it with love during the hard months by cleaning and storing inside while at home, it causes me no issues and stays free of rust.

On those mega snowy days I either walk or use my beach cruiser with low psi. For either bike though I would really like to try those studded tires. Then again, "its not winter riding unless you fall on your... seat." Just by looking online at places like icebike, bike winter or your LBS you should be able to get all the info you need plus some. Did you join the bike winter group?

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Permalink Reply by RyanG on October 14, 2010 at 9:30am

Here's a video for inspiration:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryan_g/4344184121/in/set-7215762326881...

As others have said, clothing is key. I ride a fixed road bike, and I clip in. I use the same tires year round, but have never fallen. Almost any tire will give when you hit ice/steel plates on an angle. When I see ice/wet steel plates, I know to stay straight and upright, no leaning.

I like fixed because of the simplicity and control. Brakes can get completely iced/snowed up, so be sure to clear those before and after each ride. I also enroll in Rapid Transit's winter package, I get unlimited washing/re-lubes from October-March. Check it out if you don't have the ability to give your bike a bath.

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