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5 Top Winter Tips to Help Bicycle Riders Get Through the Cold
- By Darla Blackmon
- Published 01/14/2010
- Improve Your Game
- Unrated
Darla Blackmon
Darla Blackmon writes for EverythingLongBeach.com, a website for the Long Beach community that covers news, arts, entertainment and health. Riders on Long Beach bikes rarely have to worry about cold weather. But, she's prepared just in case.
View all articles by Darla Blackmon
With an increased awareness in global issues and the rising costs of fuel, many are turning towards cycling as a main source of transportation. Particularly in cities where individuals are only a short distance away from their place of work and sources of entertainment, bicycles offer a relatively cheap and environmentally friendly way to travel. Winter brings challenges to cyclists, but with bit of knowledge and awareness, riders are able to ride their bikes year round.
1. Stay Warm to Stay Riding
One of the main reasons that an individual might choose a motor vehicle over a bicycle in the winter is climate control. Frigid temperatures can make cycling seem unbearable. However, with the correct gear, a person can remain quite comfortable in some of the coldest weather conditions. Ski goggles are a great way to protect the eyes from extreme conditions. Tight fitting knit and fleece caps coupled with a helmet will allow the head to maintain most of its warmth.
The proper footwear is important as well, as regular cycling shoes do not provide the needed warmth in very cold conditions. Instead, regular snow boots are a good alternative.
Another great tip is to keep body parts as close together as possible. For this reason, mittens are a good replacement for gloves as it allows the fingers to stay in close contact allowing the hands to stay warmer. Whatever apparel is chosen, a rider should be sure that he or she is comfortable and can make good contact with handles and pedals.
2. Good Tires Are a Must
Another factor to take into consideration when cycling in winter is tires. A good rule to remember is that the wider the tire, the better the traction. More tire allows more contact with the ground. A cyclist can purchase studs or chains of their tires, but this will make riding on pavement much rougher. However, chains will greatly improve traction on ice or snow. Some riders find that lowering the pressure in the tires will allow for more traction when riding in poor cycling conditions.
3.
Be Seen in the Dwindling Light
With winter comes a decrease in the amount of daylight, often times resulting in an increase in the amount of time a cyclist will have to ride in the dark. For this reason, it is very important for any rider to inspect his or her bicycle and make sure that the reflectors are clean and visible. Additionally, lights should be installed on both the front and the back of the bicycle. Drivers are more likely to be distracted in the winter and visibility could be reduced, so a rider can never be too safe. Lights and reflectors are the best protection in the dark of winter.
4. Practice Proper Bike Maintenance to Stay Safe
Keeping a bicycle clean and well lubricated is important in regard to winter riding. Fenders and mud flaps can protect both rider and bicycle from dirty, slushy, and salty roads. While any grease will be suitable for a bicycle, some might find benefits in using a grease designed for low temperatures. While a bicycle does not have to be winterized for the cold weather in the same way that an automobile does, it is a great idea to re-grease the bearings in the fall in order to prepare for the extra dirt and grime of winter riding.
5. Keep It Steady
Finally, it is important that a cyclist maintain their ability to control a bicycle in winter. A cyclist should remember to pedal their bicycle smoothly and avoid in quick jerking motions. As a general rule, slow and steady will be better in the winter than speeding up and slowing down. If a cyclist does find that they are sliding, they should try to correct with small movements and avoid any major swerving. Much like in a vehicle, over-correcting could easily lead to a crash.Generally, snow will require more effort to pedal through, but will allow for better traction than ice.
Winter is a time in which temperatures drop and weather often deteriorates. However, this does not have to deter a person from choosing to cycle during the cold weather. Whether it be bitterly cold temperatures or a barrage of winter precipitation, following these cold-weather riding tips can allow a rider to enjoy the perks of cycling throughout the cold weather months.
1. Stay Warm to Stay Riding
One of the main reasons that an individual might choose a motor vehicle over a bicycle in the winter is climate control. Frigid temperatures can make cycling seem unbearable. However, with the correct gear, a person can remain quite comfortable in some of the coldest weather conditions. Ski goggles are a great way to protect the eyes from extreme conditions. Tight fitting knit and fleece caps coupled with a helmet will allow the head to maintain most of its warmth.
The proper footwear is important as well, as regular cycling shoes do not provide the needed warmth in very cold conditions. Instead, regular snow boots are a good alternative.
Another great tip is to keep body parts as close together as possible. For this reason, mittens are a good replacement for gloves as it allows the fingers to stay in close contact allowing the hands to stay warmer. Whatever apparel is chosen, a rider should be sure that he or she is comfortable and can make good contact with handles and pedals.
2. Good Tires Are a Must
Another factor to take into consideration when cycling in winter is tires. A good rule to remember is that the wider the tire, the better the traction. More tire allows more contact with the ground. A cyclist can purchase studs or chains of their tires, but this will make riding on pavement much rougher. However, chains will greatly improve traction on ice or snow. Some riders find that lowering the pressure in the tires will allow for more traction when riding in poor cycling conditions.
3.
With winter comes a decrease in the amount of daylight, often times resulting in an increase in the amount of time a cyclist will have to ride in the dark. For this reason, it is very important for any rider to inspect his or her bicycle and make sure that the reflectors are clean and visible. Additionally, lights should be installed on both the front and the back of the bicycle. Drivers are more likely to be distracted in the winter and visibility could be reduced, so a rider can never be too safe. Lights and reflectors are the best protection in the dark of winter.
4. Practice Proper Bike Maintenance to Stay Safe
Keeping a bicycle clean and well lubricated is important in regard to winter riding. Fenders and mud flaps can protect both rider and bicycle from dirty, slushy, and salty roads. While any grease will be suitable for a bicycle, some might find benefits in using a grease designed for low temperatures. While a bicycle does not have to be winterized for the cold weather in the same way that an automobile does, it is a great idea to re-grease the bearings in the fall in order to prepare for the extra dirt and grime of winter riding.
5. Keep It Steady
Finally, it is important that a cyclist maintain their ability to control a bicycle in winter. A cyclist should remember to pedal their bicycle smoothly and avoid in quick jerking motions. As a general rule, slow and steady will be better in the winter than speeding up and slowing down. If a cyclist does find that they are sliding, they should try to correct with small movements and avoid any major swerving. Much like in a vehicle, over-correcting could easily lead to a crash.Generally, snow will require more effort to pedal through, but will allow for better traction than ice.
Winter is a time in which temperatures drop and weather often deteriorates. However, this does not have to deter a person from choosing to cycle during the cold weather. Whether it be bitterly cold temperatures or a barrage of winter precipitation, following these cold-weather riding tips can allow a rider to enjoy the perks of cycling throughout the cold weather months.