As the days grow colder, the likelihood of hopping back on your bike seems to dwindle with each passing morning. The dark and cold, followed by poor road conditions would quickly turn any sane person towards a bus stop. But there are those of us out there that enjoy the added challenge of biking in the winter. Sure, it takes ten minutes to get dressed in the morning, but there is no other feeling like that brief moment of riding over a patch of black ice balanced on two wheels. I feel vulnerable to small stimuli; a slight breeze will knock me over; a small surge in my pedal stroke will cause my back end to spin out. This is a feeling that I sometimes chase. Other times, I just want to make it home in one piece.
Snow is not much of a concern. I actually seek untracked snow for added grip. Ice, however, is not your friend. Morning melt is a sure sign of icy conditions in the evening. It’s important to brake early and slow down when cornering. The slightest lateral tilt can cause your bike to slip out from underneath you on especially icy roads. Keeping your bike vertical will help you stay balanced. If you want to feel more comfortable on the road, studded tires can greatly improve your traction on ice. Some people have never needed to use them, others swear by them. It comes down to personal preference and the conditions of your route. They are expensive starting at $60 each for a base model. If you chose to get only one, it is recommended to put on the front wheel. If your rear tire slips, you can usually recover, but if the front wheel slips out from under you, you are almost guaranteed to go down.
The cold weather will affect your bike just as much as your body. Metal brake cables tighten up in the cold resulting in reduced braking power and responsiveness. Every time you hop on your bike, make sure to give your brakes a test to get a feel of its responsiveness so you don’t caught off guard when you really need them. If you have rim brakes, you want to make sure that there isn’t any sand or grit on the brake shoes. This can wear out your rims prematurely. Especially in wet conditions, some brakes can produce a loud screeching sound. This is probably OK. If you can still brake hard enough to lock up the wheels there shouldn’t be a problem. If this cannot be achieved, then your brakes will need an adjustment. Just like how wet shoes will squeal on certain surfaces, some wet brakes will squeal.
Snow, salt, and ice accumulating on your frame and drivetrain will quickly cause corrosion if it is not properly looked after. It’s important to give your bike a quick cleaning after every snowy ride. Keep a soft brush by your door and brush off snow, salt, and ice from the underside of your down tube and underneath your bottom bracket. In addition, make sure to rid any buildup of debris from the derailleurs. You should also be applying lube to the chain once or twice a week to make sure everything is rolling smoothly and reduce the wear on the cogs. Lube only needs to be applied to the rollers in between the links so removing the excess on the side of the chain with a paper tower will reduce the amount of grit buildup on the drivetrain. Even more important than any of this is to keep your bike inside when it’s not in use.
A winter of riding will wear down your bike at a quick rate. For this reason many winter commuters get a cheap winter beater bike. Even with one of those you will still need to be seen on the road. During the winter, it’s near impossible to not bike in the dark. Having a good pair of bike lights will not only improve your visibility on the road, it’s also the law.
If this is your first winter of commuting, know that you are not alone. The sight of those other tracks in the snow ahead of you is a constant reminder that others have endured the same hardships. And as you leave your own tracks, it’s a reminder to others to keep pedalling.
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