Nov 29 2008
Winterizing Your Bike—And YOU
You don’t have to live at the North Pole to be deep in winter. Since late October here in the northern foothills of New York’s Adirondacks, it’s been snowy, cold, icy, or rainy—often all within a 24 hour span—and of course there’s the wind. (Isn’t there ALWAYS the wind?) What’s a cyclist to do? Give up and ride the Bike to Nowhere (eg, a stationary bike), instead? Or grab the steed by the horns and ride? That depends. If you must ride or starve, you ride. If you simply don’t like to give up, you ride. But if you DO ride, ride smart.
Studded snow tires are a start. They won’t prevent you from riding on dry roads on those rare occasions when you find them, but they’ll save your bacon if you must ride on ice. It’s surprising how good a grip you have with studs, but remember that when you stop, your feet aren’t studded. If you DO forget, you’ll remember in a hurry as you look up from the ground. I’ve not tried it, but perhaps it’s possible to ride while wearing traction devices like Yaktrax®. Otherwise, be careful when you bring your bike to a stop.
Time to change to studded tires
Wear shoes that have at least a bit of grip and tread. Roadie shoes aren’t winter shoes. Mountain biker shoes can be. I’ve worn the same pair of Performance MTB shoes for three years and I liked them so much I bought a spare pair. My first pair are still going strong, though are showing some signs of wear. I’ll swap them for the new ones in spring. Whenever that comes.
Dress and outfit your bike for the weather. In cold temperatures, I would rather carry more than I need than to have less than I need and risk hypothermia. A pannier or trunk will carry excess clothing. And I carry a Cold Weather Survival Kit when riding in temperatures that would lead to hypothermia if I had to stop and make a repair of change a tube.
Whatever your beliefs about cyclists’ rights on the road, the fact remains that you’re the one who will be hurt or killed if a car pulls out in front of you because the driver didn’t see you. Drivers don’t expect to see cyclists in winter. HELP them see you. Outfit your bike with lights—at least a blinking tailight (aka blinkie) for riding in minimal visibility during the day. And light that lets you be seen from the front is a big plus during the day. If you ride at night or when it’s snowing, raining, or foggy, get the best, brightest lights you can afford. Reflective clothes help drivers see you, too. Do whatever you can to be seen
Can they see me?
Riding a bike in snowy, icy winters demands, first and foremost, that you be extra careful. Keep warm, ride safe, be prepared. It’ll keep you alive.
When I was a kid, I was nurtured on TV westerns, so it’s not too surprising that I longed to explore a ghost town. Since my family lived in the shadow of Vermont’s Green Mountains, however, it didn’t seem very likely that I’d get the chance. But then I visited my Grandad’s Adirondack cabin for the first time, and I discovered a ghost town on the doorstep. It took me a while to recognize the signs, of course. (I was only 10 years old. I had a lot to learn.) The bronze bell on the roof of Grandad’s cabin was the first clue. The bell’s once-lustrous surface was hidden beneath layers of verdigris, hinting at great age. More evidence soon came to light. A river ran close by Grandad’s place, and while on the cliffs above the rapids, I found holes drilled deep into the solid rock. Some were empty. Others contained rusty iron rods. And back in the woods, away from the river’s edge, cables as big around as my arm lay half-concealed in the duff. Further along, down the winding jeep road that served as the local thoroughfare, weed-choked ruts veered off into stands of stunted spruce and hemlock before petering out in tangles of blackberry brambles. Following those old tracks was always exciting. The unknown waited around every corner….
