The Scope

Rob Sexton says a minor inconvenience like winter shouldn’t keep you from riding your bike.

It’s almost time to put away your bike?

Nonsense I say! You could just continue riding. There are many reasons to do so.

I began winter riding about five years ago when I lived in Montreal. I did it because it was cheaper than the bus. I did it to make a statement. It kept me fit. It kept me happy during the dark solstice. Most importantly it was a lot of fun.

Now that I live back in St. John’s I still continue to cycle through the winter. I cycle even now when I could easily afford an SUV [gasp!]. Oh, there are week long periods when I cannot ride to work on the roads because of a major storm. You know the kind. The ones that dump 40cm of white stuff, making roads into one lane quagmires of cars and pedestrians. But even on those bad days I still like to get out and ride around Quidi Vidi Lake or Mundy Pond on the fresh white snow.

I’m good at it now. I know how to dress. However I wasn’t very smart the first year. I didn’t quite get it right. I didn’t plan. I didn’t bother to winterize myself and my bike. And the result? I was often cold and my chain rusted off.

So, if you’re interested in winter riding, I have some advice for you.

Winterize Yourself
You should start your ride feeling a little underdressed. Once you start moving you will become warm in short order. It is really important that you don’t get too sweaty as you will then get cold. Armpit zippers—pit zips—are the best thing you can have.

I’d suggest wool as a base layer as it breaths and keeps you warm even when wet. Cotton is a big no-no next to your skin!

A waterproof shell (pants and coat) cuts out wind and protects from snow and rain. We get all three in quantity in NL. It’s possible to find breathable shells that don’t trap sweat.

I never leave home without my scarf since there is nothing worse than having cold wind blow down your neck.

My helmet (and I always wear one!) keeps my head warm but a headband or ear warmer is good for colder days. On super cold days a ski mask is excellent but if you wear glasses they’ll fog up.

I wear waterproof gloves when the weather is warm and wet and mittens when it’s colder. You can get two finger lobster mitts designed for winter cycling. Trust me, if you’re going to spend money on anything get good hand protection. Hands are the first thing to get cold.

I’d also recommend insulated boots that don’t restrict ankle movement, and to put on extra socks if needed.

I usually get my gear from Mountain Equipment Co-op, but you can find good stuff at the used stores as well.

Winterize Your Bike
Start with a mountain bike you’re not afraid to damage. Some people ride road bikes or fixed gears—bikes that have only one gear—in the winter. I don’t know how these people do it.

Fenders are your friends. You can get an inexpensive set for around $15 or make your own using election signs and zip ties.

Lights, lights and lights! Reflectors are just not good enough. You need active lighting, i.e., a flashing red back light and a white one on front. LED lights are excellent as they are bright, inexpensive and the batteries last.

Oil your chain every week. I mean it. Winter is very hard on a bike. Keep it as clean as possible. Oil all spots that look like they are rusting. Clean off your rims regularly.

If you’re riding on ice or snow you’ll need two studded tires. You can buy them for $50 to $100 each or make your own by putting short screws through the inside of a tire. In Newfoundland, even in the deep of winter, the sun will melt snow on the side of the road which by night will freeze and create black ice. Put your better tire on the front.

Did I mention oil your chain? Do it. At least once a week.

A general rule for bike maintenance is to not use WD40. In the winter, I’m giving you permission (just not on your chain please!). It’s good for unfreezing moving parts that may have become stuck. You can also spray miscellaneous holes to drive out the water and prevent freezing.

Carry a lighter. You can use it to quickly unfreeze parts, just don’t melt anything. Lock de-icer works too. A frozen lock is no fun.

There are many websites out there with information and advice for winter cycling. My favourite is www.icebike.org and www.mec.ca has some good basic advice too.

The best advice I can give if you are thinking about winter cycling is to just not stop cycling in the fall. It just sorta happens then.

It’s not cold. It’s good for you. It’s fun. And it generally makes my day better.

Rob Sexton is a local bicycling advocate and MUN Project Green BikeShare’s lead wrench. He likes bikes. A lot.

Illustration by Kira Sheppard.

Permalink | Leave a comment