Winter bike commuting - Yes you can!
Downtown bike commuter.
On sunny, warm days, biking to work downtown can seem like a no-brainer. But what about when winter hits? With gas prices on the rise and New Year's resolutions in full swing, you might be looking for some guidance on how to become a cold-weather bike commuter.
Here's some advice from the staff at the getDowntown Program and others who want to encourage you to give winter bike commuting a try.
1. getDowntown's Guide to Winter Bike Commuting in Ann Arbor: Here's a bunch of hints and tips to get you geared up and ready for a ride.
Some of my favorite hints and tips from this post:
- Purchasing a cheap "beater bike" for the winter is a great way to save your nicer bike from the ice and snow.
- The most essential gear for winter bike commuting: a windproof/waterproof outer-layer and a hat, mittens and warm boots.
- Dress in layers and always remember your lights! It gets darker earlier than you might think.
Some highlights from his post:
- If you are going to make the commitment to bike in the winter, invest in good gear.
- If you want to keep warm, think ears, hands and feet.
- Take your winter bike commuting to the next (and safer) level with fenders and studded snow tires.
3. Winter Bike Commuting Tips from the Pros . . . and meHere I posted some tips for preparing your bike for the winter and some of my hints and tips for winter commuting.
Some key points:
- Don't bike if you don't want to: Why torture yourself? Pick days when it's sunny but not snowy.
- Yes, I wear a snow suit: When it gets really cold, a bib-type snowsuit can keep you toasty warm.
4. Wheels In Motion Winter Commuter ChallengeDo you already commute by bike in the winter? Get rewarded by participating in the Wheels in Motion Commuter Challenge. More info here.
Share your winter bike commuting hints and tips. Post your winter bike commuting hints and tips in the comments section below, or in the above posts on the getDowntown blog.
Comments
Van Goodwin
Fri, Oct 28, 2011 : 6:56 a.m.
Hello ALL! As an OTR trucker, I get my excercise during my 10 hours mandatory down time. I bike, snowshoe, XC ski for exercise. As for winter biking, I wear roughly the same attire as for skiing. Most of my excercise happens late at night/ early morning. When I did commute to work I had to leave early which got me out ahead of most of the NON-defensive drivers. As for snow and ice in Montana, we had our fair share for longer then the lower elavations! In town, I had my children ride the sidewalks where they were cleared which is required within 24 hours by most municipalities! Going to and coming home from school our community was adamant about looking out for traveling kids. During my commute, I did like any defensive driver (car/truck/boat) would do; I slowed down for conditions, started slow and prepared early to stop, as well as keeping a full field of view for hazards! I know this post is nearly a year late, but with winter rapidly approaching, and me just finding this website, I thought I would put in my 1 1/2 cents. My youngest daughter started college this fall and will be biking everywhere all year. She is prepared with good water resistant panniers, studded tires (not on a $3,000.00 fat tire bike) and reflective gortex clothes. She'll throw a hothands heat pack in with her laptop on really cold days when she puts a packet into the pockets on the tops of her gloves. I had to sew in these pockets because glove manufacturers haven't figured out " to maintain the fingers warmth, heat the blood flowing into them and back to the heart" As for accidents, I have a prostetic hip and knees! In my youth I rode bulls at many a rodeo! At least one time I was not succesful!!! My orthopedic DR. and the surgeon who recently reconstructed my left shoulder conquer about biking as good excercise that is low impact. My family and I camp, canoe/kayak, hike and climb, XCski and snowshoe as well as bike year round! So get out there!!!
Andrew Claydon
Fri, Jan 7, 2011 : 11:20 a.m.
I'm also a year around bike commuter and I prefer riding the winter over the summer! I ride an old Huffy road bike converted to a single speed with knobby tires and it works great. There is so much great info out there on winter riding, it doesn't take long to learn. A little common sense on when riding or when to ride is always good too. My commutes are one of my favorite parts of the day. Don't judge it till you try it.
Joel Batterman
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 1:44 p.m.
I bicycle just about every day (snowy, icy or otherwise), and I think charges of masochism and lunacy are somewhat exaggerated. I'm surprised that so many people seem to regard winter bicycling in Ann Arbor as a dangerous activity. I do wish the City would clear the bike lanes, but despite having to deal with more clothing, studded tires, and a somewhat narrowed right-of-way, winter biking doesn't pose any insurmountable obstacles. It's usually the warmest part of my day. If winter biking can happen in Oulu, Finland - and it does, at far higher rates - it can happen here.
Dale Petty
Thu, Jan 6, 2011 : 11:12 a.m.
I've been cycling year round to work at WCC for 15 years. As the temperature drops I add a scarf, or warmer mittens or a thin poly ski mask, but I never have to wear much since I always get warm by riding. I love my studded bike tires which have excellent traction even on the icy streets in my neighborhood - much better than my car. I swap front wheels back and forth in the winter, one studded and one regular, depending on conditions. The only time I took a spill in 15 years was when I neglected to put on my studded tire on one icy day. I use extra caution and try to avoid high traffic areas when it's snowy. That would be much easier if homeowners and businesses would consistently clear their sidewalks! I've also taken the time to get off my bike and push a stranded motorist while her fellow autoists just drove around or honked at her. The only time I've ever been hit by a car was while I was crossing an icy Geddes Road into Gallup Park in a crosswalk, with bright yellow clothing, in the day light, after waiting for all visible traffic to clear! I could have been a child, a senior citizen, a mom with a baby in a stroller - the accident was because the driver wasn't driving safely for the conditions, not because I was on a bike. Thanks for the story! Ride on!
Bob Krzewinski
Wed, Jan 5, 2011 : 10:15 a.m.
For those interested in learning more about how to safely ride a bicycle during winter, and enjoy it, the Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition (www.wbwc.org) will have a winter bicycling talk on Saturday, January 22nd, 2pm, at Ypsilanti Cycle (116 West Michigan Avenue) in downtown Ypsi. Pete Hines, Chair of the WBWC, and year-round commute-to-work cyclist, will give the talk which will focus on how to prepare your bike, dressing for winter bicycling, and winter riding safety. The talk is free.
CynicA2
Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 3:27 p.m.
Not surprising- there are lots of masochists in A2 - you practically HAVE to be to put-up with six months of bleak, dreary, windy, wet, freezing weather year after year. Even if we had a great economy, Americans clearly have a preference for sunnier climes these days, and have had for the past 30 years. Between the weather and the economy, you have to be pretty hard-core to stay in Michigan any more.
ralphypsilanti
Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 10:13 a.m.
For over 8 years Ive winter bike commuted between Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor and have found the main connector roads to be clear of snow the majority of time. To throw a number out, I would say 3 of the 5 workdays. On clear days, one could easily ride a bike to work without studded tires. However, studded tire are invaluable when conditions are icy by keeping you upright when trekking across ice or black-ice along the roadside. Im fortunate to have two winter bikes: my main commuter without studded tires and my snow & ice bike with studded tires. Ive used both bikes this winter and havent missed a day of winter riding.
Nancy Shore
Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 9:43 a.m.
Wow, this is quite a lively conversation. I wanted to echo what a lot of people have said about using common sense. If it's too icy or snowy, I don't bike. But on the many cold but clear days we have all that is needed is to bundle up and use common sense. The same goes for when we drive to work in the ice and snow. It's a tragedy when someone gets hurt in a bike accident and I don't want to downplay that. But I also believe that biking to work in the winter can be doable. I have been biking to work year 'round in Ann Arbor since 2002 and haven't gotten in a bad accident. And from the comments to this post there are also other people who have also enjoyed biking to work year 'round. But if this is something that scares you and that you think is dangerous, you don't have to do it. Thanks again for your comments.
KJMClark
Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 8:12 a.m.
It's not miserable at all. Maybe you should try something before you decide what it's like. You get to hear the birds all winter - in late January they start to sing for the spring and you get to hear it. The motorists have no idea. The winds are much stronger in the winter, but with wind pants and a jacket, you don't feel cold, you just notice how powerful it is. Great fun when it's behind you, and a great winter workout when it's not. With studded tires I've found I have much better grip in the winter than our car and truck have with their snow tires. The only things to worry about are cookie dough (a sand/snow mix that only happens in winter) and rude motorists, which like I said before, are a problem in the summer as well. Stupid, dangerous drivers are stupid and dangerous in the summer too. Anyone who's driven on the roads can spot them pretty quickly. 98% of motorists are just trying to get to work too; they aren't a problem. And you're not out there for a long time biking to work. If your commute is more than a half hour by bike, it's probably too long for a winter commute by bike, since you do have to slow down. The benefits are that you don't put on weight in the winter, gas prices can go up and you don't really care, it's a carbon-free commute, some employers will pay you to do it (new law - $20 per month), there's a lot of winter beauty you get to experience, and you're doing all of this going to work, which you have to do anyway.
a2cents
Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 7:47 a.m.
In the winter I need exercise and walking is every bit as hazardous as bicycling due to the haphazard shoveling and deicing. Only a thaw cleans some walks. The city will enforce its rules, but reporting 20-30 scoflaws per snow/ice-event is a pain. Students and their landlords are the worst offenders and incorrigible. Suggestion: no grades/graduation if civic responsibilities unmet.
spm
Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 7:41 a.m.
The majority of the time during winter the roads are clear and the main issue you deal with is the cold. When roads aren't clear enough that you feel safe, you commute to work a different way. Common sense is the order of the day. I wear a winter mask on my face, hat or ear warmers under my helmet, mittens, snow pants, a warm, but not too warm coat, and warm shoes. My bike has mountain tires on it and it's the same bike I use year round except I change out the tires in the fall. I've been biking to work for more than 15 years now and I've learned to really appreciate each season because of it.
Soothslayer
Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 12:23 a.m.
What an entirely miserable and utterly unsafe idea.
Ben Connor Barrie
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 11:11 p.m.
Aside from having to bundle up more, bike riding in the winter is hardly different than driving a car in the winter. You alter your behavior. You ride more cautiously and defensively. When the conditions are really bad, you don't ride.
Bob Krzewinski
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 10:57 p.m.
Don't take chances. Never take risks. Always make sure you can do something and be 100% safe. If it looks like the weather is going to be bad, don't go outside.....Wow, to follow those rules would lead to a really boring life.
pbehjatnia
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 10:34 p.m.
I love to bike. I lived a large portion of my adult life in Hamburg, Germany. Biking yea round is fine as long as one uses some basic common sense. In present clear street conditions it is great. However, when there is snow and road blockages and ice use your head. Seriously. No one wants a biker under the wheels of a MV. No one. A man slipped with his bike on ice in front of my car last week. I was not close to him nor was I elbowing for room on the street. What he was doing was just dumb and dangerous and frankly, selfish. Use your head. Serious Y.
Klaus
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 10:30 p.m.
Back when I lived in AA town I bicycle commuted Miller/Newport to Eisenhower/Boardwalk year-around for 7 years. I walked a few times when the snow was too deep to ride in and my coldest ride in was -12F. I rode an old mountain bike and had to replace the drivetrain about once a year. A couple of times I rode it till some of the rollers fell off the chain... Having been a bicycle mechanic didn't hurt either. Full fenders, good lighting and a rear-view mirror are essential, as is being a competent bicyclist in adverse conditions. I'd go ride on frozen lakes and rivers occasionally to maintain my skill. I never used studded tires back than but the carbide studded ones do help a little. My experience has been not to put too much confidence in them unless they look more like dirt bike ice racing tires, which are no good on pavement. I didn't use much in the way of expensive cycling clothing. My shoes were an ancient pair of too-large, tight knit, running shoes which I could easily slip into with thick wool socks. Occasionally I'd slip a small sandwich bag between the shoe and socks if there was a lot of slush to contend with. I wore a pair of wool blend long cycling pants over wicking long-john's and wind pants when it got below 30F. On top I wore a wicking long sleeved T-shirt, a light wool sweater and a BRIGHT wind-tight cycling jacket. I never liked waterproof jackets and the like, even in the rain in the winter. I found that I got wetter from perspiration than I did in most rains. When it did rain hard, the wicking material and wool did a decent job keeping me warm. On my head I wore a light wool blend hat that covered my ears under my helmet. On my hands were thin polly gloves followed by a huge pair of black leather mittens with long fleece sleeves. With this getup and being in very good cycling shape from the regular commuting, 14F was the most comfortable riding temperature for me. If I was too cool, I'd pick up the pace. My other strategies were to have several route options. Some mornings the side streets were covered with a thin layer of ice but the main roads were okay. When all roads were okay, I'd prefer the side streets to avoid traffic. On that note, I strongly believe that being a courteous cyclist is important. The quicker a car behind me passes safely, the happier we both are. I know the rules of the road for both cars and bicycles but I also know that if contact is made, I'm on the losing end of the stick. No point in pissing off a motorist, get your pride from surviving and having the skill to cycle tens of thousands of miles without a major incident instead. The other thing I did was to ride during non-rush hour times if at all possible. Something my engineering job allowed me to do. It's not for everyone and there are definite risks but that goes for many of the things we do, including driving a car.
KJMClark
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 10:25 p.m.
Let's see, I've been bike commuting in the winter for about 20 years now. If the roads are really bad, don't bike, but that usually amounts to maybe 4 days a winter. The rest of the time it's just dealing with the cold and jerks who think bikes shouldn't be allowed on the roads in winter. I try to ignore the jerks. Most people are reasonable about it and just pass safely. Studded tires are a good idea, but the roads are usually so heavily salted that most of the winter you don't need them. However, I like to keep biking unless there's a heavy snow fall, so we have studded tires on five of our bikes at this point. Ice isn't much of a problem. My wife and I (she bike commutes in the winter too) switch to mountain bikes in the winter. They seem to deal with the conditions better, have lower gearing for fighting winter winds, and used to have better tire selections. There are excellent winter tires available for touring/commuting bikes now. I strongly recommend fenders, wet chain lube (vs. wax), frequent re-lubing of cables and derailleurs, good head and tail lights, balaclavas (there are great ones now that have a separate mouth/nose cover), layering, wind pants, shoe covers, and snow goggles. Pogies are really nice if you want toasty hands. But I did fine with about half the special clothing gear for many years. You get warm really fast biking. Last thing, the state keep-right law has a specific exclusion for debris on the side of the road. If there's too much loose gravel/sand/ice on the right edge of the road, it's legal to move left to be a safe distance from it. It will tick off some motorists, but as I noted above, the mere presence of someone on a bike in the winter seems to make some people mad. Of course, that's true the rest of the year as well. Funny how some people think nothing of taking away basic freedoms.
CynicA2
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 9:56 p.m.
I could sleep on a bed of nails, if I really put my mind to it, but I don't. Riding a bike on busy streets filled with cars and big trucks is risky under ideal conditions. Riding on a snowy day, or when ice is prevalent is downright suicidal. Better you than me...!
Wrangler
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 8:43 p.m.
With drivers not clearing their windshields, let alone not being able to control their cars, riding amongst them surely is suicidal. It has nothing to do with being "tough enough" or "Eco friendly".
Killroy
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 7:23 p.m.
@ MikeMartin, you act like its a new law. Get a grip!
Phillip Farber
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 6:49 p.m.
Get a grip folks. If thousands of winter cyclists in Copenhagen can do it so can we hearty Michiganders. See this youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXw_t172BKY The winter scenes start at 1:40.
Peter
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 6:16 p.m.
This article must really turn on the pious liberal community.
MikeMartin
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 5:58 p.m.
This is a TERRIBLE idea and aa.com should not promote it. I was in a serious bike accident 8 years ago (summertime). I now have an 8 metal plate permanently in my left shoulder and its never been the same. I was a safe and careful rider in warm months only. My orthopedic surgeon said that serious bike accidents are very common and he operates on people all year who have been in them. Recommending riding a beater bike in Michigan on sub-freezing days is lunacy. One patch of ice can change your life. Take it from someone who has been through a bike accident - the risks of hitting ice in our climate are far too great for this silly idea. Be safe!
Killroy
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 5:49 p.m.
Good tires, gloves, and helmets are required!!! But, yeah, with enough prep anyone can do it.
actionjackson
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 5:20 p.m.
Better off healthwise and for safety to just take the bus.
yohan
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 4:58 p.m.
Most important! Make certain your health insurance is paid up!
Ignatz
Mon, Jan 3, 2011 : 4:24 p.m.
Unless the roads are as clear and debris free on any given summer day, I would advice against this. Often the roads are snow or ice covered and even when relatively free from the white stuff, the parts used by most bicycles are not. Plus, the streets are not swept in the winter and all the junk that gets pushed onto the sides by the snowplows accumulates.