Open discussion: Share your tips on winter biking

Paul Stewart of Minneapolis, Minn. explains that bike commuting saves money:

"When I bike commute I burn one tank of gas a month instead of one a week.That more than covers bike items like lights, clothes, etc. Also I save on car maintenance since I drive only 5,000 miles a year instead of the average 12,000."

But how do you go about riding safely? Our Public Insight Network shares some tips, and we even have a video depicting the prep for a cold commute:

"Joshua Houdek bike commutes two miles from South Minneapolis to his work every day. He takes us through putting on his gear, prepping his equipment, and making the decision to ride even on a -5 degree day." - from Video: Winter Bike Commuting

Do you ride your bike in winter? What tips or recommendations can you share?

This is an open discussion so please link to articles, photos or even the videos that you recommend. Your comments may be quoted on the air or on http://minnesota.publicradio.org/your_voice/

________________
Julia Schrenkler
Interactive Producer
Minnesota Public Radio
American Public Media
Objects in Mirror

Comments: 11

Peter Joseph Swanson Dec 29, 2008, 10:03am EST

I don't ... I walk or take the bus. Biking looks SO COLD and dangerous. The cars are crazy - and I hate it when bikes take to the sidewalk to avoid crazy cars. It makes the sidewalk dangerous for us walking on them. Bikes can zip by us SO FAST !!! But these days I don't think a bike could go over most sidewalks. Probably down the middle of the street or wherever it's clearest. I've seen people walking down the middle of the street because the sidewalks can be too awful for even walking on.

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Julia Schrenkler Dec 29, 2008, 10:28am EST

You called it, Peter. Some sidewalks and streets are better suited to ice skates than bike tires right now! Maybe a good winter biking tip is to consider alternate routes. If the road you're on is too dangerous or slippery, try one block over.

The other day we saw a scooter on the roads. Granted, it had a sidecar, but hey.

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Peter Joseph Swanson Dec 29, 2008, 10:44am EST

Hey, it is winter after all up North. Snow falls and blows and slushes and falls into glaciers and ruts. I don't cry about it. I just slow down.

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Susan Budig Dec 29, 2008, 10:52am EST

I'm an avid biker, but I can not bike in winter when the temp is lower than 20 degrees above zero. Somewhat recently I'd found that my hands grow painfully cold regardless of the heavy-duty, microfiber, thinsulate, anti-gravity, hydrozentabulating insulation used in my expensive gloves.

But I'm usually back out on the trails by March, enjoying the refreshing bidet-like experience, iykwim.

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Winston Smith Dec 29, 2008, 1:41pm EST

Here's my recomdation, DON"T RIDE YOUR BIKE IN BAD WINTER WEATHER!

It's tough enough driving a car in the winter when it's dark earlier, gets icy, high snowbanks on the curbs, so cars can't see you and can't react fast enough, and maybe can't stop fast enough.

It scares the hell out of me to see idiots biking around, especially with all the sub zero weather, snow and ice, and melting ans re-freezing going on.

Do us a favor, give it up till March, OK? Get off your eco-religion high horse and save us the possible grief of mistakenly getting into an accident with a biker in December. Cars win, bikes don't. If it's too late, it's too late.

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Julia Schrenkler Dec 29, 2008, 1:42pm EST

Right on, Peter.

Susan you slay me. Refreshing indeed! I can't ride when it's this cold either... It just plain isn't fun for me. Have to admire the hard core bikers, though.

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Julia Schrenkler Dec 29, 2008, 1:46pm EST

Ah we simul-post Winston. Didn't see your comment until now. I take it you don't peddle about until spring, then? ;-)

As long as the riders aren't causing danger, I don't mind if they're out. But then again, I mind if anyone - car driver, bike rider, motorcyclist/scooter rider, or pedestrian - is causing trouble for themselves or others.

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Winston Smith Dec 29, 2008, 4:50pm EST

I hope that simul-posting was as good for you as it was for me.

Sure, bikers can ride during the winter, just don't expect any sympathy from me.

Turi Ryder, an old KSTP radio host once said "nature weeding out the stupid". A saying that holds true again.

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Alfred Jarry Jan 10, 2009, 2:22pm EST

I do bike in the winter, everyday. It is not an "eco-religion high horse" thing. Now, maybe there are others out there who should reconsider their own cult of the car. If someone operates a vehicle that is so dangerous that they are frightened of injuring or killing another legal roadway user, maybe they should find a safer way to get around. Stop being so attached to your car and take the bus or train. (And if you say that isn't a good enough option for your needs you may have some insight into why I ride my bike--so don't call me an "idiot," please.) 50,000 people are killed by motorists in this country every year. That is a statistic that is for outright deaths, factor in all the deaths by air pollution and its thousands more. That, my friend, is "nature weeding out the stupid"--and a whole lot of other people.

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Alfred Jarry Jan 10, 2009, 3:07pm EST

But, for tips: I think cycling specific clothes are often over-priced and impractical. I think most people who are active outdoors in a Minnesota winter probably have appropriate clothes in their closet. Of course, avoid cotton or other similar fabrics. Exposed skin is a concern, so balaclavas and neck gaiters are a must. If the temps are low in the negatives consider wearing eye-protection (ski goggles work great). If you're new to winter biking don't jump into long commutes until you're comfortable. Keep a log of the daily weather and what you wore and how you felt--this will be a great reference later. Always bear in mind to have a well lighted bike and ride defensively. And as other posters in the conversation have shown, your legal right to use the roadway will be called into question, sometimes in a hostile fashion.

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Julia Schrenkler Jan 12, 2009, 8:20am EST

Thanks for weighing in, Alfred. Your commute journal / bike log idea is a pretty smart approach until dressing for the elements becomes second nature.

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Open discussion: Share your tips on winter biking

Comments: 11

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