Let's start with the bike! Winter is tough on the equipment, specifically the salt and/or sand being used to treat snowy roads can do a lot of harm to your bike parts. I currently own two bikes, my race-oriented road bike and a budget oriented mountain bike. During winter, I find myself riding the mountain bike much more often, as it is capable of riding through snow and it is built to take much more abuse.
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| Keep the "beauty" at home and take out the "beast" to handle ol' man Winter! |
Route selection is also more important when the weather is less than ideal. First, I stay much closer to home and ride a few loops or route variations close to populated areas. You don't want to be stranded in the middle of nowhere at -10C. Second, I try even harder to stay on quiet roads with less vehicle traffic. Motorists get nervous around bikes and snow - actually, motorists get nervous around any snow, period! As a matter of fact, I don't go out riding when it is actively snowing - it's just not worth the risk. As I am lucky enough to have access to the mountain bike, I can instead explore some quieter trails and stay off the roads more often as well.
Road condition is also something that takes some getting used to. Again, having a mountain bike will allow you to ride much more often when roads happen to be covered with snow. Riding through snow is not as hard as you might think. The key is to be smooth. Smooth steering and smooth pedaling are essential, as it is keeping your weight balanced on the bike. You want to avoid abrupt changes in speed, cadence or position. Stay seated and keep a nice smooth pedaling motion, steering through the handlebar (not by leaning). These techniques might also come in handy if you were to encounter some ice that you could not avoid - just relax and try to ride through it. It's best to avoid any icy roads altogether, but if you find yourself heading towards an inevitable icy patch, don't try to brake or steer while on the ice.
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| Be prepared. It might be pretty, but you don't want to be stuck outside in the middle of nowhere. |
Be prepared. A cyclist should be self sufficient when out on long rides, carrying basic tools, tubes, etc. This is even more important when the weather is dangerously cold, specially if you are standing around waiting for your ride to come pick you up. Take extra food and drinks as well. You will burn a lot more energy keeping yourself warm during cold rides, so you might need to eat more often than during your usual rides. For drinks, I have insulated bottles and start each ride with a mix of energy drinks and very hot water. Although it may taste like you are drinking tea during the first few miles, the mix takes enough time to freeze so that you can still stay hydrated on longer rides.
Another lesson I learned the hard way is temperature control. When riding through colder temperatures, you will eventually start to warm up with the exercise. I like to feel a little cold when I first head outside for the first few miles, knowing that I will warm up quickly enough. You also want to avoid sweating during cold weather rides, especially if you are not wearing a good moisture wicking base layer. The moment I feel it's getting too warm, it's time to either remove a layer or lower the zipper of your jacket for some ventilation. I personally found that exposing my wrists a bit is a great way to control my body temperature - it's my thermostat!
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| After a few miles, this may few warm. Maybe even too warm! |
There are two schools of thought when it comes to stopping for a coffee break during winter rides. Many cyclists don't stop for any breaks when it's cold outside. Once their bodies have warmed up, they will keep going until they return home for their warm shower! The other school of thought actually looks forward to getting off the cold roads and warming up next to a nice cup of coffee and a treat at the local shop. As you might guess, that's the school I belong to! If you do want to enjoy what will feel like the best cup of coffee you will ever taste and let your feet thaw back into the world of the living, there are a couple of things to remember. When entering the coffee shop, remove your winter jacket or jersey and roll up the sleeves on your next layer. You don't want to overheat, and you will need the extra layers to help you warm up again once you leave the coffeeshop. Bring the bottles and helmet with you - they could probably use the warmer temperatures as well! And lastly, prepare yourself mentally for the departure. The coldest part of the winter bike ride are the first few miles after the coffee break.
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| Winter Riding - it's good for the body, it's good for the soul! |
Winter is the season to ride slowly. I don't even have a cycling computer or any speedometer mounted to my winter bike. This is the season I ride just for fun, at any speed my body feels like riding. I always say that riding in cold weather makes for very contemplative rides. You are more aware of your breathing and more aware of your body as it cuts through the wind. The environment feels more peaceful and quiet, but any sound feels much crisper to your ears. Coming around a bend on the road, coasting for a moment while you face a frozen lake and the world feels like a sublime black and while abstract painting. The sound of the bike chain moving through your derailleur as you shift into another gear and your breathing again falls into rhythm with the pedal strokes. You are one with the machine as you pedal up the snow covered hill, against the wind, against the elements, against Winter. It is an amazingly therapeutic experience. The reward comes from being outside and feeling alive when most people are struggling through cabin fever.
Still...I can't wait for spring to arrive!
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