As the days get shorter and colder, many cyclists end up storing their bikes. But with a little planning and the right safety gear, you don’t have to stop riding your bike during the winter, even in the snow.
Consider Oulu, Finland, a city of about 200,000 where there is snow on the ground about 170 days of the year, the average warmest temperature is about -6 degrees Celsius (21 degrees Fahrenheit) in the winter, and some months have less than five hours. of sunlight per day. But that doesn’t keep people off their bikes.
Harri Vaarala, a traffic engineer for the city, notes that about 1 in 8 trips are made by bicycle. Bicycling in the winter is “nothing special” for those who live in Oulu, he said.
We asked a variety of bike experts, from academics to bike shop workers, how to ride a bike safely in the winter. This is what they said.
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What should I wear while cycling in the dark?
Bicycling can be riskier in the winter months when there is less daylight. In the United States, 29 percent of bicycle fatalities during the winter they were between 6 and 9 p.m., according to a 2020 report.
Some places like Ann Arbor, Michigan require cyclists to have lights or reflectors on their bikes. But experts say that’s not enough.
“You have to do more than you think you need to to be seen,” said Sean O’Connor, author of the REI guide to winter biking. “Everybody looks good in black, except at night when you’re riding a bike.”
Rick Tyrrell, a professor of psychology at Clemson University who studies human vision and perception, has examined the most effective methods for drivers to notice cyclists and pedestrians.
“The data is really clear that the frequency with which pedestrians and cyclists are killed increases dramatically overnight,” Tyrrell said. “It really is a situation where our ability to see is what limits safety.”
During the day, bright yellow or orange. fluorescent vests make use of the ultraviolet light that radiates from the sun, turning the imperceptible light into the vibrant colors we see.
But car headlights do not radiate ultraviolet light, so fluorescent colors don’t stand out at night as they do during the day. In the dark, fluorescent vests do not provide the same degree of visual contrast needed for drivers to spot bicyclists.
retroreflective patches Y bands They are most effective in the dark because the material sends light from the car directly to the driver.
“We’re just taking the light that’s coming from the headlights and making it more useful,” Tyrrell said.
Tyrrell said that human perception is especially sensitive to the movement of other humans. So he recommends that in addition to the safety vest, cyclists wear retroreflective material in its arms, ankles Y legs to show the body in motion.
“The important thing is to help drivers see that up-and-down movement out of phase,” Tyrrell said.
Afrodesia McCannon, who teaches at New York University and co-directs Black Girls Do Bike in New York City, regularly bikes 50 minutes from Queens to Manhattan. McCannon said she looks drivers in the eye and gives them the “New York City look” to make sure she notices her.
“I just assume that any car near me can’t see me, and I act accordingly,” McCannon said. “I’m not trying to beat anyone to the light.”
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What kind of bike can I ride in the snow?
Winter Cycling Federation, said that “one of the biggest myths” is that it is difficult to ride a bike in winter. Point out the many Scandinavian cities year-round cycling friendly because the government has invested in the infrastructure.” class=”wpds-c-hcZlgz wpds-c-hcZlgz-bkfjoi-font-georgia wpds-c-hcZlgz-jDmrXh-width-mdCenter wpds-c-hcZlgz-iPJLV-css mw -md pb-md font–article-body font-copy ma-auto pl-sm pr-sm”>Anders Swanson, a board member of the Winter Cycling Federation, said that “one of the biggest myths” is that it is difficult Bicycling in the winter Point out the many Scandinavian cities that are bike-friendly year-round because the government has invested in the infrastructure.
“Even this idea that winter is the Achilles heel of cycling is wrong,” Swanson said. He points out that you don’t need a fancy bike to ride in the winter. That old cruiser in your garage may be the best option if you feel comfortable and confident driving it.
In snowy conditions, the wheels may begin to lift melted snow off the ground. you can add mudguard to your frame to protect you (and your clothing) from splashes.
Chris Huff-Hanson, a winter biking educator who works at Freewheel Bike in Minneapolis, said that if you’re dealing with snow “more than two months out of the year,” you might want to invest in a fat bike, a bike with fat tires They provide more surface area to grip the ground.
Alternatively you can buy studded tires for the bike you already own and trade it in once it starts to snow, Huff-Hanson said.
Snow melt and road chemicals can be corrosive to any bike frame. Clean your bike regularly and consider treating the frame with a protective coating, he said.
“pinch flat””, if you hit a curb or tight corner.” class=”wpds-c-hcZlgz wpds-c-hcZlgz-bkfjoi-font-georgia wpds-c-hcZlgz-jDmrXh-width-mdCenter wpds-c-hcZlgz-iPJLV- css mw-md pb-md font–article-body font-copy ma-auto pl-sm pr-sm”>The pressure in your bike’s tires decreases over time, and colder weather will cause the air inside from condensing in. Low tire pressure can cause careless steering or a puncture if you hit a curb or tight corner.
Keep the air pressure “in the middle or lower end” of the acceptable range for your tires, O’Connor said. That little bit of giving will create more traction.
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How cold is too cold to ride a bike?
Everyone has a “lower temperature” that they will endure, Huff-Hanson said. Whether it’s too cold to ride a bike depends on how cold you feel and how long your ride takes.
Keep your head, hands and feet warm. Huff-Hanson has a three-layer system that includes a hat, headband, and balaclava head wrap, packs a half-dozen handwarmers, and double socks.
Invest in thick gloves that allow you to move your hands. and buy pogies for your bike, which are mittens for your handlebars.
Chelsea Strate, a professional winter fat bike racer who lives in Minneapolis, said she wears a three-tier layer system — an absorbent base layer, an insulating midlayer and an outer shell. Moisture-wicking fabric keeps skin dry as you sweat to prevent hypothermia. “Sweat is the enemy here,” he said.
Merino wool is a popular choice. “Don’t use cotton. When it gets wet, it doesn’t stay warm,” Strate said.
Swanson, who lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, said she often recommends that newbies go for a bike ride when they’re not in a rush to get to work or school.
“Go have coffee with a friend on a Sunday,” Swanson said. “You’ll be surprised how easy it is to keep your bike upright with an inch of snow on the ground.”
Salla Kangas, a neurobiology researcher at the University of Oulu, said to choose the route that is most convenient and start biking. Kangas, her partner, and her daughter ride their bikes to and from work and school.
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“Car owners have to get their cars out of the snow,” Kangas said. “With a bike, you just take the bike and go.”
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