By Request: Winter Biking
Allan wants to know about “bike commuting in winter.”
This is my first winter as a bike commuter. I’d heard bad things about it but I haven’t found it to be a huge problem. The key breakthrough was when I figured out how to make my helmet big enough to wear my hat under it. That and remembering to wear gloves. Normally, I don’t wear gloves outside unless it really gets quite cold — it’s convenient enough to stick ‘em in your coat pockets if they get a little chilly, and keeping the gloves off leaves your hand free to fiddle with your iPod or whatever. But you can’t put your hands in your pocket on a bike, and you don’t need to manipulate any small objects with your fingers — what you need are some gloves to shield your fingers from the wind.
Beyond that, in all things related to bike commuting we need to look to our friends in Europe. The top bike commuting city is Copenhagen, not San Diego. If people can bike to work in Denmark’s winter (I even saw plenty of people biking around Helsinki in December) then it can be done wherever you might be in the USA as well. Unfortunately, American mindspace about bicyling tends to be dominated by the insidious recreational bikers, who’ve gotten it into people’s heads that even on a lovely day for a bike ride the act of pedaling requires intricate performance gear including funny biking outfits. But bike commuting is a whole different ballgame — you’re just trying to get to work, so you should wear what you would wear. If it’s cold, wear a sweater and a scarf under your coat. If you need to give a presentation, bike in a suit and fancy shoes. You’re not going to set world records in a bundled-up-for-winter outfit, but the point is just to get to work. See, e.g., the Copenhagen Cycle Chic blog.
But it all starts with a hat and gloves even in weather that you wouldn’t ordinarily consider nippy enough for ‘em.
79 Responses to “By Request: Winter Biking”
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December 27th, 2008 at 11:22 am
And if you live in colder and icier climes than DC, don’t forget the studded snow tires… They’ve saved me numerous times on my winter commutes in icy upstate new york.
December 27th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Yeah, fuck that. I mean, good for the Danes and all, but still.
December 27th, 2008 at 11:44 am
There are bicycle commuters in Minnesota, but if you ask me they’re crazy. Minnesota is definitely colder than Denmark.
But if you can ski in the cold, you can bicycle.
December 27th, 2008 at 11:45 am
As an insidious recreational rider, I will tepidly agree. It can actually be much easier to ride outside in very cold weather when you are commuting. Normal work clothes are warmer than most performance bike clothes, especially the shoes.
December 27th, 2008 at 11:47 am
And Matt shows again he’s clueless on how most of the country functions. Copenhagen’s average low in January is 30F. Minneapolis’ average low in January is 4F with its high being 22.
December 27th, 2008 at 11:48 am
It really depends on the distance–even in DC. If it’s two miles or less, then no biggie. If it’s five plus, then it turns into a bit of a problem, as what might keep you warm and comfortable on the bike becomes a bit less than you might like when running out to grab a sandwich. But so long as you keep your pants out of the front chain ring, it’s a great way to get around.
Also really, really important for winter commuting is lights–several of them.
December 27th, 2008 at 11:55 am
I don’t think the cold weather is much of a problem for bike commuting in the winter. But if you’re dealing with snow and ice, you need to be extra fucking careful. Studded snow tires are great if you’re snow covered for the entire season, but for the occasional snow in a place like NYC it’s not really practical. Best to leave the bike at home during a storm, or be prepared to spill.
December 27th, 2008 at 11:56 am
I biked in winter for years. Mudflaps are your friend, and even then, it’s smart to wear a top-layer jacket that wipes clean. (I have a police-style insulated jacket that does the job.) A balaclava also makes sense. You just need to be wary of drivers pulling out in situations where you can’t brake as fast, but that applies to everyone on the road.
You’re right about the whole bikey clothing thing in the US, but I’ve said here before, when you have a marginalised activity, the people who partake in it tend to embrace the marginalisation. In winter, though, it’s all about functionality: a clanky old bike and winter woolies.
December 27th, 2008 at 11:57 am
I have biked in all weather, in New York, in Blacksburg, Virginia, in Portland, OR, in Seattle. The worst places in the winter were Seattle, since they have horrible street clearing policies and poor bike facilities.
Dressing for the weather is key, though you will also need to remember you are exerting and will sweat. Studded tires help in the worst weather but I found a MTB works fine in most weather. Minnesota is not the average of the US no matter what people may think.
December 27th, 2008 at 11:59 am
As an insidious recreational rider, I agree with rumpole. Distance is key. My ride is 8.5 miles. Wearing regular work clothes wouldn’t work for me while cycling, because first I’m cold, then I’m sweaty. The way around this for me is to keep a change of clothes at work and wear cycling gear to and from. If I’m going only 2-3 miles then I wear whatever.
And lights. rumpole is right there too.
December 27th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
1) Maybe Matthew would like to shoot his career down in flames by expanding this discussion to what is the best GOOD (Get Out Of DC) bike. I.e, what is the best bicyle for fleeing DC if one of several disasters strike ( pandemic flu, terrorist nuke, etc.)
2) Some people in DC have already come up with prelim ideas:
http://www.survivalblog.com/2008/04/letter_re_advice_on_the_most_v.html
3) Department of Defense DARPA has even used our tax dollars to fund some transferable technology — although the prototype appears to be heavy as shit:
http://safecastleroyal.com/item_116/Montague-Paratrooper-Folding-Bike.html
December 27th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Mittens might make even more sense than gloves; I need to try them.
December 27th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
The real problem is not the cold, or the slipperiness of the surface to the bike rider, but that the already hazardous to the bikerider interaction with cars, can become unacceptably dangerous. I sued to do recreational MTBing in Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The question in the winter was “is the snow good enough for cross-country skiing?” when the answer was no I would ride. Gloves -perhaps fingerless are a good idea even in the summer, simply switch to the more insulated types during cold weather. Legs, and shoes are a bit trickier, as thick ones can get in the way. Layering is essential -being too warmly dressed can make you sweat. Wear a day pack, so you can stop and adjust the number of layers to match the weather and yout metabolism.
December 27th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
The top bike commuting city is Copenhagen, not San Diego.
And as a one-time San Diegan, let me echo the comments of rumpole and Jeff S. Unless there are plans to move all the buildings in San Diego much closer together than they presently are, the residents will remain dependent on cars to get around.
December 27th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
This doesn’t quite fall under the category of “performance gear” except insofar as that means “things you buy at a sporting goods store”, but i bought a pair of lightweight waterproof wind pants to use for winter cycling, and those have been great. They add an extra layer against cold, the nicer ones really don’t add anything in terms of weight or bulk, and, most importantly, if you wear them while biking (or walking, for that matter) you don’t have to sit around in wet clothing all day at work.
December 27th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Re Don Williams
Ah, Mr. Williams is just bent out of shape because of the sad performance of his Eagles last Sunday. Poor, very poor.
December 27th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
The cold isn’t a big deal, although I would recommend mitts over gloves for any ride over, say, 10 minutes. But you also have to take very good care of your bike if you’re cycling in the cold, wet and snow for months on end. Brush the slush off your chain, gears and derailleur at the end of every ride, especially if you’re storing your bike in the cold. You’ll have to clean and lube your chain more often.
A beater bike for winter makes sense for us Northerners if you have the space to store two bikes. You’ll see lots of ads selling/seeking such beaters on Craigslist every year. Buy one, make sure that even if it’s ugly, that the chain, gears, brakes and derailleur are OK, and know that you’ll probably make it last 1-2 winters at best if you commute, even though you will still be cleaning, lubing, etc. frequently.
December 27th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
DC winter can’t be much, but I’ve bike commuted through plenty of Chicago winters, and it can be done easily, if you’re prepared. First off, Matt is dead right about the gloves. I have a pair of insulated wool fingerless gloves with a cover that turns them into mittens — the best gloves I’ve ever had. When the temperature gets down low enough, you’ll also want to have some kind of face mask or balaclava. Fenders to keep the mud and salt off your work clothes are important. Remember that you can’t stop the same way you do in summer — if you find yourself riding over ice you’d better have a good sense of balance, because your tires can be slipping sideways at the same time you’re moving forward. A little patience and forbearance, though, and bike commuting in winter is more pleasant than standing on a crowded bus with your face in someone’s armpit or being stuck in traffic with people who’ve grown up in places where they’ve never had to drive on snow.
December 27th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Re SLC’s comment “Ah, Mr. Williams is just bent out of shape because of the sad performance of his Eagles last Sunday.”
————–
Bite me, SLC.
From the giddy tone of your post, I expect you have already seen the news re Israel’s strike on Gaza.
This lowly Gentile is still trying to figure out how you managed to get that Christmas present. Can you let me in on some of the inner mysteries — do you go to temple, make a wish over the candlestick ,and blow out all the candles?
December 27th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Nokian studded tires baby! They are where it’s at for winter cycling. The Fins really know how make excellent tires. Must be all that education. This is my fifth winter cycling in Minnesota. The studs will probably last longer than the rest of the tire. Layering, lubing and cleaning the cycle, and common sense are the keys to successful winter cycling. Also, don’t forget adequate lighting for night riding.
December 27th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
thank very nice http://www.makkale.blogcu.com
December 27th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
I biked in a suit every day when I worked in Germany, and had to take special care not to get mud all over my pants and shoes. Usually this meant raising my legs up every time I got near a puddle, and I felt like an idiot.
Also, I wiped out more than a few times on icy streets. I don’t see how anyone could bike in icy conditions without special tires, and I daresay my German colleagues became far less likely to bike in the winter.
December 27th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Winter Squall suits purchased larger can go over your street clothes in very inclement weather. Wind-proof, water-proof and non-bulky (get one with removable thinsulate lining). Squall gloves will keep your cuffs dry.
Been biking and scootering in ‘em all year long for ages (sniff,sniff).
December 27th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Bike commuting will never work for most people. Good clothes will get wrinkled or worn out by riding, unless you have a really short ride. And who wants to arrive to work sweaty?
I agree it could work for about 1% of the population, though.
I’m a mass transit person. Biking is a fantasy solution except in small towns.
December 27th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Those silly winter performance bicycle clothes you can find at your local shop will do a better job of protecting against the cold, the wind, the snow, and all the dirt, not to mention the oil from your chain. You’re not only warmer, you’re lighter and more limber – which helps when reacting to cars. Besides, it feels good to change into warm dry clothes when you get to work instead of rolling in like Pigpen.
As for Copenhagen, companies like Pearl Izumi sell more clothing in Europe than the U.S.. I’ll bet those folks riding in Denmark and Finland are wearing more than work suits and leather shoes – especially I their riding in from three or more miles.
December 27th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
#24 – For a lot of us, our commuting distance is too far for cycling, but mass transit doesn’t come close enough to our homes and/or destinations. This is why bike-train hybrid commutes can work so well. The ability to conveniently move your bike across town on a train creates a bigger incentive to use both modes of transport. A strong, heavy winter-friendly bike is a pain to lug through faregates, elevators, and platforms, and a total space-hog on crowded trains, but it’s no worse than de-icing a car.
Not sure how Matt navigated through his Cambridge years, but I spent one particularly icy winter working as a butler in Boston (quite aptly voted one of America’s worst cycling cities) while living in Cambridge (supposedly one of the best). Since work often ended after the T closed, this meant many nights cycling over snow and ice in a tuxedo and overcoat. The greatest gift I got during that period was a good set of gloves; with those, it was delightful. Occasionally drivers would honk at me and shout, “you’re fuckin’ crazy,” but on the on the other hand I slid right around all the traffic jams. And on days when I needed to get through Boston quickly (albeit not during rush hour) I could pop my bike on the Red line before going over the bridge.
December 27th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Re: Biking is a fantasy solution except in small towns.
Or a big city if you live close to work. I (usually) commute by bike to work here in Baltimore, a distance of about two miles one way for me. I’m wondering how practical this will be for the next couple of months. I will not ride to work in rain (I have an office job and I’m expected to look presentable), and I absolutely will not ride in snow or ice because of the danger factor. Also, I found last Monday’s 16 degree morning (with stiff winds) too cold for biking. I’ve biked in the twenties before (no wind or precip) but I think there’s a temperature limit due to the harmeful effect of bitter cold air inhaled into the lungs large gulps.
As for clothes, I’ve been getting by nicely with a light pair of gloves, fleece jacket and light-weight long johns (not heavy thermals, which are sweat-inducing during exertion). Still debating what to do about a hat and the helmet.
As others have pointed out, Matt ignores the fact that most of Europe (the Alps and the East excepted) has a more moderate climate in both summer and winter than much of the US does. Baltimore and DC may be comparable to Copenhagen, but everything north and west of here is much colder and snowier.
December 27th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
The key breakthrough was when I figured out how to make my helmet big enough to wear my hat under it.
Please tell me you didn’t do that by removing the inner shock-absorbent foam. That foam distorts upon impact, working with the outer shell to distribute impact to reduce head injury.
Before I took the foam out, I would buy an inexpensive extra-large helmet with room for my hat underneath to wear in winter. It’s the foam that does the work, not the shell. Don’t remove it.
December 27th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
One of the lessons of bike success is that it’s not a historical accident. It takes work. Forty years ago Copenhagen was as bad as any American city.
All it takes to become radically pro-bike is to read this blog for a while. Especially if you watch his short youtube movies. It’s done by a guy who lives is a Dutch city called Assen:
http://hembrow.blogspot.com/
Here’s are his posts tagged ‘winter’:
http://hembrow.blogspot.com/search/label/winter
December 27th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Let me just say this about that- leggings. They really ease the chain and puddle interactions.
Riding year round in Seattle, I started with a lightweight pullover that was ‘rain resistant’, went to a lightweight rain suit, and then to Helty-Hanson type fisherman’s oilskins, which are much improved these days and not made of oilcloth at all. This doesn’t look anything like your recreational cycler, but it sure makes your bike an industrial-strength transportation tool.
Best thing is to spin the chain through some paper towels (grab ‘em before you leave work) to clean off sand and dirt, then use chainlube and spin again to wipe off any excess. Do this at the end of every day and your life will be better. Basically you want your bike clean enough to keep it inside at night.
Lights! Great lights are available and cyclists wear them on their chests! Put the biggest most noticeable light you can find on the REAR of the bicycle. The sooner a driver knows that he has to solve an overtaking problem, the safer you are.
But that’s Seattle. Kind dark and kinda wet in the winter.
December 27th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Fenders and front and rear lights are pretty important in the winter.
December 27th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
OK, I get it, it’s possible to ride your bike to work in the wintertime in a pretty cold climate. But, dear sweet Jesus, why?
Here’s the other thing I don’t get, and maybe some of you bicycle people can enlighten me: why is San Francisco a big bike city? I see people in suits and ties, going to work, pedaling so hard to get up a hill that it looks like they’re going to die. I actually feel physical sympathy pain just watching them.
December 27th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Actually, I know the answer: San Francisco is the worst city to get around in that I’ve ever visited. Driving there is miserable, it’s not very walkable, and public transit isn’t that good. Plus there are parts of the city where you can’t even get a taxi. It’s the worst of every world. So I see what might posses you to ride a bike up those hills.
December 27th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
As a couple of other folks have already mentioned – MITTENS!!
Get a pair of Gore-Tex shell mittens that you can wear over medium weight or light-medium weight gloves (wool or synthetic). The mittens stop the wind and wet and the gloves keep the cold mittens shell away from your skin. You’ll be able to operate your brakes just fine with the mittens.
I prefer just plain shell mittens because on milder days I would just wear the mittens and no gloves. The insulated mittens can get too warm on milder days.
December 27th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Matthew,
One piece of advice about bike clothing – lots of good advice here, but you really only have to have one spill, not even a very serious one, before you will want to wear gloves all the time. Fingerless biking gloves, almost anything, is fine, but the first time you spend an hour picking grit and gravel from your bleeding palms before bandaging them and having reduced use of your hands for days afterwards will also be the last. Even in the dead of summer, wear some kind of glove that covers your hand…
Otherwise, I’m with you – bike commuting in Colorado is pretty easy, although sub-zero degree weather can be a bit rough. I generally get on the bus at that point…
December 27th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Some of those Copenhagen riders are indeed chic.
December 27th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
And none of those Copenhagen riders appear to be wearing helmets? What’s up with that?
December 27th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
I just wonder how much commuting Matthew actually does. Do they make him bike in to the office every morning just so that he can blog? I thought the whole point of blogging was that you could do it in your bathrobe, like I am right now. Or is this one of those things where they just have him come into the office once or twice a week for meetings?
December 27th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
I commute by bike as long as its not actually precipitating when I’m fixing to go. Its 14 mi each way into to downtown Denver. My net extra time for the commute is about 25 minutes. So for an extra half hour of commuting time, I get to ride about 1.75 hours per day.
Bike commuting in a big city is not a fantasy. It’s not even that hard, but there is a learning curve, and you need a bailout plan (mine is mass transit).
I ride business casual unless its too warm (over 65). Indeed, too warm is a bigger problem for street clothes commuting than too cold. You will sweat a little over about 50 degrees, so take off your dress shirt. I rode into work last week at 7 degrees F, wearing midweight wool trousers as my only layer their (yes, that was too cold). In the winter, warm hands and ears are key, and a good breatheable windproof softshell is nice. Down to 25 degrees, I have just my undershirt, dress shirt, and the softshell.
December 27th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Re Don Williams
From the giddy tone of your post, I expect you have already seen the news re Israel’s strike on Gaza.
This lowly Gentile is still trying to figure out how you managed to get that Christmas present. Can you let me in on some of the inner mysteries — do you go to temple, make a wish over the candlestick ,and blow out all the candles?
Big deal. Not even close to Hama Rules. When the terrorist death toll reaches 10,000, when something will have been accomplished.
December 27th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
It’s less about you and more about the behavior of winter drivers. You can’t control visibility and you can’t control people driving like a-holes in the snow. On cold, clear days ride all you want. On foggy or snowy days I wouldn’t bike in DC because other variables have an increased danger factor, i.e. people drive like asses in bad weather.
December 27th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
You’re insane if you ride a bike in the winter – even in DC – without gloves/mittens. It’s not just the cold, but – as David Samuels says – protection for your hands. I don’t live in the city anymore, but I rode in the winter in Chicago for several years, and it’s frankly the best way to get around, other than a cab. Not so good if you have to wear nice clothes at an office (you have to change if that’s the case), but otherwise totally convenient.
December 27th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
I recomend three finger gloves. They are warmer than five finger gloves and provide more dextarity than mittens.
December 27th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
The problem I have is that snow drifts make narrowerer already narrow roads, and that snow/ice/slush make it that much more likely that either you or the cars driving within inches of you will slip and swerve.
December 27th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
I would think wearing the helmet over the hat is not particularly safe. Seems more likely to shift on your head, possibly becoming displaced during an accident.
December 27th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
And none of those Copenhagen riders appear to be wearing helmets? What’s up with that?
It’s been discussed here before: where you have a large cycling population (and strict liability for collisions) you tend to find people wearing street clothes and no helmets. Where cycling is marginalised, cyclists tend to wear helmets and specialised kit. There have been studies that suggest wearing a helmet encourages drivers to pass more closely and engage in other dangerous practices. Not that I’m encouraging cyclists in the US to take off their helmets, but that’s just how it is in cities and regions where cycling isn’t a marginal activity.
December 27th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Nobody has mentioned using a single speed bike. If you ride in the rain and muck, you don’t want a derailleur, as it’s just going to fail on you.
Disc brakes are preferable to rim brakes too.
Furthermore, take your fancy bike sand the frame down and spray paint it black. It’s less likely to be stolen because nobody knows what it is.
But then I’m in Minnesota, and the winter riders up here are hard core.
December 27th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Oh yeah, no need to buy a special single-speed bike. Talk to any bike shop and they’ll be convert a multi speed bike to a single speed for not a lot of money.
December 27th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
watch out for black ice, also anything metal (manhole covers, metal seams, etc) in the street as these are wipe out material!
have a heavy bike for the winter (i have an old raleigh with thick tires). also don’t hesitate to weigh down my milkcrate carrier with books, groceries and if nothing practical, a brick (just like you do with a car or pickup in the winter).
i have various levels of head stuff. under the helmet (i have extra long straps that i put all the way out in the winter) close tight thin wool hat, then one of those fold down wool with fur ear flap thingies the youth like (i got for $2 at yard sale). then if it’s really bad, i have an extra large hood on my coat that can go over the helmet.
i got a friend who knits to make me a really thick neckring scarf — the tied scarfs don’t work for me when i am moving.
good gloves — waterproof helps too. good wool tights or technical legwear is a good investment. thin is good in this case. i also have silly waterproof sox that save me on long rides.
have patience, go slow, be more cautious than usual. i’m in my sixth biking winter in boston. except for cabs, folks in cars are pretty nice even here. . . might be because i am 50 and have funny red helmet with wing and fire stickers that some young people I work with made for me. i enjoy it. but then again, i moved here from maine where i lived without running water, electricity, chopped wood, carried water etc. so biking is easy compared with all that stuff!
December 27th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Re: If you ride in the rain and muck, you don’t want a derailleur, as it’s just going to fail on you.
How so? I’ve had to ride home from work in rain, and the derailleur has never been a roblem. Braking is, but not gear shifting.
December 27th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
If you need to keep your hands warm and fiddle with your iPod you can go the hipster route with some fingerless gloves, available wherever expensive skinny jeans are sold. Personally I keep my ears unplugged when I ride so I can hear the traffic around me.
Also a good thermal layer to wick sweat off your body when you ride is important to have on in the winter, you can layer it under your office shirt if you are so inclined.
A 4 mile commute in San Francisco isn’t so hard once you make a habit of it. I’ve biked in a number of cities and there is definitely a positive correlation between the number of cyclists on the streets and the respect & right of way offered by the car drivers.
December 27th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
I used a bicycle in north dakota when i was young. If you hit a patch of ice you are flying.
December 27th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
#33 – I got a good laugh out of the idea of San Francisco being a difficult city to get around. Sure, it’s topographically a nightmare for cycling, but have you seen the butts on those cyclists? Stacked up against the average American physique, those bods are worth the effort to those that want them. As for walkability, it’s basically the only US city that has both a very high density of goods and services within a short walk in every neighborhood and a pleasant climate for walking almost every day of the year. Public transport is not as good as you’d get in a European capital (more express services and better suburban-transit integration would help), but you’d be hard-pressed to find a location that’s more than 3 blocks from a bus stop or a 10-minute walk from a 24-hour line. MUNI is also among the cheapest services in the Western world. If you can’t get a cab, and it’s not New Year’s Eve, it’s probably because you couldn’t be bothered to call one. And as for driving, it’s pretty much the same basic hassle as any city of similar density (of which the US has only one). Finally, it’s only seven miles across – not really a long-distance commute to be had within city limits. For people who live there, getting from points A to B is about the easiest part of their lives. Affording the rent is a whole other story.
Re: fingerless gloves on a bike in the winter – ouch. Pain!! Don’t do it. If you’ve got to be a hipster about it, go down to a thrift store and get some broken-in “vintage” leather gloves in the most ironic color you can find.
December 27th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Lots of good suggestions here. I bring a change of clothes to work, there’s just no real sense in riding in a suit unless you have a really short ride. Change in the bathroom, keep some wet wipes and deodorant in your desk drawer or locker.
And especially if it rains or something, keep extra pairs of socks/shoes around and newspaper to stuff in your wet riding shoes (I have some crappy $10 zip-ups I got a few years back).
December 28th, 2008 at 7:50 am
I don’t understand the effort and deep thought given to cycling by persons who live within walking distance of their offices (<3 mi). At that distance, it’s just another urban exhibitionism/gadget hound wish fulfillment opportunity. Much of the time saved by biking a mile or two (over walking) is lost looking for a secure place to lock one’s bike, chaining the bike, removing the easily-stolen parts (front tire, saddle, lights, etc), and so forth.
My commute is 13 mi each way, to and from Midtown Manhattan (yay, me!). Studded tires are, for reasons already covered, a non-starter. Best advice: Be careful, and stay off the streets when it’s wet and the thermometer drops below 32.
Gloves are key–do not stint. They need to be windproof yet breathable (Gore-Tex + some form of polyfil insulation). Get a helmet liner, too–either a thin (lycra) beanie or balaclava. Be sure your top layer is windproof in the front and well ventilated in the back (a la most cycling and xc ski jackets). Definitely get lights. The Dinotte 200L is the best light I’ve ever used–cheap (approx $150), 200 lumens, rechargeable (using easily-obtained NiMH batteries), and super-easy to remove without tools.
December 28th, 2008 at 8:14 am
Re: Much of the time saved by biking a mile or two (over walking) is lost looking for a secure place to lock one’s bike
???
It takes less than a minute to lock/chain a bike.
In my own situation however I don’t need to worry about where to lock my bike at work since my office has a dedicated bicycle room for people who commute by bike.
And I consider biking much superior to walking no matter what the distance. Anything over a mile is not practical to walk unless one has no real time considerations.
Additional prcatical benefit to having the bike at work: I can use it to run minor errands at lunch (bank, post office etc).
December 28th, 2008 at 8:32 am
The top bike commuting city is Copenhagen, not San Diego.
Actually, the world’s top bike-everything city is Groningen in the Netherlands, not Copenhagen in Denmark.
In Groningen, 60% of all journeys are by bicycle. In Copenhagen, the equivalent figure is 37%. Copenhagen’s figure is the highest for any city outside of the Netherlands, but when compared with Dutch cities it’s around the average.
The scale of cycling in Groningen really has to be seen to be believed. For instance, the cycle parking at the railway station looks like this.
December 28th, 2008 at 9:05 am
for a different take on winter biking, see arcticglass.blogspot.com – the journal of an Alaskan winter cyclist.
December 28th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
I don’t understand the effort and deep thought given to cycling by persons who live within walking distance of their offices (<3 mi). At that distance, it’s just another urban exhibitionism/gadget hound wish fulfillment opportunity.
Jamey, I live within walking distance of my regular workplace, around 4 km. Sometimes I walk, sometimes I ride. Most often I ride, because in my experience it saves me a hour a day. This extra hour is often precious to me.
Finding a place to secure a bike is not the same difficulty in all cities.
December 28th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Adam B, I stand by my low opinion of SF transit, driveability, and walkability. The problem is, San Francisco is sort of walkable, sort of bikable, decent public transit, and tough to drive in. You get the worst of every world. At least in L.A., you know you just need to drive.
Some SF Muni routes are fine, but others are chronically late and others are pretty sketchy. Taxis are great if you’re downtown or in crowded neighborhoods, but if you’re somewhere off the beaten path and you call a cab, there’s only about a 50-50 chance it’ll show, since the cabbie is going to pass like 20 people trying to hail his cab on the street corners. Walking is fine within neighborhoods, but many of the neighborhoods themselves are separated by crazy-ass hills.
Basically, people want to think they live in Manhattan and can just get anywhere on transit or walking, so they’re anti-car, but the streets are still jammed with cars because there are some places where that’s clearly the best way to get there (not to mention leaving the city, where you need a car unless your destinantion happens to be very close to a BART station).
December 28th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
My handle’s all about “the insidious recreational bikers[] who’ve gotten it into people’s heads that even on a lovely day for a bike ride the act of pedaling requires intricate performance gear including funny biking outfits.”
Particularly the funny outfits. Amazingly enough, you can ride a bike while wearing the same cutoffs and t-shirt you were wearing around the house. And then when you feel the urge to ride, you just grab your bike, fill up your water bottle, and go.
That’s what it’s all about.
December 28th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Re: Particularly the funny outfits. Amazingly enough, you can ride a bike while wearing the same cutoffs and t-shirt you were wearing around the house.
This tends to be the case with any recreational activity: unless you are engaged in actual competition, you don’t need the high tech fabrics and aerodynamic designs. Any good winter wear will do just fine on a ski slope for example.
December 28th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
I bike to work all year long in NYC. Regarding hats, I got this perfect Nike hat that’s made out of stretchy tights material or something, and I don’t even have to mess with the size of my helmet. It’s been perfectly warm so far…
December 29th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Another thing that I’ve seen a lot (including in this comment thread) is that claim that if you bike to work, you will arrive all sweaty. Which is indeed the case if you bike at a pace that is strenuous for you. Similarly, if you jogged or ran to work, you would also most likely arrive all sweaty.
However, it is not actually necessary to ride at a strenuous pace. On level ground you can ride at faster than a walking pace yet still be quite comfortable. Going up hills, you can get off the bike and walk it up. And you can do all of this and arrive as non-sweaty as you would have had you simply walked, and in a shorter period of time as well.
December 29th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Which is indeed the case if you bike at a pace that is strenuous for you.
Nice concept, but there’s also this thing called “heat.” Most times of year it’s hot enough to make me sweat just by standing outside in the sun, much less bicycling.
December 29th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Biking to work is not for everyone if you live in upstate New York or New England. I’ve done it a lot, in all seasons, and it is generally miserable about half of the year, and I love biking. Coastal New England is actually worse than New York due to constant ice cold rain and high winds. You get a choice: wear a rainsuit and soak in sweat, or don’t wear a rainsuit and soak in rain. Your feet get soaked either way. In my experience breathable fabrics don’t work. Then again, you’re also covered with road grime/salt/crap, whatever you’re wearing. In New York the snow/ice/mess makes the ride less than pleasant. If it is cold and clear you have to be on constant watch for ice. When I did this a lot I usually took a couple of bad falls each winter. On the other hand, if I lived in San Diego it might be great.
December 29th, 2008 at 10:30 am
The nicest thing about bicycle commuting (suit and tie, no helmet, cuff straps) at a distance under two miles is going home for lunch. Staff policy here is to bring the bike up on the elevator and park it in the stacks.
January 9th, 2009 at 8:41 am
I rode my bike to work year round for 4 years in Rochester, NY. Just about 2 miles each way. No fancy clothes. Just threw some thrift store layers on top of business casual. In the winter, road conditions were the limiting factor. The bus was my backup, but in almost every instance I couldn’t ride the bike safely, it proved faster to walk than to take the bus because all motor traffic was moving slowly. Cold was never an issue for me. In fact, by the time most drivers walked through the frigid parking garage to start their frigid cars and get them back out of the garage again, I was generally home having a toddy.
January 9th, 2009 at 8:44 am
forgot to add a link to my favorite essay on the subject:
http://www.lariat.org/LBA/winter.html
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