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| Riding a bike in the winter can still be an enjoyable experience, if you prepare correctly. Photo Courtesy: Andrew Escandon |
KDOT Communications Specialist
Riding a bike during the winter is not as crazy as some
people may think. We should know: We asked our social media followers who ride their
bikes this time of year and received so many responses. Biking when it’s cold
outside may not be for everyone, but according to these winter bicyclists, you can
hop on those two wheels and take off with some planning.
Megan Merryman said one of the challenges bikers face is
other drivers.
“Staying safe during winter cycling is a bit tricky and
challenging,” Merryman said. “Drivers are not expecting to see cyclists out on
the roads this time of year, and visibility can be questionable on any given day.
Plus, conditions can change quickly. It can be perfectly clear all day and then
the low clouds and fog can settle in late in the day, which makes my evening
commute a little dicey.”
Merryman suggests wearing reflective clothing while riding a
bike because the days are shorter and they increase your chance of being seen.
“For commuting, my bike panniers have large reflective
squares on them, and my cycling jacket has a reflective stripe on the back,”
Merryman said.
Nancy Naethe Baker agrees and adds that staying aware of
where you ride is also important.
“Biking in the winter frequently means lower light, even
during daylight hours, so I make sure my clothes are bright and reflective, and
I have a headlight and taillight on at all times,” Baker said. “I'm also more
cautious about which roads I ride and what times I'm on them -- the difference
in light levels, different sunrise and sunsets, and angle of the sun all mean
changes in when the drivers have the sun in their eyes and are less able to see
a cyclist at the side of the road. I am
aware of these things in other seasons, but they're all more prevalent during
late fall and winter.”
Vincent Needham said it’s important to have a kit you can
mix and match to meet the conditions you are riding in.
“Versatility is key
here, since morning and evening conditions can be quite different,” Needham
said. “Modern LED lights are small and convenient, and I never actually take
them off the commuter bike. It concerns me when I see out students riding
without lights in winter darkness, and I've donated several sets of lights in
an effort to fix that.”
Andrew Escandon, a volunteer at the Topeka Community Cycle
Project, said when it comes to winter biking, preparation is key and the
clothes you wear can make a big difference.
“Staying warm and comfortable is almost as important as
staying visible,” Escandon said. “If you don’t wear adequate gloves and your
fingers go numb, your ability to brake in time for unexpected obstacles greatly
decreases.”
Escandon said dressing properly is different for everyone,
and it’s important to find out what works for you.
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| Protecting yourself from the elements is key to winter bike riding. Photo Courtesy: Andrew Escandon |
“For my face, I try and think of dressing as if I were going
sledding or skiing,” Escandon said. “When it’s really cold, I wear a balaclava,
scarf or face mask. The one drawback to this is the warm air from your breath
will fog up most eyewear. To solve this problem, I invested in a snowboard
helmet and ski goggles. The lens is positioned farther away from your face,
which reduces fogging, and you can wear prescription eyewear underneath them.”
Merryman said being comfortable while riding a bike in the
cold is easier if you dress in layers that are easy to remove.
One factor that is important to remember is how easy it is
to overheat, even in the cold weather.
“You’d be surprised once your core is warmed up from the
exercise how much easier it is to overheat in the winter,” Escandon said. “When it’s between 18-25 degrees F, I’ll wear
a base layer, fleece jacket and wind layer. The wind chill at those
temperatures can be really uncomfortable. Anything over 30F, and I tend to
leave off the wind layer, as it traps heat and makes you sweat more. The worst
part is usually the start. It feels a lot colder than you will be once you’ve
been pedaling for 15 minutes. More often than not, I end up over-dressing and
have to stop to remove layers.”
One common caution we heard from winter bicyclists is that
riding in the snow and ice can be tricky, especially when it comes to braking.
Baker said while she chooses not to ride on snow and ice,
there are times when she’ll run into an icy patch on the road.
“I do not ride on ice, but if there's a patch I didn't
expect and can't avoid, I coast over it -- no pedaling, no brakes, and no
attempts to steer as any of those things can cause the bike to slide out of
control,” Baker said.
Out of the many responses we received, only a small handful
said they would try to ride their bikes if there were snow and ice on the
roads. Most said they choose to wait until the roads are clear.
If you do choose to try to ride in the snow and ice, wider
tires are available that can handle snow, and you would also want to use tires
with studs in them to increase traction when it’s icy. Following the same rules
as driving a car during inclement weather can still be followed:
- Slow down
- Don’t brake suddenly
- Maintain a safe distance
- Plan for more time to reach your destination.
Thanks to everyone who answered our questions! Do you think you’d ever try riding a bike in
the winter?
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