A Quick Guide to Winter Commuting
Biking throughout the year is the mark of a cyclist. Winter riding is not only doable in Utah, but can be a great way to exercise, commute, and get some fresh air. There’s a sense of accomplishment that comes from braving the elements. Imagine the bragging rights you’ll have when you tell your friends neither snow nor sleet stops you from riding. Dress properly, tune your bike up, and have the right attitude. There’s no reason to stop going out for a ride. Here are some tips to help make you a four-season rider.
What to Wear:
Bundle Up
Dressing in layers is the best way to cut down the chill. Because you’re riding in the winter, you’re going to start cold but quickly warm up. Your body is a furnace. Dressing in layers captures the heat your body is producing and allows you to strip away or add layers while riding. Start with a base layer to keep you dry. Synthetic fibers and wool wick away sweat—cotton does not, it soaks of sweat and chills your body. Add a soft-shell jacket to help cut through the wind. During snow storms, a waterproof shell or rain jacket can keep you dry.
Protect Your Neck (and Hands!)
Cold hands make for horrible rides. Anything you can do to keep the wind, wet, and cold off your paws are going to make a big difference. The best gloves have grippy palms and fingers since handlebars can get slippery when wet. Wear a ski cap under your helmet to help keep your head warm. Most of the heat escaping your body will come underneath your helmet.
Raid Your Other Gear
Utah has the best skiing in the world and lots of cyclists love carving up in the mountains. If you already have gear for skiing/snowboarding/snowmobiling, you don’t need to buy dedicated gloves, helmets, or goggles for your ride. A word of caution: ski gloves tend to have less control than bike gloves. Test your braking ability before heading out for a long ride.
Be Visible
It’s a fact of life that cyclists have to contend with drivers and not the other way around. Winter conditions are bad enough in a car. Slushing roads, foggy windows, and wind whipping off the Wasatch Front can impact the morning commute. Protect yourself by making yourself seen. Wear bright colors. Turn on both your rear and front lights. Make sure to have reflectors on both wheels and bike frame. Until drivers start seeing cyclists on the road, you need to make your presence known.
Prep Your Bike:
Air Pressure
Fat bikes are a blast to ride but you don’t need four-inch tires to crush it during the winter months. Before heading out for any ride, you need to check your ABCs: Air, Brakes, Chain. For winter riding, it’s a good idea to lower the pressure on your tires by 15 psi. Look for the maximum psi on the sidewall of your tires and lower accordingly. Softer tires grip the road better. You’ll have more control on icy/snowy roads and a more forgiving ride.
Pack Extra Gear
Hope for the best, but plan for the worst. No one likes pedaling with extra weight but having additional gear might be a godsend if you find yourself in trouble out on the open road. Not only should you be carrying extra tubes, a pump, and a multitool, but you should also have extra gear to deal with temperature shifts. Consider bringing a second pair of gloves, a balaclava, and a pair of wool socks in case of stepping into a puddle.
Wash Your Bike
It’s a well-known fact that a clean bike rides faster—and looks better—than a dirty one. And nothing beats up your bike worse than road salt. Salt is corrosive. If left unattended, salt can lead to paint damage and creating rust on your bike frame. In addition, salt can gunk up your chain and damage your crankset and derailer. Also, if your bike has a suspension, salt can corrode the springs. Wipe down your bike after every ride.
The Pep Talk:
You Can Do This
Perfect conditions don’t always equal perfect rides. A great bike ride is as much mental as it is physical. With the right amount of preparation, you can own the winter in the saddle. Don’t let a little bit of snow slow you down this winter. You might not ride as much when the weather gets chillier, but you still have the skills and commitment to riding all year long.
While you might not be riding as much as you would during the summer months, consider this challenge: between your bike and a UTA pass, there isn’t a place in the valley you can’t reach.
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