Winter Cycling Tips from Cyle-Bird!
January 22nd, 2012 in , bicycle delivery service montreal, bike courier montreal, bike messenger, cycle bird, cycle bird courier, cyclebird, montreal bike courier, montreal bike messenger, the cycle bird, winter biking, winter cycling
Winter cycling is something that gets talked about every year. The discussion of road safety, what gear to wear and whether or not the bike lanes should be plowed are things that come up within the community and in the media. I remember two years ago I was invited onto the radio to debate the idea of making cycling illegal in the winter months. The interviewer was very confused by why I would spend every day outside putting myself in what he perceived as “danger”. I explained to him that I believe the danger lies not in the action but rather the person doing the action. Those who end up getting hurt are either accident prone anyway or have not yet developed the skills needed for winter cycling. I’ve been in a few accidents in my career but not one has been in the winter. In fact, I feel safer in the winter because the cars slow down , bixis are not running wild in the streets and there are less people walking around outside . Winter is in some way, a little vacation from the huge amount of people that frequent the downtown core.
I believe winter cyclists will always be around whether people want it or not. Besides the fact that the business sector relies heavily on bike messengers year round to make documents flow from office to office, there are some people who, because of their financial situation, depend solely on their bike as their means of transportation . With the high price of gas and even metro passes these days, it’s no surprise that more people are hopping on a bike.
This is my 8th winter on a bike and I’ve learned a lot about what kind of clothing to wear, what kind of bike I need and how to keep from falling on the ice. It took a lot of trial and error but I feel as though I’ve figured it out. Cycle-Bird delivers to almost anywhere so I regularly have to ride for more than an hour (20-30km) straight to deliver a package in temperatures as low as -30 and in conditions that include frozen ice pellets, rain, snow and high winds. Some people hear this and say, ” Is that even possible?” to which I respond, “Of course it is, don’t you know how stubborn I am?”. I say this about myself, but the same goes for our whole team.
(Cam riding in the winter; 2006-2007)
Here are some tips on gear that I feel will help those of you who are just getting started and may even help experienced cyclists.
Base Layers
It’s important to realize that the type of fabrics you choose to wear while riding will affect how you feel and how enjoyable your ride will be. You can definitely pull off a quick ride to and from school in a cotton shirt, sweater and snowboard jacket, but it changes your experience immensely when you start looking at the products that are available for outdoor activity. Having cold sweat on your body is not only uncomfortable during your ride, but dealing with a shirt that wont dry, is very annoying.
Your first layer should be a spandex/polyester blend that will wick the sweat away from your skin and will breath.
This is followed by a wool sweater that will insulate what ever moister there is on your base layer but will still let air circulate and your skin to breath. Wool is unique in that it can stay warm even when wet.
If temperatures dip below -20, it’s good to have an extra wool layer but I don’t advise having two spandex/polyester layers unless you want to feel like you are wrapped in packing tape.
Do not wear cotton or acrylic, especially against your skin. These fabrics are not made to be used during physical activity and I can promise you that you will be cold, wet and miserable.
Jackets and Vests
After my first fall and winter as a bike messenger I realized how important it was to stay dry and how having a good rain jacket is essential to attaining a certain level of comfort. For the every day commuter, you can get a good rain jacket for 100$-120$ at most outdoor stores, but those of you who desire real comfort or are riding long distances, it’s hard to find something priced under 250$-300$ that will last more than one season and keep you warm .
Jackets over $250 are made of either Gortex or a Gortex like material that is durable, breathable and very water resistant. I never believed that there would be a difference until I bought a nice jacket. My Hard Wear jacket has lasted me three years and has kept me comfortable in some of the worst storms I’ve ever seen. The material in this jacket cuts the wind beautifully and the waterproof zippers help keep water out when needed. There are some days where even though it’s cold, the heat builds up around my body and having armpit zippers to let some air in is really great. Arm pit zippers make a huge difference!
Don’t assume that because you have a snowboard jacket or an expensive puffa jacket that you will be alright. Your goal is not to be hot, it is to be comfortable. The jackets that are made for walking or snowboarding have too much insulation and do not allow your body to breath when doing physical activity.
On those colder days (-25 and below), you don’t always need another base layer. A good vest will suffice to keep your core temperature high which will in turn help regulate your whole body temperature. A vest is also really great for protecting your expensive jacket from the strap of your messenger bag. Over time, the rubbing of your strap will deteriorate the fabric and the overall waterproof-ness of the jacket.
Face and Neck
I think that the most uncomfortable part of winter is having your face, neck and ears be cold. You have a few options but for my ears I’ve personally been really happy with a cycling cap and a thermal winter head band.
Everything fits snugly under my helmet and does not feel too constraining. For the neck I either wear a ski mask rolled down or a dickie (shown above). All of this can be purchased at construction uniform stores for a pretty reasonable price (minus the cycling cap).
I personally don’t wear a hood because it limits mobility and the ability turn my neck to look behind. I also avoid wearing scarves because breathing on cotton will only cause ice crystals to form and then you will have ice on your face. OUCH! Bad news!
Boots, Socks and Pants
If you are riding your bike in the winter, it is pretty rare for your legs to get really cold. It’s important that you stay insulated but unlike your upper body, you can get away with wearing almost anything.
I wear thermal long johns underneath a pair of jeans or work pants. These are also pretty affordable at most uniform stores.
Feet are a different story altogether. Cotton is a big no no! A good pair of wool socks go a long way and are a worth while investment for any serious winter cyclist.
I wear a pair of Wig Wam Merino wool socks for temperatures above -15 but for days that are colder, I have a pair of North Face socks that are very thick and do the trick. For short rides of 30 minutes or less, you can get away with two pairs of thick cotton socks and shoes, but don’t expect them to be dry or warm on your ride back. Just switching to wool will change the game.
For boots, I’ve been very happy with my waterproof Merell’s. They are a bit large but they have lasted! Unless you want your shoes to be completely ruined by the end of winter, you better get yourself some boots.
Gloves
I feel like I’ve tried every glove out there and every brand or model has it’s own advantages and disadvantages. Some are a bit warmer then others, some are more waterproof and some just plain suck.
This year I’ve gone with two different models depending on the day. The bottom pair are my favorite, They are very long which helps to keep the cold air from getting anywhere near my skin and even helps heat my wrist and forearm a bit. They are not too bulky so they still allow me to answer my phone without taking them off. What I really like is that they breath so my hands hardly sweat at all.
For temperatures below -25, I go for the ninja turtle glove which keep my fingers together and are insulated with a nice thermal fabric. The downside of these is if I use them when it’s too hot outside, my hands sweat a lot and actually end up getting cold.
I hope that this helps you on your rides this winter and please feel free to send along questions or comments to info@thecyclebird.com
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