So you are hardcore enough to brave the elements this winter and ride to work.  Good for you!  It’s so much more difficult to motivate yourself to ride in the morning when you know that Mother Nature is not going to gently embrace you with a thousand warm kisses of the sunrise.  No instead, during these commutes you will be slapped repeatedly across the face and made to feel as if someone is throwing fistfuls of razorblades at you with deadly, ninja-like accuracy.  So if you are powering through, good for you, be proud, you are truly awesome.

Here is the deal though… you need to say thank you to your most loyal of friends, your trusty metal steed for braving the weather with you.  In fact, you may not realize it, but your bicycle is taking almost as much punishment (if not more depending on how well you are at crossing ice patches) as you are.

3 tips for getting your bike through the winter commuting season: 

1.  Cleanliness

I’m from the Midwestern United States, and around these parts we use a nasty combination of sand and salt and even an ice melting solution on the roads pretty much all winter.  This stuff wreaks havoc on all sorts of parts of a bicycle.  The chain, the brake pads, the wheels, the frame…left unattended, I’m confident that my bike would slowly melt into a puddle of shiny goo a la Terminator 2 (only without reforming into an evil robot from the future).

Every day you should wipe down your bike after you are done commuting.  If you don’t have a solution to use (I prefer Simple Green) just go with warm water and a little soap.  Wash your rims; wipe down the underside of your frame (if not the entire frame, at least get the parts where there is clear splash back.  It’s pretty much a given that at the end of a long winter you will need to at least invest in a new chain and brake pads (not a guaranty, but a might as well assume so just so you aren’t surprised).  Even though I expect to have to replace it I still give my chain a clean by holding a rag around it and gently spinning it through.  I only apply new lube every other ride…it’s up to you really, because after you clean your chain it could probably use lube every day.  But I’m stingy and my commuter is a beater.

2.  Be Prepared

In the summer I carry a small pump, patch kit, tire wrenches, and a multi-tool.  During winter I carry a lot more.

During winter riding, you can quickly find yourself in situations that could present more problems than just having to walk your bike a bit…you don’t want to be broken down in freezing temperatures with no way to fix something.

Make sure you know how to repair your chain, brake lines and pads, and change flats.  If your chain allows for it, carry a master-link or two for quick repairs. Also consider carrying extra brake pads.  The stuff they put on roads gets all over your rims and then of course your brake pads…the can corrode fast.  For winter, I recommend a self sticking patch kit, as opposed to the standard vulcanized patches I use during warmer months.  I am never confident they will save a tube indefinitely, but they will at least allow me to re-inflate and get to my destination and out of the elements faster than waiting on glue to dry.  I also highly recommend fenders.  When it’s warm, I don’t mind getting wet from rain…in fact I kind of like watching the water spin off my tires, but winter is a different story.  Fenders also help save your frame and components.

3.  Ice is Slick

It’s a common misnomer among drivers as well, fatter tires don’t mean much on ice.  You might be inclined to think a mountain bike is better for a winter commute, and while that may be true sometimes, I feel that most of the time it isn’t.  With less contact surface area on the road, I feel like my road bike slips more than my mountain bike.  My skinny tires can carve through snow and slush like a knife, while my 29er Monster Bike tends to slide from side to side all the time.

However, keep in mind that snow and slush are very different from ice.  It’s darker in the morning during winter, the road is dark, and ice can appear to be just a bit of wetness on the road until…whoops…I fell over.  If it’s below freezing, assume there will be ice on your commute.  Like Wiggo or the Missile, try to hold your line and ride straight as much as possible.  Find a place in the lane where you are comfortable and stay in that spot.  Don’t jerk or swerve or even change lanes if you don’t have to.  It takes a little more self-control in the winter to hold the lane, but it’s more critical than ever, in my opinion.

When you make your turns don’t try to ride like you are racing a kit…leaning into it will typically not go well if you hit even a small patch of ice.  However if you stay upright and turn with your handlebars, you should have a much better chance at staying upright.

Like I said, if you are powering through the nasty cold weather, good for you! It is a little bit of a different ball game to commute in the winter months, but if you can follow these few suggestions you should come out a stronger cyclist in the spring.  Be careful, take care of yourself and your bicycle, and you will be just fine.

Aaron

December is definitely here and I don’t know about the rest of you, but it’s bloomin’ cold over her in the good old U of K. When I checked out LovingTheBike.com yesterday morning (as I do every day, like a good ‘employee’) I was filled with a sense of wonder tinged with a massive amount of jealousy!

I’m sure you have noticed that Darryl has made the family move of a lifetime and set up camp on the wonderful island of Grenada, and posted this about an idyllic morning ride.  Well ‘D Dawg’ you might have the glorious beaches and crystal blue waters, but I have wet roads and bitter winds…the making of a strong spring rider.

Winter is a hard time to get on the bike and get the legs rolling. You may have chosen to have a little time off the bike as I did and have to get back into the routine, but winter is a great time to ride.  You’ll feel super strong in the spring after putting in the hard miles and those fresh, sunny roads in a few months time seem to just roll so much smoother than those presently.

Winter also gives you the added enjoyment of getting all of that expensive, lovely winter kit out of the cupboard and strutting your stuff.  I have a real thing for kits, as many of you do too I’m sure, and there is nothing finer than showing off your style with a matching winter kit right from the cap down to the pedals.  The cold weather just means there is more lovely kit to wear!  In the summer we can select the Euro-cool white kits but for now, it’s understated and hard working clothing which takes centre stage.

There is also a real sense of camaraderie built up through the winter within the various chain gangs.  It can be a hard time to ride through harsh weather and sometimes the only thing that gets you through is wanting to not lose face in front of your riding pals. But when those sunny months come around and you look around the bunch you’ll know the faces that struggled through the winter with you and seek those wheels over others.

Those are the riders you follow because the trust has been built up through the wet months and there is an unspoken pact between you. The ones that have put in the effort and dedication to mean that when the weather is fine and you can sit outside the mid ride cafe, you can be proud you put in the tough miles and enjoy smashing all of your lazy friends for the whole summer!

Get out there and ride this winter. Don’t let weather stop you, there is kit, tyres and equipment to make it all possible.  Make December the month to change, and don’t wait for those useless New Year’s resolutions.  Do it now.  Get wet and wild!

Stevie

We’re here with another segment in our mountain bike monthly feature….this time Greg from Singletracks is here to give you 3 reasons why winter is mountain biking season.

3 Reasons Why Winter is Mountain Biking Season

by Greg Heil

My road biking compatriots tell me that we have some of the best road riding on the East Coast here in Dahlonega, Georgia. Since the local mountains were once the most challenging stage in the Tour De Georgia and are now home to the popular Six Gap Ride (drawing 2,500 riders), guess I believe them. Still, when the winter makes its annual appearance, many riders who primarily roll on the pavement take to the woods… and here’s why:

1. Lack of Light

Unfortunately, we don’t have nearly as many hours of daylight during the winter months, which can turn dangerous on the road. Sure, you can strap on a headlamp and a taillight, but even in the best of conditions battling traffic can be dangerous. Pedaling the roads at night truly opens you up to a bad accident.

Mountain bikers, however, don’t have to worry about thousands of pounds of metal controlled by human beings more concerned with their cell phones than the bikers that they’re hurtling past at 60 miles per hour. Consequently, we just strap on high-powered helmet lights, head into the trees, and just keep riding all winter long!

2. Less Wind Chill

Riding a mountain bike creates much less wind chill than riding a road bike does due to the slower speeds. Also, since mountain bikers generally ride deep in the forest, the tight tree cover helps to cut down the speed of any regular wind much more than riding on a wide open road.

3. Fat Bikes

Fat bikes are a new breed of mountain bike that are quickly gaining a passionate following. While mountain bikes already have much fatter tires than road bikes, fat bikes take it to a ‘hole ‘nuther level with tires measuring 3” wide, 4” wide, and even wider! This wide width helps the bikes to float on loose surfaces such as snow and sand, and also allows the rider to run lower tire pressures without the fear of flatting. Lower tire pressures also help to increase traction, creating a bike that can perform comfortably in a variety of adverse conditions.

Instead of spending all winter on the trainer, try mountain biking instead!

Your Turn: How do you get the miles in during the winter?

Greg Heil started riding mountain bikes seriously in 2007, and since that time has ridden hundreds of trails all across the United States.

He is the Social Media Coordinator, and an editor, for Singletracks.com, which is your source for everything mountain biking: the number one mountain bike trail map database in the world, a daily blog, gear reviews, forums, photo of the day, and more! Be sure to drop by the site and check it out, and to “follow” them on Twitter.

Photos c/o maddslacker and chukt

It is pretty easy to get up in the morning, grab a cup-a-joe and hop on the bike to ride to work…when it’s warm out.  However, cold weather presents an entirely new group of challenges.  It seems like the colder it gets, the harder it is for me to just get out of bed, forget riding to work.  More gear to keep you warm means more time to get ready, means more time to  talk yourself out of the bike ride.  Long or short, riding to work in the cold weather adds a whole new element to your commute.

You may not be a big fan of spending money on fancy skin suits, cool commuter shoes and bags, or any gear like that.  When it comes to commuting, some gear you can do without, but in the cold weather months, you shouldn’t be putting your safety at risk to save a few bucks.  Yes, riding in the cold is more dangerous than riding in warm weather.

Wearing too many layers causes you to sweat, sometimes without you even knowing it.  The stop and go of commuting doesn’t often lend itself well to maintaining a constant body temperature, meaning you get really hot for a few blocks, start sweating, then stop and cool down at the next light.  This can happen in warm weather plenty as well, but when temperatures dip below freezing, suddenly your cool downs could put you at risk for a variety of ugly consequences, especially if you have a good sweat worked up.

It’s important to get some gear that can keep you warm without making you overheat at the same time.  Winter gear is expensive, but fortunately you don’t need to go out and waste money finding the right stuff to solve that problem, because you can come here and read what has already been tested.  Here are four items I have found are 100% worth the money and are sure to keep your temperature even on your ride to and from work.

Pearl Izumi Pro Thermal LS Jersey:

Think of this amazingly warm and wind-resistant article of clothing as a cross between your favorite fleece and a bike jersey.  Made using a Minerale thermal fabric, this full zip jersey is heavier than a wool jersey and every bit as comfortable as your favorite pull over.  Like most cycling jerseys it comes with the standard three pocket back to ensure easy access to your commuter snacks and gear on the ride.

This jersey also has a fantastic breast pocket for your cell phone that has a slit on the inside to feed your headphones through so they don’t dangle out in the cold or get caught on your bike while riding.

Like all Pearl Izumi gear it does run a little small, so don’t be afraid to go a size big so you can add a long sleeve t-shirt layer underneath. It won’t do the trick by itself when temperatures get down to freezing, but the simple addition of a turtleneck or long-sleeve t-shirt is all it takes to ride in the coldest of weather.

Endura Dexter Windproof Gloves:

Gloves might be one of the most important things you can spend money on for a winter commuter.  Even with temperatures in the 40′s, riding without warm, insulated gloves has left my fingers feeling more numb for far longer than I am comfortable with after arriving.  Something about the combination of slowing blood flow from leaning on your handlebars a little more because you are tired, and the wind battering you can make your fingers the very first thing to suffer.

Endura’s Dexter gloves are the best glove I have found for commuting.  You can’t just purchase a cheap pair of gloves from Walmart…the wind cuts through more than you would guess.  These gloves are insulated and warm with great grip and feature tightly woven fabrics that keep even those high-winds from Sandy at bay.  Far superior to anything I have tried from Giro, Smartwool, or even the leather of Knog.

Smartwool PHD Ski Medium:

Your feet are equally important to take care of.  Smartwool are pricey, especially for socks, but they are worth every penny.  The PHD Ski Mediums are an over-the-calf sock so they keep your entire leg warm.

I find that while leg-warmers are nice, there really isn’t much need for anything more than jeans from the knee to the waist.  If you need to, drop to a lower gear, or get a fixie to commute on…spinning will warm those knees up right quick!

There isn’t much that needs said about these socks to be honest.  If you have never owned a pair of Smartwool socks, just buy any pair at all and you will never be able to wear a normal sock again.  If only they had toe socks…I would be in heaven.  I love Smartwool.

Beard Head:

Your torso, your hands, your feet, and lastly your head.  As a bald guy, proper headwear in the winter is critical.  Now, you could go and get a standard balaclava if you wanted to.  They fit under your helmet (which you should always wear) and are typically pretty darn warm… but that just isn’t any fun.

I discovered the magic of Beard Head a long time ago.  Not only am I bald, but I also don’t have any facial hair…nor have I, nor will I (Google Alopecia Universalis if you are interested).  That’s why the idea of a knitted hat that provides me with a beard is way more awesome than a boring old balaclava.  My wife purchased me my Beard Head many years ago when she got tired of me complaining about not being able to participate in Movember.

It is now a part of my winter riding outfit.  The hat fits perfectly under my helmet (this is the original model by the way) while the beard and mustache keep my face perfectly warm.  In all seriousness this hat is seriously the best thing I could have ever found to ride with.  It blocks out nearly all the wind while really keeping my face warm, but also the hand-knitted fabric allows me to breathe normally without the hat getting all moist from my breath!

It’s amazing, and I love it.  Go out and buy one (be sure to check out the variety of mustaches if you would like to mix it up).

And that is all there is to it.  My top 4 items for a winter commute that are worth every penny.  If you want to ride in the cold, don’t ask questions… just go buy this stuff and thank me later.  Keep the rubber side down and don’t be afraid of those low temperatures!

Aaron Madrid

Top photo c/o www.indianalivinggreen.com.

We’ve had a great week at LovingTheBike Towers and I’ve particularly enjoyed the our time on Twitter with the #bikeschool gang. We had some absolutely fantastic answers to the questions at last Thursday’s class so I thought it was only right we put some of the up to celebrate your individuality and genius.

Shameless appeal…

Firstly I’d like to remind people that I am looking for a sponsor to pay for me to travel across the United States of America. @Lycra_Loony is also going to come with me from Australia so if you are willing to help out please make sure you have deep pockets and long arms. We would obviously need to be supplied with bikes in every state we visit so it’d be nice of you owned a bike brand too. #Justsayin

Who inspires you to get on 2 wheels? #bikeschool

Great to see you with the Wouter Weylandt Twibbon too @MTBandTreegrrl!

…how would you explain CYCLING to an extra-terrestrial watching out #bikeschool Twitter stream!?

An early contender for Tweet of the night from @noteon

A late entry via #homework from @readyforplanb but a lovely idea.

What are the benefits (if any!) of winter & what can we do to make the most of it? #bikeschool

And the picture….

If you could issue EVERY rider across the world with 1 piece of kit… what would it be. You can be brand specific #bikeschool

Rookie or Pro… we all suffer from this @Rosee_bikebar

…who would the #bikeschool class want me to try & interview? #bikeschool

Cool name and interesting looking bloke… I will definitely try to get hold of @gouldgeorgia. Thanks @jayrides4cancer

And finally…

Last week we started a competition to come up with a new #bikeschool tagline. After a week of voting I’m proud to announce @twittyboyd has stormed the field and taken the win. She is the lucky recipient of a hamper from @GUEnergyLabs and a gift card from @RoadID. Well done to Marty; the new #bikeschool tag line is…

WORLD CYCLISTS UNITE

Stevie

In the final installment of Winter Riding Wednesdays, Kip gives a few more tips on how to navigate snow covered streets. “You’re curious…do you think you’re going to try it this winter?”

See all four parts of Winter Riding Wednesdays on Loving The Bike’s YouTube channel.

In today’s video, Kip focuses on studded tires.  This is a very informative clip on how to stud your own tires, what to look for in a good winter tire and how to save money.  As always, enjoy your ride and leave comments.

iOS version available here

If I was back in Canada right now, I would totally be fretting the arrival of Winter.  In fact, I would already be upset about the cool weather and lack of good riding conditions.  But fear not….I’m in Austin and all is good.  But if you are in the situation of the former, my good friend Chris Russell has some advice for you on fall/winter riding.

Don’t you play those winter blues!

We all love riding bike.  That much is clear by virtue of the fact you’re reading this.  But it’s that time of year when the days get shorter, the temperatures start to plummet, and the appeal of getting out there and putting in the miles suddenly disappears.  Not by coincidence, it’s at this very time everyone starts to talk about “turbo trainers”.

For me personally, I’ll be riding straight through until the sun starts to shine again – my training program dictates it, and I’m somewhat of a gluten for punishment . But I do know it simply isn’t fun at times and do sympathize with everyone out there. So here’s my take on how to survive this winter without losing the bike-touch:

1. I was given a poster a while back (it’s quite famous) of a certain Texan riding the Pyrenees in the spring of ’99.  The caption reads “I rode.  And I rode.  And I rode.  Punishing my body over every hill I could find.  I rode when nobody else would ride.”

Striking words.

The sentiment here is clear though, and leads me to my first point: HTFU!  You get out what you put in.  If you want to beat the club favourite, or smash a PB next year, then you’ve got to be willing to go that extra mile to achieve it.

Okay, this doesn’t mean you have to ride in 2 feet of snow through gale force winds and blizzards. Be sensible about it.  All too often, people give up very quickly at the sign of bad weather.  My rule: if the quality of your workout is being affected, then it’s time to move indoors.  But never forget that this is when you actually win.  Not in 6 months time when you’re at the start line.

2. So when it does get too bad to rid outdoors, head for the spin studio or the turbo trainer.  But don’t be afraid to mix it up.  They are boring!  So keep workouts short, but increase the intensity.  Load up on tempo intervals, but keep your cadence high.

Image Source: radiologytechnician.com
Most importantly, keep yourself entertained.  Catch up on your favourite television show, or episode that you missed.  MTV is a favourite of mine.  Or better still, stick on a cycling workout DVD or podcast – @trainright has some great new ones out and the ‘Do the Tour at Home’ podcast series from a few years ago let’s you hill climb with and against the pros.

3. This brings me nicely to my 3rd and final point.  The winter is short.  Yes, its’ cold.  Yes, it will rain.  Yes, it’ll be windy…but remember why we do it.  Enjoy it.  And your hard work in the coming months will see you right for a fab 2011 season.

Now get out there and ride!

Chris Russell is a UK pro athlete currently training to compete in the 2012 Olympics in the sport of sailing.  He’s likely the first in his sport to use cycling as one of his main training tools.  He’s training under Chris Carmichael and is a proud LiveSTRONG advocate. His sponsors include GU, Helly Hanson, and others….but he is actively in need of more sponsors to finance his Olympic goals.  If you can help him out in any way, hit him up @chrismrussell or via his Youtube page, www.youtube.com/Roadto2012.