Cycle commuting in winter

Cycle commuting is gaining popularity, but you need to take certain precautions to protect yourself in the winter.  Both to protect yourself, and to make the ride more enjoyable.

If winter biking is something you’ve been considering, be prepared to do your homework before you hit the road.

If your experience with winter cycling looks like this, you could probably use a few tips.

FIrst step: outfitting yourself.

Andreas Moser: “Really thin layers. So we have a base layer. Then we have a thermal layer. It could be wool, it could be polyester.”

On top of that goes a bright outer shell to break the wind and make you stand out in traffic. You’ll need a toque, a helmet, and warm gloves that allow you brake and steer.

Most cyclists agree, finding the perfect getup is the hard part.

Mark Brouwer bikes to work: “You don’t want to get too sweaty before work so it’s just always challenging just to stay warm enough but not too warm.”

To make its way through snow and slush, your bike will also need some add-ons. Full fenders are a must.

Andreas: “That keeps the slush off you, the wet off you. Keeps the bike a little cleaner.”

Most bikes can be retrofitted for use in winter. But if you’re really wary of the ice and snow, you can just whip out the big guns.

If you don’t want to spring for mammoth tires, a pair with studded treads will improve your traction on ice.

Standards like a loud bell and flashing lights will make it easier for drivers to spot you in bad weather.

Andreas: “Windshields aren’t always clean. So the brighter you are, you stand out in a white landscape much, much better.”

You’ll also want a bright light to help you see in low light.

If you’re trying winter bike commuting for the first time this year, you want to pace yourself. It’s good to set a cut off temperature so you aren’t riding outside your comfort zone.