So if you are reading this post, it would mean you are already considering a ride to work on a very cold day. I am rooting for you! Get out there and do it! Here are just a few things for you to consider.
Dress for It
Long Underwear - don't leave home without it.
Ski Helmet - best Christmas present I got this year.
Ski Goggles - your face will freeze without them.
Tall Snow Boots - they are ugly, but the taller the better. Leave an extra pair of shoes in the office.
Fleece Vest - the high collar will keep your face warm, and the vest will keep the mud off your jacket
Backpack - it can carry your stuff, but it will also keep you warm
Have The Right Gear
Mud Flaps - well worth the $20
Milk Crate - good for storage, and doubles as a rear mudflap
Headlamp - it gets dark really early in the winter
Taillight - I mount it on the back of my helmet
The Right Bike
Older is better - the road salt will do a number on your components... please don't use your new bike
No Clipless pedals - the ice is too slick, and the shoes aren't warm enough... don't bother
Knobby Tires - the snow and ice is slick, put on the fattest ones you can find
Low Air Pressure - even the best tires don't have much tread on the sidewalls
Adapt Your Riding Style
Stay Seated - in order to keep traction, you need to keep weight on the rear wheel at all times
Higher Gears are Better - while a lower gear gives you more torque, it will spin the tire. Grunt it out!
Keep it Straight - while learning to avoid obstacles is normally part of good riding technique, riding in a straight line is even better technique in the snow. ride right over the clumps of snow, and you will keep it upright for longer.
Be Considerate To Traffic
They Don't Expect You - remember that a biker in the snow is totally unexpected
Be Visible - they need to see you a long ways off
Its Ok To Be There - I have found it to be much more dangerous on a jagged sidewalk, than the shoulder of the road. Just keep it smooth and steady, with no sudden movements, and no one gets hurt.
Have Fun!
Ok, so I really did it today. Today I rode to work in about 3 inches of snow, and I loved every bit of it. The trip is about 2.2 miles in length, but in the swirling snow and 25 degree with a 12 degree wind chill, it feels much worse. I have really tried to make the point that if I really want to call myself a cyclist, I need to be willing to ride in any climate, no matter what.
So, to get geared up, I asked for a snowboarding helmet for Christmas, so that I would have the proper headgear for the brutal weather we occasionally get around here. My 1st few rides to work were last week, which ended up being a balmy 55 degrees and sunny. This was very uncharacteristic of our area, so I couldn't be too surprised when the weather turned sour.
Last week, it became apparent that the wind really chills on my face, even though I was suited up with layers of warm clothing everywhere else. So today I headed out with full ski goggles, thermal underwear, socks, ankle boots (clipless pedals are great, but icy conditions require an even faster dimount, and they arent warm enough) an gloves. I have a new backpack for my laptop, and other office stuff, which is nice, because the weight of it also functions as a layer of warmth on my back. I was toasty warm... for a while.
Another nice thing about riding in a northern climate is that the roads have a shoulder on them. In the south, I got used to riding on just a few inches of "shoulder" while cars went whizzing by. Here, because of snow removal, the roads boat of 4-6 ft paved shoulders that have plenty of room for any cyclist to enjoy. About 1.5 miles into the ride, the side of the road got slushy. This is worse than snow, and is caused from the salt they spread on the road to make driving conditions safer for the motorists.
I guess I crossed over onto a street that had been more heavily salted by the city, and it became slushy and rapidly nasty. Within minutes I could taste road salt all over my face, my chest was covered in mud splatter, and my butt was soaking wet from the rear tire throwing muddy ice all over my backside. Nearly 6 hrs later, my underwear is still a little soggy, and my boota are moist, and my pants are cached in mud. A few adjustment need to be made.
My buddy at work, Darrick, commented on my appearance when I walked in, and I told him that this was still in the "trial and error" phase. He suggested that perhaps I was just in an "error" phase. 1st things 1st, I need a mudflap.
Thankfully, my friend Will saw my twitter post on face book and offered me the following solution. Looks like a good option to me! I'll have to check it out another day. Today I am going to get picked up from work rather than make the sloppy return trip!