More Winter Cycling Tips

Just a simple reposting of some tips and whatnot for winter cycling. First off, after the downtown cluster-muss that was last Wednesday's exodus from downtown Cleveland (in which a cyclist and I [a pedestrian] were feeling smug as we hurried to our appointments, passed all the stopped cars), I would suggest that a lot more denizens would be open to alternative transportation. I would love to see the transit rail figures for that evening as well. (By the was I did get stuck in auto traffic, 90 minutes to travel 1500' max., yay). Regardless, biking in winter (much like walking around in winter or even driving in winter) is much easier with a little awareness as well as some proper equipment (such as warm clothing!).

Winter riding safety tips

Courtesy of Shah Mohamed, bike educator at the Evergreen Brickworks, where he teaches workshops on safe winter cycling

• Ride slower

Give yourself up to double the time to get to your destination. A slower, more controlled pace gives you more ability to react and recover. You should also allow more space between you and other cyclists.

• Anticipate stops

Braking will be more difficult in icy conditions, especially if snow cakes on to your wheels or brake pads. Anticipate stops by gradually reducing speed and giving yourself twice the stopping distance than you normally would.

• Be aware

You should be checking over your shoulders two to three times more often when riding in the winter, and in general should be more aware of your surroundings.

Reduce tire pressure

Drop tire pressure by 10 to 20 PSI (pounds per square inch). “It does slow you down,” Mohamed says. “But it gives you way better traction.”

• Turn safely

In particularly snowy or icy conditions, lateral force will not take as strongly to the road, so make sure to slow down and turn with as much of your weight on top of the bike as possible (as opposed to simply leaning into turns). For left turns in busy intersections, Mohamed recommends getting off the bike and crossing by foot.

• Know the conditions

Pavement conditions will change day to day — depending on factors like snow, rain and frost— and will change how you ride. Have a look at the weather before you go out and be prepared to adjust your speed and travel time.

There are more tips for equipping your bike and of course you can visit Toronto's Cold Weather Cycling Guide. They must know about snow, they are in Canada!