I really would like a "biker jacket" that protects the front from wind but leaves the back open. (with clip-on handle sleeves so you don't directly touch the bit of cold rubber over cold metal).
There is a bikehack i heard of many times but never got to try out because it only works well on disc brakes and with snow or ice but either was alsways not at my disposal. It goes like this: With normal tires and no spiked once at hand use cable ties placed around the tires to increase grip.
Maybe you could try this out in your weather, as we don't have the luxury of snow anymore around here.
great tips! Here in Finland however many of the foot/bike paths arent plowed down to concrete….so your just stuck dealing with the packed snow. HOWEVER the studded tyres help…also just practicing helps. Thats only if you want to go out riding in -10c – -30c temperatures, in which case you gotta remember to grease up everything well and hope it doesnt freeze
If you find studded tires less affordable and can only go with one, mount it on your front wheel. If you lose traction in the rear, you stand a better chance of recovering. Losing traction in the front usually means you’re going down. Fast.
Also, pogies on the handlebars stuffed with hand warmers.
The only clothing problem I could not buy my way out of was the gloves. The warmest gloves I could find only worked down to like -3 degrees celcius. That's pretty warm but consider there's wind chill on top of that, and the wind chill I create by doing 30kph on top of that. So I ended up making my own mitts out of bits from an old wool coat and an old leather jacket and I'm finally fine.
And if you don't get studded tires and are dealing with some snowy or slippery bits, keep your weight off the front end of the bike and use your rear brakes.
"Clear the bike lanes" – not here in Edmonton. I walked yesterday along the designated bike route and the windrows where the city plows the main streets are impassible for anyone but the able bodied walker. I feel bad for anyone who requires a mobility aid as they are isolated and unable to use sidewalks or cross streets – discrimination at its finest!
Luckily we don't get enough snow in England to justify studded tyres, as for ploughing the cycle paths, most are on the road anyway in the UK and you'll not see me mixing with cars slip sliding around in their summer tyres on the one or two days we get snow.
Bad plowed lanes are more rideable with wider tires. Not necessarily fat, but balloon: 2.4 to 2.8 really make a difference. Then LOWER tire pressure regardless of studded or knobby.
layers are less important as you stated and having options for covering all pieces of skin will help a bunch. If you ski or snowboard you should have no problem covering up but others may not be used to it, the wind will bite a lot harder than the cold.
Studded tires and ski goggles are my must haves for winter commuting in Saskatoon. Don't want to show up to work with raccoon eyes from frosty mascara! When I started winter biking 12 years ago, I paid $275 per tire for Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pros. Crazy overpriced, but they've paid for themselves 10 times over with all the money saved on gas and parking, and they're still going strong. I also bought a snowmobile jacket with removable lining and zipper vents, which has been quite practical.
Question on studs — what are they like to ride on pavement? Here in Southern Ontario, the winter will include a mix of bare pavement, slush, snow and ice, depending on the day. Is there a significant trade off as the studs slide on the pavement, or do they get pressed below the softer surrounding rubber keeping grip on bare pavement decent?
I run my lights on at all times in the winter. In the bright sun, running in and out of shaded areas makes us hard to see, especially when folks drive around with their windshields covered with snow.
It might be borderline overdressing, but I really love my battery powered heated gloves they have resistive heating wires inside including along the fingers. They are marketed for short motorcycle rides and have moderate protective wear pads on the backside etc. But for cycling they are ideal, that first 10-15 minutes extremities like hands and ears can get really cold and annoying during that period depending on the temperature the low or medium setting keeps my fingers functional and comfortable. As time goes on I switch it off and everything is fine during the whole trip and arrival at destination.
I do seem to be more sensitive to the cold than in my younger years, basically for me if it's cold and windy a few fingers at random will get that Raynaud syndrome yellow appearance and it's harder to move them precisely and they get quite numb to touch. So it's a big quality of life upgrade when cycling especially in the cold with stronger winds for the outside the city part of my trips and also very nice when waiting at a bus stop without shelter.
Mr. Shifter from Canada, what sort of bicycle do you use with the built-in dynamo lighting system? Also, I imagine that you have several commuters as studded bicycle tires would do poorly on dry streets.
I'm really enjoying gravel king sk tires with no studs here in Calgary. But I enjoy controlled loss of traction. However, once the snow melts then freezes I might regret my current choice.
I traveled on the snow and ice in Sweden for Christmas… Ended up going very slowly, so I was super cold. Why slow ? Because it was slippy as hell, the roads were just ice, I even fell twice
Cant even get this city to plow the roads sufficiently to bike on. Bike paths are where they dump snow from the roads, it sucks. I go for the +10° rule. Probably works better in Canada where we measure in celcius but anyways dress as if it is 10° warmer out than what it is. It'll feel like it really fast.
I've heard negative things about studded tires – mainly increased cost, higher stud wear on clear roads, and higher weight.
Basically, good for ice, bad for everything else. I've been winter cycling for the past 5 years on standard 2inch MTB tires, they're great even in 10-15cm of snow.
46 Comments
Nah man, the bike lanes become snow gutters in the NW USA
On a belt Drive Is it better to try to change tires or get 2nd bike and change them seasonally?
I can suggest one, use handlebar pogies.
I really would like a "biker jacket" that protects the front from wind but leaves the back open. (with clip-on handle sleeves so you don't directly touch the bit of cold rubber over cold metal).
Definitely agree w/ layer advice
There is a bikehack i heard of many times but never got to try out because it only works well on disc brakes and with snow or ice but either was alsways not at my disposal. It goes like this: With normal tires and no spiked once at hand use cable ties placed around the tires to increase grip.
Maybe you could try this out in your weather, as we don't have the luxury of snow anymore around here.
great tips! Here in Finland however many of the foot/bike paths arent plowed down to concrete….so your just stuck dealing with the packed snow. HOWEVER the studded tyres help…also just practicing helps. Thats only if you want to go out riding in -10c – -30c temperatures, in which case you gotta remember to grease up everything well and hope it doesnt freeze
If you find studded tires less affordable and can only go with one, mount it on your front wheel. If you lose traction in the rear, you stand a better chance of recovering. Losing traction in the front usually means you’re going down. Fast.
Also, pogies on the handlebars stuffed with hand warmers.
The only clothing problem I could not buy my way out of was the gloves. The warmest gloves I could find only worked down to like -3 degrees celcius. That's pretty warm but consider there's wind chill on top of that, and the wind chill I create by doing 30kph on top of that. So I ended up making my own mitts out of bits from an old wool coat and an old leather jacket and I'm finally fine.
And if you don't get studded tires and are dealing with some snowy or slippery bits, keep your weight off the front end of the bike and use your rear brakes.
"Clear the bike lanes" – not here in Edmonton. I walked yesterday along the designated bike route and the windrows where the city plows the main streets are impassible for anyone but the able bodied walker. I feel bad for anyone who requires a mobility aid as they are isolated and unable to use sidewalks or cross streets – discrimination at its finest!
Luckily we don't get enough snow in England to justify studded tyres, as for ploughing the cycle paths, most are on the road anyway in the UK and you'll not see me mixing with cars slip sliding around in their summer tyres on the one or two days we get snow.
Bad plowed lanes are more rideable with wider tires. Not necessarily fat, but balloon: 2.4 to 2.8 really make a difference. Then LOWER tire pressure regardless of studded or knobby.
layers are less important as you stated and having options for covering all pieces of skin will help a bunch. If you ski or snowboard you should have no problem covering up but others may not be used to it, the wind will bite a lot harder than the cold.
Right in time! We just got a big snow in DC but unfourtanelt most of the bikes lanes have not been plowed. Looks like it is time for new tires!
Studded tires and ski goggles are my must haves for winter commuting in Saskatoon. Don't want to show up to work with raccoon eyes from frosty mascara!
When I started winter biking 12 years ago, I paid $275 per tire for Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pros. Crazy overpriced, but they've paid for themselves 10 times over with all the money saved on gas and parking, and they're still going strong. I also bought a snowmobile jacket with removable lining and zipper vents, which has been quite practical.
I think I'll wear trousers oh option 2! ok
I live in San Diego, I wear a sweatshirt when I ride in the winter; THE HORROR.
Question on studs — what are they like to ride on pavement? Here in Southern Ontario, the winter will include a mix of bare pavement, slush, snow and ice, depending on the day. Is there a significant trade off as the studs slide on the pavement, or do they get pressed below the softer surrounding rubber keeping grip on bare pavement decent?
I run my lights on at all times in the winter. In the bright sun, running in and out of shaded areas makes us hard to see, especially when folks drive around with their windshields covered with snow.
MEC sells gloves with reflective material so drivers can better see your hand signals on gloomy days.. they used to have bright yellow ones, though.
Dashing through the snow, on a studded tire bike,
Bike lanes? What are those?
It might be borderline overdressing, but I really love my battery powered heated gloves they have resistive heating wires inside including along the fingers. They are marketed for short motorcycle rides and have moderate protective wear pads on the backside etc. But for cycling they are ideal, that first 10-15 minutes extremities like hands and ears can get really cold and annoying during that period depending on the temperature the low or medium setting keeps my fingers functional and comfortable. As time goes on I switch it off and everything is fine during the whole trip and arrival at destination.
I do seem to be more sensitive to the cold than in my younger years, basically for me if it's cold and windy a few fingers at random will get that Raynaud syndrome yellow appearance and it's harder to move them precisely and they get quite numb to touch. So it's a big quality of life upgrade when cycling especially in the cold with stronger winds for the outside the city part of my trips and also very nice when waiting at a bus stop without shelter.
Mr. Shifter from Canada, what sort of bicycle do you use with the built-in dynamo lighting system? Also, I imagine that you have several commuters as studded bicycle tires would do poorly on dry streets.
I'm really enjoying gravel king sk tires with no studs here in Calgary. But I enjoy controlled loss of traction.
However, once the snow melts then freezes I might regret my current choice.
I traveled on the snow and ice in Sweden for Christmas… Ended up going very slowly, so I was super cold. Why slow ? Because it was slippy as hell, the roads were just ice, I even fell twice
Wear glaves. Was it just only me?
Wind resistant gloves.
Your hands will freeze fast…
Wear Marino Wool, you can thank me later.
#1 Move someplace warm.
Cyclists deserve a ploughed bike lane
Where a helmet
Cant even get this city to plow the roads sufficiently to bike on. Bike paths are where they dump snow from the roads, it sucks.
I go for the +10° rule. Probably works better in Canada where we measure in celcius but anyways dress as if it is 10° warmer out than what it is. It'll feel like it really fast.
Can I call to 311 to clean the bike trail??
Tips to prevent bike theft?
Tip 4. Wear a crash helmet you muppet
For this reason i have fatbike
What does owt mean? 😝
Lmao so what call 311 and wait for an hour just to be told they're working on it? Thats how it's went for me
Even better than plows. Get them to get the salt-brushing trucks. It's fantastic!
Hey! We might need these in Houston for a day or two! 🤣
#2 yeah uhh no bro if it’s single digits or in the negative I’m gonna “overdress” you can wear your single jacket if you want
My number 1 tip is to mount a blowtorch to the front of your bike and melt it before you ride on it.
I was working in the building in the background
I've heard negative things about studded tires – mainly increased cost, higher stud wear on clear roads, and higher weight.
Basically, good for ice, bad for everything else. I've been winter cycling for the past 5 years on standard 2inch MTB tires, they're great even in 10-15cm of snow.
I just avoid ice like the plague.