In
some environments, it’s already tricky enough to bike commute even in the best
of weathers. But what if you add a whole lot of snow and ice on the streets,
freezing temperatures, and cold wind blowing in your face? It seems that bike
commuting in winter is reserved only for the most courageous.
Honestly,
winter bike commuting is not for everyone because not all have the mental and
physical strength required for it. Luckily, there are some precautionary
measures you can take to increase your odds of a successful bike commute and to
make it as comfortable as possible.
Gear
You’ll
often hear all kinds of excuses for avoiding bike commuting once the snow
starts falling. Most of them are directed towards the gear, so people often say
that their bike is not good enough or they lack some other part of the
equipment.
Fortunately,
this isn’t as much of a problem as it may sound. You’ll need to choose
appropriate tires (wider and chunkier) for a better grip to avoid sliding. Let
some air out of them to get more traction, and make sure your pedals and shoes
have a good grip.
When
it comes to storing your bike, you can keep your apartment clean with a bike
cover. You want to keep the dirt off your carpets or furniture. As an
off-season cyclist, you’ll be picking up more dirt along with the snow while
commuting.
Clothing
Make
the wrong choice when choosing your clothes for winter bike commuting, and
you’ll curse the day you came up with the idea of doing it in the first place.
You can’t make a mistake here - the secret is in layering.
Our
mothers and grandmothers always used to remind us that the secret of staying
warm is in wearing multiple layers of clothes. The same applies to bike
commuting in the winter. Naturally, the principle is the same, but the actual
realization is a bit different. The layers worn when biking should be thin, but
warm, allowing you to move freely and protecting you from moisture.
Sharing
Bike share programs
have gained popularity recently, and rightfully so. There are no downsides to
bike sharing – it’s convenient, it’s eco-friendly, and it’s even safer than
regular biking. It turns out that you’re less likely to be in a traffic
accident this way.
Bike
sharing is convenient and practical, and in most areas of the world that
implement bike sharing, all you have to do is own a smartphone. Everything else
is at your thumb’s reach. Now, you might think that all this luxury comes at a
price, but bike sharing is quite affordable. When you compare it to other forms
of public transport, bike sharing wins every time.
By
using bike share, you won't have to think about the gear in the way you used to
when the bike was your own. It's merely the best way to commute in the winter
if you think that you've got it in you to succeed.
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