How To Bike in the Winter [open discussion]

[joe]

What are the best ways to bike in the winter? From clothing to road conditions, it's a little tougher and it intimidates some people.

Share your knowledge, or specific questions, and we'll make this into a definitive "How To" about biking in the winter in Toronto!

[joe]

To get this thread going, I'll share the biggest change I make personally when the roads are full of snow:

I have faith in my own ability on snow and ice, but not in the attention or stopping ability of car drivers, so I adjust my routes to and from work so that they stay on side streets as much as possible.

This produces a ride that may last a little longer, but is much quieter, has less cars to worry about, and is less stressful.

[Peter]

Well, so far my approach is to dress like I'm going skiing... but this is my first winter... so my approach isn't very refined yet.

[joe]

It's a good way to start, Peter. :)

If you dress for skiing like I do... it involves layers - and that's perfect for biking - because you can add or remove layers as needed.

Another similarity to skiing is that if you're not cold when you start, you're wearing too much. It's good to start out being chilly, because your body heat will bottle up in your winter clothes and keep you warm.

I start out cold and am usually toasty warm 5-10 minutes into my ride. :)

[Todd Tyrtle]

I'm still working out the layering. I haven't been out for a while, though. For some reason this year though I know I was always warm last winter even in the -20 weather I am having trouble convincing myself to go out into the cold. I figure I'll do a short trip or too and get over myself, though...

[BeeRich]

Actually any advice would be great. I'll be leaving and returning to my house, and would love to know how to get a "winter cycling suit" made up of layers.

[joe]

The City of Toronto has some good tips on their website (scroll down until almost the bottom)

• clothes, layers and dressing
• route planning
• wet weather
• darkness
• bike maintenance & self maintenance

[Jody]

The best way to get into doing it is just to go and do it. I'd say the only truly necessary piece of equipment is a reasonable set of lights that let you be seen (total $30). I am really well equipped now (eg. studded tires, lots of gloves and mitts), but this evolved over time. My office colleagues think I'm a complete lunatic and that there's no way I can be staying warm, until I make them notice that I'm wearing a lot less to bike at -10 C than they are to walk.

This year the Martin Goodman Trail from Windermere to Queen's Quay is being cleared of snow as a pilot project. Use it! Let them know we're serious about year-round bike commuting. Start with dry days, but just get out there and do it!

[Jay Morrison]

Joe - my approach is the opposite of yours. I stay away from side streets as much as possible in the winter. I find that since they are not heavily trafficked - they are generally more snowy and icy. I tend to head straight to the Danforth in winter and ride it all the way from Coxwell to Sherbourne. It gets tricky across the viaduct because of the negligent snow-removal in our city - but it's not too bad. I also adjust my speed down by about 5km/h in the winter.

[joe]

Hey Jay,

I completely understand why you do what you do... and it probably depends on what each cyclist is comfortable with.

For me, because the sides of the roads aren't cleared very well, I don't like the busier roads because I tend to worry more about cars not stopping well on ice (I know that while I'm in control, they may not be...).

I love the roads parallel to the Danforth (which I get to use more now, because my wife and I recently bought a house there), because while they are snowier, they are quieter - and if I allow for a little extra commuting time, it's a much more pleasurable experience. It's a great way to appreciate quiet Toronto neighbourhoods in the winter.

I totally agree about the Viaduct though... it's horrible for bikelanes full of ice, snow, slush and those rock hard dirt/ice chunks that you get when it's been very cold for weeks straight.

[Jay Morrison]

Hey Joe ... how was your commute this morning?? For me, it was tricky getting down Monarch Park to Danforth - but once I got there the ride was great all the way to University and Richmond. When I got to work, I mentioned to one of my co-workers that I didn't understand why motorists feel the need to accelerate in this weather as they are passing you with an inch of space between bike and car. He's a fairweater cyclist, so I thought I might get some kind of sympathetic response from hime - but instead, he complained about the fact that there are even bikes on the road in weather like this! I asked him what he meant exactly and he said that with the bike lanes full of snow, cyclists are forced into the "car-lane" where they don't belong and it pisses him off. I couldn't believe my ears and when I recovered from the shock of his words, I explained to him that the HTA states that if a cyclist feels unsafe in a bike-lane, they can ride basically wherever they DO feel safe. I know that his ignorant attitude is quite common around town, but I was truly surprised to hear it coming from a fellow cyclist. When he asked me why I don't leave my bike at home in the winter, I asked him why he doesn't leave his car at home and explained to him that my tax-dollars pay for the roads just the same way his do.

I must say, that I really am sick of our current mayor. Without getting into all of the things that he has done that have pissed me off - I will just say that when it comes to talking the talk on cycling issues - he's absolutely fantastic. But when it comes to actually getting shit done - he's useless!

Hey Miller --- CLEAR THE BIKELANES!!!

[joe]

I will give him some credit (along with Councillor Heaps, who has done the most, I think) as 2008 was a relatively good year for bikelane installation and approvals.

It's true they fell short of their installation goals again this year, but did manage to put in more... with big plans for next year with more money being thrown at it.

All we can do is wait and see what happens, and keeping on encouraging them. :)

[Benjamin Watts]

Anyone have tips for tires?
I am riding on 700 x 23 Continental Slicks and it is a nightmare!
I am having trouble finding anything in Toronto that is of that size but comes with some grip/tread..
A point in the right direction would be awesome.
Thanks!