I am a bicycle commuter. I started thanks to a shaming by my sophomores during the unit on climate change.
I don’t actually like biking. Given the choice of walking and biking, I choose walking every time. But work is 8 miles away which is just over a two hour walk. It is 30 minutes by bike and the time savings is worth it (to me).
For the past three years my goal has been to achieve a zero-car work year. Every year I get a little closer. The big step forward this year was breaking the 5F barrier. (That’s not a cycling term — it just means five degrees Fahrenheit).
As the air temperature drops, the winter cyclist faces two problems. The first is ice from automobile exhaust (usually called black ice although it is actually clear). Exhaust from an internal combustion engine is full of water vapor. Usually when water vapor comes out a tailpipe it wafts away but when the air and pavement temperatures are very low, the exhaust exits the tailpipe, hits the road and freezes. Since this happens molecule by molecule the layer of ice is freakishly smooth and, in the dark, very hard to see. If it is cold enough for black ice to form it is also cold enough for chemical ice melt to be ineffective. Finally, black ice is most reliably deposited at intersections — where cars spend time in the same place. Unfortunately intersections are also where acceleration, braking and turning are most common. Black ice is a real problem for a four wheeled vehicle — and a disaster on a bike.
My solution for ice has been studded tires. They are amazing. On ice or packed snow you can turn almost as well as on dry pavement. On snow deeper than about an inch or plow boogers they are less effective — but still better than regular mountain bike tires. The studded tires are slower — although if the weather is bad enough for studded tires, lower speed is probably more of a feature than a bug.
As a commuter I don’t have much time between rides to switch tires when a cold front whistles out of Canada. My solution to that is embarrassing — I bought a second bike. With any luck the second bike will extend the life of the studded tires — since I only need to use them when the temperature is low or the roads are icy. And that’s good because the cost of the studded tires was a significant fraction of the cost of the second bike.
The second challenge unique to very cold temperatures is vision. Not only is car exhaust laden with water vapor — so is human exhaust. When I am all bundled up and the temperature is below 5F, my goggles ice over
quickly. And since much of my commute is on the shoulder of a two lane undivided highway, sight is important to my continued survival. The solution to this problem was cheaper — a $7 plastic snorkel. The snorkel vents my exhaust behind my goggles. I wear a second scarf over the snorkel (to prevent frostbite). It looks odd — but it works.
There are lots of reasons not to be a bike commuter. For example
- You might participate in a carpool, spending your commute discussing the issues of the day with several trusted friends. If that’s you I want your life.
- You might walk or take public transportation to and from work.
- You might be in a time in your life where you regularly have to transport young children.
- You might have a commute longer than 10 miles or so (mine is 8, I think I could manage 10).
- You might not, for a variety of medical reasons, be able to ride a bike.
On the other hand, there are lots of reasons to be a bike commuter.
- A significantly smaller carbon footprint.
- Lower commuting costs (even with the studded tires and the new bike my annual commuting cost is far lower than the cost of fueling, insuring, licensing and maintaining a Honda civic — which is what I would be driving if I were a car commuter).
- Unavoidable daily exercise.
- A much closer relationship to your neighborhood (a plus I was not expecting) and the weather.
If you are anywhere approaching “on the fence” regarding bicycle commuting don’t let weather scare you off. With planning and a few equipment upgrades, nearly any weather is the right weather to ride a bike to work.
A better writer would have worked the following into the post. But I’m not a better writer. So I didn’t.
Addendum 1: On my commute I pass three fitness clubs. No matter what time of day I pedal by, the parking lots have cars. Sometimes lots of cars. Although there are reasons to get in a car and drive to a fitness club to step on an electrical treadmill to get some exercise, It is hard to ignore the truth that some, many, or possibly most of those users could get a high quality workout for a lot less money (and a smaller carbon footprint) by skipping the step that involves the car.
Addendum 2: Dressing for comfortable winter biking at 5F or colder is the same as dressing for skiing or skating. The key is layers following the 3Ws. From weather to skin wear something that breaks the wind, something that is warm, and something that wicks sweat from your body. For me that means no cotton, three layers on my torso, two layers on my legs, thick socks, shoes and neoprene booties on my feet, doubled gloves on my hands, a hat and a couple of layers over my face. There is a 4th W when it comes to cycling — wealth. Bike stuff is expensive so I avoid it whenever possible. I have “real” winter bike tights. but I wear heavy women’s tights as a second layer because they are inexpensive and warm (plus excellent colors!). Hats, gloves and face coverings are the same stuff I wear when I shovel the driveway. A non-cotton shirt, fleece and windbreaker comes from my fall-wear for my torso. Booties over my shoes are my only other “real” cyclist wear.
Addendum 3: Commuter cyclist safety primarily involves two factors:
- To be safe, the cyclist needs to follow traffic laws like any other vehicle. In Minnesota bicycles are vehicles and subject to traffic signals and the like. Bicycles are entitled to a lane as well but I stay on the shoulder. Automobiles are required to yield right-of-way while passing and must allow 3 feet. The nature of a commute makes it safer than other types of cycling. I see the same drivers on the same roads at the same times every day. They know about me and vice versa. My existence isn’t a surprise and that greatly enhances safety.
- The cyclist has to be visible. I have all the normal reflectors plus two rear-facing red LED flashing lights. I also have a forward facing headlamp (the multiple bulb, 5000-6000 lumen type). All are rechargeable and I carry spares in my backpack.
Addendum 4: What type of bike?
Salty winter roads make high-end bike components an expensive waste. When I buy a bike I wait until the end-of-season sales and buy a low end model mountain bike from a good brand. My only splurge is a suspension lock on the fork so that the bike effectively does not have a suspension. That way the suspension does not wear out and I don’t have to replace it. For commuting men’s and women’s bikes work equally well — the main difference is handlebar length — but one type may be a lot less expensive at any given sale. Someday I may get a fat tire bike. Someday.