During my 2-day 'Riding Your Bicycle During Winter' crash-course..

eMMI

..I have learned the following:

1) if faced with sloshy wet snow, don't ride into it too fast nor too slow. if you're going very fast and fall over, the consequences will not be pretty. if you're going too slow the risk of falling over is bigger.

2) take extra care when crossing roads, look ahead to see what you're facing on the other side. is it wet sloshy snow? sometimes it's better just to walk your bike over.

and most importantly 3) when going down a steep hill fast, remember that the road you might be turning onto could VERY WELL be half the size it used to be, due to snow.

before you worry, I've learned those points from close-ish-calls and common sense.

now, feel free to add your own tips.

TrixieCat

Cover you bum if you don't have a splashguard!

Nothing worse than a wet bum.

eMMI

TrixieCat wrote:

Cover you bum if you don't have a splashguard!

Nothing worse than a wet bum.

oh good point! I have a backpack so no problems.

finnannie

I decided I won't ride my bike this winter... its slippery as hell just to walk, if I were to ride a bike.. I don't even want to think what would happen

Good thing I don't live that far away from my school

eMMI

finnannie wrote:

I decided I won't ride my bike this winter... its slippery as hell just to walk, if I were to ride a bike.. I don't even want to think what would happen

Good thing I don't live that far away from my school

I tried walking and I kept falling over. that hasn't happened with the bike. *knocks on wood*

then again, most of the snow is gone..

plus, it's a 30-minute-most-boring-walk-in-the-world from home to work so if I can avoid that, I will!

finnannie

eMMI wrote:

I tried walking and I kept falling over. that hasn't happened with the bike. *knocks on wood*

then again, most of the snow is gone..

plus, it's a 30-minute-most-boring-walk-in-the-world from home to work so if I can avoid that, I will!

I once rode my bike in the winter.. down this hill and I had to like turn to right at the end of it...well it didn't go too well, I fell and slided on my side for some meters, it hurt It traumatized me completely.

eMMI

finnannie wrote:

I once rode my bike in the winter.. down this hill and I had to like turn to right at the end of it...well it didn't go too well, I fell and slided on my side for some meters, it hurt It traumatized me completely.

when I rode down a hill yesterday I had to turn right too. I managed that pretty nicely. but I did get some extra heartbeats when I realised that the road I was turning to was half the size it usually is and only just in time managed to correct myself. :eek:

mca47

I remember riding my bike in the snow as a kid and it is definitely tricky. Hitting a snow drift while going really fast was never fun! Hahaha! Oh, and when your brake pads get covered in snow and ice...good times!

florence151

Thanks for the tips.
This will be my first winter that I'm going to try to ride through.
Should I be concerned by the salty/sandy wet that will slosh onto the bike (gears etc.) while riding?

eMMI

mca47 wrote:

I remember riding my bike in the snow as a kid and it is definitely tricky. Hitting a snow drift while going really fast was never fun! Hahaha! Oh, and when your brake pads get covered in snow and ice...good times!

oh, the brakes! mine aren't that good to start off with and when they get snowy/icey.. luckily it's not been that cold at night so no ice. and if there was, I'd definitely steer clear of steep downhills!

eMMI

florence151 wrote:

Thanks for the tips.
This will be my first winter that I'm going to try to ride through.
Should I be concerned by the salty/sandy wet that will slosh onto the bike (gears etc.) while riding?

I'm not really an expert on the anatomy of bikes. (or bike repair even though I fixed mine last night when the chain fell semi-off.) but I figure you shouldn't worry too much while riding, haha, just if the gears and stuff get really dirty maybe rinse them out when you're done.

The Juggler

heres a tip: dont wear shorts while riding like i did yesterday. and now i am sick.

eMMI

The Jeagler wrote:

heres a tip: dont wear shorts while riding like i did yesterday. and now i am sick.

wow. didn't even cross my mind to mention that but guess it's a good thing to be put out there.

why on earth were you wearing shorts anyway?

sorry to hear you're sick though.

jamie uk

I am a fair weather cyclist

eMMI

jamie uk wrote:

I am a fair weather cyclist

I'd be too if I had the choice but alas! I don't.

Trailer

eMMI wrote:

I tried walking and I kept falling over.

One would think that if someone lives in Finland they'd be able to walk in the snow.:p

eMMI

Trailer wrote:

One would think that if someone lives in Finland they'd be able to walk in the snow.:p

you would wouldn't you?

one thing, my boots are warm but kind of slippery. (or at least used to be when they were brand new.) and secondly I did mostly fall cause of this thing called ice.

Trailer

eMMI wrote:

you would wouldn't you?

one thing, my boots are warm but kind of slippery. (or at least used to be when they were brand new.) and secondly I did mostly fall cause of this thing called ice.

ahhh yes... ice.:o
Maybe you should try some ice skates.;)

CHANGEinWAVES

I had a professor who biked all year long...even in the snow, which was the best cause when he'd come in and take off his 'gear' (helmet, rubber bands, jacket..etc) he'd always still have snow on his eyebrows:D
The snow would remain there till it melted, always cracked us up! So beware of 'snowbrows'

eMMI

Trailer wrote:

ahhh yes... ice.:o
Maybe you should try some ice skates.;)

compared to my walking, my ice skating skills create a new meaning to the word 'crappy'.

also, when they get around to sanding (as in throwing sand around) the streets they're kind of rough to skate on.

eMMI

CHANGEinWAVES wrote:

I had a professor who biked all year long...even in the snow, which was the best cause when he'd come in and take off his 'gear' (helmet, rubber bands, jacket..etc) he'd always still have snow on his eyebrows:D
The snow would remain there till it melted, always cracked us up! So beware of 'snowbrows'

hahaha. one of my teachers used to bike all year long too. but he just had a snowbeard.

I like to think my brows aren't bushy enough to attract and maintain large amounts of snow. though my eyelashes have frozen a few times which I'm sure is more weird/funny looking than snowy eyebrows.