Don't give bike commuting cold shoulder in winter

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By wire reports

Now that temperatures - and gas prices - are falling in many parts of the country, you might be tempted to exile your bike to the basement or garage until warmer days return.

But there’s no need. With the right equipment and care, you can continue commuting on two wheels or hitting the trails on weekends.

The key, bike enthusiasts say, is the proper clothing - and layering.

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Winter is when cycling really gets fun - with the right clothing, maintenance and safety precautions. (MCT)

Winter is when cycling really gets fun - with the right clothing, maintenance and safety precautions. (MCT)

Start with your head. Penny Trouttner, owner of Light Street Cycles, recommends a skull cap or a balaclava, a head covering that also protects your neck and fits easily under a helmet.

“You really need to keep your extremities from getting too cold,” Trouttner says. “Especially because the wind will be hitting you.”

She recommends long-finger gloves made for biking. They’ll keep your fingers warm, but you’ll still be able to maneuver gears and brakes.

Tip: If your gloves get wet, stop at a convenience store and throw them in a microwave for 30 seconds, cyclist Alex Stieda suggested in this month’s Bicycling Magazine.

But take care not to bundle up too warmly; your body will produce its own heat while you ride.

Jason Wright of Joe’s Bike Shop recommends following this rule: “If you leave the house and you’re warm, you’re overdressed.”

Try to look for sweat-wicking material rather than cotton, says Greg Doda of Princeton Sports.

“The goal is to stay dry and warm,” he says. “In cotton, you’ll get sweaty, and then you’ll get cold.”

Trouttner also recommends wind-protecting clothing.

“A lot of winter jerseys and winter tights will allow for breathing, so you don’t get so hot you sweat,” she says. “You can get something called windfront; it will block the wind in front of you as you go forward, but is different in the back. It can breathe, so it doesn’t encase you.

“It’s also nice to wear a vest,” Trouttner adds. “It will keep your vital (organs) warm while allowing the arms to breathe.”

She says it could cost about $200 to buy all-new winter gear or more for someone who wants high-end options.

A few other clothing tips:

TORSO

“Unless you spend winters in Belize, you probably have the clothes you need for outdoor riding,” said Dave Glowacz, a.k.a. Mr. Bike and author of “Urban Bikes Tricks & Tips” (Wordspace, $14.95). Use the three-step layering system. Start with the base layer (polypropylene, capilene or even Merino wool), which absorbs or wicks away moisture, said Joe Abbatacola, who runs winter-biking workshops at REI Lincoln Park, Ill. Next comes the insulating layer (down, primaloft, fleece, poly-fill). And if you need it, add an outer layer or “shell” to protect against wind, rain and cold. Avoid cotton, which sucks up sweat and freezes once you stop.

Tip: Try Sierra Trading Post (800-713-4534, sierratradingpost.com) and Campmore (888-226-7667, campmore.com) for undergarments.

LEGS

Nothing fancy required; sweat pants or running or cycling tights work fine. When the temperature drops below 25 degrees, Beard-Witherup adds long-john bottoms of the same light wicking fabric as the base layer on top. He also wears over-the-calf socks with water-proof hiking boots. “The higher boots keep my feet warmer and dryer in the event of rain or snow,” he said. Women might like silk long underwear, but men often find it too hot.

Tip: Jeans work unless it’s snowing or raining; then they get stiff and uncomfortable.

FEET

Put away your bike shoes until spring. Now get a pair of all-weather boots one half size bigger than your usual size and layer socks, making sure the footwear isn’t so tight it's restricting your blood flow. A silk sock liner with a wool sock over it works well if it’s about zero degrees, said Gin Kilgore, a four-season bicyclist in Chicago. “But no cotton socks; nothing that makes your feet sweat,” she said. Low-tech alternative: “Put sandwich bags over your stocking feet to block wind,” said Stieda in Bicycling. If your toes freeze, wiggle them, or get off your bike and run with it, Glowacz said.

Tip: Get eight hours of portable heat by stashing those small warming packets in your boots or gloves, suggested Rob Sadowsky, executive director of the Chicagoland Bike Federation. A pack of 10 costs $14.99 at Sports Authority.

NOSE

Noses will run even if they’re covered. Don't try blowing your nose with one finger; it's gross and a hazard to others. I keep a soft paper towel folded up my sleeve so I can give a good blow and wipe while stopped at lights,” said Chicago’s Mark Beard-Witherup, 55, who is starting his third winter as a bike commuter.

Tip: Beard-Witherup also wipes his nose with a fleece “Snot Spot” (snotspotgear.com).

MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY

Also important in colder months is safety. Riders must keep an eye out for icy patches, ride more slowly and carefully in the rain, and make sure they're visible on the road. At the very least, a rider needs front and rear lights.

“There is a lot less sunlight,” Wright says. “It’s very, very important to allow drivers to see you.”

Trouttner says the best lights have a solid white beam in front and a blinking red light in back, although more expensive lights provide visibility on the sides as well.

Bicyclists probably don’t need any additional bike maintenance in the winter; one tune-up a year is usually sufficient. But if your bike needs repairs, take it in now.

“Bike shops are less busy, so if you need something major done ... winter is a good time,” Trouttner says. “Bike shops have more time and will do the work faster, and maybe do a better job.”

If you ride into chillier days, get a thicker lube for your chain and wash your bike if you ride through a lot of mud and any time you ride through salt.

Cleaning your bike “is pretty critical any time of year, but in winter, you need to make sure you clean it more often,” Wright says.

For many bike shops, this summer brought increased sales from spiking gas prices. If you didn’t jump on the bandwagon and buy a bicycle then, now might be a good time for that, too.

Doda recommends thinking about what type of riding you will do - urban commuting, mountain biking, etc. - before you head to the store. A good fit, even for children, and accessories are important.

“It’s really important to pick something you like and something you’ll be happy with,” he says. “If you aren’t happy, you won’t ride it, and it’ll just be a waste.”