Winter Cycling - Changing your riding pattern/style in the winter

I'm gearing up for my first winter commute (probably in a few days if the weather is correct). I have all my gear (tires, lights, fenders, etc). However, looking at my path, I'm wondering if I'm going to have to make some changes to where I ride. The route I take is pretty straight forward, up one long road, then over on a bike pathway up to the university. It's all fairly easy, but part of the road I ride is narrow, sometimes I find myself riding on the right side of the painted line (I do this mostly as a 'nice thing' for the drivers who are stuck behind me. I know I don't have to, but I'm not out to piss people off :) ).

Anyhow, I was thinking I may have to *Gasp* ride on the sidewalk for parts of my commute in the winter, espically if they don't clear the roads well enough. I know that's not a big deal, and I can do it if I have to, but I was curious if anyone else has found that they've had to change their riding patterns in the winter time when the snow hits. Weather completly different routes or what not....

Just curious....and looking forward to my first snow :D

we don't get that much snow here, and when it does snow it's cleared pretty quick. however, it's often pushed up to the side so you kinda have to go out into the road a bit more than usual. even in NYC, i haven't had too much of a problem pissing people off. i think they think we're a bunch of poor slobs riding bikes in the snow or something.

I find I'm out in the road much more in the winter. Case in point, it's been snowing here for a couple of days now and the roads are in rough shape. Riding off to the side is not possible as all the snow from the driving lanes has been pushed aside into piles of un-rideable "car slop". My solution, take the lane. I find it easier to do in these conditions as my speed is not much slower than in good conditions (thank you Nokian Extremes!) whereas the car drivers are going much slower than normal, say 40kph rather than their usual 60kph. When I am slowing someone up I just pull off into the snowbanks, let them pass, then get back in the lane.

Sidewalks pose many dangers, personally I'll never ride on them. You do what YOU think maximizes your saftey.

PS - have fun in the snow, it's a BLAST to ride in! I had a huge pie eating grin on my face the whole way to work this morning in the fresh and falling snow. In fact I decided to do some bonus miles I was having such a good time!

I adjust based more on my speed than weather or visibility. At low temperatures, I'm a lot slower, sometimes half of my summer speed, and on major roads the overtaking speed of cars is just too high for me to be comfortable.

I'm more likely to use MUPs and (yes) sidewalks, especially on longer uphills, since winter pedestrians are few and far between. The additional slow-down at intersections is much less of an issue since I am already going pretty slow.

In addition, the MUPs tend to have less slush and salt and be a better surface to ride on.

When there is actually snow falling or on the road, the speed of traffic is reduced almost to zero, so I'm more likely to be back on the main roads.

You may have to ride more in the road after a snow fall, and if your route involves side streets it may actually be safer to ride on the better maintained major roads. In my experience side walks can be hazardous to walk on after a snow let alone ride on. Most places the roads are cleared and salted first then the sidewalks may get plowed. By that time the snow is packed and rutted and is generally treacherous until it melts.
Craig

My commute is down a relatively quiet side street, however yesterday during the heavy snow fall I took a different route through downtown, as I did not want to be around all that traffic when the roads and conditions were marginal.

Remember to stay off the front brake. As long as the front tire is rolling and not skidding, you can keep the bike upright most times. Use only the back brake, using the front only if necessary.

Roads are typically the first thing cleared in these parts. Sidewalk cycling in icey condtions is not practical.

Yeah, don't sweat riding on the sidewalk when you have to. I too am a pretty assertive vehicular cyclist (well, my friends think I am insane as I force semi trucks to pass me on my road bike in summer) but I will say that icy roads are just too dangerous to let cars very close to you. Back roads are normally OK becuase cars will give you berth, but if the road is really icy just forget it and ride the sidwalk.

On icy roads, the bottom line is that you are going to go down sooner or later and the cars behind you won't be able to stop.

^^^ actually it's the ice that I'm looking for with the Hakkas on. Less rolling resistance than on dry pavement, and way more entertaining. :D

Conditions change fast in the winter so you have to change with them. Usually the street is better, IMO. If there isn't a lot of crazy traffic, you might be able to take advantage of the tire ruts in fresh falling snow. But if you see a flying wedge of 4 snowplows coming at you--get out of the way! :eek:

I ride slower, cause I got all this crap on me.
It is hard to look back behind me.

Snow well I did ride on the first tire path. Enough to be seen, and ill enough to avoid a drifter from the oncomming lanes. Get the right gear and your off.