Winter Cycling - First Snow- Don't Want to Give Up!

Well, this is my first winter commuting. Today was the first time I have ever experienced riding in the snow. My bike is an old Cannondale H400 with what I call 'hybrid' tires on it. It was snowing when I started out. The roads were mostly covered and conditions deteriorated quickly. I rode up and down hills that cars were either struggling with or couldn't get past at all. That was the good part. I also nearly went down once and went completely down another time. I was turning, not too fast, but at too much of an angle (I guess), and my back tire went out from under me and I went down. Didn't hurt anything. I got up, re-attached my bags, put my chain back on, and rode on. There is nothing like that first time going down in icy conditions. I felt like my back tire was slipping out from under me the rest of the way to work. It is a weird feeling!

Anyway, I don't want to give up my commute. My wife reminds me that I promised when winter came and it got slick out, I would not ride in those conditions. I didn't realize how much I would enjoy it. It's just that my ride is, of course, with traffic. I take mostly back roads, but there is a stretch or two that is with 45mph traffic with very little shoulder. I agree with her, one wrong move from one of those cars or trucks and I'm a goner! I am trying to figure out a 'safe' route to take in bad weather, even if it is longer. Maybe travel some sidewalks? And I am going to put some Nokians on my 'alternate' bike (Cannondale H300) for slick conditions.

Anyone have any good advice, words of wisdom, or just plain encouragement for me. I need some reassurance that I am not just pushing the limit or trying to do too much! I also need a good excuse to give my wife!

Thanks!
Steve

Ha ha. Sounds like my commute home today:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=251222


You need uncommonly-good common-sense for winter riding - something I lacked on this first major snow day in upstate NY. I took my mountain bike today and was WAY overconfident for the conditions. Naturally I took a few spills. But I'm used to that - I like biking on snowy trails when I can. However, it was the weaving cars that scared the senses back into me just enough to be a little more cautious.

I walked my bike on the really steep sections of my ride home. Not to save my butt from the pavement - but rather because you can't rely on drivers to be responsible in poor weather. Four-wheel-drive vehicles are often the worst offenders due to driver overconfidence.

If you are H*ll bend on commuting, be smart about it. It doesn't matter how well your studded tires may work, it's the cars you have to worry about. And some roads just aren't safe places to be in the worst of conditions. Curvy, high speed sections being prime examples - there's no way for cars to see you around the bend, and they are often going too fast to safely manuever in slippery conditions. And there's not even a hope of them stopping in time if conditions are such that they are fishtailing up even mild hills.

- There's another, much slower, form of alternative transportation: Walking
(of course, suburban sprawl doesn't always allow safe places to walk, either)

- And there's public transit if have that luxury
(again not universally available)

- And for some folks there's no way to avoid high-speed, dangerous roads. In that case, vote with your feet and move someplace else! (yeah, I know, try explaining that to the wife and kids for those who have them).

If you got it in Dayton, we got it 5 minutes later in Springfield, trouble today was windy and the temp was 24deg.. Looks like a good Saturday& Sunday except for the wind!!!!! (Head goes down,pedals go round!) joe

My advice: Use good sense. If traffic conditions don't allow for a slow-moving vehicle to safely traverse that roadway, you shouldn't be on it. Change routes. Walk on the sidewalk for especially dangerous corners or intersections.

If neither is possible - find other transport options. Car pooling and mass transit are good ones.

If the dangerous part of your route is near to home, you can drive the first part and bike the rest.

You really have to assess the situation and decide for yourself if it is unsafe. I've always felt like the decision is pretty easy to make for me. There are certainly conditions that are not safe in winter cycling. A narrow road with heavy traffic and lots of snow is probably one of them.

Seek alternate routes, if you can. If not you will have to adapt and either cease for awhile or what ever works best.