Winter Cycling - Giving up on winter cycling

I tried winter cycling for two winters, but this year I am less motivated to continue. It is just too much of a production. Plus riding at night is not safe no matter how lit up I am . It is difficult to see what traffic is doing behind me, so I have to assume they see me. Has anyone else come to the same conclusion as me? And I do have the best clothing, studded tires, brightest lights etc... My commute is 1 hour door to door each way.

I tried winter cycling for two winters, but this year I am less motivated to continue. It is just too much of a production. Plus riding at night is not safe no matter how lit up I am . It is difficult to see what traffic is doing behind me, so I have to assume they see me. Has anyone else come to the same conclusion as me? And I do have the best clothing, studded tires, brightest lights etc... My commute is 1 hour door to door each way.

I'm tempted not to ride each and every day - especially in the winter. Sometimes the temptation wins.

It's your life and you gotta live it your way. ;)

I tried winter cycling for two winters, but this year I am less motivated to continue. It is just too much of a production. Plus riding at night is not safe no matter how lit up I am . It is difficult to see what traffic is doing behind me, so I have to assume they see me. Has anyone else come to the same conclusion as me? And I do have the best clothing, studded tires, brightest lights etc... My commute is 1 hour door to door each way.

To me biking in the winter is a fringe activity. Think about it. If you were to design a vehicle for traveling over snow and ice it would not be something with 2 relatively skinny wheels. It probably wouldn't have wheels at all, let alone only two.

But I do it anyway and so do some others. A few changes to my commute though and I could easily decide it's not worth it.

Have you tried mixing it up with different routes (if possible)? Riding with someone else even if it's only for part of the way? Add some element (no pun intended) to the ride to make it fun again.

There's always an excuse not to ride---too cold, too hot, too tired, too far, too much traffic, etc.

There's always an excuse not to ride---too cold, too hot, too tired, too far, too much traffic, etc.

You are right. I am at that stage in life where I question why I put myself through so much crap? I finally figured out nobody cares except yourself. So if you don't care its best not to do it.

I thought it was getting cold until I went out on the Potomac in the boat yesterday and today! Now my perception of "cold" is changed...maybe forever.

Riding is easier though.

Using the " reducing hours spent in gridlock" formula, winter is the most important time of the year for me to bike to work.

Due to meager snowbound vehicle speeds on my route, the odds of being hit with significant force by a car are very low.

That said, there are a lot of routes I wouldn't attempt to ride in the winter on a daily basis. You may well have one of them.

To me biking in the winter is a fringe activity. Think about it. If you were to design a vehicle for traveling over snow and ice it would not be something with 2 relatively skinny wheels. It probably wouldn't have wheels at all, let alone only two.

But I do it anyway and so do some others. A few changes to my commute though and I could easily decide it's not worth it.

I don't think any vehicle is very good at it. A bike is actually surprisingly effective. The trouble for me is that I have barely enough power to deal with the complete lack of winter road maintenance on my route (which is nearly all "bike route" and bike path).

The solution is snow plows and other winter maintenance. In my opinion, we have too many streets that are too wide to accommodate summer high speed traffic. We have too many parking lots to accommodate cars at their destinations. I watched trucks spend an hour clearing a parking lot while the streets next to them got more and more packed with snow today. We just can't afford to plow the infrastructure we have. It seems like less infrastructure would be more plowable.


My commute changed a lot this winter, and it's a lot more hard snow. It's still worth not owning another car. But man it's hard. Not because winter is so bad or bikes are so bad at it, but because I relegate myself to side roads that are largely unmaintained in the winter. Usually the plow the part that's on a bike trail. I don't think they're going to get to the roads for a while. I could ride the busier street, but I still think the extra work beats the stress and risk of all that sliding traffic.


If I had more than 6 miles to travel I might feel differently about commuting during winter storms. I understand it might be hard to live that close in some cities. But I don't think that's the bikes fault either ;).

You are right. I am at that stage in life where I question why I put myself through so much crap? I finally figured out nobody cares except yourself. So if you don't care its best not to do it.

I think you're right. If you don't want to be doing it then don't do it. Enjoy your winter, ride the easy days, and wait for spring. You might change your mind, and if you do, you can jump back on the bike. If you don't, then you'll just be a bit more normal. Hopefully you didn't make too many disparaging remarks about motorists around the water cooler ;).

Have you tried mixing it up with different routes (if possible)? Riding with someone else even if it's only for part of the way? Add some element (no pun intended) to the ride to make it fun again.

very good suggestion(s). i would also suggest the opposite... do not hesitate, on a storm day (like today...) get in your car and get stuck in traffic for a good while. there is nothing like it to make the ride fun again!

I feel like that a lot of times. Usually once I am on a bike they blow away. It also helps to bike over our beltway(695) and interstate(I-95), see huge backups. All of a sudden the bike feels lighter. If you bike feels heaver and heavier then take some time off. I also will listen to the traffic report once in awhile, always brings me back to reality.

I don't think any vehicle is very good at it. A bike is actually surprisingly effective.

Not compared to skis or snowshoes to name a couple of human powered options. In snow more than a couple of inches deep I may be able to ski faster than I could ride and no plowing is required.

Looks like we got some real softies here...

Noooooo!!! Don't give up!! Its so much fun!! haha Well it is for me because I ride in the city and can get everywhere I need to go in less than an hour, and traffic is slow and the streets are lit up well, and there is even more gtidlock when the streets are snowy. Everyones riding environment is different, but I wouldn't ever consider giving up the winter riding, at least while living in Chicago. But an hour commute down by you would be pushing it for me considering that what I am assuming your street environment is. You do you, but don't write it off all together, you may find yourself craving it after a while. I know I would, and I know I have been the past couple weeks as I have been out of town with out a bike.

Not compared to skis or snowshoes to name a couple of human powered options. In snow more than a couple of inches deep I may be able to ski faster than I could ride and no plowing is required.

Sure, but that's worthless on a half plowed road. Which is what you're talking about when you're comparing it to the more popular four wheeled options ;).

The single best winter vehicle is always gonna be your own two feet (maybe with snow shoes). Unless you want to get there faster...

I'm the opposite -- I kept riding my road bike until the snow fell, but was dying for the snow to come so I could get on my winter bike. I waited with the same enthusiasm kids wait for Christmas -- I love riding in winter. In Minnesota, we were hit hard by a storm this last Tuesday. I couldn't wait to get home and on my bike. Of course people think you're crazy (especially at 40 years of age), but riding into the teeth of a storm is so much fun. The solitude and sense of invincibility is what I like. Most people are holed up in thier houses, so if you're on a bike the world is yours and nothing can stop you. It's just you, the bike, snow falling all around and the howling wind. What could be better than that (other than more snow to blast through)?

I agree with the previous poster about going soft. I'm not indicting anyone, but if you're too soft, you miss out on many beautiful experiences that most people are oblivious to. But to each his own. I'd just prefer to be out there in the world rather than watching it on TV from my living room.

Daily commuting can drag you down if that is all you are doing... I plan on doing some recreational riding on the weekend and just take my time to enjoy the scenery in the valley where there is no traffic and the only sounds are the crunch of tyres on snow and the singing of the chickadees.

I will be sure to bring sunflower seeds for the little guys as it is supposed to be bitterly freaking cold and they appreciate the work free calories.

You may have hit on it Sixty Fiver -- I don't ride in winter for commuting and I can see how that would become tedious over time. That's probably part of the reason I enjoy my winter riding so much. When I'm on my road bike, I can't help but constantly pay attention to my pace, distance, etc. When I ride in winter, I'm concerned less about distance and don't worry at all about speed. I just have fun and wander through neighborhoods that I'd never ride in otherwise. I also notice my surroundings much more -- like Christmas lights on houses and looking in people's windows as I pass by to see what the rest of America is up to. Stuff like that makes it very enjoyable.

I don't mind the cold because I have warm clothing. What bothers me is ice. I don't like slipping...

Duke, winter bike riding isn't fun compared to summer. If you were surfing in SoCal or Hawaii, you'd be jazzed.

Suggestions, I think an iPod with really nice music helps a lot. Earl Klugh is my favorite. Younger people should "discover" him.

Do you have a DiNotte tail light? The 400L is an amazing invention. Call them. talk to Rob, tell him you want your money back if it doesn't suit your needs. I think he'll tell you, "Okay."

This is a fantastic light. I carry a Planet Bike SF which is a nice dark flasher, but for alerting drivers, as "What is that A MILE ahead of me? There is something up there alerting my cell-phone calling, text-messaging brain to deal with," DiNotte tail lighting is phenomenal. I've ridden on 70 mph highways. People change lanes waay behind.

My night kit is 2 DiNotte 800 Ls on the bar, a 400L in the back, a MonkeyLectric spoke light, lots of Reflexite tape on my helmet, frame and spokes, and wrist and ankle reflexite bands. I have my winter kit laid out, and I look at wunderground to decide on layering amounts.

If you just don't want to do it, that's okay. Biking is faster and comfy in warm weather.

You may have hit on it Sixty Fiver -- I don't ride in winter for commuting and I can see how that would become tedious over time. That's probably part of the reason I enjoy my winter riding so much. When I'm on my road bike, I can't help but constantly pay attention to my pace, distance, etc. When I ride in winter, I'm concerned less about distance and don't worry at all about speed. I just have fun and wander through neighborhoods that I'd never ride in otherwise. I also notice my surroundings much more -- like Christmas lights on houses and looking in people's windows as I pass by to see what the rest of America is up to. Stuff like that makes it very enjoyable.

Yeah, commuting is different. You've got time constraints, the destination is not necessarily a pleasure to get to and it's the same every day, you're riding in the dark, you're hauling stuff with you, etc. Most of all you can't just decide you've had enough and that it's time to go home.

That's not to say that it can't be enjoyable or that you can't do things to make it more enjoyable, but there are days when it can be more work than fun. Today it was cold and I had to leave for work later than usual. The plus was that by the time I left the sun was up and after our new snow this week, everything looked gorgeous.

Chickadees? I haven't seen any decent passerines in a long time around here.

I can bring some rock-hard biscuits and coleslaw for the pigeons and starlings.

Every time I reluctantly drag my ass onto the bike and out into the cold it never turns out to
be as bad as I was anticipating and I end up enjoying being outside. Musics helps.
Drugs and/or alcohol, too, depending on your personal preferences and where you're riding at and to.

I don't mind the cold because I have warm clothing. What bothers me is ice. I don't like slipping...

I mind putting the clothing on. Most of my outdoor winter riding is to commute. So it's a daily grind, and you do get tired of digging up 10 articles of clothing every morning to get to work. Put it on, take it off. Every morning you have to answer the question: "Okay, how much stuff do I have to wear today?"

It's a grind, but I appreciate getting that much riding in, consistently, outside.

I agree with all the folks who posted about seeing the gridlock and having a renewed appreciation for the bike!

Everyone who sees me bike in thinks I am a lunatic in the winter, but my choices are [1] buy a car, pay for parking and be stuck in traffic everyday (20-30 minutes), [2] buy a bus pass and spend 3 hours on the bus each day [3] walk, (which is about as much clothes as the bike), takes about an hour. OR [4] bike, 15 minutes on average in the winter, no traffic, no dogs, no cars, and I go by the highway that is gridlocked more often than not!!!

I would however suggest taking a break. I got burned out last winter and carpooled with my wife for about two weeks. It was good timing too as it was during the coldest of the winter ... but ultimately I went back because I felt like something was missing. Its like not having your coffee in the morning. I'll probably do the same this winter, take a break for a couple of weeks and get that excitement going again when I miss the commute!!

I'm a Peoria commuter, too! (Creve Coeur/East Peoria to be a bit more precise....)

I have ridden in the heart of the winter here. But I mostly don't when there's ice and snow all over the place. I could live with that, but when you take the motor traffic into account it simply becomes too dangerous. Plus I do get tired of the big clothing production as well.

Here's what I do. Usually I can bicycle most days in December and March. In January and February I might only bicycle 4 or 5 times. Less in a bad winter. I don't usually admit this, but when I do drive during the heart of the winter it comes as almost a relief. It feels almost like semi-hibernation. I get to work more quickly and I'm warm. I enjoy it, but I definitely wouldn't if I did it all year. Then when winter is winding down and I can ride regularly again that feels good, too.

I'm not really competent to advise you, but maybe you should just ride lightly and appreciate those small advantages that the car offers this time of year.

dude - you're bringing me down. I'm working on biking more up here in NE. Monday featured a torrential rain storm. Tuesday it was so cold my water bottle froze, not just the nozzle but the actual water in the bottle! tomorrow, not only will it be in the low 20s but also some wind! the recent snow and ice means that there no shoulder so all the cagers will have to move for me - I should probably wait until the current snow clears the road but I've been raveling fr business for 2 days and I'm itching to ride again. the bike is ready - all that remains is the doing.

Sure, but that's worthless on a half plowed road. Which is what you're talking about when you're comparing it to the more popular four wheeled options ;).

The single best winter vehicle is always gonna be your own two feet (maybe with snow shoes). Unless you want to get there faster...

if I could design a bike from the ground up for snow use...

-either conventional really fat 26" front wheel or tadpole configuration 20" front wheels
-rear tracked drive, with track width at 1.5"

or basically a tadpole trike + snowmobile.

I've thought these were cool for years. It's a Rokon 2-wheel drive motorcycle!

http://www.nebraskatire.com/customer_pics/Rokon3.jpg

http://images.janes.com/defence/land_forces/news/idr/idr010306_1_p1.jpg

http://www.rokonworld.com/rokonredhead.jpg

I agree with all the folks who posted about seeing the gridlock and having a renewed appreciation for the bike!

Everyone who sees me bike in thinks I am a lunatic in the winter, but my choices are [1] buy a car, pay for parking and be stuck in traffic everyday (20-30 minutes), [2] buy a bus pass and spend 3 hours on the bus each day [3] walk, (which is about as much clothes as the bike), takes about an hour. OR [4] bike, 15 minutes on average in the winter, no traffic, no dogs, no cars, and I go by the highway that is gridlocked more often than not!!!

I would however suggest taking a break. I got burned out last winter and carpooled with my wife for about two weeks. It was good timing too as it was during the coldest of the winter ... but ultimately I went back because I felt like something was missing. Its like not having your coffee in the morning. I'll probably do the same this winter, take a break for a couple of weeks and get that excitement going again when I miss the commute!!

I agree, if you've had enough for a while pack it in for a few days... everybody takes a vacation once and a while.

When riding think of the benefits:
I always find that I can handle winter better when I ride. Off the bike winters don't seem as cold because I have harden to the temps.
No traffic jams
I never get sick anymore, I mean never
The mot important carrot on a stick: hot coffee when I get to work, Irish whiskey when I get home, just a little nip

The solitude and sense of invincibility is what I like. Most people are holed up in thier houses, so if you're on a bike the world is yours and nothing can stop you. It's just you, the bike, snow falling all around and the howling wind. What could be better than that (other than more snow to blast through)?

I agree with the previous poster about going soft. I'm not indicting anyone, but if you're too soft, you miss out on many beautiful experiences that most people are oblivious to. But to each his own. I'd just prefer to be out there in the world rather than watching it on TV from my living room.

I totally agree, when the weather gets severe, I love bundling up and heading out. I love being able to be comfortable in such "extreme" conditions, and I love the peaceful solitude you get heading out when no one else will. I also love being able to pick up my vehicle and set it on the road rather than spending an hour shoveling it out :thumb:

I enjoy riding in the winter, but I live in NC where the temperatures are much milder than the Midwest with little snow or ice. The cold temperatures we get here don't bother me, but I don't bother to ride when it's icy or snowy. I am not willing to invest in the clothing and equipment to ride in snow/ice because we get winter storms so infrequently here. Despite that, my mileage from Dec.-Feb. is sometimes higher than during the warmer months.

In the winter I ride once in a while when the roads are dry and the weather bumps up above freezing. Preferably 40 or more. Today I am using my
rower, gym manana and the trainer Mon. Gym on Wed and Fri... yet another old movie on my old Concept 2.

The best exercise is the one you'll actually do. Go play.

I'm digging the night riding thing even though it was cold. I left a little earlier than usual and was able to use more of the roadway in some areas. It was exquisite - especially with my new light! The ride home with the holidays shoppers will be another story altogether!

I have to struggle a bit to keep the motivation up. I try to make it a game to see how bad it has to be to keep me off the bike.

But with that as a background, I do have some guidelines and I don't worry about driving if the conditions are outside of my guidelines. I don't go in deep snow, because I just can't push through it. I tried once, and I basically had to walk the six miles home from work, pushing the bike. I don't go on the main roads unless they are plowed to the curb. I have fallen a couple times, and the risk level is not acceptable.

Those outside-the-guidelines conditions don't last for very long. A couple days after it snows, main roads are plowed to the curb and melted from the sun and salt, and side roads are covered with a stud-friendly layer of hard-packed snow. So then I'm out there.

If I can ride to work an average of three days out of five every year, I'm cutting my carbon emissions by three-fifths. That's better than the government is doing.

I almost wiped out on ice 3 times on Friday night so I am developing some rules. #1 being the roads must be clear of snow and ice. I really am trying to resist studded tires. I'm hard-core but not a die-hard ... :-)

This is my first winter that I'm determined to ride no matter what the nature throws at me. But I live in a big city so the streets are usually plowed quickly but the issues of traffic and ice still remain. The frozen sludge in the morning is dangerous too. I got studded tires and I'll build a new set of wheels this week so I can swap quickly. I got all my winter clothing in order so I think I'm ready.

In the worst case I'll walk parts of my commute, it'll still be quicker than bus and subway combination, transit gets often badly funked up in Winter. I often had to wait 30-40 minutes for a city bus in the past to get home from the train station. That's my big motivation: not being dependent on MTA. I don't mind if no one cares. I care. But if you stopped caring then you've lost your motivation. Try to think it over, perhaps you will find new motivation.

And, if I continue riding through winter I'll build up some extra strength and endurance too, maybe lose some more weight. Once I drop my winter gear and switch to slicks in Spring I'll be flyin'! ;) I'm thinking about building myself a road bike and start doing centuries again next year. I miss those events :D

Adam

The riding lifestyle has made me one fit son of a gun and that's all it takes. That is such a positive thing I couldn't give it up, plus I like the challenge of figuring out how to ride safely and comfortably in all conditions. Hang in there. You've invested in the stuff, right?

I rode yesterday when it was -30 C and only saw one other cyclist on my ride home... there were some fresh tracks in the snow so know there were a few more folks riding some decent distances.

I was toasty as I was properly geared up and a few people commented that I must have balls of steel to be riding in this weather... these people were pedestrians and they looked frozen to their very cores.

The riding lifestyle has made me one fit son of a gun and that's all it takes. That is such a positive thing I couldn't give it up, plus I like the challenge of figuring out how to ride safely and comfortably in all conditions. Hang in there. You've invested in the stuff, right?

To me this is why I ride in winter. Its not just about getting from point A to point B, its about getting fit and training for summer. Studded tires = resistance training. Winter bike with heavy panniers= weight training. looking at things from a different perspective helps! The one factor that would stop me riding would be safety issues (my route is all bike path)

Having said that- you need to do what is right for yourself. At the end of the day, no-one really cares whether you ride or not so you need to be true to yourself.

If you allow "too cold" to be your excuse in the winter, you'll allow "too wet" to be your excuse in the spring, and "too hot" in the summer---and the next thing you know you'll be one of those fat cadgers screaming at cyclists to "get off the road."

If you allow "too cold" to be your excuse in the winter, you'll allow "too wet" to be your excuse in the spring, and "too hot" in the summer---and the next thing you know you'll be one of those fat cadgers screaming at cyclists to "get off the road."

lols

I'm the opposite, I can't be bothered to plug the car in then warm it up for 10 minutes before driving. Plus the car would still be cold inside by the time I arrive at work. I think it's faster and easier to gear up and pedal away. Co-workers do think I'm crazy and no matter how many times I tell them it's not that bad they don't believe me.

Someone is stopping because of ICE?! Folks, ICE is good! ICE rides like concrete. Just get some studs and you'll be fine. I try to FIND the ice so I can get moving faster.


It is difficult to see what traffic is doing behind me,

I mounted a tool mirror on the side of my helmet with electrical tape. Works perfectly and gives me eyes in the back of my head. This is critical for winter riding due to the interference with side vision caused by balas and other extra clothes.

you like ice? even black ice?

Ice with studs is awesome! Nothing like riding with full maneuverability and stopping power
while cars and suvs are creeping along terrified of getting a little sideways. Streams and creeks
turn into "studs only" bike paths. And if you head out across that pond too early in the season,
you get to learn how deep it is out in the middle and how horrific that stagnant rotten mud
smells even in wintertime. It's a win-win situation!

you like ice? even black ice?

With the Nokians it's not slippery at all. That includes not only black ice on the roads but inches-thick glacial Anchorage ice with oil and water smeared on top. I can ride easily on ice patches nobody can even walk on.

With the Nokians it's not slippery at all. That includes not only black ice on the roads but inches-thick glacial Anchorage ice with oil and water smeared on top. I can ride easily on ice patches nobody can even walk on.

I too seek out that glass smooth black ice, it's like biking on a velodrome. One hazard though is getting off the bike...it's easy to forget that shoes do NOT have traction on ice (this happened to my wife and me several times :lol:)