ax0n

A well outfitted person on a properly-equipped bicycle is hands down the most robust transportation method in the winter, at least for distances of less than 10 miles or so.

• It always starts.
• It never gets high-centered or stuck: you can always go around or trudge through the really deep stuff on foot.
• It can navigate through traffic jams and ice-induced wrecks either on the road, in the gutter, or on the sidewalk.
• You don't need to freeze your ass of scraping windows.
• It has a built-in heater that takes less than 1 minute to kick in.

Discuss.

Mr. Underbridge

The only counter I'd give is that as bad as some people drive in the snow, I'd like to be surrounded with some metal given the choice. If there were no one else on the road, then hell yes, I'll take the bike any day. The problem isn't the snow; it's the morons *in* the snow.

But I am looking forward to at least having one less vehicle to dig out (still have to do the wife's car), scrape, warm up, etc.

DataJunkie

I can't think of a vehicle I would like to drive or ride in the snow. Bike, van, truck, bus, etc
Light rail on the other hand...
Though cycling is fun if you have the correct equipment.

pinkrobe

1. hovercraft
2. bike

DieselDan

Snow? Ice? Here?

MyBikeGotStolen

I would just be happy to see some real snow for the first time since I was 8! I couldnt inagine riding the bike in it.

Lamplight

In snow and ice, I'd rather be on a bicycle than behind the wheel. I know I can handle a bike in the snow, but I'm not as confident of my driving abilities.

DXchulo

I love bikes, but what the heck. Riding a bike isn't perfect.

-It always starts. Not if you break your leg or simply wimp out and stay in bed.

-It never gets high-centered or stuck: you can always go around or trudge through the really deep stuff on foot. True, but you could argue that a good 4WD has better balance and can get through more stuff than a bike can.

-It can navigate through traffic jams and ice-induced wrecks either on the road, in the gutter, or on the sidewalk. Again, you could do that in a Jeep or something if you really wanted to. You may say that's illegal, but it's illegal to ride your bike on the sidewalk in many places. I doubt a cop would ever bust you for that on a bike, though.

-You don't need to freeze your ass of scraping windows. To steal the cold weather cycling saying, you won't freeze your ass off scraping windows if you're properly dressed. Also, you do have to spend a lot of time getting dressed/undressed to ride a bike in winter, which may or may not be more of a pain than scraping windows.

-It has a built-in heater that takes less than 1 minute to kick in. 1 minute? Your heater is faster than mine.

Anyway, it all comes down to this for me- Which one is more fun? Riding a bike wins that one hands down.

CliftonGK1

I love driving my Jeep in the snow. 2 years ago I drove up Mt. Pilchuck in 2 feet of fresh snow to go snowshoeing up to the summit. It was a blast, and I helped tow a guy out of a ditch on my way up. I keep my tow-straps in the back all the time, especially when it snows around here because there are so few people here who know how to drive when the roads get slushed up.
Twice last year there were snow storms where people literally gave up, parked their car in the middle of the freeway (I-5, I-405) and walked to a hotel for the night.
I went out biking the day after the first storm hit, and the jam-up of cars just parked in the middle of the street looked like something from The Omega Man. No businesses open; power was out; no people walking anywhere; and the streets filled with empty cars.

RT

When riding in harsh, wintry conditions, use the Force...

acroy

In order of most dependable on snow & ice (from what I've seen):

Foot
Snowmobile
Bike

gazer

Actually, I'm semi-regularly happy to have a back-up bike when I discover something like a slow leak or broken spoke as I'm ready to roll out the door.

everichon

I used to commute in "real" snow in Milwaukee all the time: it is usually a lot of fun. Now that I'm older and more paranoid, I am a little reluctant--drivers where I live now don't really know how to drive in snow. I know I know what to do, but I have no guarantee that some yoyo isn't going to slide into me.

ax0n

Mostly valid points except for this:
If you're properly dressed for scraping windows for 10 minutes, you've still got the PITA and wasted time of getting dressed/undressed.

And yes, mostly, I am just looking for an excuse to play in the snow on my bike, although I really, really like offroading (and on-roading) in the snow with the 4WD. I will say that my bike will go places my stock V6 Explorer will not, but a really well-built serious off-road vehicle would do just fine.

ax0n

I said it would start, I didn't mention pre-launch mechanical failures

Lachlan

When it's really bad, running with snow shoes or metal cleats (snow vs ice) is going to work better than a bike

thdave

If there's a blizzard going on, there are fewer cars on the road. It's not that bad. Plus, if you have to bail out you can jump in a pile of snow.

It can get dicey when there's a lot of "old" snow, built up along the road--shrinking the lanes and blocking vision.

But still, I agree with the OP--cycling is the way to go. My car seat is cold--making me cold--when I drive. But on the bike I warm right up (although it takes me a good 2-3 minutes). Added benefits are the beauty of a fresh snowfall, and the fun of being the only one out there.

PaulH

I agree absolutely -- everything but the part about the heater. My built-in heater must be defective, as it takes at least five minutes to kick in. Another significant consideration is the rapid corrosion of car bodies and frames by all the salt that gets dumped on the roads in many areas.

Paul

nekohime

Snow? What's that? I'd love to have some here in SoCal...

Seriously though, when I was a kid in Japan, I loved making trails in the snow with my bike. Soooo much fun.

bmclaughlin807

I got laughed at last winter when I came out of my apartment with my bike the day after a blizzard... They weren't laughing when I picked my bike up and carried it over the more than four foot tall berm of packed snow they were trying to dig their cars out of... I did wave as I rode off.

Some of them spent 3 hours digging their cars out.

The guy they pay to plow the parking lots got as far as clearing the center of the lots before realizing that he just couldn't handle it... and left. With HUGE berms of snow behind all the cars. The homeowners were PISSED.

wheel

Snowshoes
Dog sled
skis
Bike ski
snowmobile/atv/snowtrack/
hovercraft
Ice/snow sail
bike

ilikebikes

This will be my first year riding in a Philly winter and from what I understand its not really all that bad as long as your geared up, geared up from what Ive read is at least two sweats, a hoodie, long Johns, Ill prob pick up some camo Army surplus pants, a nice set of gloves, glasses/goggles, and a knit hat. Im def going to give it a try and see, I figure Ill learn as I go Ive gotten everything together including my goggles last week and I just got my Toastadas Lobster claw gloves today!

maddyfish

I can carry a bike up a hill that a snowmobile won't make. And I can't carry a snowmobile.

rwp

I very much doubt that.

lil brown bat

Snowshoes or skis. Beats a bike every time.

(that is, if you're talking about real snow, not this six-inches crap)