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Winter Biking 101

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Biking in Chicago year round has left me with years of experience. Winter here ranges from below zero temperature to high winds and feet of snow on the roads. Before you plan on leaving, always check the local weather. Is it... See more » Biking in Chicago year round has left me with years of experience. Winter here ranges from below zero temperature to high winds and feet of snow on the roads. Before you plan on leaving, always check the local weather. Is it snowing? Raining? Windy? Is there unmelted snow on the road or are the roads still wet? If there are any hold ups such as these, allow yourself 25%-50% more travel time, depending on bike and pace. When riding in the winter, always be on the look out for black ice. Black ice is thinly spread ice across the surface of concrete from frozen rain or sleet. If you’re riding and hit black ice, be ready for an almost instant wipe out. Always keep an eye out for the conditions, in which it has rained recently and is below freezing. If you’re riding and black ice is present, be cautious, ride slower and if you hit a patch, pull your feet off the pedals and stabilize yourself to prevent a fall. Make sure when riding in winter conditions to never go as fast as you would during the summer. Black ice, sliding cars, pedestrians and other slow moving bikers leave you with an array of hazards and potentials mishaps. Keep your head up and give yourself 30%-50% more braking room incase you hit ice, snow or see a reckless car. Keep yourself, your bike and your pathway well lit. In the winter, not only is it harder for you to see the road, but difficult for drivers to see you. If it’s night and snowing, it will be impossible for a driver to see you without a light. That driver will have no idea you’re there and could easily slide into you or rear end you in a dense fog or storm. Keep your path lit so you can prepare for and stabilize yourself for upcoming patches of ice or snow mounds. When riding during harsh weather conditions use your legs as stabilization incase you begin sliding. Drop your legs down to brace yourself and brake simultaneously. When braking during extreme weather conditions, always apply the same amount of pressure to both brakes, which helps distribute your weight evenly, preventing further sliding. If there is snow on the ground and you live in a big city, it’s usually plowed from the roads. This is great for cars, but the snow gets plowed into the bike lanes. An easy solution to this is to simply bike in the lanes of traffic used for cars. What this allows is you more traction on the road and the cars more visibility. Don’t worry about them because usually they can’t go much faster than you in dicey weather conditions. Always keep your head up, wear a helmet and allow extra braking and sliding room. Keep in mind that the drivers in the car usually can’t see you and be aware of slick patches of ice. Happy biking, hopefully you can enjoy a safe and productive biking schedule through the cold winter. See less »

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Winter Biking 101

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