Groxie

It’s that time of year again, when the thought of crawling out of my warm bed to face the day is terrifying. The idea of commuting on my bike sounds almost unbearable at first, too, but after riding last winter I know it’s not really all that bad. There are plenty of great resources out there about winter cycling, and what you need will depend on the climate where you live.

The most important piece of advice that I see over and again is to dress in layers. A base layer under your clothes will make all the difference in the world between a numb, miserable ride and a refreshing, comfortable one. I really like my Terramar stuff, but there are tons of options out there. I also start wearing a headband long before I need many layers; if I’m flying down a hill, cold wind hurts my poor little ears even if the rest of my body is warm.

In the winter especially, always remember your lights. It gets dark fast, and you might need it for the ride to work and back. I try to always carry mine with me, just in case. Also keep in mind the limited visibility caused by snow and rain; reflective tabs, tape, and lights are your friends.

We don’t get much snow here, so I don’t need to worry about studded tires, but we do get some winter rain. I got a cheap, perfectly fine, cycling rain jacket for under $30, and I’ll be investing in some pants once we’re in Portland. Fenders and rain gear will get you through the snow and rain clean and dry, but you’ll still need to clean your bike regularly. Some cyclists even ride a junker bike if the streets are covered in snow and salt. Snowplows rarely plow the bike lane, so don’t be afraid to take the lane when you need to for your safety.

All in all, once I make it through the initial morning goosebumps, riding in the winter is fun and invigorating. It puts the same goofy grin on my face that riding always does. Honestly, it makes me wonder how many activities I unnecessarily wimp out on when it gets cold outside!