Getting Started as a Winter Cyclist

Here in Milwaukee, a shadow has fallen over the local cycling community. School is back in session; football will soon return to the airwaves. It's only a matter of time before the leaves begin to turn colors. But as pleasant and picturesque as a Wisconsin autumn can be, it also heralds the arrival of a sort of miniature apocalypse: the driving snow and screaming winds of a Wisconsin winter.

This is especially troubling for us cyclists. We've spent the whole warm season watching our calf muscles grow and lording it over the poor fools filling their gas tanks for four bucks a gallon. Now what are we supposed to do? Take the bus? Call a cab? Sell out entirely, and actually buy a car?

Nothing doing, buster. With a little work, some cash, and a sense of grim determination, you too can be one of the proud few - the winter cyclists.

Getting Started: Your Bike

First and foremost, let me save you all a lot of trouble and make a suggestion. if you typically ride some hyper-expensive, ultra-light, road-ripping monstrosity with esoteric aerobars and a gear shifter that cost more than your house, do yourself a favor. Hang it in the garage until next spring. Winter can run bikes into the ground; you need something cheap and replaceable, not two grand worth of bike that you're going to kick yourself for destroying.

Personally, I'm a huge proponent of the Winter Beater. This is just an old, cheap bike that you don't mind subjecting to some punishment. Thankfully, with everyone going ga-ga for trendy fixed-gears, used mountain bikes are freely available in most urban areas. Craigslist is probably your best bet; shop around a little, and you might find a real deal. My beater - a Trek 930 that was probably manufactured when God was a boy - cost a slim sixty bucks. It's perfect for my purposes, and yet replaceable enough for winter work.

Equipment

How you prep your bike for cold weather depends largely on your funds, your sense of style, and what you mean by "cold." Different climates will call for different equipment. Generally, though, regardless of who you are or where you ride, there are a few things you'll definitely need for winter.

First off: mud guards (or "fenders," if you prefer). As the name suggests, mud guards block the upward spray of water, snow, and slush from your tires. A few days of riding in winter without guards will send you scurrying right on back to the bus system, so go ahead and spend the money. Several kinds are available, but I prefer the sort manufactured by Planet Bike - cheap, durable plastic guards that clip on to your bike in about thirty seconds. You can pick up a full set, front and rear, for under thirty-five bucks, and they'll last forever.

When it comes to tires, remember the old tire commercial - wider is better. In slick conditions, big, wide mountain bike tires are going to handle a lot better than sleek, thin road tires. If you've got the cash laying around, I recommend you shell out for studded tires - they make winter biking a cinch, even on ice. Regardless of what setup you use, you'll want to leave the tires slightly less inflated than usual. A flatter tire means more rubber touching the road, which translates directly into more control. It might look a little funny, but trust me - you'll thank me come January.

There are a few things you'll want to carry with you as well. A spare chain is definitely a good idea. A busted chain in summer is a pain; in winter, it could mean stranding you in subzero conditions. An extra inner tube would be a good idea, too - if you catch a flat in a blizzard, you're not going to want to screw around with sealant and air pumps and whatnot. If you don't already know how to quickly and efficiently change an innertube, there are videos on YouTube demonstrating the process, or you could ask a bike-savvy friend to demonstrate. Either way, learn it.

A frozen u-lock will ruin your day pretty fast, so run on down to the hardware store and pick up one of those little bottles of Lock De-Icer. And while you're down there, grab yourself a couple cans of silicon lubricant. Winter weather can do a number on your bike's moving parts, while salt and sand can gum up lube. Make sure you clean your bike of every day, and oil your chain at least twice a week.

Lastly, I can't emphasize enough the importance of a good, water-proof bag. An old, canvas knapsack isn't going to keep your stuff safe in a raging snowstorm. For cyclists of means, Chrome makes ergonomically correct, all-terrain messenger bags, all of which come with a lifetime guarantee. Of course, failing that, a simple backpack will do fine, as long as you remember that most important word - water-proof.

Be Safe... And Have Fun

Winter cycling is a different breed from its leisurely, warm-weather cousin. Be sure to dress in multiple layers; the perfect level of clothing for cycling in the cold is generally discovered through trial and error, so you'll want the option of shedding layers. Take it slow, and keep the bike as upright as possible - don't lean into turns the way you would in the summer months, as it will likely lead to skidding and a possibly major wipe out. Above all, watch the weather, make yourself visible to drivers with lights and reflectors, and use common sense. It will serve you well.

With all of that said: have fun! Biking in the winter is something you can be proud of. While the rest of the world is scurrying from their house to the car, then from the car to the office, you're facing the cold without fear. They grumble and snarl over the crummy weather, while you act like it's a sunny day in June. If that doesn't show the world what tough stuff you're made of, what will?