File :-(, x, )
Canuck biking during winter Anonymous
Hey /fit/, I'm going to attempt to keep biking as my primary commuter method throughout the less shittier times of the upcoming months.

I hate the fucking bus, and gas/parking costs too much to drive all the time. I'm willing to suffer a few slides and crashes in order not to pay for bullshit transportation.

Basically, so long as the roads/bike paths aren't iced up to hell, I'll be doing a 18km round trip to and from work on a relatively reliable mountain bike.

Can any of you give me tips on:

-What to wear in 5C to -20C weather and not get frozen or overheated when pumping up a hill
-Any mods I should make to my bike, IE splashguard/tires (currently have a vanilla plain bike with lights for dark mornings/evenings and regular tires)
-Am I crazy to be doing this?

Also, my commute may double come December as I am moving. Is 40km a day madness, or just Sparta?
>> Anonymous
Invest in fenders. $30 for front+back; cheaper gets you cheaper.

Check some running and outdoor shops for a thin, lightweight cold weather cap that you can wear underneath your regular helmet.


Swap out the knobbies for road slicks with some traction (in case it rains).

Get a small frame-mounted handpump and carry a spare innertube and two of those little wedgie tools for changing them.
>> Anonymous
Also, get a copy of the DMV's bicyclist handbook. Try to follow the rules so that you come out ahead in the event of a "problem," but don't ever put yourself in danger because you are in the right. For example, staying on the road through an intersection in heavy traffic; who cares if you're right, if you're dead because of it.

40 km = 24 miles, seems a bit long for a daily commute, especially on a mountain bike, even if it's modded for street use.

Sorry, no advice on what to wear. What we do when hiking or hunting in cold weather is, "cotton kills." Maybe get some clothing that wicks away moisture like that Russell 'under armor" stuff?
>> Anonymous
I admire you. Last winter I had a commute of about two and a half kilometres and I'd have liked to bike but I was too scared. I ended up walking it. :\
>> Anonymous
>>328674
I don't follow the DMV cyclist rules because most drivers don't give a shit and treat me as if I were a fucking squirrel they can just run over.
>> Anonymous
Riding bike through several inches of snow is suicidal if it's at all melted and you have to take sharp corners and hills and have blind corners to worry about. I had to ride my bike to work a couple years ago in the winter, and god it sucked ass. Maybe it won't be as bad for you because your snow probably won't melt, but don't you canucks get a lot of that shit?
>> Anonymous
in general:
look oncoming drivers directly in the eye through the glass. Making eye contact helps remind them you're not supposed to be roadkilled.

my hands and feet get cold easily; I invested in the best gloves I could afford: gor-tex cost me 50 bucks. of course I only invested after having cold fucking fucking fucking freezing hands for five winters in a row.

I see no mention that you've done this distance before. give it a try in your spare time at a nonworking time, you don't want to arrive fucked up or later whatever due to misjudgment.
>> Anonymous
>>328794
never accelerate on slippery surfaces. Only maintain your current velocity, don't do any sharp turns ever. practice unfrozen patches in an abandoned parking lot. try wiping out on purpose, see what you can handle at what angles, what speeds.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>>40 km = 24 miles, seems a bit long for a daily commute

Agreed. I'll probably only do the full commute in the spring-fall, though I should be able to take transit half way if it ends up being a nightmare. Even if I only bike for a week out of a month, I'm already saving cash. I have a gym at work so biking in then showering/etc is doable, and then I'm using my company's water for the morning routine, not mine.

In addition to saving cash on transit tickets and parking, my health has gotten a lot better this year and I don't want it to go downhill during the so-called "inactive" months.

Thanks for the advice on the fenders and tires, I'll look into it and I'll make sure I test the hell out of my bike in a safe parking lot or something the first time it snows/freezes/etc.

Clothing wise it looks like clamshell outer layer and one or two layers inside are going to be best. The under-helmet cap idea is a great one, I'll make sure to grab something for that. Also, I'm going to see about some decent gloves.
>> Anonymous
>>328794
never accelerate on slippery surfaces. Only maintain your current velocity, don't do any sharp turns ever. practice on frozen patches in an abandoned parking lot. try wiping out on purpose, see what you can handle at what angles, what speeds.