3 Minute Interview on winter riding

Photo by Shannon Ayres

I was interviewed recently by Kytja Weir of the Washington Examiner: THE 3 MINUTE INTERVIEW: Bruce Wright. She was interested in learning more about the challenges of winter riding. It's a brief article in which I touch on a few of the major issues.

It's always been puzzling to me why so many people put away their bikes for the winter when I think it's a great time to ride. When there's no snow or ice on the road, riding can be very pleasant.

The trails, especially the W&OD Trail, are mostly empty. It does get dark early and good lights are needed, especially out here in the suburbs. It would also be nice if NVRPA opened up the W&OD Trail to nighttime riding which we've heard they plan to do in the near future. In the interview I discuss some ways to cope with the cold.

The  photo on the right was submitted to the Examiner but didn't make it into the article. It was taken by Shannon Ayres. He's a photographer and bike commuter. He's is doing a series of photos of local bike commuters. The photo was taken on the W&OD Trail near Newton Square.

Update 18Jan2013 - The article appeared in print in today's Examiner.

Post article on winter bike commuting

Today's Post has a good article on winter bike commuting that features Liz MacGregor of FABB, Bike commuters power though the winter cold. Liz offers some good tips on winter riding:

Photo: Washington Post

People like Branyan and Elizabeth MacGregor, 49, who has a 28-mile round trip between her Vienna home and downtown D.C. office, have to dress for the cold weather.

"If I were advising somebody who was just starting out, I’d say, see what you’ve got in your closet and try to use that,” said MacGregor, who began commuting by bike about eight years ago. “You don’t have to spend a lot of money on this. I wear a merino wool base layer. I wear ski sweaters, usually. I have a variety of weights, and then either a cycling jersey or a fleece vest or a wool vest. And then I wear a wind-breaking layer on top. And I have tights that I wear, too."

In the wintertime, she abandons her bike shoes, which clip onto the pedals, and screws on a pair of platform pedals so she can wear warm "street boots."

"I wear either a wool cap and a buff around my neck, or I wear a balaclava, like I did today," she said on a morning when the temperature was in the mid-30s. "I have thick fleece gloves."

MacGregor said she embraced the bike commute after "a couple of bad days on the Red Line."

"My son was young, and I wasn't getting a lot of chance to exercise. So I thought if I combine the commute with the exercise, that will be a way for me stay in shape," she said.

Yes it is possible to bike in winter

We’ve had a very mild fall this year which has made for good bicycling conditions. Lots of cyclists are still out there riding, especially those who use bikes for transportation. As temperatures continue to drop, many cyclists will put away their bikes for the winter. However, there are a number of cyclists who ride year round.

Personally I prefer cycling in cool weather. Cyclists generate a lot of body heat, so it doesn’t take much additional clothing to keep warm on cooler days. A common problem is overdressing and getting too hot. A key to dressing in colder weather is to use layers that can be removed as you warm up. A good wind-resistant outer shell is very effective at keeping the cold out and the heat in. When temperatures drop below about 40 degrees, our extremities tend to get colder than the rest of our body. Keeping feet warm is a challenge. Wearing heavy socks may seem like a good idea, but if your feet are constricted, blood flow is reduced and you’ll get cold anyway. One solution is to wear a shoe cover that keeps out the wind and holds in body heat. I am currently using sandals (yes, sandals) with windproof socks or neoprene socks. The sandals stretch a bit so my feet aren’t constricted and body heat is retained well.

Keeping hands warm is another challenge. I have 3 or 4 different types of gloves depending on the weather. If it’s cool, light full-finger gloves are all that are needed. As the temperature drops, I’ll use thicker insulated gloves that are also waterproof. When it’s really cold, below freezing, I have to resort to using insulated mittens. There are many good cycling-specific glove options available at your local bike shop.

You’ll also want something to cover your ears and face. I use a light headband that covers the ears and fits easily under my helmet. When it’s really cold I’ll use a fleece cap. For my face I use a neck gaiter which is a fleece tube that goes around the neck and can be pulled up to cover the chin and mouth if necessary.

People who use bikes for transportation also need a good lighting system, especially in the winter. There are two types of bike lights, those that allow you to be seen and those that let you see where you’re going. Lighting technology has improved greatly and a good lighting system, including a powerful front and bright rear light, can be purchased for under $100. Newer lights are very bright and can be recharged using a USB port.

When riding in the dark it’s also helpful to have bright, reflective clothing to improve your visibility. Most good bike gear has reflective bits embedded into the fabric. As bicycling has become more popular, some clothing manufacturers have developed very fashionable clothing that has features that appeal to cyclists who don’t care for spandex and gaudy colors.

There will be a few hardy cyclists who will ride in just about any weather conditions. Even when there is snow on the ground, if trails are cleared of snow, cyclists will ride. In Minneapolis, Minnesota, not known for mild winters, trails and bike lanes are plowed and cyclists ride throughout the winter.

The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, which maintains the W&OD Trail, recently purchased a snow plow and they plan to plow the trail for winter bike commuters.

If you don’t ride in the winter and plan to put the bike away for the winter, now is a great time to get it tuned up and ready for spring.

I’ll be out there riding this winter for most of my short trips. The thought of driving on our often congested roads is enough to keep me on my bike. It’s not that hard, it just takes a little preparation and planning.

This article is cross-posted on the Reston Patch.