Winter Riding

Rather than giving up on biking in the winter, winterize yourself! Biking in the winter can be surprisingly convenient as you could be to the store and back faster than the time it would take you to shovel the snow from your driveway and scrape the ice from your car's windows. As long as you dress properly, the physical act of biking will warm you up.

So, how do you winterize yourself? I'm glad you asked. With the following, you should stay roasty-toasty while biking all winter-long:

· Waterproof and windproof coat,

· Warm, waterproof gloves or mittens,

· Warm, waterproof shoes or boots with warm socks and room for toe wiggling,

· Warm, but thin head covering that will fit under your helmet and protect your ears,

· Wicking base layers, like silk or synthetics, and

· If there's snow on the ground, sunglasses will lessen the daytime glare of the snow while protecting your eyes from wind.

It's also a good idea to use studded tires like you would find on a mountain bike for better traction in the snow and ice.

Staying visible is also important. With fewer daylight hours, it's necessary to wear bright clothing, ideally with reflective bands. You should also use a white headlight and red taillight.

For more information on biking in the winter, here are additional biking resources:

- http://www.bikewinter.org/links/general_links.php

- http://www.icebike.com

- http://www.bicyclinglife.com/Recreation/wintercycling.htm

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