

For many of us who take environmental protection into our own hands daily, a bicycle is an indispensible part of the dream. Throw off those winter blues… bicycling can make your winter green!

Bicycles are an efficient way to transport yourself daily for a number of reasons. To me, the most important benefit to using a bicycle is that it improves my health and fitness. Probably the next most important to me is a bike’s economy. You pay for occasional maintenance throughout the year, but on the whole, it is far cheaper than using a car, or even travelling by public transportation!

On the environmental front: unlike motor vehicles, bicycles produce no greenhouse gases from their use. Their parts can often be manufactured from recycled materials. Overall, while not perfect, bikes make for a significantly smaller footprint than any other existing mode of efficient, long-travel transportation out there.

The distance from my home to my work is 1.8 miles. (Another good way to think green: move close to your essentials!) Walking, that might take me 40 minutes! But on my bike, I am there in 9-12 minutes. As the nights get longer and the air gets crisper, however, I am reminded that unless I take certain measures, I will soon be prevented from using my bike to get to work by the “elements.” Common enemies to the bicycle include: snow, slush, ice, gravel, and salt.

But if you’re like me, you strive to think green in all seasons… not just the warm and sunny ones. Surely, winter is the least popular time to ride bikes–it’s cold and difficult, and just plain inconvenient! However, who doesn’t need to keep fit in the winter months? And with a few quick steps and some basic knowledge, you can equip yourself and your bike with the necessities to keep it sturdy and rideable throughout the winter months.

1. Studded Tires

Combats: ice, snow, slippery surfaces

One of the most important steps you may want to consider when winterizing your bike is making it capable of sticking to the ground when you are riding or turning corners. Just like getting studded tires for cars, you may want to invest in studded tires for your road bike! Typically road bike tires have very little traction and are fairly smooth. Winter tires will have many more substantial nubs, usually with little metal studs in each (Phattire.com and Penn Cycle give you an idea for these essential winter accessories.) Before you order or buy them, make sure they will match your tire size by checking the measurements on the rim of your tire (usually 27″, 26″ or 700).

In general, mountain bikes–with their thick, wider, nubby tires–will grip any surface better when it is rough. Thus, even if you dislike riding mountain bikes on city streets, you may want to consider getting a mountain bike–with studded tires–for the really messy days this winter.

2. Regular Cleaning

Combats: corrosion and griminess due to salt, dirt

It is extremely important that you clean your bike regularly during the winter. Set aside 30 minutes to an hour a week to thoroughly degrease, scrub, and re-grease your chain (and you may want to consider cleaning your hubs and bottom bracket too). You’ll probably be surprised at how much faster black gunk builds up in the wetter winter months!

Simple Green is the standby for any bike mechanic for degreasing. You’ll want to use chain lube only for re-greasing your chain, while thicker, turquoise-blue poly lube will work for repacking your bearings in the hub and bottom bracket.

Some people may think the biggest threat to the “well-being” of their bicycle is snow, ice, or freezing in the winter months. Actually, the culprit that can cause the most serious problems is: salt! Make sure you do not skip this step when keeping your bike “winterized” for the cold season.

3. Proper Gear

Combats: your discomfort!

Staying warm when speeding past cars in below freezing temperatures can be a challenge indeed. While it is necessary to maintain one’s warmth while travelling, one must be careful not to create conditions where you will overheat due to exertion, sweat, then then chill the water on your skin! Usually tight fitting “Thinsulated” clothing items are needed. The most important, often overlooked, item is the winter face mask–crucial from keeping your cheeks from chapping! Also important are appropriate gloves that protect your hands while allowing you to grip your bike, hats, and ear coverings.

I hope you find this list useful as you ride into the great white beyond. Please consider carefully whether biking is appropriate for your this winter. As any biker’s physical safety is more vulnerable when on the road with cars, consider that reduced visibility and slippery road conditions in the winter make for a dangerous situation–you might be winterized, but the car behind you may not be! Being safe is always more important than living the green dream–at least for now. See you in the streets!

photo credit: Bontenbal under a GNU Free Documentation License (on Wikimedia Commons)