Year Round Riding - Winter Question

[JP2R]

Just started riding my bike to and from work - I live in Washington DC
and work in Norther VA - I take a trail [for the most part] that as I
understand it is NOT maintained/cleared after a snow - so what would
someone who has done this forever recommend for a first timer? I have
a Cannondale F300 Hybrid bike - a bit old - but still great ...

[rod]

Check out the Ice Bike site--http://www.icebike.org/ (there's also a
lively email list associated with that). Also see Peter White Cycles
very useful page on studded bike tires--http://
www.peterwhitecycles.com/studdedtires.asp. Tires, clothes, and
understanding the variety of Winter riding conditions are all
important here.

IMHO, it will take a season to get the sense of what works for you in
various Winter conditions, and you might want to work that out in a
recreational, rather than a commuting, setting. The bike sounds like
it will do fine, you may want different tires. Snow, especially slush,
is a different and in some ways harder problem than ice (ice can be
addressed surprisingly well with studded tires).

rod

[Jae]

Thank you SO much - yes, this is my first go at it - I'm surprised at how warm I've been so far in the 30 degree riding - and I only ride the entire way home from work at present because I'm not THAT familiar with the conditions in this area - don't want to have issues on the way in ... would rather deal with them on my own time ...

I really appreciate the support and info!

JP2R

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[Walker,Frederick H.]

You may want to consider using maintained roads rather than the trail if it gets bad enough. 

 

If you don’t know, the key to staying comfortable is layering.  I use a lightweight wool base layer, a long sleeve polyester jersey, and a Gortex shell.  If it gets into the lower 20’s F, then I add a heavy wool sweater. That’s fine right into single digits. Tights with a pair of long underwear is fine for even really cold conditions.  Sometimes I need a layer less on my way home than I do on the morning ride in.  A good pair of ski gloves or mittens is what you need for very cold days for your hands, and almost no matter what I do, if it’s cold enough my hands go through a cycle of getting very cold, then pins and needs as they warm up from the exercise.  On the other hand, a good pair of heavy wool socks keeps my feet warm for my 40 minute commute – but I haven’t found anything that will prevent them from gradually getting colder and colder if the ride goes on for more than an hour or so on a cold day.  

 

     Fritz

[Jae]

Fritz - 

I wouldn't mind taking to the 'streets' - I'm just not sure how to get from one place to the other via the streets - it took me a while to get home via the trail ... 
No one at work pedals my way [so far] and they think I'm a nutcase for wanting to bike all year anyway ... so this first year is definitely going to an adventure ... I will look to this group for more info the further into winter we head ...

-- Jae

JP2R

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[Walker,Frederick H.]

Hi Jae,

 

Have you tried the google maps bike option to look for a route?  I’ve found it to be pretty good, except that it may suggest a whole bunch of left-right turns to avoid a stretch of moderately traveled road.

 

Anyway, best get used to people regarding you as a lunatic if you’re going to ride all year round.  It’s part of the fun.

[Jae]

Fritz -

Yes, I have tried Google maps for the routes - and interestingly enough - when there is a trail nearby - it will choose that path over a roadway. I agree about the Left turns though - I mapped a ride so I could bike to the Marine Corp Marathon in DC and felt like I was going around the world to the left [smile] ...

I'm going to have to take a closer look at my alternatives ...

JP2R

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[Bob Sutterfield]

That's probably because you clicked the "bicycle directions" option.  Try just "avoid highways" (without specifying "bicycle") instead.

[Jae]

Will do ... with Google maps ... got it ...

JP2R

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[Elias Friedman]

Actually I myself have found that Mapquest gives superior directions to Google for bicycling. Set it to "Shortest distance" and "Avoid highways".

 

The complication is bridges and river crossings. Google does do a better job of that.

 

Elias Friedman A.S., EMT-P ⚕
אליהו מתתיהו בן צבי
elip...@gmail.com
http://elipongo.blogspot.com/

[Jae]

As I was riding home today - I was thinking exactly about the bridges - many of them are concrete or metal plate on the sides where people bike/walk/run - and I imagine if the signs for cars state "Bridge freezes" before road ... this could be a problem that you don't 'see' right away ... and in my mind I was trying to find a way to avoid them ... but it's just not possible ... some of the bidges the walkway is so slim that there is a stop point at the top to wait for someone else to pass ...

I will check them both and maybe merge them ...

JP2R

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[Kelly Bersch]

I don't ride on snow as I live in the Phoenix area now but I used to ride to work during the winter in Montana.  Some good ideas and equipment here: http://www.icebike.com/.

Regards,
Kelly

[Jae]

Thanks Kelly!

Fritz, Bob, and Elias - I checked out the maps for riding sans trails - and I did well with the options of "Avoid Highways" - but better when I chose to 'walk' - using Google and Bike option always gave me a trail - and "Avoid Highway" gave me a few roads I would have to check out for volume and safety ... always pays to check it out first [smile].

Thanks for the suggestion to choose an alternate mode of transport than just going with 'bike'...

JP2R

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