Feb 5, 2010 0
On preparedness and bike commuting
For more than half my trips to work in the last year, I have bicycled to work. Given the region’s temperate climate, this requires planning.
For a snowy commute, You must be prepared:
- Full fenders: The snow will melt. Melted snow mixes with dirt and sand, and becomes a nasty by-product.
- Tires: In deep snow, a tire that will “plow” is the most useful.
- Braking distance is significantly increased. Plan ahead.
- Waterproof clothing: Snow melts quickly after landing on a warm surface (your body).
Consider shoes, gaiters/chaps, and waterproof or water-shedding pants. I sometimes wear stretchy polyester soccer pants over my jeans. They absorb moisture and dry quickly. - Facemask + Ski Goggles: A balaclava-and-goggle combination is a strong defense against extremely cold conditions.
- Gloves that afford control and warmth are the best. Sheepskin mittens, or choppers, are very warm, but limit articulated control for braking or shifting.
Today, I did not plan well. I had a soggy ride to work. I love riding fixed-gear in the snow, but the fully-fendered touring bike would have been a better choice.
There is a certain peace that comes with frequent bike commuting. Propelling yourself by your own energy and strength is both limiting and liberating; limiting because you cannot breach a certain speed or rate of acceleration; and liberating because a bicycle can go anywhere, and your “fuel” can cost as much or as little as you like. It is limiting still because you can carry only so much; and liberating in that when you ride, you don’t have much with you.
Finally, there is a peace that comes with appreciating a climate. It is inconsistent. It is sometimes physically uncomfortable. But it is always beautiful. From pouring rain to brilliant sun, the weather is an incomprehensibly strong force with which everyone must reckon.
Last winter, after a four-inch snowfall, my girlfriend Ashley and my friend Tavio and I biked to the mall for amusement. It took us two hours to travel the four or five miles to get there, amidst all the falls and snowball-throwing stops. On the way back, after eating more than 30 pieces of pizza at CiCi’s, we were discussing our weather preferences. Tavio, who commutes solely via bike and does not have a car, said it best, “I just love weather.”







