Confessions of a Wannabe Winter Cyclist
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(Non-)Winterized Biking
Up until a few weeks ago, I was still biking to and from work every day. Through snow and wind and -25 degrees, Harriette and I kept on truckin’. I wrapped myself up warm in long johns and scarves and toques and mittens and boots (traditional Winnipeg-wear) and tried to dodge the cars and not let my fingers freeze into place on my handlebars.
Sometimes I enjoyed it. Most of the time, I did not. It was cold. It was dark. I had no light for my dear bicycle Harriette. She became covered in dirt and it took us an extra ten minutes to make the trip to work every day just because of the weather hazards. But I was all set to go to the store and buy some goggles and other winter biking gear and to keep at it for the rest of the winter, when… Harriette broke down.
Luckily I was only a few blocks away from the office when she staggered to a halt. I kept pedalling but Harriette was having none of it, so I got off and walked the rest of the way. It turns out that the problem was that the chain fell off, but there was no easy fix to just put it back on: three different people had a look at the chain and everyone agreed that it requires some tools or to be taken to the shop, neither of which I have gotten around to doing yet.
I took this as a sign that I am not destined for winter cycling.
I really like the idea of winter cycling. And I really admire the number of people I know who spend the winter months on their bikes. But these are some observations that I have made over the past couple months:
1. Just because you enjoy biking in the summertime, that doesn’t mean you’ll enjoy biking in the wintertime.
2. Wearing two layers of gloves and mittens over those still won’t necessarily prevent your fingers from going completely numb.
3. Drivers don’t like cyclists any more than they like pedestrians. In fact I think they like cyclists even less.
4. Eyelashes can turn into icicles. Also breathing is a lot harder when you’re on a bike in the middle of winter. Somehow your lung capacity turns to mush.
5. Biking without winter tires is a really bad idea.
It’s back to walking the trek to work, the same as I did last year. I prefer walking the 45-50 minutes each morning than biking for 25 minutes. Some people might enjoy winter cycling, but I am a walker at heart, and I’ll stick with what I know and love!
Have you ever tried winter cycling? What’s your favourite mode of transportation in the colder months?
Day 23 of the 200 Reps Challenge
20 Dumbbell Bent-over Rows (targets the back)
20 Punches (targets the arms and shoulders)
Perform this set ten times for a total of 200 Dumbbell Bent-0ver Rows and 200 Punches!
For the Dumbbell Bent-over Rows:
1. Hold a dumbbell in your right hand and position yourself beside a bench so that you’re standing on your right leg but you’re kneeling on the bench with your left leg. Hold onto the bench with your left hand and ensure that your back is flat in this bent-over position.
2. Begin with the dumbbell at your side, and then slowly raise it to bring it up so that your elbow reaches shoulder height. Reverse the position. This is one rep. Repeat all the reps on your right side, then switch and do the same number of reps for the left side to complete one set.
TIP: Don’t wiggle around; keep your torso firm and solid throughout the exercise.
For the Punches:
1. Stand with feet hip width apart and get down low into squat position (don’t let your knees pass over your toes; instead, stick your butt out behind you). Raise your hands up to nose-level and clench them to make fists.
2. Punch across the body, one arm at a time, feeling the movement from your shoulder rather than your arm. If you envision another person as a target in front of you, you want to be aiming for their shoulders rather than their chest: rather than punching directly forward, punch to the opposite side of your body. Punching once with each arm is equal to one rep.
TIP: Keep your abs engaged and squat low for maximum full-body effects.
Call me a wimp, but I always walked during the winter when I was in college. Now I pretty much drive year round because of my commute. The public transportation system ends in the core city area so I really have no choice but to drive.
When I lived in the Northeast, I ran in the winter unless the snow and ice made it impossible, but the bike stayed in the shed until spring! I did have an exercise bike trainer thingy that I mounted my 18 speed on to ride in the apartment, however.
Merry Christmas Sagan to you and your unique family!!
I guess the nice thing about living in Texas is cycling year round is very possible, and you don’t even have to buy winter tires. 🙂
My preferred mode of transportation in the winter is a motorized vehicle, preferably one that someone else has gone out into the cold to start and it is warmed up for me!!
Have a Merry Christmas, Sagan! Hope the weather is decent for the holidays.
Our winters are nowhere near as severe, but I still don’t enjoy riding my bike. I felt kind of wimpy about it until I noticed that the Thursday morning bike pack (serious riders with official biking suits and everything) had dwindled from 40-50 riders to SIX. I guess that even some of the hard-core cyclists take it indoors for the cold weather. 🙂
Asithi- Hate it when the public transportation system doesn’t work in your favour! I wish we had a better system in my city, too.
Dr. J- I’m thinking about rigging up an obstacle course in my apartment to keep me active for the winter months. Nothing too elaborate. Just, you know, turning the staircase into a climbing wall or something. It would be fun! I’m sure my landlord wouldn’t take issue at all 😀
Caleb- I’m coming to Texas.
Bag Lady- someone else warming it up first is a must! Hope your weather is good, too.
Cammy- I’m totally wimpy about it too. Winter was not made for cycling!
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Too dangerous. Salt will eat your bike to pieces. That’s my excuse, anyway.
And shortly your trek will me made oh so pleasant wit PODCASTS!
Hi Sagan,
Well…I love biking in the summer. Last year, I went as late into the fall as I felt safe with the darkening days, before stopping. The biggest problem for me was my frozen hands! Ouch!! So, I now stick to being a fair weather biker. And I’m okay with that. As long as you did this, though, very impressive!! For now, my mode of winter transportation is car…
Wow – I’m impressed you even tried it!! It never even occurred to me that one would cycle in the winter! You just don’t see that here. Perhaps we’re not as hardy as you Canadians?
Westwood- I LIKE that excuse. And I’m super excited about the podcasts!
Lance- I hear ya on the frozen hands. It’s crazy how fast hands freeze, no matter how many protective layers you’ve got on! And the lack of light is definitely a problem.
Charlotte- I have a lot of friends who do winter biking. I needed to up my street cred so I figured I’d try it out 😉 Hehe kidding. Winnipeggers are superintesehardy folk!