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| Slow down, be safe, and if you live in northern latitudes, boost vitamin D. |
Winter riding conditions in Vermont were waylaid by a month, something that I have mixed feelings about. Dry, warmer temperatures means it's easier to navigate with lights during after work rides. (I rode the Dahon a lot in December.) I venture further and ride multiple routes, and feel safer on dirt paths and trails. For as long as I can.
On the other hand, frequent snow storms and plummeting temperatures within a week is a shock, and a different mindset takes over. Studded tires go on; snow goggles, bar mitts, and down parka come out; path choices dwindle, and I ride less in the dark, preferring weekend daylight and once a week rides to the office for better visibility.
Staying warm is less of an issue because of previous years testing my cold weather stamina and figuring out appropriate gear. It didn't take long to adapt to riding on snow either, quickly reminded to lower gearing, loosen grip on the bars, and avoid erratic turns. (Kind of like a metaphor for life: sometimes you need to slow down but keep moving!)
A destination is also a necessity, preferably at least a 10 mile loop, which seems to be the magic distance for enough exercise.
Upon reflection, while my biking body prefers warmer temperatures, cold is more seasonable and allows me also to cross-country ski. Plus, sunset is nearly 5pm!
Unfortunately or fortunately, we don't get enough severe weather to make it economically sensible to get serious winter clothes and bike equipment so I just have to walk when the frosts and snows come.
ReplyDeleteI keep riding in winter, but when the snow comes, I stick to the roads. My local trails aren't cleared of snow or ice, and I know from experience that they're quite slow and not very fun to ride with 2-inch studded tires. Fat bikes might be able to make a go of it, but I don't have one. I try to get out on the bike every day around mid-day. That's when I'm least likely to find ice on the roads with our freeze-thaw cycles. Sometimes we get an extended thaw cycle with rain, and that opens up the trails for a while.
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