Cold weather biking tips to keep commuting in the winter

Snowy, icy roads and cold winds don't stop keen Calgarians from cycling to work in the winter.

A little bit of preparation can help keep active commuters zipping along the city's bike paths and lanes for the whole season, says Joshua Jean, a bike mechanic atRidley's Cycle.

"The first five minutes is the toughest part," Jean told the Calgary Eyeopener.

"By the time you're through that first five minutes, you're warmed up and you're happy that you're on your bike and you're on the way to work."

• Slick roads lead to bumper-to-bumper morning traffic

Basic bike

Don't ride your favourite summer road bike in the colder, snowier weather, Jean says.

"I find less is more with the winter bike," he said. "Just finding a bike that is very simplistic and finding something that's not that expensive because the winter is quite harsh on the bikes."

The extra moving parts can freeze up and you don't want to ruin your expensive bike. He suggests buying a cheaper, used bike that you won't mind breaking.

Studded tires

Depending on your commute, you may benefit from buying studded tires, Jean said.

A studded tire helps grip the ice and snow. Even a rubber tire made for the winter, which would be softer, can prevent the tire from hardening up in the cooler temperatures.

"Some people don't necessarily have the snowiest or iciest commute so they can get away with a non-studded tire," he said.

"Maybe just a knobbier tire that works a little bit better. But I would say for the majority of people that commute full time, I would say studded tires is necessary."

Watch Joshua Jean explain how studded tires help:

Watch Joshua Jean explain how studded tires help with winter cycling

7 years ago

Duration 0:53

Joshua Jean, a bike mechanic at Ridley's Cycle in Calgary, speaks about different kinds of studded tires.

They start at about $70 each. You'd want more studs for the front tire for control and stability, he said. And head's up: they're very noisy, like tap shoes, and can be tricky on concrete.

Maintenance

Again, Jean recommends a "less is more strategy" for maintaining your bike in the winter.

Try cleaning itwhen the weather warms during a chinook, and use a good wet-weather lubricant.

"Definitely get some good lights," Jean said.

"I find with winter commuting, most of us come to work in the dark and leave in the dark, so a good set of lights front and rear."

Dress warmly

Staying warm is key during chillycommutes.

Calgary Eyeopenerhost David Gray recommends using pogies, which, like a glove, wrap aroundyour handlebars and your hand,sealing in your body heat to keep your fingers warm.

Gray bikes to work in the morning and on Monday, it was 18 C.

He and other cyclists also recommend wearing lots of warm layers.

Try a moisture-wicking layer against your skin, thensomething warm but breathable, likefleece. Wear a wind-proof outer layer. Shell pants may help keep you warm and clean before arriving at work.

Check your route

The City of Calgary warnscyclists should check out their routes when winter begins.

Your usual bike lanes and paths may be snow-covered but some are a priority to have cleared within 24 hours. You can find those on a map online.

Cycling and cold weather cycling is on the rise, according to automatic tracking done by the city.

In 2014, the city tracked about 14,500 cyclists crossing the Peace Bridge in November. Last year, cyclists crossed the bridge more than 30,000 times.

It's still much busier in the summer, though. Cyclists crossed the bridge almost 180,000 times this past July.

With files from Kathryn Marlow and the Calgary Eyeopener