“Two feet of snow, 20-degree temperatures and patches of black ice will keep most cyclists away from the saddle. But a few brave souls insist on combating old man winter’s drudgery by hitting the streets, no matter how poor the conditions.”
Non-cycling specific publications and websites don’t always do the best job of getting it right when it comes to cycling-related news, but in this instance Wired definitely got it right. Wired talked recently with Todd Downs, professional Bicycle Mechanic and author of The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance & Repair for Road & Mountain Bikes (which we will be reviewing soon) about winter riding. Unlike the more mountain bike oriented Campbell Coaching piece BR recently posted, this article deals more with urban riding and commuting. There are unique tips in the article, tips you might not find anywhere else:
If you’re riding around on busy urban roads, consider a Respro pollution mask. It will keep your nose and mouth from freezing, and it also helps block traffic pollution from cars with cold catalytic converters.
Downs runs us through everything we need to know to get it together for winter riding, step by step:
- 1 Prep your wheels
- 2 Keep it clean
- 3 Fenders are your friends
- 4 Stay lit at all times
- 5 Gear up
- 6 Choose the right path
- 7 Know your machine
Check out the article on Wired.
