網路城邦
上一篇 回創作列表 下一篇   字體:
ICEBIKE
2011/12/09 12:27:26瀏覽239|回應0|推薦0







Winter Cycling



 


As a web site that advocates cycling as a normal means of transportation, we would be

remiss if we ignored the fact that in the major part of North America there is this little

inconvenience called WINTER



The vast majority of cyclists hang up their steeds as soon as it turns cold enough that

shorts are uncomfortably cool. Most of the remaining put the bike on hooks in the garage

after a month or so of riding in long tights.  The first hint of frost marks the end

of the cycling "season".



Why does bicycling have a "season"?   Sports have seasons.  Is

bicycling only a "sport"?



Sadly this is how many people view cycling, as just a sport.  But we believe that

the bicycle is the most appropriate vehicle for the vast majority of transportation needs

of the average person.  From the vantage point of cost, pollution, health, and

enjoyability, the bike wins hands down over private automobiles and public transportation.



Then Comes Winter!



Bad enough that "winter" in southern California discourages most sunny

weather cyclists, how could one possibly manage winter in a northern city, let alone such

places as Canada, and (shudder) Alaska?





Well, guess what folks; Winter Cycling is not only practical but

growing in popularity, a great deal of fun as well.





After a couple of years of cycling all winter, I stumbled onto the fact that there were

a few other folks doing the same thing when I read a post in a news group that someone had

started a winter cycling mailing list called "ICEBIKE".  The term was

actually invented by the list manager (Joe Clark of Montreal Canada), and it came to

signify all things about Winter Cycling.  I've been doing it for 6 years now and each

year I find myself looking forward to winter and the winter cycling opportunity.  Did

I mention I live in Alaska?





Isn't That Cold and Dangerous?





First, let me dispel some myths commonly held as truths by those who have never tried

to ride a bike on ice and snow:



It's Not Unpleasant. 





The same person who will ask you if you're crazy (a common theme) if you arrive

somewhere on a bicycle on a snowy winter day will be just itching to get their ski gear

out and head for the mountain.  Per hour spent, skiing must be hundreds of times more

dangerous than winter cycling.



Winter riding is a great form of exercise, and very enjoyable.  The air is crisp

and clear (except when it is snowing and everything is soft and rounded).  The

countryside is white and pure, and even SUV drivers give you wide clearance.





It's Not Cold.





Contrary to your expectations, the biggest problem with most winter cycling is not

keeping warm.  The hard part is keeping cool enough.  Cycling in any weather

generates a great deal of excess heat.  The first mistake of those new to

"ICEBIKING" is to dress too warmly.



Dressing so as to get rid of excess heat and sweat is "The" principal

learning curve to master for enjoyable winter cycling.  It took me a year, but that

was before the advent of web sites like ICEBIKE

where this information is consolidated.



It is only when temperatures dip to below Zero (F), (-20C) that being warm enough

requires some planning.  Even then, most winter cyclists keep right on riding until

-20F and some to -40F.  I will address this below.





It's Not Dangerous





Many folks expect winter cycling to be fraught with peril.  After all, they know

how hard it is to control their car on icy roads.  Yes, slipping and crashing on ice

can happen, but you learn to handle your bike so as not to induce sliding, and  Studded bike

tires provide awesome traction.



There are the occasional crashes but because of extra clothing and a slippery surface

to land on, these usually result in less injury than would be sustained by a bare limbed

cyclist on dry pavement. Road rash is just about unheard of.



In the winter of 98/99 the ICEBIKE

site conducted a survey of winter cyclists
with an automated web based survey

instrument.  One of the questions asked about the worst accident that respondents had

experienced while cycling in winter. The results were surprising.



Only slightly over 4 percent had ever required medical attention for a winter cycling

accident. Fully 70% had never been injured at all!  Not so much as a sprain.



What Was Your Worst Winter Cycling Accident ?

















































None 21%
Minor falls - no injury 50%
Sprains, bruises, minor frostbite -no medical attention 21%
Sprains, broken bones, - needing medical attention 4%
Injury requiring Hospitalization < 1%






The ICEBIKE Site continues:



"Yet this is not to say that winter cycling is uneventful. Another 70% did

have some uncontrolled collisions with the ground, or other injuries, but nothing

requiring medical attention."







Is it Practical?





After 6 years of daily commuting to work on a bicycle year round I have to admit it is

far more practical than even I would have thought.  At first I was just doing it for

the exercise.  But then it became obvious to me that I was having an easier time

getting around than most of the drivers on days when it was really slippery. 



Further, drivers always arrive at work complaining how cold it was.  I would

arrive warm and awake. 



Drivers would rush out of work early to start their cars so they could ride home in a

warm vehicle.  They would then let them idle for anywhere from 10 minutes to half an

hour.  I never idled my bike.  It was always warm enough for the ride home.



Drivers would get stuck in snow.  (I used to stop and help, now I just ride by and

wave). 



Most of all it is just plain enjoyable.  The air is fresh and clear, it is usually

dryer in the dead of winter which keeps your bike cleaner.  Riding in falling snow is

quiet and peaceful. Making the first track on a road in the morning is fun. 

Wondering who made the other tracks in the evening keeps you guessing.



Watching the avalanche of snow tumbling from your brake shoes as you charge through 6

inches of power is fascinating.  Powder is easy to ride in and quite fun.



Pushing your way through 6 inches of heavy wet snow is some of the most tiring

bicycling you will ever do.  It's like climbing very steep hills.  It is

exhausting, and it always leaves you with a silly grin on your face because you never knew

working that hard could be that much fun!



There are places you could never go in summer.  How about a ride across the lake?

 





How to Get Started





To get started in winter cycling the best advice from members of the ICEBIKE Mailing List is

to never stop riding in the fall.  Simply extend your riding season one day at a time

into the fall, and then into the winter.  Daily riding is best.  Commuting is an

excellent way to get into ICEBIKING. 



Each day, simply look at the weather forecast and remember yesterday's ride.  Were

you too warm?  Did you get wet?  Were your ears cold?  Is it going to be

colder today?  Will it rain?



With the answers to these questions, make minor adjustments to your cycling wear. Add a

scull cap, stocking hat, or helmet liner.  Ski gloves work just fine. Winter cycling

gloves are hard to find, but "lobster claw" type mittens by several companies

are available and quite warm.





Clothing





Winter tights are an excellent choice, because you will find that regular pants are

difficult to ride in and once wet they are very cold.   Good winter tights are

hard to fine, but they are becoming more available as the popularity of winter cycling

grows.  Long johns made of Capilene (tm) are great at extending the comfort range of

tights another 10 degrees colder.  The ICEBIKE site rates various types of tights.



Breathable fabrics are key here.  The newer Polartec (and similar) fabrics are

really great for high-exercise activities like winter cycling. You can work hard, but

still vent most of the moisture.  It's not unusual to be out on a cold crisp day

working hard while riding across a frozen lake and see frost forming on your jacket from

all the vented moisture.



Shoes are the single biggest problem area.  There are only a couple brands of

cycling shoes that are warm enough for real winter use.  These are very expensive,

about $200. 



Therefore many winter cyclists switch to toe clips and straps even if their summer bike

is equipped with Clipless pedals.  There are all sorts of other combinations of

overbooties, neoprene underbooties, plastic bags and what not that cyclists try in order

to compensate for the miserable suitability of summer cycling shoes for winter use. 

My advice is to either spend the money and get the expensive "Lake" brand winter

cycling boots which are compatible with Clipless pedals or just switch to clips and straps

and use winter or hiking boots.  The rest of the paraphernalia of booties just does

not work for anything but an occasional weekend ride.





Equipment





If winter in your locale is simply cold rain, fenders and rain gear is probably all you

will need.



On the other hand, if snow and ice are to be expected, you may want to look into some

studded tires.  While expensive, these do last 3 to 6 winters.  These make a big

difference on icy roads, or hard packed snow.  I cycled a couple winters without

them.  It is do-able, no question.  I don't remember any significant crashes

from those years.  But my confidence level is higher with studs than without.



Lights are another key item because darkness comes early.  You will find both your

morning and evening commute are in darkness in late December and January.  Even day

outings can run into evening hours, especially when the sun sets, and "evening"

begins at 3:30 in the afternoon as it does for me here in Alaska.  Long running

lights front and back are a must.



A second bike is another good choice.  Having one bike equipped with studded tires

and another equipped for wet weather is very useful in my area, as our winter weather is

unpredictable.  I don't like to run my studded tires on bare pavement, and switch to

the rain bike when it gets above freezing.





Expectations





Expect to be treated better by motorists in winter than in summer.  If motorists

don't see that painted bike lane they give you wider clearance than if they do see it,

even if you ride in the same position.  Motorists also seldom honk at you in winter.



Expect to take the lane more often, as snow plows often dump plow spoil at the edge of

the road making it unridable. 



Expect to be somewhat of a loner, a member of a small elite set of cyclists that ride

in winter.



Expect to "wimp out" on the coldest days of your first winter.  That's

ok, it takes a while to figure out what works in the cold, and to accumulate all the

proper cold weather gear that is still breathable.



Expect everyone you know to believe you are crazy for the full duration of your first

winter.  After the first year, they grow to accept the fact that you probably are not

going to get killed anytime soon.



Expect to find winter cycling far more enjoyable than you ever imagined.  Expect

to find yourself sneaking out of work on your lunch break to take a ride on a sunny winter

day.



Expect a great deal of satisfaction upon the arrival of spring after your first year of

ICEBIKING.  It is a good feeling to know that you were able to take what winter

dished out and you will be entering spring in better shape than any of the

"seasonal" bikers



Expect to have plenty of opportunity to say to your friends, after they

"ding" their precious fenders slipping around on icy roads, "Now maybe you

will put that silly thing away and get on a bike where you belong".  ;-)



( 不分類不分類 )
回應 推薦文章 列印 加入我的文摘
上一篇 回創作列表 下一篇

引用
引用網址:https://classic-blog.udn.com/article/trackback.jsp?uid=donnywong1210&aid=5914335