Somerville Bicycle Committee hosted an event this past Wednesday (11/18) from 6:00-7:00 PM called Bike Talk Social Hour, featuring Emily Thibadeau, owner of Hub Bicycles, who gave us tips on winter cycling. All the advice was from her own experience, and the talk was nicely relaxed, conversational, and interactive. Here are some tips:
- Two enemies of the bike during winter: water moisture, salt (editor's note: this is why PN2K has bike events featuring our bike pressure washer)
- Preparing the bike for the winter: check your fasteners, seat post, bottom bracket -- put a layer of grease in there, the one with thicker consistency (there are two types of grease: 1. grease for threads, seat post that are thicker in consistency; 2. grease lubricant that does not have a thick consistency.)
- Check your brake pads (make sure they have grooves from top to bottom; if you don't see them, it means you need a new set)
- Cables: Shift levers to dérailleur or brakes; they are covered by housing. Moisture will build up inside the housing and cause corrosion; use a dab of grease over cable opening (stops some water)
- Fenders: "I have a love-hate relationship with them" - People request fenders so you don't have the skunk stripe; during winter, fenders also stops salt spray for getting into places you don't want corroding your bike (front dérailleur; off of you, so your winter gear lasts longer)
- Clipless pedals. Clipping in and out action should go a long way to get the salt off the pedals.
- Tires. Studded winter tires: they're really good for ice; they're very heavy, tends to lose lots of studs if you get the inexpensive ones.
- Tires (in general): if they change your behavior in riding, it could be dangerous. Emily uses regular tires. In the winter, just ride slowly, and "know you're already doing better than the people on the bus or in the car."
- Mountain tire vs. street tire -- deep lug tire to float above snow and get better traction. Street tire: think of it as cutting close to the street. Fat tires- ridiculously fun. (But takes up space and expensive) Four inches of rubber contacting snow.
- Handlebars. Lighter gear allows you to recover quickly if you lose traction.
- U-lock always freezes. Preventative measures: use a dry lubricant, like graphite powder instead of liquid lubricant so it doesn't freeze. Also make sure lock faces down. Also flap over lock/key mechanism. How to get lubricant into u lock: (hardware store) light powder, just place into lock, give puffs, and work key in that way.
- Check pressure tire once a week. Keep as much pressure in tire as before for road bike so you get as much tire on asphalts as you can for better traction. For mountain bikes, can let pressure out a bit so more tire touches asphalt.
- Spokes. If stainless steel+brass combo, you don't have to worry so much. If you have aluminum alloy with it (racing bike), tends to crack--add lube
- Fixed gear recommended for the winter? Emily: They have fewest moving parts so maintenance-wise, they do have advantage (fewer parts to be ruined); causes less skidding than using brakes-- use leg muscles to control. If you have the space and budget, do it (get fixed gear), but you don't need it.
- Type of chain: Chain lube- really important part of maintaining bike during winter
- Lightweight lube- parrafin
- Wet/heavy lube- cling to chain more tightly but dirtier; will attract road grime
- If fixie bike, go with heaviest lube
- Biking routes: Find a good route for you. Sometimes it may be longer distance-wise.
- Summary:
- Check your air pressure*
- Wiping down all sand, salt, slush
- Making sure chain is lubricated*
*These are things you should be doing for year-round maintenance also, not just winter.
Shortly thereafter, Jane and I went rock-climbing at BKB (since the venue, Aeronaut Brewing Company, was literally a stone's throw away from Brooklyn Boulders). So many people there on a weekday evening!
We hope all these tips will help your winter-cycling adventures. And special thanks to Ken Carlson from Somerville Bicycle Committee for inviting us, as well as Emily for such helpful tips. Here a toast to all of us who are attempting to cycle this winter for the first time!
Keep Calm & Pedal On