Cyclists prepare for winter biking in Madison

Madison Bike Winter [1] is gearing up for the next few months full of snow, ice, and, that’s right, biking. This season, they are encouraging bike enthusiasts everywhere to get out on the road and continue commuting on two wheels.

“Madison Bike Winter gives me and the people who are helping me along an opportunity to share our knowledge and skills with people who are looking to ride more in winter, people on the fence of whether or not to try it, and other folks who are just very curious about winter biking,” said Aaron Crandall, creator of Madison Bike Winter (MBW).

Crandall, who three years ago got the idea and support for his group from Chicago’s bikewinter.org, [2] said many people are interested in continuing to bike all year round, but they just have to get out there to try it, see if it’s for them and where their comfort level is.

Whether your commute is just a few minutes away or a lengthier ride, bikers should know the right attire to wear to be comfortable in the elements.

Winter riders should dress in layers and invest in a coat that is both windproof and a bright color to be visible to cars that don’t expect to see bikers. The main focus however, is keeping the head, hands, and feet warm, explained Crandall. 

Bikers should invest in a pair or two of thermal socks to wear under winter boots while biking. According to Crandall, hands will get cold no matter what, so he recommends a nice pair of liners to wear underneath existing gloves.

For the head, Crandall suggests a balaclava, which is a thin but warm material that covers the neck, head, and face. They are inexpensive and found at most sporting good stores.

“During the cold weather it is uncomfortable to breath in cold air. A balaclava covers up your mouth, so it’s not quite as cold,” said Crandall.

[3]Some people may also choose to wear goggles to protect their eyes from snow and wind. If wearing a mouth cover, however, riders should take extra care since goggles will fog up easily.

A final piece Crandall says bikers may want to add to their winter-biking wardrobe is a pair of rain pants. Rain pants cover up your work clothes and keep them clean from the slush and salt found on the road during the winter. 

When it comes to riding in winter elements, Crandall urges bikers to take extra precautions to stay safe and keep their bikes in good condition.

Bikers willing to spend a few extra dollars can invest in studded tires for either one or both of their wheels to better grip the ice and snow and fenders to keep the slush from flying up from the wheels.

For those unwilling to spend money, Crandall recommends using an older or inexpensive bike if possible during winter months since bikes rust much quicker when they get wet.

To keep them working in good condition, riders should wipe their bikes down after each use, especially metal components that aren’t painted such as the chains, handlebars and wheel rims, which rust much faster. Chains should also be lubricated much more often to ensure they are working properly.

Bikes should be stored in a sheltered, unheated place like a garage since bringing bikes back and forth between the winter weather and heat of a house cause the bike to deteriorate more quickly.

Riders must use common sense to not make any sudden turns in slippery conditions, stay in their comfort zone, and carefully plan out their route when there is snow on the ground. Crandall urges riders to utilize bike paths as often as possible to avoid riding in traffic, since many snowplows forgo the bike lane to clear the road for cars.

“The City of Madison does a great job of clearing the bike paths in conjunction with the Madison Parks Department. Sometimes they even have the paths cleaned up before major streets,” said Crandall.

Last year, Madison Bike Winter co-hosted a winter Bike to Work Week with the Bike Federation of Wisconsin to encourage bikers to continue to ride throughout the winter. One of the companies that handed out coffee on bike paths during the week is currently preparing to close up shop for the winter.

Madison B-cycle will be removing ten of their stations for the season beginning Friday, Dec. 14. The city of Madison requires them to close for the winter since many of the spots where the red bikes are rented sit at stops where the city places excess snow.

Bike removal, covering the stands, and taking out the computer chips that run the rentals at each location are done at each station that is not removed to winterize them for the season.

“All of our bikes go through a full winter overhaul where we replace parts, touch up paint and do all the things that don’t get done in the summer two week checkups,” said Madison B-cycle [4] City Manager Claire Hurley. “After the winter overhaul, bikes go into storage in a warehouse in Waterloo, Wis.”

Throughout the winter Madison B-Cycle will prepare for their reopening on March 15. They are already planning on opening two new stations and working on other advertising and sponsorship to get ready for next season.

Crandall says Madison Bike Winter is planning on hosting another Winter Bike to Work Week in mid-February. This will give sponsors and cyclists alike the chance to promote winter biking and camaraderie.

“Madison Bike Winter is a social group," said Crandall, "but also an opportunity for people who are curious or want to get more connected.”