Comments on: Repeat After Me: Winter Commuters Aren’t Heroes

By: dr2chase

dr2chase — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 21:13:22 +0000

No more heroic than going skiing, and fair amount of the same gear.

By: Randy

Randy — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 22:12:14 +0000

I commute during the winter and have very little money. All of my cold weather cycling gear was used bought on Ebay. Pretty cheap cheaper that a tank of gas.

By: Randy

Randy — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 22:07:32 +0000

I have always commuted to work by bike. Miami, Atlantic City, and now Cape Cod.
Weather makes the commute interesting. Riding the same route day after day gets to be a routine but when you add weather, that makes it a challenge. My goal is to never call my wife to have her pick be up.

By: Marvin

Marvin — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 15:40:04 +0000

I’ve been a year-round commuter in Boston for ~ 15 years. At first, my coworkers thought I was crazy, now they just shrug when I roll in.
Studded Nokians and appropriate clothing make it not that different from the rest of the year (mostly)..

By: Casey

Casey — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 20:31:57 +0000

I commuted all through two winters when I lived in Santa Fe and it was hardly heroic. It’s really not hard at all. Warm clothes and the right tires are really the important part. Of course, everyone I worked with, at a bike company nonetheless, thought I was crazy. Really, I enjoy riding in the snow.

By: Columbus commuter

Columbus commuter — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 15:39:33 +0000

I have commuted through the last five winters. I will admit that I do not really like slick, slushy roads, but I bike because I hate to drive and I want the daily exercise. For the most part bicycling in the winter is not difficult but there are the inevitable spills that leave me a little sore. I definitely don’t do it because I want others to think that I am superhuman or any of that nonsense. These winter rides make me better appreciate the beautiful spring commutes that await.

By: Ted Johnson

Ted Johnson — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 21:14:01 +0000

@Matt,

Here are a few on winterizing your bike and yourself:

http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/11/10/urban-bad-weather-commuting/
http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/12/18/bicycle-fenders/
http://www.commutebybike.com/2010/11/18/every-person-not-confined-inside-metal-makes-for-a-better-community/

This resource on studded tires has been submitted by several readers, most recently by Bill O.
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/studdedtires.asp

By: Matt

Matt — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 19:34:34 +0000

Where does one get studded snow bike tires. I am the guy on bald summer tires with no brakes. Is there a good article on winterizing for upstate NY?

By: Alan@TreeFort

Alan@TreeFort — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 21:12:30 +0000

I think it all depends on the perspective of what you are talking about. Surely Batman isn’t a hero when it comes to winter cycling. But we’d all say he’s a hero at least in the comic book realm and bringing order to Gotham city.

Does implying that cycling through the winter makes you a hero mean that it is inaccessible to others? Why can’t we all be heroes?

Its the one less car idea. Its not that you are the difference, its that you are part of the difference and an advocate of cycling. Lets all ride, all year round, and be part of something great.

By: Jack

Jack — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 20:19:00 +0000

It’s that old saying, “the only person I have to impress is me.”

Whatever motivates.

Gear up, ride on.