Winter riding

It's gotten pretty nasty out recently in TO. Rain, sleet, followed by freezing temps. Lots of toxic sludge splattering you as you ride. I've noticed the number of cyclists on the Queen St corridor between Parkdale and downtown has dropped faster than the price of oil since the weather went South.

I'm not complaining. I like not having to negotiate my way around all the fair weather cyclists who clog up the curb lane in nicer weather. I'm quite comfortable because I dress for the conditions and stick to the main streets, which are well salted and cleared of snow, more or less.

But I think you fair weather riders should give winter riding a shake. It's nowhere near as macho uncomfortable as it might look from the window of the Queen streetcar. And you know it's cheaper and way, way faster than the red rocket. So at the risk of compromising my exclusive use of the cycling lane all winter, here's what I do to stay safe and reasonably clean and warm while cycling in the winter.

1. Thin balaclava under the helmet. A balaclava is 10 times warmer than a toque or other woolly hat. It covers the neck and chin. Your neck generates lots of heat and loses lots of heat if it's not covered. Even a thin 'clava keeps your neck and head toasty. This is the single piece of equipment that makes winter cycling doable for me. 'Cause I really hate being cold.
2. Gators - the English call these 'puttees', quite popular during the Great War for keeping the mud of nomansland out of your shoes. They cover most of your shoes and come up to your knees. They keep your lower legs warm and more importantly they protect them from the piles of road filth a Toronto winter ride throws up on you. They tear off in seconds thanks to the miracle of velcro, keeping your Harry Rosen suit trousers presentable. MEC and other outdoor stores sell these things (the gators, not the Harry Rosens).
3. If you don't want to wear gators, just find some ski pants to wear over your jeans. Good for really cold weather.
4. Tires - I really don't think it matters that much what kind of tires you use. Nothing works on ice, but there aren't more than 3 or 4 days a year when the main downtown streets are really seriously covered with a solid layer of snow or ice. Just take it easy, and ride out a bit from the curb - the 2 feet next to the curb is where you find the nice bits of frozen puddle that will spill you into the path of that speeding stretch limo.
5. Be visible. You know what that means. Lights, primary colours.
6. I wear a down vest because I really really hate being cold, like I mentioned already. For most people this may not be necessary. Might make you sweat even.
7. If you ride regularly in winter your bike will get unbelievably filthy. You need to get a bucket of of warm water with a bit of soap in it and some brushes and wash your bike off regularly. This is fun. If you have kids, make them do it for you. Or you could put on a wet suit and ride through a car wash. Keep the chain and brake posts lubed.
8. Mitts- I use 3-fingered bike gloves. If you hold them up your hand in a crowd there's always some Star Trek geek who comes up to you and says, "Live long and prosper".

Happy winter riding!

Mike