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Cold-weather biking
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cold-weather biking, cold-weather cycling, or winter biking is the use of a bicycle during months when roads and paths are covered with ice, slush and snow. Cold weather cyclists face a number of challenges in near or below freezing temperatures. Urban commuters on city streets may have to deal with "[s]now, slush, salt, and sand", which can cause rust and damage to metal bike components.[1] Slush and ice can jam derailleurs.[1] Some cyclists may bike differently in winter, by "slow[ing] down on turns and brak[ing] gradually" in icy conditions.[2] Gaining traction on snow and ice-covered roads can be difficult.[3] Winter cyclists may use bikes with front and rear fenders,[1] metal studded winter tires[4] and flashing LED lights.[1][3] Winter cyclists may wear layers of warm clothes and "ea[r], face, and han[d]" coverings[5] may be used. Specialized winter bikes called fatbikes, which have wide, oversized tires that are typically inflated with low pressure, are used in snow trail riding and winter bike competitions.
![]() | The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with North America and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (February 2016) |
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