Panelists for the Q&A included Patrick, Liz and France, with Low as moderator
Is it better to buy a new bike and commit to maintenance or a junker with the assumption that it will die given winter conditions?
Liz suggested that, depending on your budget, you should buy the bike that fits your needs but even if you get a low-cost bike it’s ideal to maintain that bike so you don’t have to repurpose or buy another one the following winter! Even simple maintenance like cleaning and lubing your chain every few weeks can go a long way!
Resources for buying bikes!
- Twin Cities FTW WTF Bicycle Trading Post
- Twin Cities Bicycle Trading Post (be ready for white men)
- The Hub
- Cherry Cycles — closing location = deals!
- Recovery
- Full Cycle
- Sierra Trading Post
- Backcountry
- Moosejaw
- Used gear on REI
- Repair Lair
- Midwest Mountain / Thrifty Outfitters
- Patagonia Worn Wear
- Clothing swaps
- City bike auctions
How do you balance the warmth and benefits of wearing goggles with the decrease in peripheral vision if you don’t have mirrors?
Liz noted that because you have to turn your head more, you have to be cognizant of not turning your handlebars, too. It can be helpful to practice during warmer seasons so you don’t have to contend with winter road conditions to get comfortable turning your head.
What about wearing glasses with goggles?
Patrick said they just don’t wear their glasses with their goggles. But you can get prescription goggles, though they’re more pricey. There are also inserts for goggles, that fill part of the screen. They still fog up but a little better than not wearing glasses, if necessary.
What’s the hardest part of winter biking for you?
Having to be at work at 8 a.m., France said it’s the motivation to get up and get ready. Liz said the same: getting motivated to ride to work and then wherever they’re going after work, like to see friends in the evening. For Liz, some days it’s better to drive because staying inside and not seeing friends is more detrimental to their mental well being. Winter riding doesn’t make you a better person. If it’s not going to make you feel good to ride, that’s OK! For Patrick, motivation is a challenge, as well, but saying it’s OK to ride to work and then take the bus home makes it easier, especially on longer routes.
What about self care? What’s your top tip?
France said it’s embracing winter; finding things that you love outside and being active helps with your spirit. For Liz, it’s baths — with with scented candles! Sitting in warm water and doing a full body inventory. For Patrick, it’s getting a Ginger Shot from Juice So Good everyday to help with internal warming and immune health!
From the group: What are your favorite life hacks or DIY tips and tricks for winter?
- You don’t need to have all your winter bike gear before you try biking in the winter. You can accumulate gear over time!
- For folks who find it stressful to pack before leaving the house, it can be helpful to have a list of things to remember, i.e. gloves, thermos, etc
- Have a dedicated space for all your winter gear, like an open shelf by the door, where you can put everything when you walk in and see everything when you’re about to leave.
- Having a sun lamp alarm clock can be great in the winter; it lights up to wake you up! If you have trouble getting up you can put one on each side of your bed!
- For waking up, you can also put a timer on a lamp.
- Having plants in your room can help you remember living things will come back! Going to Como Conservatory can be nice, the plants and humidity, when winter feels like too much.
- To keep your hands and feet warm — to avoid getting crabby! – pack extra slippers.
- Always carry an extra pair of socks! Feet get sweaty or moist from the weather and its can be great, once you get to work or a concert to put on clean socks.
- If you don’t want to purchase disposable hand and foot warmers, you can get rice warmers, which you pop in the microwave before you head out.
- Moisturizing around your eyes and mouth, especially if you don’t like to have a lot on your face like goggles or a facemask.
- Wear waterproof mascara.
- For nose bleeds, put Vaseline on Q-tip to hydrate the inside of your nose and put a humidifier in the bedroom.
- Put some eucalyptus in hot water and breathe that in.
- Take Vitamin D. Iron and Vitamin D don’t work well together, so take separately. Iron and Vitamin C do go well together.
- Try meditation; Common Ground is a resource in Minneapolis with talks on the website and a POC sangha, too.
- Having a plan in case of emergency. That could be a phone charger, cash and a bus card, whatever you might need. A spare tube is helpful but in winter you might not want to change a tire outside, so know that you can put it on the bus and take it to a bike shop, or have a friend drive you home from an event if you’re feeling low energy. This can lessen anxiety and make winter biking more possible!
- You can register with Metro Transit as a non-regular driver and get one cab ride per month through the Guaranteed Ride Home program. Info here!
- Plan meals for days you know will be hard so you have a fun reward at the end of the day, i.e. Know Wednesdays are always tough? Treat yourself to a burger!
- With winter biking you burn so many calories to keep your body warm, that it’s important to pack snacks for when you hit the wall or just need a little boost. Put little chocolate bars in the pockets of your bike jacket!
What’s your top snack?
For Patrick, it’s a fruity sweet snack like a Clif Bar. Because they have a long ride and often get hungry after breakfast, they make overnight oats with fruit and nuts and chia seeds so they can eat half at home before they leave and the other half at work. For France, it’s foods that are higher in fat and protein like hard-boiled eggs, sardines or avocado. Liz said they struggle with making a good breakfast in the morning so, knowing this habit won’t change, they eat a simple meal like a bowl of cereal or toast and, at work, they have a stash of bagels and cream cheese and lunch meat so they have something to eat if / when they’re hungry when they arrive or later in the morning.
How do you carry your bike up and down the stairs?
Remember to carry it at an angle with the heaviest part of the bike closest to your body. This could mean putting your shoulder under the saddle or under the top tube and your hand on the down tube. Take it slow and remember to manage for turns. If you have a back rack, consider taking the bike up or downstairs backwards!