Winnipeg winters can be tough and the commute to work or school can be a huge part of the challenge. While scraping off your car’s windshield or shivering at the bus stop, you may not be thinking that winter cycling could be a better alternative, but more and more people are embracing the option each year. While cycling through a winter isn’t always a cake-walk either, the extra time and money spent on layers of clothing pay for themselves quickly in warmth and savings on gas or bus fare. Us folks in the sustainability office are firm believers in the joys of winter and strongly encourage you to learn to love the season by spending time outdoors in it.   Getting out for a tromp down a snowy trail, a skate on the river, a ski in the forest or a bike down a path can go a long way towards appreciating the sparkle of the snowflakes, the quiet of the woods or the thrill of slicing through the crisp night air.  Go sledding at Garbage Hill!  Build a snowman!  Feed the birds! With Winter Bike to Work Day (Feb 9), the Jack Frost Challenge (Feb 11-17) and Festival Du Voyageur (Feb 16-25), coming up there are ample opportunities and events encouraging you to embrace the outdoors. 

To help inspire you to hop on your bike, regardless of the season, Geoff Heath our College Environmental Initiatives Coordinator is hosting a Winter Biking Workshop.  He’ll cover road hazards, route choices, cold weather riding gear, how to make your bike a winter bike, and skills for riding on snow and ice. If you needed an added incentive there will be prize draws for workshop attendees of studded winter bike tires and sets of high-quality bike lights!

Winter Biking Workshop Wed, Jan 31 – 4:15-5:45 PM – P107 meeting room (Roblin Centre)

Please email Gheath@rrc.ca to register

If you can’t attend the workshop, here’s Geoff’s top 5 winter cycling tips for beginners:

1. Dress in layers and use zippers to adjust your temperature.  Sweaty socks, gloves and gear can be a real winter hazard.  Changing into fresh dry socks before going out can be a toe-saver.  Having glove liners that can easily be removed and dried keeps your hands much warmer on the ride home.  Jackets with armpit zips allow you to stay cool even when working hard.  Synthetic or wool base layers that wick sweat will keep you warmer and drier than cotton, which tends to hold moisture.

• Any bike can be a winter bike!  But keep in mind that the salty roads can corrode bike frames & parts so you may want to have a bike dedicated to winter riding only.  You don’t need fat tires to ride safely on ice and snow.  In fact, adding a studded tire or two to your current bike will provide superior traction on ice and studs made of carbide can be ridden for years on pavement, ice and snow before they wear out. 

• You might have to try a few different routes in the winter to find your preferred way to school or work.  Not all bike trails and paths get cleared consistently in winter, so be prepared to take detours.  Winnipeg roads generally get cleared and sanded quickly and thoroughly, so even after most major snowfalls you’ll still be able ride soon after on major routes.   Smaller residential streets and back lanes can get tricky to ride as the snow builds up over the season.  But other options open up too; try riding the snowpacked paths along the frozen rivers!

• There are a few skills worth reminding yourself to use once the roads get slick; modulating your braking to avoid locking up your wheels (especially your front wheel!) can help keep you upright.  You want to avoid spinning your rear wheel when accelerating, so keeping a light, even cadence is important when getting going.  Lastly, staying seated when pushing hard on the pedals keeps your center of balance low and weight over your rear wheel.  It can be tempting to stand up and lean forward as one does to accelerate in the summer, but this can lead to your rear wheel sliding out from under you.  And if you do wipe out, and eventually we all do, the bonus of winter wipe-outs is that your many layers are between your skin and the pavement!

•  Lastly, ease into winter riding and know your limits.  Winter biking takes some trial & error to dial in your gear, your bike, your fitness and your route.  Some days it’s not worth braving the -35 and some days the roads just aren’t passable.  So take it slow & enjoy the scenery. 

If the sustainability office can do anything to help improve your commute by bike, foot, bus or carpool, please don’t hesitate to drop us a line!  Sustainability@RRC.ca