I applaud Chestermere’s walking initiative as described in the Anchor. There’s only one problem from my perspective. I hate walking. I also hate jogging, running, or using a treadmill which makes me feel like a human hamster. So how do I get fresh air and exercise? I ride my bike even in the winter. We are blessed with a pretty good pathway system here in town and the town does a pretty good job of keeping them clear. Unlike walking, riding your bike gets you where you want to go while you still remember why you wanted to go there, which is an important consideration once you pass 50. It’s also easy on the knees and amuses small children when they see you doing it in the winter. The next time we get a nice day why not haul out the bicycle and give it a try. You may find the thought of riding in the cold a little intimidating but remember you can pick your days. Even if you stick to “warm, dry, and windless” with our variable weather you will be able to get out a few days every month. You get to see a lot of the wildlife that hangs around Chestermere in the winter, whether feathered, furred, or sitting on the lake ice fishing. Bicycling is one of the best forms of aerobic exercise going. Riding from my house to Safeway and back (8 km) I burn between 250 and 500 calories (depending on wind and road/path conditions). You can thus stop halfway and enjoy a coffee and doughnut without worrying it’s going straight to your butt. The effort involved in packing a case of beer home on the bike covers many of the calories gained in the quaffing thereof! Rationalization is a wonderful side benefit of biking. If you think you might like to give it a try, here’s a few tips.
First, the bike. Most people these days seem to ride mountain type bikes. In the winter, they’re the best ones. They have wider tires with fairly aggressive treads which will grab better in an inch or two of snow. You can buy studded tires (I have them) but they are expensive so I recommend finding out if you like it first. If you lower the tire pressure a touch you will have better traction. Especially during Chinooks, you will find the lower half of the bike will attract a lot of abrasive/corrosive sandy and salty crud from the road. I fill a watering can with hot water and rinse this off after riding. Speaking of crud, you need fenders. Trust me on this one. Buy a spray can of good winter rated water displacing lubricant (try B&P Cycle at 52nd and 17th SE) and use it on your chain, pivot points on the brakes and derailleur, etc. If you wash off your bike and store it below zero be aware that the chain, derailleur, etc. can freeze so loosen them up before you hop on and try to ride. If not you can drop your chain or discover that you can’t shift or worse, stop. You may want to pick up a gel seat cover as the seat can get very cold and hard. Those of you with $2000 carbon fiber bikes may want to consider picking up a “winter beater” from Goodwill or a garage sale since you will care a lot less if your chain rusts.
Next, the rider. You will be amazed at how much heat you will generate as you ride. I find that if you are comfortably warm when you start out you will be sweating in a very short time. Add some wind from nature and your efforts and you will rapidly become cold. Layers of breathable fabric are best. If you have a backpack you can take off or add layers as necessary. Good gloves are essential and some people use hot packs. A balaclava and ski goggles are nice if it’s very cold. “Gaudy is good”, as it makes you more visible. Try a cheap construction safety vest. You will get some spray especially on wet roads so your $200 Lululemon pants may not be the most appropriate choice. You can buy biking jackets, pants, etc. but as with studded tires find out if you like it first because good stuff is expensive. WEAR A HELMET. I can’t emphasize this enough, so WEAR A HELMET. No matter how careful you are you can hit some ice, ruts under snow, etc. and fall. “Helmet head” beats brain damage any day. I wear a thin watch cap under my helmet to keep what’s left of my brain warm. Your nose will run in cold weather so carry some Kleenex.
Finally, the ride. Stick to the bike paths if you can. Use your bell, slow down and speak up (“bike on left”) when passing pedestrians as they may have their ears covered. I generally stick to one relatively low gear. On the road you will find that traffic pushes a lot of slush and crap to the edge so you will often have to ride a little farther out. Unplowed icy roads are best avoided or walked. Be aware of traffic, signal your turns and be positive when you move. Most drivers are quite courteous but some still drive with cellphones jammed in their ears which I have observed tends to make you invisible. I’d like to jam their phones somewhere else. Do carry a cellphone though, in case you break down. Frozen ruts can trap your wheel so look ahead (polarized sunglasses help). Don’t listen to music, you need your ears. If you are unsure of the road condition, get off your bike and walk it. You are not trying to prove anything. People already know you’re crazy. Be careful and slow right down when turning or going downhill, especially in icy conditions. Wind, fondly known as “the hill that never ends”, is nasty at -10. Try to head out into the wind and come home with it if you can. Saves a lot of cursing.
If you give winter biking a try I think you’ll find that Chestermere is quite beautiful in the winter, especially when we get a lot of hoarfrost on the trees. Take advantage of the good job the town does on the pathways. See you out there.
