You Don't Have to Bike Like This!

The cold weather is here in the U.S. and those of us on the east coast have been taken a bit by surprise with the recent cold-weather snap. Many people wonder how it’s possible to still bike in colder weather, but I can assure you that, with the right gear, you don’t have to stop bike commuting simply because it’s cold outside. Following are a few cold-weather bike commuting tips that might come in handy.

• Layer, layer, layer - It’s the only way to bike commute, especially if you travel a significant distance. Wear a layer of synthetic material closest to your skin, and layer on out from there.
• Don’t Break the Bank - There are some great synthetic material clothes available at Target for very reasonable prices. Also, check sales racks of outlet stores. You don’t have to wear anything fancy, just functional.
• Let There Be Light - IMO, you can never have too much lighting on you in the winter time. I may look like a really tacky xmas tree, but people can see me. I am currently wearing three lights on my backpack (which puts them in a position more visible to cars) and two headlights on my front handlebars. I also recently ordered some valve stem lights. They should be here any day and I can’t wait to see how they work.
• Fingers and Toes - What you will want to invest in is good cycling gloves and decent winter socks. If you’re biking in weather below 40 degrees F, pick out these items with care. If it’s really cold and wet, I have found that plastic bags OVER my socks do a good job of keeping my feet dry.
• Head - You’ve gotta wear your helmet, but a nice balaklava under it and a helmet cover on top will keep your head toasty warm.
• Legs - If you’re cheap like me and don’t want to invest big bucks in expensive long john’s, I would highly recommend women’s tights (yes, even you guys out there will like these). They are very lightweight and inexpensive. A single pair for $5 can last you a good portion of the winter months.
• Outer Layer - I like to layer my jackets just like the rest of my outfit so that I can remove things incrementally. I wear a nice fleecie close to my body and a water-proof/wind-proof shell for my outermost layer. I have done this for years and it really works to keep the heat in and wind and cold out.

After doing much research, I selected a Dahon Speed Pro TT (2008 model).  I had to wait 4 weeks for the bike because it was on back-order, but this thing has  been worth every dime I spent and day I waited.  Not only is it just a great all-around bike, but the flexibility it has added to my commute is infinite.  Oh, and this HAS to be helping the planet.

Now, my commute is actually fun!  I get up, get showered, walk the dog, and then head out on my little folder.  I either ride to the Amtrak station (which is about a mile from my house) or to a Metro station (about 5 miles from my house).  I fold my bike up and board either the Metro or the train.  Once in the city, I can get off at any station and then bike the rest of the way to my office.  I can get in anywhere from 4 to 10 miles on my morning ride.  When I leave the office at the end of the day, I can head to the Amtrak station or I can opt for Metro.  If one is running late, I opt for the other.  Regardless, I have my wheels with me, so I am free to do whatever I want.  I can also easily board any bus and get home too. 

Folders are extremely popular in Europe, especially the UK, where homes are small and riding trains is a must for just about everyone.  However, they are gaining in popularity here too as more people ditch their cars for trains, buses, and subways.   In the past several months, I have noticed more and more people on folding bikes taking to the streets of DC and the surrounding ‘burbs.  Amtrak officials told me that more and more passengers are bringing folders onto trains and while this has created some space issues, they are readily complying with their "folder friendly" policy to promote the use of these bikes.  Yesterday, in the span of five minutes, I saw two other people on Dahon folders riding along Rhode Island Ave NW.  I get stopped all the time with inquiries about my bike and have even had people write down the model of my bike and the name of the company.  Hopefully, I will be seeing a few of those on folders in the near future. 

All 270 Whole Foods stores throughout the U.S., Canada, and U.K. will stop using plastic bags at the checkout counters beginning Earth Day (April 22) 2008.  Single use plastic bags do not degrade in landfills, litter the environment, and pose a serious threat to wildlife all over the world.  Plastic bags used in the U.S. can end up in the ocean thousands of miles away.

But there is a panacea - cycling!!  More people need to "just get on your bikes and ride."  I have been bike commuting fairly regularly for over 8 years now.  I currently live about 5 miles from work and find it very easy to commute to my office via bike.  On the way home, I often ride as much as 10 -12 miles because I will run errands on the way. 

But change is in the air.  When I first started biking to work, I was greeted almost daily by motorists who would yell at me to "get off the road" or do even nastier things that I will not repeat here.  Rarely would a car yield to me.  However, as gas prices started to go up, I noticed a significant shift in attitude.  It started with fewer cars being on the road, and the remaining drivers being slightly more accomodating.  There was no more yelling to get off the road (possibly thanks to improved signage from DDOT and the campaign reminding motorists that cyclists have the right to be on the road too).  In addition, there were more cyclists on the road, thus forcing motorists to be more pleasant. 

And then something really strange happened - I was waiting at a red light one cold winter morning when a car pulled up along side me.  The window rolled down and I immediately braced myself for the onslaught of anti-cyclist diatribe I was sure was about to come my way.  Instead, the young woman inside the car asked me if it was hard biking to work.  I replied that it was a lot easier than sitting in traffic or paying for gas or Metro.   She then said, "I have always wanted to bike to work, but am not sure what I need."  I briefly told her that any local cycling shop would be happy to help her figure that out.  I gave her a few more words of encouragement as the light turned green and smiled to myself, realizing that I might have just helped convert someone! 

But this was not a single, isolated incident.  Over the next few months gas prices climed and Metro announced that it was once again raising its fares.  More and more people, both at work and in public, began asking me questions about biking to work, such as what equipment they would need and how I handle inclement weather. 

Change is in the air.  I am confident that, within the next year, DC will resemble Amsterdam, Copenhagen, or some other cycling-friendly European country.  I drove through Adams Morgan the other evening to pick someone up and was absolutely shocked at the number of cyclists out on the road at 9:00 PM.  They were everywhere, in bike lanes, on the road, on the sidewalks.  It made me smile. 

 Visit the links below to learn about a local woman who has also turned her commute to work into a cycling adventure:

http://bikerchickchar.blogspot.com/

http://bikerchickchar.blogspot.com/