street roots
Jan. 20, 2012
Winter: biking’s best-kept secret, if you know the tricks
BY MARGAUX MENNESSON
C O N T R IB U T IN G W R IT E R
fter cruising through the first six
weeks of a relatively dry, mild winter,
Portlanders are preparing for wintery
conditions forecasted to impact the
Northwest. For those who rely on bicycling
as an affordable, convenient way to get
around town,
there’s good
news: You don’t
BEUTS?
STREETBE&T need to invest in
a lot of expensive
Bicycle
gear to bike in
Transportation
the winter.
Alliance
Everything you
need to stay
warm and comfy
on a bike is
probably already in your closet.
Layers: Instead of wearing a heavy coat,
choose a lighter jacket with layers
underneath. It’s a good thing if you feel a
little chilly when you start pedaling. After
moving for a few minutes you’ll warm up.
Your bottom half will stay warm in regular
pants, or even just leggings and a skirt. If
it’s wet, choose wool pants or breathable
rain pants as an outer layer.
Wool mittens: Regular gloves won’t cut it
when temperatures are near freezing. I wear
a pair of wool mittens big enough to slide
over my regular gloves. You can also invest
in a good pair of windproof gloves. Wool
A
Healthy Streetbeat is a
monthly column for
Street Roots written by
the Bicycle
Transportation
Alliance (BTA). Our
contributors are Rob
Sadowsky, executive
director, and Margaux
Mennesson,
communications
director.
socks are a must. Heavy boots will keep
your feet warm while pedaling.
Cap: To keep your head warm, you’ll want
a thin cap that fits under your helmet and
covers your ears. If you have a skate-style
helmet that’s already padded, you can just
attach fleece ear flaps.
Fenders: A necessity for biking in
Portland during the winter. Front and back
fenders will keep your back and legs mud-
free and dry. The person riding behind you
will be thankful, too.
Rechargeable batteries: Every bicyclist
should use front and rear lights to stay
visible on the road. It’s not necessary to
invest hundreds of dollars in a fancy light
system. With rechargeable batteries, you
never have to worry about your lights going
dim.
Know what to expect when you’re riding
and be aware of slippery spots, especially
black ice. Black ice refers to a thin coating
of glazed ice on a surface. It’s virtually
transparent on asphalt, making it practically
invisible to bicyclists, but just as slippery as
regular ice.
Get your bike ready for ice. Lower tire
pressure to the lowest recommended psi.
Lower your saddle slightly to lower your
center of gravity. (It’s also easier to get your
feet down flat on the road should you
suddenly need to.) Plan your route ahead of
time. Keep in mind that side streets might
not be treated for snow or ice.
Be aware of how ice affects different
surfaces. Streets are most slick when it first
begins to rain or snow. Metal, including
manhole covers and bridges, and painted
surfaces can be especially slick. Bridges and
overpasses can freeze more easily and take
longer to thaw than regular roadways.
Know what to do when you encounter ice:
• Slowing down may not always be the
safest option. Speed provides momentum,
and momentum keeps a bicycle upright. As
always, use your best judgment.
•Take turns much more gradually, and
don’t lean into turns as much as you
normally would. Try to keep the bike as
upright as possible.
• Avoid sudden changes of direction and
maintain a smooth pedaling action.
• Give yourself longer stopping distances,
and keep a firmer grip on your handlebars.
• Lay off the front brake. On ice, you
don’t want to lose any of your front wheel’s
traction — loss of control at the front is
going to be sudden and very hard to recover
from.
Resources
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance
teaches bike commute workshops with tips
for riding in all seasons. These workshops
are free and open to the public. The next
workshop is at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 2 at
Ecotrust, 721 NW 9th Ave.
Check www.btaoregon.org for more
upcoming workshops.
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PORTLAND CITY COUNCIL
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www.Am anda2012.com
503-960-3720
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