Navigator Fall 2023/Winter 2024 issue

Snowscape cycling:
Tips for riding your
bike through the
colder months
Dee-Dee Samuels (she/her)
Photo: Katie Wintersgill
Cycling in the winter either sounds like
the best idea ever or something you
would only think about if you experienced
some sort of psychotic break. Snowstorms,
black ice, skidding cars, white-outs and
arctic cold weather; what’s there to like
about it?
But in the last few years, breaking
out the two-wheeler during the depths
of winter has become more and more
mainstream and it looks like the trend is
gaining momentum.
Mason Lover, a bicycle designer at
Gremlins Bicycle Emporium and avid
winter cyclist said, “Cycling in the winter
is becoming trendier, probably directly
correlating to the cost-of-living crisis. Right
now, people just don’t have money to get
around the same way they used to.”
For Lover, there is thrill that comes with
winter cycling that can’t be matched at any
other time of year.
“You get on all your winter gear,” he said.
“There’s a lot more preparation that goes
into your morning commute…the joy is like
preparing for the treacherous weather and
sort of a sense of accomplishment when
you get to where you’re going and then you
take off all your gear every day.”
It goes without saying that whether
you’re new to cycling or an experienced
rider, extreme caution should be taken
when cycling in the winter.
Evan Spindler, a bike mechanic and
winter cyclist at Gremlins said the most
important thing to keep in mind when
cycling in winter is to take your time.
“Expect to go slower than you’re
normally going to go in the summer,”
Spindler said. “It’s not about getting there
really quickly in the winter.”
Some of Spindler’s top winter cycling
tips include wearing brighter clothing as
it gets darker a lot quicker in the winter.
Spindler also suggested going for a fat
bike or a mountain bike if you don’t feel
confident riding in the winter. If you are a
confident rider, any bike can be modified.
“My favourite piece of gear would
probably be fenders and mud guards,” he
added. “That I find helps a lot, especially
Photo: Dee-Dee Samuels
16