Here is my (unedited) February column for The Noise.
The ice crackled beneath Ray’s studded snow tires as we rode our bikes to the south side of Northern Arizona University’s campus. On our way to pick up some greens from Flagstaff’s Community Supported Agriculture, the twilight quickly gave way to darkness. It will be 7 degrees again tonight.
While walking downtown during Flagstaff’s latest and greatest snowstorm, I overheard a couple of 30-something guys talking about a bicyclist who slowly rode past them, head down, sloshing through the wet snow.
“Take a look at that guy, man,” one of them said.
“He’s hard-core, riding a bike through this,” the other responded.
“Some of those bikers, man; they’re running on a different frequency.”
As bike-friendly as it is in Flagstaff, there are not many people who choose to commute on their bikes through the winter. Though many new challenges exist, the task of pedaling through the ice, the snow, and the sub-freezing temperatures is, for the committed bicyclist, a very doable task.
When I first started riding my bike regularly, my car was my default mode of transportation. I was, if you will, running on the same frequency as most Americans. The process of changing one’s frequency, whatever that really means, and becoming a committed bicyclist, is the biggest challenge.
Before the thought of commuting on a bike regularly—let alone through the winter—is seriously considered, one must first fall in love. Falling in love with your bike is as easy as it is necessary. All you have to do is ride it.
But falling in love with your bike is still a process. Like many privileged Flagstaffers who own a bike as well as a car, I was faced with a choice every morning. I rode my bike when it was nice out and drove when the weather was bad. Over the years, I developed rules for myself. I would only drive if it were raining or below freezing outside. Having realized the freedom and happiness of commuting on my own steam, however, eventually my bike became the default.
Flagstaff resident Ray Walker, who pays his bills by tinkering on NAU’s computers so he can play music and ride bikes, is known around town for his flashy fixed-gear bikes. Ray recently retrofitted his old mountain bike with fenders and metal-studded snow tires, among other adjustments, in preparation for the cold months ahead. Ray’s been running on a different frequency for a while now.
With radish greens flailing between the flaps of Ray’s bicycle bags, we rode back to his place to unload veggies, drink coffee, and talk about winter bike riding. I told him that, for this article, I wanted to motivate those bikers who are already braving the cold and inspire others to join them. But if others are to join them, they must first understand that being a cyclist is not just an activity. It’s a lifestyle, an ideology. Riding a bike is, as Ray pointed out, freedom.
To me, the difference between your run-of-the-mill, bike-when-the-sun-is-shinning bicyclist and those hard-core bikers who fall into the “live free or drive” camp is painfully clear. First of all, you “ride” a bike and you “drive” a car. However if one considers all the money that goes into gas, oil, insurance, registration, repairs, maintenance, parking tickets and parking passes, it would make more sense to say that the car drives you.
Being a cyclist means that I know and can utilize all the best short cuts. It means I’m never “stuck” in traffic. It means that I feel healthy and strong, yet never have to make a point to exercise.
I don’t have to rely on anyone, any infrastructure, or any roads to go where I want. I ride guilt free knowing that my transportation method is not contributing anything negative to my environment. Nor is the fuel necessary to operate my bike one that shapes foreign policy decisions or help to destroy indigenous and nonhuman communities the world over.
I know every bump, curve, and hill from my daily commute as well as I know my bike, which, the more I ride it, I regard as an extension of my own body. I hate the wind, but I like that I am affected by the weather. This makes me feel more human, more connected to myself and with the world around me.
In truth the world-view of a cyclist is much different than that of a motorist. We think locally. Our perception of time and space is grounded in physical reality. We’re more acutely and intimately affected by the world around us.
“When I’m on my bike, I am more aware of my environment.” Ray said as we sipped coffee and drooled over expensive custom bike-frames on-line. “When you’re on a bike, you’re more vulnerable, which makes you more aware.”
“I hear that. Bike accidents hurt.” I said. Yet, when I wreck my bike, the repairs are relatively inexpensive. I deal with my minor injuries and repairs and learn deeply from them.
The act of riding your bike on snowy and icy roads isn’t much different than the level of consciousness it takes to drive a car. You don’t want to pedal into an icy turn, just as you wouldn’t want to hit the gas in a car. You have to think ahead when approaching a stop and give yourself a bit more time when pulling out.
Though, what makes cyclists vulnerable does result in some general safety advantages bikers still have over cars. We aren’t enclosed in metal and foggy glass. Our field of vision is much greater than motorists, which, as Ray went onto say, “allows bikers to make better predictions.”
To successfully battle old man winter on a bike, all it takes is a little patience and foresight. Rarely is there a weather condition that bikers cannot confront if they are prepared.
In my opinion, there are two items that are absolutely necessary for bikers to wear when it is below freezing outside. Gloves and some kind of ear/face mask are essential. Appendages like fingers and ears are the first things affected by the cold. Ray reiterated the importance of gloves, especially on a windy day. We both agreed that we would much rather deal with the cold than the wind.
Preparation is also about knowing yourself and your own body. I wear a complete facemask, one that makes me look like I’m on my way to a WTO protest or something. Ray is bearded so he just wears something over his ears. I wear long underwear a lot and Ray just wears thicker pants.
Wet days require some degree of waterproofing your clothing. Ray just got this sweet waterproof Gore-tex jacket. I have a pair of waterproof pants that fit over my regular pants. To avoid wet sock—which, lets face it, is the worst—I’ve been known to wrap each foot in a plastic bag before I put on my shoes. To avoid a wet ass and a brown racing stripe up your back, you’ll need some fenders—the rear one being the most important. These can be purchased in any number of varieties. DIY fenders can be made out of a used plastic laundry detergent bottles and zip ties.
If you’re caught unprepared in the cold, like on one of those days when it’s 40 during the day and drops to 18 at night, newspaper will become your best friend. Newspaper can be stuffed under your shirt or in your pants, creating a surprisingly effective form of insulation from the cold.
Still many choose not to ride during the winter mainly because of fear—fear that it’s too cold or fear of getting hurt. However, one common mistake I continue to make is over-dressing for the cold. I told Ray that I’m warmer riding my bike than I am walking. He agreed and we discussed how biking actually generates a lot of body heat.
Even when it’s 7 degrees outside, I always arrive at my destination sweating, ripping off my clothes. Choosing how many layers to wear is an exercise in trial and error. Keep in mind that layers can be removed if you’re too hot, while being cold just plain sucks.
If you’re grossed out about sweat, you shouldn’t be. First of all, sweating is good for your body, and second, we’re fortunate enough to live in such a dry climate where sweat dries in minutes. Ray leaves his work shoes at work and brings a nice shirt in his bag. “A lot of people do that anyway when they workout during the day.”
The fear of wrecking in the snow and ice is a legitimate concern. Simply knowing the limitations of your bike can alleviate the fear of crashing. Address the weaknesses that you can—such as buying wider, knobby tires or adjusting the brakes. I would suggest going into a parking lot and, like you would in a car, practice skidding, learn the appropriate speed for icy turns, and practice your balance. And for the love of God, where a helmet.
There are still challenges that you can’t do anything about. Don’t expect the bike lanes to be cleared of snow. And don’t expect drivers to cut you a lot of slack. According to Arizona State Bicycle Traffic Laws, and I’m speaking as much to Flagstaff drivers as I am cyclists, if the bike lane is unsafe or blocked, bicyclists are entitled to take up a full lane for any given amount of time. This is dangerous stuff. Don’t let drivers make you feel like your putting your life in danger.
“People should never feel afraid to ride their bike.” Ray said as I downed the last of my coffee. “I’m not going to put myself in peril just so someone can get to their destination a minute quicker.
