Yes that's right, I said THE PLEASURES of winter riding. I have ridden in everything from blizzards to tropical storms and you can certainly enjoy this season if you follow these important tips.
1. Fenderz Jonas! If you are too cool for fenders then you get what you deserve. When selecting a good set you must think in Ghetto Booty terms. The bigger, the wider, the blacker, the better. BAM!
2. Urine. You should keep a full bladder in case you need to free up a frozen freehub body. Yes, it really works. There is nothing worse than being dehydrated and having your buddy piss on your bike for you. I have to admit, the single speed has an advantage here.
3. Wool, as much as possible. You don't need a 150.00 wool jersey to stay warm. Head down to Goodwill and buy some wool sweaters for 2.00 each. Cut the sleeves off of them and you have a sweet vest!
4. Winter shoes. Suck it up and buy a pair. This will be the best investment you ever make for cold weather riding.
5. Don't grease your cables in winter, they will freeze. Instead use a light petroleum based lube on them. Also for the chain, forget about wax lubes, they do nothing to prevent corrosion and really suck in below freezing temps.
6. Keep you camera handy for when your riding partner hits the deck on a patch of ice.
7. Stay on the backroads. The less winter maintenance they receive, the better. Slush sucks, but snow is quite nice. When I see a patch of slush I head for the shoulder or the ditch.
8. Indoor trainers. I don't know of anything else that sucks the life out of riding more than these things. Except for a Power Tap maybe. If you ride a Power Tap on your trainer then you have real issues. In this case you probably need to renew your subscription to Triathalon Magazine.
9. The colder the better. 20F and snow is far more fun than 33F and rain.
Follow these tips and avoid feeling like these guys do. Remember, cycling is supposed to be fun and winter riding is no exception.
