Fenders are a must for city cycling in wet or slushy weather. They protect your shoes, clothing and bicycle components. Moreover, they help you get where you’re going without a back-stripe from dirty rain water or, in colder weather, a bottom saturated with slush.
Shields for Your Wheels
Here’s the situation with the spritz: As your bicycle wheels spin through damp streets, you’re seated in the middle of a no-win proposition. The front tire sprays your ankles and shins, while the rear tire spits moisture up the backside of your clothing. Your frame and components suffer, too. Compared with clear water that may be falling from the sky, the gritty, oily spray thrown up by pavement and puddles can damage components like chains, brakes and bearings.
Before You Shop
Fenders tend to come as standard equipment on upright, European-style and vintage (read: beater) city bicycles. However, with most road bicycles, hybrids and fixed-gear rides, you’re on your own.
The staff at your local bike shop will best be able to help you choose fenders if you’ve 1) thought about the conditions that you anticipate riding in (light or heavy rain, sleet, slush), and 2) if you bring your bike along so they can check your tire size and clearance, availability of mounts, and whether or not you have a back rack. Note that bikes with disc brakes require compatible fenders. Also, installing full fenders limits your ability to easily remove your wheels for storage or travel. Here’s an overview of fender choices: Read more…
photo: velojoy
There’s no doubt that keeping your bike clean and operating smoothly can be more of a challenge in winter because moisture, salt, sand and road grime conspire to sabotage you on a daily basis.
Road salt can cause your frame to rust and make parts, like the bearings in the bottom bracket that allow you to pedal your bike, seize up. The sand that’s so liberally sprinkled on city streets on snowy days? It gets caught in your brake pads, causing premature wear of pads and rims.
velojoy welcomes new contributor Susan Lindell, director of retail operations and chief “wrench” for Recycle-A-Bicycle in Brooklyn. Susan’s monthly posts will help keep you in the know about the basics of bike maintenance and mechanics.
These and other threats make for a sad bike and a frustrated bike mechanic. Here are a few simple steps to keep your bike clean, healthy and happy this winter: Read more…
photo: velojoy
On a particularly frigid morning in New York City recently, a bicycle commuter commented on twitter: “Just removed my gloves and discovered 5 Popsicle sticks inside.” It’s true that few sensations are as uncomfortable, or take the fun out of winter cycling faster, than cold hands.
Fortunately, there are plenty of gear options to help keep fingers frost-free. When the mercury starts to drop below 35 degrees F, I rely on a variable, three-part layering strategy to stay comfortable on my ride. Read more…
For many cyclists, the arrival of winter marks the end of their season. And that’s a shame. Winter cycling can be some of the most scenic, refreshing and adventurous of the year. Sure, a shift in the weather presents a new set of challenges. But with the proper equipment and skills, dealing with the elements on your city ride can be as simple as adopting the right mindset and embracing the change in seasons.
velojoy welcomes Neil Bezdek as a contributor. Neil, an NYC bike messenger and cycling advocate before he signed a pro-racing contract, breaks down city cycling as only a rider who has experienced the most demanding conditions can. For dispatches from the road cycling world, read Neil’s Rambling Man blog on bicycling.com.
Make the following adjustments to your cycling to stay safe whenever the streets are cold, wet and slick.
Your bike
Burly, treaded tires and fenders are smart choices for winter, but not all bike setup requires new equipment.
- Let some air out of your tires. Softer tires have a larger contact patch with the ground and better traction. When the pavement is wet, I set my 23mm tires as low as 80 to 85 psi.
- Drop your saddle. A one centimeter reduction in seat height lowers your center of gravity and puts you in a more nimble position. Read more…
Baby it’s cold outside! You could win a reversible, unisex Merino wool hat from Icebreaker (below). Join our online community of city cyclists by “liking” velojoy on facebook, and we’ll choose a winner at random this Friday.
Our monthly series What’s in your bike Bag? asks city cyclists to share their tips for toting essentials around town by bicycle for work or fun. Graphic designer, creator of the Get Fancy! bike rides and velojoy.com contributor Kim Burgas opens her bag:
Read more…
Okay, so usually snow is not on the ground before the clocks fall back an hour, but this year is obviously special. The winter light may still be catching up to the winter weather, but the end of Daylight Saving Time this Sunday means we will be riding in the dark more often. It’s time to consider lighting for cycling safety .
First, what are the rules? In New York City, use of lights is required for bicycles 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise: a Rudolf-red one for the back of the bike (visible from 300 feet away) and a clear white light for the front (with a visibility of 500 feet). New bicycles sold at retail must be equipped with reflex reflectors on the spokes of the front and back wheels, or with reflective tires. That means you don’t have to add reflectors to your current bike, but it’s highly recommended for lateral visibility. For the nitty-gritty of New York State laws that apply to bicycle lights, scroll down to the bottom of this page.
Thankfully there are plenty of effective, fun and creative ways to illuminate your bike, your body and the road ahead. Below you’ll find our list (a double baker’s dozen) of lighting ideas to inspire you to get creative in the dark. Please weigh in and tell us your favorite lighting system in the comments section! Read more…
Updated 11.3: Congratulations to Sarah Goodyear, winner of the Fjallraven back pack below + a gift card for Swedish sweets from Sockerbit NYC. Watch for the next installment of our “What’s In Your Bike Bag?” series for your chance to win!
We’re excited to introduce a new monthly series: What’s in your bike bag? Here, everyday cyclists share tips for toting essentials when traveling around town by bicycle for work and play. First up is graduate student in magazine writing and velojoy contributor Genevieve Walker:
Read more…
Summer may be over, but there’s still plenty of great riding to do. So here’s a quick reminder that keeping your tires inflated to their recommended pressure helps prevent flats and keeps you safer and more comfortable on your ride. And, if the tubes inside your tires are equipped with Presta valves, then carrying an adapter (top) in your pocket or bag can help save a few dollars and minutes when you stop for air at a bike shop or gas station. Read more…
A recent post about coping with perspiration when riding a bicycle in the summer heat was my most-read ever. As scorching temperatures continued to grip the city, velojoy readers shared their own strategies for looking fresh at their destinations after riding to work or around town.
While sweating is often cited by women as a barrier to entry into the bike lanes and may contribute to the gender imbalance — particularly in fashion-conscious New York City — the readers who posted their tips demonstrate how one can happily integrate cycling into daily life while looking one’s best.
Riding a bicycle is, after all, just another form of transportation with its own relative merits. I loved this observation from Katherine, who commutes to work every day by bike. She wrote:
“As hot as it’s been some days so far, I don’t think I look any sweatier than people getting off the subway. And I’m in a better mood, too.”
Here, six additional hints to help you beat the heat in style: Read more…
photo: velojoy
Can we talk perspiration? Or, as a friend of mine from the South used to call it “glow.” Sweating is often cited by women as a barrier to riding a bicycle for transportation. You may have seen the gender gap article in the New York Times last week that cited appearance issues in this fashion-obsessed town right behind safety as key barriers to attracting more women to the bike lanes.
I wish articles like that would include interviews with cyclists who ride happily in all kinds of weather. Maybe it would help encourage more women to explore the everyday pleasures of city cycling.
As temperatures in New York City reached into the 90s this week, I thought I’d share some of my own simple strategies for coping with perspiration when biking in hot weather:
Loving the ride, even in summer heat.
- Be prepared – Traveling anywhere in New York City requires planning, no matter what the mode of transportation. So, I pick clothing both for comfort on the ride and to look put-together at my destination. In the heat, that sometimes means folding a fresh blouse or a T-shirt (or two) into a plastic bag that I tuck into my tote.
- Strip down – If I don’t have to “dress” for work, then I choose a light-colored top with thin straps worn with a skirt or shorts, and sandals or canvas sneakers for my ride. If I’m going to a meeting, I fold my suit jacket into my basket, wear the lightest possible top with a skirt or pants, then change into a fresh shirt at my destination. I don’t bother with swapping shoes: my mid-height heels are fine on a bike.
- Slow up – When it’s hot, I allow extra time for my ride. Pedaling more slowly not only cuts down on perspiring, but also feels more relaxed.
- Skip the shoulder bag – Messenger bags and backpacks make my back sweat, so I never carry them in hot weather. Ditto wide belts; I put them on after I get off the bike. I carry a regular purse and lightweight tote in my bike basket.
- The ladies room is your locker room – Fortunate are the few who can count on a shower at their destinations. That’s usually not an option, so I head straight to the ladies room. I use a paper towel and cool water or moist towelettes to freshen up in a stall before changing my top.
- Hold off on applying makeup - If it’s really hot and I have a professional or social commitment, I wear sunglasses and lipstick on my ride and wait until reaching my destination to apply makeup.
- Pack helmet-hair fixes – In addition to carrying cosmetics and perfume, I keep some hair accessories and a small bottle of a frizz-fighting smoother in my bag. If it’s a casual day, I clip a straw fedora to my bag to wear after I take off my helmet.
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate – Dehydration is a real threat when you’re active in hot weather. I carry a water bottle in my basket and refill it often.
What are your personal strategies for staying fresh and comfortable on your summer ride? Please share your comments for an additional post on this topic!
