5 ms·

Why Canadians Can't Bike in the Winter (But Finnish People Can)

58 points by oftenwrong 6y ago

Finnucane 6y ago
I'm in Cambridge (MA) and until the plague shutdown commuted to work by bike pretty much every day. I've never bothered with studded tires because the number of days when it would really make a difference is not high enough to be worth the bother. The city recently put in some separated lanes on the main roads that they plow and salt (sorry, chain), but the painted bike lanes everywhere else gets slushy and rutted just as described in the video. And cars park in them because the spaces aren't cleared. Some of my coworkers think I'm nuts, but as the video says, most of them speak from no actual experience.
- JNRowe 6y ago
  I'm near Cambridge(UK) and the number of days where it makes a difference is low here too. The bike lane experience largely sounds similar too :/ However, in the Before Times I'd keep a spare front wheel with a winter Schwalbe for slimy or light snow days. Swapping it out took literal seconds, and it made a huge difference. Variable traction on the back wheel is far more forgiving.
- anoncake 6y ago
  Holy shit. There's an outbreak of Yersinas Pestis, which is 10 times as deadly as Covid?
grecy 6y ago
I lived in Whitehorse, Yukon for 4 years. I rode ~25 minutes to work every single day of the year. My best was -44C (-47.2F). It's like a whole different world at that temperature, and a lot of fun! (especially when the northern lights come out at 4pm. Mostly in the winter it was around -30C or -35C.
- cartoonfoxes 6y ago
  I'm there now. This video reflects my experience - if you're close enough to your destination cycling is stupid easy when they plow the roads / trails, no fatbikes required. In anything short of -35C I'm probably warmer and more comfortable than people who drive. I walk more frequently than cycle, though, since the single biggest problem I've found with winter cycling is the hazard from fogged glasses in cold weather.
legerdemain 6y ago
Around the 8:45 mark, the author describes specialized gear he uses while bicycling in winter: a jacket, some gloves, and a touque. I was surprised to find out that he doesn't wear pants!
Jermaine_Jabi 6y ago
Lovely idea to project signage directly on the snow. Montreal is getting better about plowing bike lanes, they are still third in line behind car roads and sidewalks but they do get plowed relatively quickly after big dumps. Also having experienced dedicated lanes, not just painted markings, it makes a world of difference. You can actually relax a bit and enjoy the ride, even if you're close to car traffic. Try winter riding! I assure you, you will not be cold!
- Finnucane 6y ago
  The key is layering. Being able to remove a layer when you warm up is good. Also, gore-tex everything.
sthnblllII 6y ago
Ever since crime soared in the 1960's, it would be unthinkable for Americans to leave hundreds of bikes unattended like that not chained to anything. They would be stolen within minutes. Its a real shame what simply isn't possible here anymore.

58 points by oftenwrong 6y ago

I'm in Cambridge (MA) and until the plague shutdown commuted to work by bike pretty much every day. I've never bothered with studded tires because the number of days when it would really make a difference is not high enough to be worth the bother. The city recently put in some separated lanes on the main roads that they plow and salt (sorry, chain), but the painted bike lanes everywhere else gets slushy and rutted just as described in the video. And cars park in them because the spaces aren't cleared. Some of my coworkers think I'm nuts, but as the video says, most of them speak from no actual experience.

JNRowe 6y ago
I'm near Cambridge(UK) and the number of days where it makes a difference is low here too. The bike lane experience largely sounds similar too :/ However, in the Before Times I'd keep a spare front wheel with a winter Schwalbe for slimy or light snow days. Swapping it out took literal seconds, and it made a huge difference. Variable traction on the back wheel is far more forgiving.
anoncake 6y ago
Holy shit. There's an outbreak of Yersinas Pestis, which is 10 times as deadly as Covid?

grecy 6y ago

I lived in Whitehorse, Yukon for 4 years. I rode ~25 minutes to work every single day of the year. My best was -44C (-47.2F). It's like a whole different world at that temperature, and a lot of fun! (especially when the northern lights come out at 4pm. Mostly in the winter it was around -30C or -35C.

cartoonfoxes 6y ago
I'm there now. This video reflects my experience - if you're close enough to your destination cycling is stupid easy when they plow the roads / trails, no fatbikes required. In anything short of -35C I'm probably warmer and more comfortable than people who drive. I walk more frequently than cycle, though, since the single biggest problem I've found with winter cycling is the hazard from fogged glasses in cold weather.

legerdemain 6y ago

Around the 8:45 mark, the author describes specialized gear he uses while bicycling in winter: a jacket, some gloves, and a touque. I was surprised to find out that he doesn't wear pants!

Jermaine_Jabi 6y ago

Lovely idea to project signage directly on the snow. Montreal is getting better about plowing bike lanes, they are still third in line behind car roads and sidewalks but they do get plowed relatively quickly after big dumps. Also having experienced dedicated lanes, not just painted markings, it makes a world of difference. You can actually relax a bit and enjoy the ride, even if you're close to car traffic. Try winter riding! I assure you, you will not be cold!

Finnucane 6y ago
The key is layering. Being able to remove a layer when you warm up is good. Also, gore-tex everything.

sthnblllII 6y ago

Ever since crime soared in the 1960's, it would be unthinkable for Americans to leave hundreds of bikes unattended like that not chained to anything. They would be stolen within minutes. Its a real shame what simply isn't possible here anymore.